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.

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:

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:

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:

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

Types of compliance documentation required:

• Annotated design drawings
• Annotated plans
• Annotated photographs
• Calculations
• Certified statements