3 Ways to Prepare Your Business for a New Staircase Installation

You have decided your business is ready for a new staircase. There are some key ways you need to prepare for the installation. 

Accurate Preliminary Measurements:

Measure the installation area: The most difficult part of building industrial stairs is measuring the height. Stairs can be built any height or length you like, but the height is an especially important part of your stairs so you need to make sure you measure the height properly. Start at the base of the stairs and measure to the top, then do the same to the bottom. You want to make sure that the stairs are level and straight. It is also important to consider what kind of carpeting or tiles you will have to cover the stairs so that when you put down carpeting or tiles, they will match and not be too large or too small.

The first thing you need to do before you begin building the stairs is to measure the height of the area where you plan to install the stairs. This is the only way that you will know how long and deep the stairs should be. 

Figure out how many steps you need: To determine the number of steps you’ll have, you can take the total rise and divide it by the average rise per step, which will tell you how many actual steps will be in your flight of stairs. Step rise tends to range between 6.5–8 inches, but you might want to utilize a different rise depending on your needs or preferences.

Calculate the step run: The run is essentially the depth of the step. The steps should have a tread width of at least 9 inches to provide enough space to accommodate the average foot. 

Calculate the staircase’s total run: The horizontal distance of the stairs is called the total run. You can calculate this by multiplying your step run by the number of steps on your flight. 

Figure out if your stairs need landings: Consider installing landings if your stairs have a long rise and run. Typically, the length of a board used for building a flight of stairs is about 16 feet long, which can accommodate about 14 steps. So, those 14 steps are a good basic gauge to start with for landing placement. 

Find a good installer

You will want to have full confidence in selecting the right contractor for your stairs. Consider searching online. You will want to search for different companies and see what kind of reviews are posted by previous customers. Look at pictures of the actual work that has been done on the company’s website as well as pictures of their work. You should be able to easily tell the difference between a company that is selling high-end equipment and a company that sells basic equipment. Remember, when looking for a good contractor, you want to make sure that they are knowledgeable and that they can keep up with the latest technology.

Take all safety precautions

You cannot afford to skimp on safety for the sake of money. Employees can easily to slip, trip, or fall on stairs that are unsafe, which makes you liable. There are federal safety regulations for staircases dictated by OSHA and IBC that you must follow when making your selection. These laws were put into place to protect workers from being injured in any way while on the job. This includes not only workers in factories but any other business where machinery is used. As such, these regulations are enforced to ensure that the workplace is as safe and secure as possible for all employees.

OSHA and IBC rules require that workstations, equipment, and supplies used must be safe for the workers to use, including staircases. These regulations are protections from health-related hazards. All employers are required to inspect and maintain these safety standards. Your employees have a right to feel safe when working. You can rely on your stair manufacturer to assist you, or you may contact an OSHA and IBC representative to discuss your concerns regarding their workplace safety regulations.

As you begin clearing the area for the installation, be certain you have placed proper signage, barricades, and safety caution tape in the projected construction site. Studies show getting employees involved in the early stages of a project benefits the work culture. Call a meeting and explain the project to your employees, give them an idea of what the project will look like, and ask them to please exercise extreme caution around the area where the stairs will be installed. 

Your preparations will pay off if you are mindful of your employees and the changes your business will have from your staircase installation.