For many parents, the hallway represents a hazardous environment for children from an early age with toddlers climbing the stair gate and young children attempting to use the banister as a make-shift slide.
But more worryingly, many parents are unaware that their child could be at risk simply because of an unregulated staircase, which could lead to injury or serious accident.
Leading stairparts company, Richard Burbidge, has launched a parental campaign to raise awareness of unsafe, untested stairways in the home, after increasing concern that toddlers and young children are at risk.
It is claimed in the 24th annual report by The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA) that 58,000 children had an accident on the stairs in just one year.1
So in a bid to instil consumer confidence, Richard Burbidge highlights three major aesthetic flaws that are easily preventable when buying or fitting a staircase.
The first being horizontal balusters or spindles; these are often wide enough for a small child or toddler to get through which could lead to a fall from a great height. Horizontal guarding also represents a climbing hazard especially dangerous on the landing area.
Secondly the width between one vertical baluster to another; this should be no more than 99mm or in simple terms, the width of a babies head. Any wider than this and a child could climb through or even get their head caught between the balusters.
Thirdly there is the issue of the handrail height. Regulations in England and Wales dictate a minimum handrail height of 900mm (1000mm in Scotland), this is in place to minimise the risk of an adult or child falling over the railing.
Finally another problem, though often not visible to the naked eye, is the strength of the stairway. Without proper testing the stairway could crack or give way if a child was to fall against it.
Richard Burbidge Product Manager Zoë Lewis, said: “Stairs can be a major hazard in the home if not properly installed or regulated.
“Consumers often believe staircase renovation is a costly, time consuming job which can be the cause of the problem as systems become outdated and no longer safe.
“To save on cost, a lot of homeowners fit stairparts themselves but this could lead to a slip in measurements, therefore increasing the chance of a child getting stuck or falling.
“At Richard Burbidge, durability and safety are extremely important to us to ensure our stairparts do their job long into the future.
“All our products are put through a series of rigorous independent tests and assessments to meet all domestic safety requirements so parents can be assured that their child is safe.
“We have a wide range of stairparts systems readily available off-the-shelf that come pre-finished with pre-drilled rails and bases so consumers can feel confident that they can fit a safe, yet aesthetically pleasing stairway at an affordable price.”
For more information about the safety of Richard Burbidge stairparts visit www.innovate-and-renovate.com and click through to their YouTube page to tune into their discussion with Catherine Gee about safety in the home.