Stair Safety

Implementing best practices in stair safety prevent stair-related injury and support equity for vulnerable populations.

Key Terms

• Best Practices in Stair Safety are strategies designed to increase safety in stairs including, but not limited to, continuous handrails, high contrast tread edge highlighters, and the use of context appropriate lighting.

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

Strategy Insights

• Stair safety practices create awareness for occupants and helps prevent stair-related injury.
• A minimum of one stair safety practice must be applied to each floor within the project.
• Stair tread with non-slip features, texture/traction, etc. does qualify.

Documentation Guidance

• May be shown through annotated photographs and/or floor plans:
  • • Handrails on both sides of stairwell walls.
    • Context-appropriate lighting.
• Must be shown through annotated photographs since floor plans will not demonstrate compliance:
  • Materials such as high contrast tread edges, matte finishes to avoid glare, or patterned carpet.
  • Visual cues such as paint, lighting, tape to highlight edges, entrances and exits, or obstacles.

Videos