05. Stairs - Stair Access

Provide access to at least one stair that connects building floors

Rationale: Ensuring that stairs in a building are accessible and connected to other occupied floors encourages occupants to choose stair climbing over taking elevators and escalators when able, increasing physical activity and decreasing the risk of chronic conditions associated with sedentary lifestyles such as obesity and cardiovascular disease.

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

 

Requirements

Demonstrate compliance with one of the options below:

 

Option 1 - Connect to Main Building Entrance Floor (Full Credit):

Demonstrate compliance with all the following requirements:

 

Multi-Tenant Whole Building (no on-site management), Multi-Tenant Whole Building (with on-site management)

1. Provide a stairway that connects the main building entrance floor(s) to all of the following:

• • • all occupied floors within the building(s)
    • the first six floors of the building(s)
    • floors with common spaces.

A combination of egress and/or unenclosed stairs may be used to comply with this credit, and key cards or other security devices may be employed.

2. Ensure that the identified stairs are accessible to all building occupants.
3. Ensure that the identified stairs connect all floors occupied by a single tenant.

 

Multi-Tenant Base Building

1. Provide a stairway that connects the main building entrance floor(s) to all of the following:

• • •  all floors within the building(s) occupied by full- and part-time employees and staff of the building owner/manager.
    • the first six floors of the building(s)
    • floors with common spaces.

A combination of egress and/or unenclosed stairs may be used to comply with this credit, and key cards or other security devices may be employed.

 

2. Ensure that the identified stairs are accessible to all full- and part-time employees and staff of the building owner/manager.

 

Single Tenant

1. Provide a stairway that connects the main building entrance floor(s) to all of the following:

• • • all occupied floors within the building(s)
    • the first six floors of the building(s)
    • floors with common spaces.

A combination of egress and/or unenclosed stairs may be used to comply with this credit, and key cards or other security devices may be employed.

2. Ensure that the identified stairs are accessible to all building occupants.

 

Commercial Interior

1. Provide a stairway that connects the main building entrance floor to all of the following:

• • • all floors occupied by full- and part-time employees and staff of the tenant space

    • all floors accessible to all full- and part-time employees and staff, including floors with common spaces accessible to full- and part-time employees and staff.

A combination of egress and/or unenclosed stairs may be used to comply with this credit, and key cards or other security devices may be employed.

 

2. Ensure that the identified stairs are accessible to all full- and part-time employees and staff within tenant spaces.

 

Option 2 - Connect Relevant Floors (Partial Credit):

The project may achieve partial credit by demonstrating compliance with the following requirements:

 

Multi-Tenant Whole Building (no on-site management), Multi-Tenant Whole Building (with on-site management)

1. Provide a stairway that connects all of the following: 

• • • all occupied floors within the building(s)
    • floors with common spaces accessible to building occupants.

2. Ensure that the identified stairs are accessible to all building(s) occupants.
3. Ensure that the identified stairs connect all floors occupied by a single tenant.

 

Multi-Tenant Base Building

1. Provide a stairway that connects all of the following: 

• • •  all floors within the building(s) occupied by full- and part-time employees and staff of the building owner/manager.
    • floors with common spaces accessible to building occupants.

2. Ensure that the identified stairs are accessible to all full- and part-time employees and staff of the building owner/manager.
3. Ensure that the identified stairs connect all floors occupied by a single tenant.

Single Tenant

1. Provide a stairway that connects all of the following: 

• • • all occupied floors within the building(s)
    • floors with common spaces accessible to building occupants.

2. Ensure that the identified stairs are accessible to all building(s) occupants.

Commercial Interior

1. Provide a stairway that connects all floors occupied by full- and part-time employees and staff of the tenant space.
2. Ensure that the identified stairs are accessible to all full- and part-time employees and staff within tenant spaces.

 

Compliance Documentation

Design Pathway

Option 1: 

Requirement 1

MTWB, MTWB+, ST

• • Upload an annotated plan(s) or sections showing:
    
    
    • all occupied floors within the building(s)
    • the first six floors of the building(s)
    • floors with common space

MTBB

• Upload an annotated plan(s) or sections showing:
  
  
  • all floors within the building(s) occupied by full- and part-time employees and staff of the building owner/manager
  • the first six floors of the building(s)
  • floors with common space

CI

• Upload an annotated plan(s) or sections showing:
  
  
  • all floors occupied by full- and part-time employees and staff of the tenant space
  • all floors accessible to all full- and part-time employees and staff, including floors with common spaces accessible to full- and part-time employees and staff.
  • the accessible stairwell on all required building floors.

 

Requirement 2

MTWB, MTWB+, ST

• • Checkbox to certify that the identified stairway will be accessible to all building occupants

MTBB

• • Checkbox to certify that the identified stairway will be accessible to all full- and part-time employees and staff of the building owner/manager.

CI

• • Checkbox to certify that the identified stairway will be accessible to all full- and part-time employees and staff within tenant spaces.

 

Requirement 3

MTWB, MTWB+, MTBB

• • Upload an annotated plan(s) and sections showing:
    • all floors that will be occupied by a single tenant
    • the accessible stairwell on all required building floors

 

Option 2: 

Requirement 1

MTWB, MTWB+, ST

• • Upload an annotated plan(s) and sections showing:
    • all occupied floors within the building(s)
    • floors with common spaces

MTBB

• • Upload an annotated plan(s) and sections showing:
    • all floors within the building(s) occupied by full- and part-time employees and staff of the building owner/manager.
    • floors with common spaces accessible to building occupants.

CI

• • Upload an annotated plan(s) and sections showing:
    • all floors occupied by full- and part-time employees and staff of the tenant space
    • the accessible stairwell on all required building floors.

Requirement 2

MTWB, MTWB+, ST

• • Checkbox to certify that the identified stairway will be accessible to all building occupants

MTBB

• • Checkbox to certify that the identified stairway will be accessible to all full- and part-time employees and staff of the building owner/manager.

CI

• • Checkbox to certify that the identified stairway will be accessible to all full- and part-time employees and staff within tenant spaces.

Requirement 3

MTWB, MTWB+, MTBB

• • Upload an annotated plan(s) and sections showing:
    • all floors that will be occupied by a single tenant
    • the accessible stairwell on all required building floors

 

Built Pathway

Option 1:

Requirement 1

MTWB, MTWB+,ST

• • Upload an annotated plan(s) and sections showing:
    • all occupied floors within the building(s)
    • the first six floors of the building(s)
    • floors with common spaces

MTBB

• • Upload an annotated plan(s) and sections showing:
    • all floors within the building(s) occupied by full- and part-time employees and staff of the building owner/manager.
    • the first six floors of the building(s)
    • floors with common spaces

CI

• • Upload an annotated plan(s) and sections showing:
    • all floors occupied by full- and part-time employees and staff of the tenant space
    • all floors accessible to all full- and part-time employees and staff, including floors with common spaces accessible to full- and part-time employees and staff.
    • the accessible stairwell on all required building floors.

Requirement 2

MTWB, MTWB+, ST

• • Checkbox to certify that the identified stairway is accessible to all building occupants

MTBB

• • Checkbox to certify that the identified stairway is accessible to all full- and part-time employees and staff of the building owner/manager.

CI

• • Checkbox to certify that the identified stairway is accessible to all full- and part-time employees and staff within tenant spaces.

Requirement 3

MTWB, MTWB+, MTBB

• • Upload an annotated plan(s) and sections showing:
    • all floors that are occupied by a single tenant
    • the accessible stairwell on all required building floors

 

Option 2:

Requirement 1

MTWB, MTWB+, ST

• • Upload an annotated plan(s) and sections showing:
    • all occupied floors within the building(s)
    • floors with common spaces

MTBB

• • Upload an annotated plan(s) and sections showing:
    • all floors within the building(s) occupied by full- and part-time employees and staff of the building owner/manager.
    • floors with common spaces accessible to building occupants.

CI

• • Upload an annotated plan(s) and sections showing:
    • all floors occupied by full- and part-time employees and staff of the tenant space
    • the accessible stairwell on all required building floors.

 

Requirement 2

MTWB, MTWB+, ST

• • Checkbox to certify that the identified stairway is accessible to all building occupants

MTBB

• • Checkbox to certify that the identified stairway is accessible to all full- and part-time employees and staff of the building owner/manager.

CI

• • Checkbox to certify that the identified stairway is accessible to all full- and part-time employees and staff within tenant spaces.

 

Requirement 3

MTWB, MTWB+, MTBB

• • Upload an annotated plan(s) and sections showing:
    • all floors that are occupied by a single tenant
    • the accessible stairwell on all required building floors