Vessel Fire Safety Regulations (SOR/2017-14)

315 (1) On a passenger-carrying vessel, the stairways and inclined ladders must be arranged so that

• (a) the sum of the riser height and tread depth on each stair is not less than 430 mm and not more than 460 mm;

• (b) except in the case of exterior stairways and inclined ladders without risers, a stair that has a tread depth of less than 260 mm must have a nosing of not less than 25 mm or other means of increasing the depth of the tread;

• (c) handrails are fitted on both sides of every flight of stairs, and have a height measured vertically above the tread of not less than 840 mm and not more than 910 mm;

• (d) at the top and bottom of every flight of stairs there is a clear landing with a surface area that is at least equal to the square of the actual tread width of the adjacent stair or, if that is not feasible, the largest surface area that is feasible;

• (e) the clear width of every door opening to a stairway or inclined ladder is at least equal to the width of the stair closest to the opening;

• (f) every stairway or inclined ladder has a minimum width of 760 mm or, if the stairway or inclined ladder is intended for use by more than 60 persons, of 760 mm plus 10 mm for each person in addition to the first 60; and

• (g) the maximum angle of inclination from the horizontal of every stairway or inclined ladder is

  • (i) 45° or, in the case of a stairway or inclined ladder intended only for the use of the crew, 55°, or

  • (ii) the minimum angle that is feasible, if the maximum angle required by subparagraph (i) is not feasible.

(2) For the purposes of paragraphs (1)(e) and (f), if the distance between handrails is less than the width of the treads, the width of the stair and the width of the stairway or inclined ladder must be measured between the handrails.