Stair Signage

Signs promoting stair use located near elevators may encourage occupants to use the stairs when traveling across floors, contributing to increased daily physical activity.

Key Terms

Point-of-Decision Signs are motivational messages placed near stairwells, at elevator call areas, and near escalators to encourage individuals to increase stair use. Signs may include information on the health benefits of stair use.

For full strategy and documentation requirements, please refer to the digital scorecard made available on the Fitwel Platform.

Strategy Insights

Single story projects do not qualify for this strategy.
Projects that do not include any elevators and/or escalators do qualify for this strategy by confirming such in an official statement.

Qualifying signage

Signage should be motivational and reference the availability of stairs to occupants.
Signage that indicates or implies that stair use is limited to fire or emergencies only does not qualify.

Signage placement

For commercial buildings applying for full credit, projects must show that qualifying signage is placed at all elevator call areas that are under the control of the project:
- Multi-tenant Whole Building (MTWB) projects must show that qualifying signage is placed at all elevator call areas within the workplace building.
- Multi-tenant Base Building (MTBB) projects must show that qualifying signage is placed at all elevator call areas that are under the control of the building owner/management (e.g., core areas); elevator call areas that are located within tenant spaces, with restricted access, and under the control of tenants do not need to be included.
- Single Tenant (ST) projects must show that qualifying signage is placed at all elevator call areas that are under the control of the tenant.
- Commercial Interior (CI) projects must show that qualifying signage is placed at all elevator call areas within the CI project and on the main floor.
For commercial buildings applying for partial credit:
- MTBB, MTWB, and ST projects may show qualifying signage placed at the beginning and end of a qualifying walking path.
- CI projects may show either 1) qualifying signage placed only in elevator call areas within the CI project, or 2) qualifying signage placed at the beginning and end of a qualifying walking path.