05. Stairs - Appealing and Accessible Stair

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):

Demonstrate compliance with all the following requirements:

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

1. At the sets of 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)*
   • including artwork
   • allowing access to natural daylight (for indoor stairs only)

   *Bright colors are vivid and highly saturated hues. Neutral and pale shades low in saturation do not qualify. Additional guidance can be found HERE.

   Note that this strategy 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).

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 the following requirement:        

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

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.

   Note that this strategy 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).

     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 the following requirement:        

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

1. At the sets of 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)*
   • including artwork
   • allowing access to natural daylight (for indoor stairs only)

*Bright colors are vivid and highly saturated hues. Neutral and pale shades low in saturation do not qualify. Additional guidance can be found HERE.

Compliance Documentation

Design Pathway (LR+, LR)

Option 1: 

• Requirement 1:
  • Checkbox to select the below active design strategies that will be implemented: (two required)
    • Motivational signage and/or graphics
    • Music system
    • Moderating temperature
    • Painting walls with bright color
    • Artwork
    • Natural daylight
  • Upload annotated design drawings or a photograph(s) showing each unique qualifying active design strategy that will be implemented.
  • Upload an annotated plan(s) or design drawings of the stairs for each group of typical buildings within the project showing the floors that will include the qualifying active design strategies.
• Requirement 2:
  • Checkbox to select the below stair safety elements that will be implemented: (two required)
    • Handrails
    • Materials
    • Lighting
    • Visual cues
    • Stair treads
  • Upload annotated design drawings or a photograph(s) showing each unique qualifying stair safety element that will be implemented.
  • Upload an annotated plan(s) or design drawing(s) of the stairs for each group of typical buildings within the project showing the floors that will include the qualifying stair safety elements.

Option 2: 

• Requirement 1:
  • Checkbox to select the below stair safety elements that will be implemented: (two required)
    • Handrails
    • Materials
    • Lighting
    • Visual cues
    • Stair treads
  • Upload annotated design drawings or a photograph(s) showing each unique qualifying stair safety element that will be implemented.
  • Upload an annotated plan(s) or design drawing(s) of the stairs for each group of typical buildings within the project showing the floors that will include the qualifying stair safety elements.

Option 3:

• Requirement 1:
  • Checkbox to select the below active design strategies that will be implemented: (two required)
    • Motivational signage and/or graphics
    • Music system
    • Moderating temperature
    • Painting walls with bright color
    • Artwork
    • Natural daylight
  • Upload annotated design drawings or a photograph(s) showing each unique qualifying active design strategy that will be implemented.
  • Upload an annotated plan(s) or design drawings of the stairs for each group of typical buildings within the project showing the floors that will include the qualifying active design strategies.

Built Pathway (LR+, LR)

Option 1: 

• Requirement 1:
  • Checkbox to select the below active design strategies that are implemented: (two required)
    • Motivational signage and/or graphics
    • Music system
    • Moderating temperature
    • Painting walls with bright color
    • Artwork
    • Natural daylight
  • Upload an annotated photograph(s) or design drawings showing each unique qualifying active design strategy.
  • Upload an annotated plan(s), design drawing(s), or photograph(s) of the stairs for each group of typical buildings within the project showing the floors that include the qualifying active design strategies.
• Requirement 2:
  • Checkbox to select the below stair safety elements that are implemented: (two required)
    • Handrails
    • Materials
    • Lighting
    • Visual cues
    • Stair treads
  • Upload an annotated photograph(s) showing each unique qualifying stair safety element.
  • Upload an annotated plan(s), design drawing(s), or photograph(s) of the stairs for each group of typical buildings within the project showing the floors that include the qualifying stair safety elements.

Option 2: 

• Requirement 1:
  • Checkbox to select the below stair safety elements that are implemented: (two required)
    • Handrails
    • Materials
    • Lighting
    • Visual cues
    • Stair treads
  • Upload an annotated photograph(s) showing each unique qualifying stair safety element.
  • Upload an annotated plan(s), design drawing(s), or photograph(s) of the stairs for each group of typical buildings within the project showing the floors that include the qualifying stair safety elements.

Option 3:

• Requirement 1:
  • Checkbox to select the below active design strategies that are implemented: (two required)
    • Motivational signage and/or graphics
    • Music system
    • Moderating temperature
    • Painting walls with bright color
    • Artwork
    • Natural daylight
  • Upload an annotated photograph(s) or design drawings showing each unique qualifying active design strategy.
  • Upload an annotated plan(s), design drawing(s), or photograph(s) of the stairs for each group of typical buildings within the project showing the floors that include the qualifying active design strategies.