Create an appealing and accessible stair environment

Rationale: Installing design features that invite occupants to take the stairs — such as motivational signage, artwork, and safety elements — is effective at increasing daily activity and reducing the risk of chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes, 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 - Appealing and Accessible Stair Environment (Full Credit):

To achieve full credit, demonstrate compliance with all of the following requirements:

Multi-Tenant Retail

1. At the stairs used to achieve credit for the Stair Access Strategy, include a minimum of two of the following qualifying active design strategies on at least 51% of the floors connected by the stairs:

• posting motivational signs and/or graphics
• installing a music system
• moderating temperature to match the rest of the building 
• painting walls with a bright color(s) other than white
• including artwork
• allowing access to natural daylight.

Stairs documented in this strategy must be the same stairs documented in the Stair Access Strategy.

2. At the stairs used to achieve credit for the Stair Access Strategy, include a minimum of two of the following qualifying stair safety elements on all floors connected by the stairs:

• handrails: locate handrails on two sides
• materials: use high-contrast tread edges, matte finishes to avoid glare, patterned carpet
• lighting: use lighting to emphasize steps and other impediments, illuminate dark corners, or locate entrances and exits
• visual cues: use cues (with paint, lighting, tape) to highlight edges, entrances and exits, or obstacles
• stair treads: adding rubber treading or anti-slip materials.

Stairs documented in this strategy must be the same stairs documented in the Stair Access Strategy.

Retail

1. At the stairs used to achieve credit for the Stair Access Strategy, include a minimum of two of the following qualifying active design strategies on at least 51% of the floors connected by the stairs:

• posting motivational signs and/or graphics
• installing a music system
• moderating temperature to match the rest of the building 
• painting walls with a bright color(s) other than white
• including artwork
• allowing access to natural daylight.

Stairs documented in this strategy must be the same stairs documented in the Stair Access Strategy.

2. At the stairs used to achieve credit for the Stair Access Strategy, include a minimum of two of the following qualifying stair safety elements on all floors connected by the stairs:

• handrails: locate handrails on two sides
• materials: use high-contrast tread edges, matte finishes to avoid glare, patterned carpet
• lighting: use lighting to emphasize steps and other impediments, illuminate dark corners, or locate entrances and exits
• visual cues: use cues (with paint, lighting, tape) to highlight edges, entrances and exits, or obstacles
• stair treads: adding rubber treading or anti-slip materials.

Stairs documented in this strategy must be the same stairs documented in the Stair Access Strategy.

Option 2 - Accessible Stair Environment (Partial Credit):

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

Multi-Tenant Retail

1. At the stairs used to achieve credit for the Stair Access Strategy, include a minimum of two of the following qualifying stair safety elements on all floors connected by the stairs:

• handrails: locate handrails on two sides
• materials: use high-contrast tread edges, matte finishes to avoid glare, patterned carpet
• lighting: use lighting to emphasize steps and other impediments, illuminate dark corners, or locate entrances and exits
• visual cues: use cues (with paint, lighting, tape) to highlight edges, entrances and exits, or obstacles
• stair treads: adding rubber treading or anti-slip materials.

Stairs documented in this strategy must be the same stairs documented in the Stair Access Strategy.

Retail

1. At the stairs used to achieve credit for the Stair Access Strategy, include a minimum of two of the following qualifying stair safety elements on all floors connected by the stairs:

• handrails: locate handrails on two sides
• materials: use high-contrast tread edges, matte finishes to avoid glare, patterned carpet
• lighting: use lighting to emphasize steps and other impediments, illuminate dark corners, or locate entrances and exits
• visual cues: use cues (with paint, lighting, tape) to highlight edges, entrances and exits, or obstacles
• stair treads: adding rubber treading or anti-slip materials.

Stairs documented in this strategy must be the same stairs documented in the Stair Access Strategy.

Option 3 - Appealing Stair Environment (Partial Credit):

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

Multi-Tenant Retail

1. At the stairs used to achieve credit for the Stair Access Strategy, include a minimum of two of the following qualifying active design strategies on at least 51% of the floors connected by the stairs:

• posting motivational signs and/or graphics
• installing a music system
• moderating temperature to match the rest of the building 
• painting walls with bright color(s) other than white
• including artwork
• allowing access to natural daylight.

Stairs documented in this strategy must be the same stairs documented in the Stair Access Strategy.

Retail

1. At the stairs used to achieve credit for the Stair Access Strategy, include a minimum of two of the following qualifying active design strategies on at least 51% of the floors connected by the stairs:

• posting motivational signs and/or graphics
• installing a music system
• moderating temperature to match the rest of the building 
• painting walls with bright color(s) other than white
• including artwork
• allowing access to natural daylight.

Stairs documented in this strategy must be the same stairs documented in the Stair Access Strategy.

Compliance Documentation

Design Pathway 

Option 1: 

• Requirement 1
  • Text box to input the number of floors that will be accessible by the identified stairs
  • Text box to input the number of floors that will include active design strategies
  • Checkboxes to select the active design strategies that will be implemented

  • Upload annotated design drawings or a photograph(s) showing how each unique qualifying active design strategy will be implemented

  • Upload an annotated plan(s) showing each floor that will include the qualifying active design strategies.

• Requirement 2
  • Text box to input the number of floors that will include stair safety elements
  • Checkboxes to select the stair safety elements that will be implemented

  • Upload annotated design drawings or a photograph(s) showing how each unique qualifying stair safety element will be implemented

  • Upload an annotated plan(s) showing each floor that will include the qualifying stair safety elements

Option 2: 

• Text box to input the number of floors that will include stair safety elements
• Checkbox to select the stair safety elements that will be implemented

• Upload annotated design drawings or a photograph(s) showing how each unique qualifying stair safety element will be implemented

• Upload an annotated plan(s) showing each floor that will include the qualifying stair safety elements

Option 3: 

• Text box to input the number of floors that will be accessible by the identified stairs
• Text box to input the number of floors that will include active design strategies
• Checkbox to select the active design strategies that will be implemented

• Upload annotated design drawings or a photograph(s) showing how each unique qualifying active design strategy will be implemented

• Upload an annotated plan(s) showing each floor that will include the qualifying active design strategies

Built Pathway 

Option 1: 

• Requirement 1
  • Text box to input the number of floors that are accessible by the identified stairs
  • Text box to input the number of floors that include active design strategies
  • Checkboxes to select the below active design strategies that are implemented

  • Upload an annotated photograph(s) or design drawings showing each unique qualifying active design strategy

  • Upload an annotated plan(s) showing each floor that includes the qualifying active design strategies

• Requirement 2
  • Text box to input the number of floors that include stair safety elements
  • Checkboxes to select the stair safety elements that are implemented

  • Upload an annotated photograph(s) showing each unique qualifying stair safety element

  • Upload an annotated plan(s) showing each floor that includes the qualifying stair safety elements

Option 2: 

• Text box to input the number of floors that include stair safety elements
• Checkboxes to select the stair safety elements that are implemented

• Upload an annotated photograph(s) showing each unique qualifying stair safety element

• Upload an annotated plan(s) showing each floor that includes the qualifying stair safety elements

Option 3: 

• Text box to input the number of floors that are accessible by the identified stairs

• Text box to input the number of floors that include active design strategies

• Checkboxes to select the active design strategies that are implemented

• Upload an annotated photograph(s) or design drawings showing each unique qualifying active design strategy

• Upload an annotated photograph(s) or design drawings showing each unique qualifying active design strategy