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:

Low-Rise Residential with shared interior spaces (LR+) 

1. Provide a stairway in each building within the project that connects the main building entrance floor(s) to the following:
   • all residential floors within the building

   • floors with common spaces.

     Note that this requirement does not apply to stairs located within individual dwelling units, such as townhomes. It applies only to shared stairwells within residential and amenity buildings that include any of the following shared spaces:

     • Building entry points (e.g., entrances, lobbies)
     • Indoor circulation areas (e.g., hallways, stairwells, corridors)
     • Common areas and/or resident amenities (e.g., lounges, fitness centers, clubhouses).

     Outdoor stairwells and breezeways may be used. A combination of egress and/or unenclosed stairs may be used to comply with this credit.

     Qualifying occupied common spaces must include but are not limited to the following:

     • Common spaces: which include spaces where building occupants gather for social events. Spaces include resident lounges, common kitchen facilities, multipurpose rooms, and game rooms.
     • Common building amenities: which include resource centers, fitness facilities, and exercise rooms.
2. Ensure that the identified stairs are accessible to all residential occupants.

Low-Rise Residential with no shared interior spaces (LR)

1. Provide a stairway in each building within the project that connects the ground floor(s) to all residential floors within the building(s).
   • Outdoor stairwells and breezeways may be used. A combination of egress and/or unenclosed stairs may be used to comply with this credit.
   • Note that this requirement does not apply to stairs located within individual dwelling units, such as townhomes. It applies only to shared stairwells.
2. Ensure that the identified stairs are accessible to all residential occupants.

Compliance Documentation

Design Pathway (LR+)

Option 1: 

• Requirement 1:
  • Upload an annotated plan(s) or sections showing the following for each group of typical buildings within the project:
    • the main building(s) entrance floor
    • all residential floors within the building(s)
    • all floors with common spaces
    • the accessible stairwell on all required building(s) floors.
• Requirement 2:
  • Checkbox to certify that the identified stairway will be accessible to all residential occupants.

Design Pathway (LR)

Option 1: 

• Requirement 1:
  • Upload an annotated plan(s) or sections showing the following for each group of typical buildings within the project:
    • the ground floor of the building(s)
    • all residential floors within the building(s)
    • the accessible stairwell on all required building(s) floors.
• Requirement 2:
  • Checkbox to certify that the identified stairway will be accessible to all residential occupants.

Built Pathway (LR+)

Option 1: 

• Requirement 1:
  • Upload an annotated plan(s) or sections showing the following for each group of typical buildings within the project:
    • the main building(s) entrance floor
    • all residential floors within the building(s)
    • all floors with common spaces
    • the accessible stairwell on all required building(s) floors.
• Requirement 2:
  • Checkbox to certify that the identified stairway is accessible to all residential occupants.

Built Pathway (LR)

Option 1: 

• Requirement 1:
  • Upload an annotated plan(s) or sections showing the following for each group of typical buildings within the project:
    • the ground floor of the building(s)
    • all residential floors within the building(s)
    • the accessible stairwell on all required building(s) floors.
       
• Requirement 2:
  • Checkbox to certify that the identified stairway is accessible to all residential occupants.