Form library · Construction and handover
Stair, handrail and guardrail inspection checklist
A stair inspection checklist for stairs, handrails, guardrails and balustrades in a new or existing building, on a phone or tablet. Enter the values from the code or guidance that applies to the job, then add each stair as a space and measure the risers, goings, width, headroom, handrail and guard heights and the widest gap in the guarding. The form compares each measurement with your values, then you check the nosings, tread condition, handrail continuity and fixings, climbable guarding, glass and lighting, and log each defect with a photo and priority. For a balcony use the balcony inspection checklist; for temporary edge protection on a construction site use the fall protection plan.
For builders, site managers, home inspectors, building surveyors and property managers checking stairs and guarding before handover or in an existing building.
Written for the UK and the US: millimetres or inches, Approved Document K reference notes for England and IRC reference notes from US building department handouts. Elsewhere, enter the values from your own code.
- Each stair as a space: tallest and shortest riser, deepest and shallowest going, width, headroom, handrail and guard heights and the widest gap
- Measurements compared only with the values you enter from your code, with riser and going variation worked out
- Checks for nosings, slippery treads, handrail continuity, grip and fixings, climbable guarding, glass panels and lighting
- Defects as items with position, measurement, priority and photos, and measure from photo as an estimate
- Reference notes from Approved Document K (England) and US building department handouts, with their sources
Ready to use from the form library, and every question is yours to edit. Try it for a small trial fee, cancel any time.
Try it on your phone
Try it on this phone
Fill in the stair and guardrail inspection on your phone now
See how the stair and guardrail inspection looks on your phone
Scan the code with your phone camera. It opens the real form, no sign-up needed.
Open the live example and fill it in, just as your team would on site. No sign-up needed.
See it on this phoneEvery question is editable. Add this form to your account, then change the wording, add or remove questions and options, and make it fit your own jobs.
What does a stair and guardrail inspection check?
It is useful when the values come from the code that applies to that building and the measurements are the extremes of each flight: the tallest and shortest riser, the shallowest going, the lowest handrail and guard and the widest gap, not one typical step. Then every handrail and baluster is pushed and pulled by hand.
Last updated . Facts checked by the SiteSurvey team on 27 October 2026 against Approved Document K, protection from falling, collision and impact (2013 edition, England), Knox County, Tennessee Code Administration, 2018 IRC residential stairs information (R311.7, R312) and City of Gilroy, California, residential stairways, handrails and guards handout (CRC R311.7, R312).
How to inspect stairs, handrails and guardrails
Decide which values apply before you measure, then measure the extremes, not one typical step.
Enter the values that apply
Choose millimetres or inches, name the code or guidance, and enter the maximum riser, minimum going, allowed variation, width, headroom, handrail range, guard height and largest opening.
Measure each stair
Add each stair as a space. Measure the tallest and shortest riser, the deepest and shallowest going, the narrowest width, the lowest headroom, the handrail height at its lowest and highest points, the lowest guard and the widest gap.
Run the checks
Check the nosings, tread surfaces, handrail continuity and grip, push and pull the handrail and guarding for movement, and look for climbable rails, damaged glass and poor lighting.
Record each defect
Log each defect with where it is, any measurement, a priority and photos, and say whether it was made safe on the day.
Set actions and sign
The form totals measurements outside your values and checks needing action. Set actions with owners and dates, choose the decision and sign.
What makes a stair and guardrail inspection useful
Each stair: the extreme measurements and the widest gap in the guarding
Unit A main stair, 14 risers: risers 7 3/8 to 7 5/8 in, treads 10 1/4 to 10 1/2 in, handrail 34 1/2 to 35 1/2 in, guard 35 in. Gap between balusters 6 and 7 on the upper flight 4 3/4 in against 4 3/8 in entered. Unit B basement stair: lowest wall bracket in drywall only, rail moves about 1/2 in.
Fictional example. Record the actual evidence and approved arrangements for your job.
A common recording mistake
Measuring one riser and one tread and calling the stair consistent, or checking a handrail by looking at it instead of pulling it.
What happens next
Have the defects fixed, remeasure the gap and pull-test the refixed handrail, and keep the report with the handover file.
Try the stair and guardrail inspection form live
Answer a few questions and watch it adapt. Your answers are not saved, and any photos you add are deleted within the hour.
This is the real form as your team would use it: questions appear as you answer, scores work themselves out and you can add photos and signatures. No sign-up needed. Or open a completed example to see every answer, photo and score filled in.
Want to see one filled in? See a completed stair and guardrail inspection report (PDF), made by SiteSurvey from a fictional site visit.
Every question in the stair and guardrail inspection template
A stair, handrail, guardrail and balustrade inspection for new or existing buildings: each stair as a space with riser, going, width, headroom, handrail and guard heights and baluster gaps measured (measure from photo as an estimate) and compared with the values you enter from your code, consistency of risers, nosings, slip resistance condition, handrail continuity, grip and fixings, climbable elements, glass and lighting checked, defects as items with photos and priority, actions and sign-off. Reference notes from Approved Document K (England) and US building department handouts. 5 sections and 101 questions. Follow-up questions and guidance appear only when an answer calls for them, so the person on site never sees the ones that do not apply.
Make it your own: every question is editable
This is a starting point, not a fixed form. Once it is in your SiteSurvey account you can reword any question, add or remove questions, sections and answer options, and add your own logo, so it fits the way your team works and the jobs you do.
Details you only enter once
Add this form to a project in SiteSurvey and it fills in what the project already knows, so nobody on site retypes it and every form on the job uses the same names. Anything filled in can still be changed.
- Project: the project name
- Site address: the site address, from the space or the project
- Client or owner: the project's customer
Inspection details
- ProjectShort answer
Filled in from the project in SiteSurvey.
Fills in from the project name - Site addressShort answerFills in from the site address, from the space or the project
- Client or ownerShort answerFills in from the project's customer
- Location (GPS)Short answer
- Inspection date*Date
- Inspected by*Short answer
- Where is the building?*Choose one
Sets which reference notes you see.
- England
- Wales
- Scotland
- Northern Ireland
- United States
- Other country
- Building*Choose one
- House (single dwelling)
- Duplex or townhouse
- Flat or apartment (inside)
- Block of flats (common stair)
- Office, shop or public building
- Other
- Reason for the inspection*Choose one
- New build before handover
- Alteration or new stair
- Existing building condition check
- After a complaint or incident
- May children under five use the building?Yes or No
- Weather on siteAnswer
- CheckThis form records what was measured and seen on the stairs, handrails and guarding on the day, and compares measurements only with the values you enter from the code or guidance that applies. It does not approve the work or show that it meets building regulations or a building code.
Values to check against
- Units used in this form*Choose one
- Millimetres (mm)
- Inches (in)
- Code or guidance these values come from*Short answer
For example Approved Document K 2013, private stair; 2021 IRC as adopted by the county.
- GuidanceEnter the limits that apply to this building and stair type, in the units chosen. Leave a box blank if it does not apply. Only what you enter is compared with the measurements.
- Maximum riser height (mm or in)Number
- Minimum going or tread depth (mm or in)Number
- Most a riser or tread may vary within a flight (mm or in)Number
- Minimum clear width (mm or in)Number
- Minimum headroom (mm or in)Number
- Handrail height: lowest allowed (mm or in)Number
- Handrail height: highest allowed (mm or in)Number
- Minimum guard or balustrade height (mm or in)Number
- Largest opening allowed in the guarding (mm or in)Number
The sphere size the code uses.
- GuidanceEngland: Approved Document K (2013 edition), reference values. Rise and going (Table 1.1): private stair (one dwelling) rise 150 to 220 mm, going 220 to 300 mm, maximum pitch 42°; utility stair rise 150 to 190 mm, going 250 to 400 mm; general access stair rise 150 to 170 mm, going 250 to 400 mm. Rise and going consistent throughout a flight. Headroom 2 m (reduced headroom allowed for loft conversions, Diagram 1.4). Handrail top 900 to 1000 mm from the pitch line, on both sides if the stair is 1000 mm or wider. Guarding height (Diagram 3.1): 900 mm for stairs and landings in single family dwellings; 900 mm for flights and 1100 mm elsewhere in residential, office and public buildings. Where children under five may use the building, a 100 mm sphere must not pass through the guarding and it should not be readily climbable. For existing buildings Table 1.1 should be followed unless dimensional constraints make it impossible, with any alternative agreed with building control. Older stairs may have been built to earlier rules.Shown when “Where is the building?” is “England”
- CheckApproved Document K is guidance for building work in England. Use the guidance that applies where the building is.Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
- GuidanceUnited States: example values, not your code. A Knox County, Tennessee handout on the 2018 IRC gives: riser at most 7 3/4 in and tread at least 10 in, each varying no more than 3/8 in within a flight (R311.7.5); headroom 6 ft 8 in (R311.7.2); handrails 34 to 38 in above the nosings on at least one side of flights with four or more risers, continuous, ends returned or ending in newel posts (R311.7.8); guards 36 in where the drop is more than 30 in, 34 in on open sides of stairs (R312.1); openings that do not pass a 4 in sphere, 4 3/8 in on the sides of stair treads (R312.1.3). California's residential code asks for 42 in guards at open walking surfaces (City of Gilroy handout). Use the edition and amendments your building department has adopted.Shown when “Where is the building?” is “United States”
Stairs, handrails and guarding
- GuidanceAdd each stair or flight as a space. Measure it, run the checks and record each defect with its position, priority and a photo.
- StairsRepeat for each stair. Each one asks:
- Stair*Short answer
For example main stair, ground to first; basement stair; external steps to the garden.
- Type*Choose one
- Straight flight
- Flights with a landing
- With winders or tapered treads
- Spiral or helical
- External steps
- Stair category*Choose one
- Private stair (one dwelling)
- Common or general access stair
- Utility or maintenance stair
- Number of risersNumber
- Open risers?Choose one
- Yes
- No
- GuardingChoose one
- Balusters or spindles
- Glass panels
- Solid wall or panel
- Mesh or bar infill
- No open side
- GuidanceMeasure the tallest and shortest riser and the deepest and shallowest going in the flight, the narrowest width, the lowest headroom, the lowest and highest handrail height and the widest gap in the guarding.
- Tallest riser (mm or in)Number
- Shortest riser (mm or in)Number
- Deepest going or tread (mm or in)Number
- Shallowest going or tread (mm or in)Number
- Riser variationWorked out by the formShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Going variationWorked out by the formShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Narrowest clear width (mm or in)Number
- Lowest headroom (mm or in)Number
- Handrail height: lowest point (mm or in)Number
Measured vertically from the line of the nosings.
- Handrail height: highest point (mm or in)Number
- Lowest guard or balustrade height (mm or in)NumberShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Widest gap in the guarding (mm or in)Number
Between balusters, or under the bottom rail. A photo measure is an estimate.
Shown only when the answers above make it relevant - s_flagsWorked out by the form
- Measurements outside the values enteredWorked out by the form
- Which measurements, and by how muchNotesShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Risers and goings consistent through the flightChoose one
No odd step, especially at the top and bottom.
- Acceptable
- Action needed
- Not checked
- Not applicable
- What needs doing, or why not checkedNotesShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Nosings sound and visibleChoose one
Not loose, broken, worn rounded or hard to see.
- Acceptable
- Action needed
- Not checked
- Not applicable
- What needs doing, or why not checkedNotesShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Tread surfaces in a condition that is not slipperyChoose one
No polished or worn treads, loose carpet or rods, missing anti-slip strips.
- Acceptable
- Action needed
- Not checked
- Not applicable
- What needs doing, or why not checkedNotesShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Handrail continuous for the full flight, ends returned or finishedChoose one
- Acceptable
- Action needed
- Not checked
- Not applicable
- What needs doing, or why not checkedNotesShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Handrail easy to grip, smooth and free of sharp edgesChoose one
- Acceptable
- Action needed
- Not checked
- Not applicable
- What needs doing, or why not checkedNotesShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Handrail brackets and fixings secureChoose one
Push and pull by hand: no movement.
- Acceptable
- Action needed
- Not checked
- Not applicable
- What needs doing, or why not checkedNotesShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Guarding, balusters and newel posts secureChoose one
No movement, splits, missing balusters or loose infill.
- Acceptable
- Action needed
- Not checked
- Not applicable
- What needs doing, or why not checkedNotesShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Guarding not readily climbableChoose one
No horizontal rails or footholds where young children may use the building.
- Acceptable
- Action needed
- Not checked
- Not applicable
- What needs doing, or why not checkedNotesShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Glass balustrade panels and fixings intactChoose one
No chips, cracks or loose clamps or caps.
- Acceptable
- Action needed
- Not checked
- Not applicable
- What needs doing, or why not checkedNotesShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Lighting works and lights every stepChoose one
- Acceptable
- Action needed
- Not checked
- Not applicable
- What needs doing, or why not checkedNotesShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Stair, landings and ends clear of obstructions and trip hazardsChoose one
- Acceptable
- Action needed
- Not checked
- Not applicable
- What needs doing, or why not checkedNotesShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Defects on this stairRepeat for each defect. Each one asks:
- Defect reference*Short answer
For example D1.
- Defect*Choose one
- Loose handrail or bracket
- Handrail missing or not continuous
- Gap in guarding too wide
- Guard or balustrade too low
- Guarding loose or damaged
- Climbable guarding
- Glass damaged or fixing loose
- Riser or going inconsistent
- Nosing or tread damaged
- Slippery or worn tread
- Headroom too low
- Lighting not working
- Other
- Where*Short answer
For example wall handrail, lower bracket; between balusters 4 and 5 on the landing.
- Measurement, if any (mm or in)Number
A photo measure is an estimate.
- Priority*Choose one
- Urgent: make safe now
- High
- Medium
- Low
- Made safe or taped off today?Yes or No
- Defect photosPhotos
- Checks needing action on this stairWorked out by the form
- Defects recordedWorked out by the form
- s_urgentWorked out by the form
- s_ncWorked out by the form
- Stair photosPhotos
- Walk Cam: stairs walk-roundWalk Cam video with voice-to-text
Optional. Film a guided walk-round on the SiteSurvey app.
Summary
- Stairs inspectedWorked out by the form
- Measurements outside the values enteredWorked out by the form
- Checks needing actionWorked out by the form
- Checks not doneWorked out by the form
- Defects recordedWorked out by the form
- Urgent defectsWorked out by the form
- WarningMake urgent defects safe before anyone uses the stair, for example tape it off, and tell the client in writing.Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Parts not inspected and whyNotes
For example external steps under snow, loft ladder locked.
Result, actions and sign-off
- Items needing actionWorked out by the form
- ResultWorked out by the form
- ActionsRepeat for each action. Each one asks:
- Action*Notes
- PriorityChoose one
- Urgent: make safe now
- Before handover
- Within a month
- Routine
- Who will do it*Short answer
- Due byDate
- Status*Choose one
- Open
- In progress
- Done, checked
- Photo when donePhotosShown when “Status” is “Done, checked”
- Actions still openWorked out by the form
- Decision*Choose one
- Ready to use or hand over
- Use once the listed actions are done
- Not to be used: re-inspect
- Next check or re-inspection dateDate
- Summary for the clientNotes
- Inspector nameShort answer
- Inspector signature*Signature
- Contractor or owner nameShort answer
- Contractor or owner signatureSignature
See it filled in
A completed stair and guardrail inspection report, made by SiteSurvey from a fictional site visit: every answer, the photos, the guidance that applied and the sign-off, ready to send as a PDF.
Stair and guardrail inspection FAQs
What rise and going does Approved Document K give?
Table 1.1 of Approved Document K (2013 edition, England) gives a rise of 150 to 220 mm and a going of 220 to 300 mm for a private stair serving one dwelling, with a maximum pitch of 42°; 150 to 190 mm and 250 to 400 mm for a utility stair; and 150 to 170 mm and 250 to 400 mm for a general access stair. It also gives 2 m headroom, a handrail top 900 to 1000 mm above the pitch line, and 900 mm guarding for stairs and landings in single family dwellings. Enter the values that apply to your building; the form does not pick them for you.
Source: Approved Document K, protection from falling, collision and impact (2013 edition, England).
What are the IRC stair, handrail and guard values?
A Knox County, Tennessee handout on the 2018 IRC gives a riser of at most 7 3/4 in and a tread of at least 10 in, each varying no more than 3/8 in in a flight, headroom of 6 ft 8 in, handrails 34 to 38 in above the nosings, guards of 36 in where the drop is more than 30 in and 34 in on open sides of stairs, and openings that do not pass a 4 in sphere (4 3/8 in on the sides of stair treads). States amend these: California's residential code asks for 42 in guards at open walking surfaces. Use what your building department has adopted.
Sources: Knox County, Tennessee Code Administration, 2018 IRC residential stairs information (R311.7, R312) and City of Gilroy, California, residential stairways, handrails and guards handout (CRC R311.7, R312).
Why do I enter the code values myself?
Because they change with the country, the code edition, local amendments, the building type and the stair category, and an older stair may have been built to earlier rules. Approved Document K says that for existing buildings Table 1.1 should be followed unless dimensional constraints make it impossible, with any alternative agreed with building control. The form compares your measurements only with the values you enter, and shows reference notes with their source.
Source: Approved Document K, protection from falling, collision and impact (2013 edition, England).
How do I check the gap between balusters?
Find the widest gap, often at the bottom of a flight or beside a newel, and measure it with a tape, a gauge of the right size, or from a photo in SiteSurvey, which gives an estimate. In England, Approved Document K says that where children under five may use the building a 100 mm sphere should not pass through the guarding and it should not be readily climbable. US handouts use a 4 in sphere, or 4 3/8 in on the sides of stair treads.
Sources: Approved Document K, protection from falling, collision and impact (2013 edition, England) and Knox County, Tennessee Code Administration, 2018 IRC residential stairs information (R311.7, R312).
Does it cover glass balustrades and temporary guardrails?
It covers glass balustrade panels in a building as a visual check of the panels, clamps and caps, with photos; it does not test or specify the glass. It does not cover temporary guardrails or edge protection on a construction site; use the fall protection plan for those.
Does the form approve the stair or make it compliant?
No. It records what was measured and seen on the day, compares the measurements with the values you entered, and lists actions and signatures in a PDF report or shared link. Approval is for the building control body or building department.
Related
Related templates
Templates that go with the stair and guardrail inspection form
A balcony condition record covering safe access, visible surfaces, balustrades, drainage, distress indicators, evidence and referral for specialist review.
A new home final walkthrough with the buyer, the blue tape walk: room by room, each taped item with its location, trade, photo, whether both sides agree and whether it is fixed, then the systems shown working, documents, keys and utilities handed over, open and closed counts, a re-walk date and signatures.
Snag by snag record with room, element, photo and priority, checks with no snag, totals and re-inspection.
A decking inspection checklist: deck type, material and height, boards, fixings, surface, steps, balustrade and handrail, joists, posts and footings, guarding height and gaps, each defect with risk and photos, and the result.
Use this stair and guardrail inspection form with your team
Add it from the form library in one click, change any question, and every completed form becomes a branded PDF report.
Start your trial →