Illuminating Your Stairway: Safety Through Lighting

Proper lighting is crucial for any staircase, ensuring safe and confident navigation, especially at night or in dimly lit areas. Building codes provide guidelines for staircase illumination to prevent accidents and enhance visibility.

Interior Stairway Illumination

Interior stairways require artificial light sources to illuminate the treads and landings, making each step clearly visible.

Lighting Requirements:

• Minimum Illumination: The light source must provide at least 1 foot-candle of illumination, measured at the center of the treads and landings. This ensures adequate visibility for safe movement.
• Switch Location: For stairways with six or more risers, there should be a wall switch at each floor level to control the light source. This allows for easy and convenient control of the lighting.
• Exceptions: A switch is not required if the lighting is controlled remotely, centrally, or automatically.

Exterior Stairway Illumination

Exterior stairways also require artificial lighting to ensure safe navigation during nighttime hours.

Lighting Requirements:

• Light Source Location: Exterior stairways should have a light source located at the top landing. This provides illumination for the entire staircase.
• Basement Access: For exterior stairways leading to a basement from the outside, an additional light source should be located at the bottom landing. This ensures visibility when entering or exiting the basement.

By following these guidelines, you can ensure your staircase is well-lit and safe for everyone, regardless of the time of day or lighting conditions.