Steps & Ramps : Steps
General Guidance | Steps | Steps Key Design Principles | Ramps | Ramps Key Design Principles | Handrails | Design to Accommodate Cyclists, Pushchairs etc. | Design List | Evaluation Summary
Building steps is one of the most difficult aspects of path construction and often fails through inadequate planning, poor design and construction, or lack of drainage. Most steps are constructed either of timber with an aggregate fill, or of stone. Timber steps are usually more appropriate in woodland and lowland situations, where there is a desire to maintain a site's informal 'feel', and on accessible sites that are convenient for maintenance. Stone is more durable on upland sites and is generally more in keeping with the character and appearance of upland landscapes: stone can also be an appropriate material for 'hard' coastal sites (i.e. cliffs and other rocky areas).
In remote or inaccessible landscapes,
the availability of suitable stone blocks or aggregate close to the site will
influence the design that is cheapest and most convenient to construct. In
such locations, care should be exercised in the use of more formal or
regular designs of stone block steps that may appear out of place. Step
design will also be influenced by the accessibility of the site to disabled
people and people with mobility difficulties. The more accessible the
location, the greater the requirement to ensure that the needs of people
with disabilities are taken into account.