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All staircases are unique and upon your desires. Yet, all staircases must comply with technical requirements for construction works depending on “Forskrift om tekniske krav til byggverk (Byggteknisk forskrift - TEK17)”.
In this article, we will take a look at 4 main requirements, which we found that occurs for our customers most often. We will also provide examples of what is eligible, what is not and how to work it out, so your future staircase would meet the regulations. At the bottom of this article, you can find links to the full list of TEK17 requirements in Norwegian and English languages.
#1 Gap between each step
According to TEK17 regulations the gap between each step must not be bigger than 10 centimeters.
So, for example, that kind of staircases would not meet the Norwegian TEK17 mandatory regulations.
As you can see in the images above the gap between each step is bigger than 10cm, so in this case, you need to think of a workaround.
Here are examples of staircases that would comply with the regulations:
As you can see these staircases have, what we call, noses at the very start of each step. Due to that, the gap between each step is no bigger than 10 centimeters and the staircase still looks awesome.
Also, the staircase may be with closed steps, which also complies with the TEK17 regulations. Here are few examples:
Or you can always make your steps a bit thicker, like in these examples:
#2 Width of the stairs
Following the mandatory Norwegian TEK17 regulations the width of the steps must be at least 90 centimeters.
Due to that, this kind of staircase that we’ve installed in Sweden, wouldn’t be approved in Norway:
And there is really no way of work around it.
Yet, if you see that your steps will be really narrow, we recommend considering having glass railings attached from the side, so it would make your steps a bit more spacious and more convenient to use. Like in these examples:
#3 Gap between balustrade stripes
Staircase railings can be in many variations - it can be from stainless steel, wood, glass, blacksmith, or even rope. Yet the gap between, for instance, stainless steel or wooden stripes, must be no bigger than 10 centimeters, no matter if the stripes are vertical or horizontal.
For example, that sort of railings wouldn’t be approved:
Here are proper examples that follow TEK17 regulations:
Or you can always consider having glass railings on your staircase, like here:
#4 Handrails must be from both sides
This is as it sounds. And again, unfortunately, there is no workaround here. Well, you could just take it off after the inspection, but it is completely your own decision.
Here are examples that would not get approved:
And here is how it should be:
So here are the main 4 regulations to comply with TEK17 and most of them can be worked around, you just got to be a little more creative.
Here you can find more examples of our works if you are searching for inspiration for your future staircase: https://www.teamtrapp.no/gallery
Or you can contact us and we can definitely find the most suitable solution for you together: https://www.teamtrapp.no/contact-us
P.S. Here are the links to full TEK17 regulations lists: