Planning Your Stair

Before you order, it helps to know a few things about your space and the QStairs kits, such as, how to measure the space your working with, which category is right for your project, and exactly what comes in the kit.
Everything you need to plan your stair is on this page.

MEASURING YOUR STAIR

The floor-to-floor measurement

In order to choose the right spiral staircase, you'll need to know the floor-to-floor measurement of the space your staircase will go into. This is the vertical distance from your finished lower floor level (e.g. a paved patio) to your finished upper floor level (e.g. decking or a landing). Measure this with a tape measure or laser measure, from one finished floor level to the other.
For full step-by-step guidance including diagrams, head to our Measuring your stair guide (PDF).

Base plate: above or below ground?

When you place your order, we'll ask whether your base plate should sit above or below ground level as this affects the kit you receive.
•    Above ground level: choose this if your ground is stable and load-bearing, and you're happy for the base plate to be visible.
•    Below ground level: choose this if your ground isn't load-bearing. You'll need to cast a footing in concrete, typically below ground or finished floor level, then infill to hide the fixings. Kits with a below-ground base plate require an additional column spacer.

Step layout & technical diagrams

For full technical layout diagrams such as step dimensions, going, rise and clearances for both Category A and Category B kits take a look at our Step layout diagrams (PDF).

Categories & building regulations

All QStairs kits are designed to comply with UK building regulations for domestic spiral staircases. Every kit is available in one of two categories - Category A or Category B - which determine both the diameter of your staircase and what it's permitted to be used for.

Category A
Our Category A kit has a 1500mm diameter (750mm radius) and is a small private spiral stair. It's intended for use by a limited number of people who are generally familiar with the staircase — for example, an internal stair serving one room that isn't a living room or kitchen, an external access stair to an office not used by the public, or a spiral fire escape stair for a small number of people.
•    Minimum and maximum rise per tread: 170 – 220mm
•    Minimum clear width between the centre column and handrails: 600mm
•    Minimum going from the centre of the tread: 145mm
Category B
Our Category B kit has a 1900mm diameter (950mm radius) and is a private stair. It can do everything a Category A stair can, and can also provide the main access to the upper floor of a private dwelling.
•    Minimum and maximum rise per tread: 170 – 220mm
•    Minimum clear width between the centre column and handrails: 800mm (900mm in Scotland)
•    Minimum going from the centre of the tread: 190mm

WHAT'S INCLUDED IN A QSTAIRS KIT? 

Every QStairs kit is supplied as a complete, self-assembly staircase — not just a set of treads. Here's exactly what comes with your order, including the landing.
What comes in your kit
•    The full steel stair structure: centre column (core pole), treads with a non-slip pattern, and spacer rings to keep the rise consistent
•    Balusters, newel posts, balustrade and handrail, in your chosen finish
•    A landing platform (see below), finished to match the rest of your stair
•    All fixings needed to assemble the kit's own components together, supplied with instructions
The landing
We supply a square landing platform with every kit, in the same finish as the rest of your staircase — galvanised, or powder-coated in your chosen colour.
•    Category A (1500mm diameter): landing approximately 950mm x 820mm
•    Category B (1900mm diameter): landing approximately 1150mm x 1020mm
These figures are a guide for planning your space — refer to your order confirmation for exact dimensions.
What's not included
•    Fixings to secure the landing and the base of the stair to your own structure. These aren't supplied because they depend on what you're fixing into — concrete, timber, decking, and so on — so you'll need to source the right ones for your build.
•    Installation. Kits are supplied ready for self-assembly; a minimum of two people and roughly one to two days are typically needed. If you'd rather not install it yourself, we can arrange an installation service for an additional cost — get in touch to discuss. Full guide: Installing your stair.
Weight
Most kits weigh between 300kg and 400kg, depending on size, with a maximum of 400kg. We'd recommend consulting a structural engineer to make sure your foundation is adequate before you install.

Terms used on this page

For definitions of terms like “core pole”, “going” or “rise”, see our Stair terminology glossary. Have a more specific question? Check our FAQs — or get in touch and we'll help directly.