Brick Stairways Expert Article

The use of brick as a building material on stairs and walkways is common in some regions of the country but can present certain safety issues without proper installation, inspection and maintenance. This article examines the use of bricks on exterior entry stairs, but many of the principles discussed will hold true for other architectural features.

Investigating Falls on Brick Stairways

People who fall on stairs commonly describe the initiating action as a slip; however, in many instances an investigation of the incident stairway will demonstrate that surface materials such as brick are reasonably slip resistant.

These falls can often be attributed to the descending foot grazing or missing the nosing altogether due to irregularities in tread depth or riser height. Toe catching in ascent on an excessively protruding nosing is another recognized hazard.

Irregularities in stairway dimensions can cause individuals to misstep, which may be perceived as a slip. As Figure 1 below illustrates, if brick patterns aren’t carefully considered, it can be difficult to identify the location of tread nosings in descent.

Elements of a Safe Stairway

Industry standards and modern building codes generally require stairs to be reasonably uniform in tread depth and riser height with planar treads that are uniform in pitch. Let’s take a moment to explain these terms.

• Tread Depth – describes the depth of the area on stairs where the foot makes contact, measured between the vertical planes of the foremost projection of adjacent treads
• Riser Height – describes the height differential from one tread surface to the next, measured vertically between the nosings of adjacent treads
• Planar – flat and consistent across the surface, without significant bumps, divots or other irregularities that might disrupt the intended movement of the foot
• Uniform in pitch – exterior treads may be pitched (within reason) to facilitate drainage, but the same angle of pitch should be present throughout the stairs

These properties are important for stairway safety because of the way pedestrians navigate stairs. For decades, industry publications have recognized that pedestrians are unable to identify small inconsistencies in stairway geometry and will usually expect each step up or down the stairs to be similar to the prior.

Studies have shown that deviations in riser height or tread depth as small as 3/8” are likely to cause missteps or trips.

There are other stairway attributes that are just as critical to safety as those mentioned above, but less pertinent to the topic of brick stairways. For a primer on general stairway safety, including design standards please reference our article on Stairway Design Standards.

The Difficulty with Brick or Masonry Stairways

The dimensions of bricks, as a relatively small building material, require a reasonable level of craftsmanship to achieve the uniformity required in stairs. 

Compared with precast, timber, or even flagstone construction, brick stairways require more individual components, which involves more joints and more potential points of failure. Brick or masonry stairs may or may not have a tread nosing that extends over the vertical riser, and the detail can vary depending on the age and design of the stair.

As a composite material, bricks are susceptible to cracking, chipping, and erosion. Chips are especially problematic along the leading edge of treads, where they can effectively shorten tread depth or create dangerous surface angles.

Cracks on any exposed surface can promote degradation via water intrusion. Erosion caused by water and foot traffic can not only wear surfaces smooth, but it can also create low spots that harbor water and debris, contributing to potential slip hazards.

Brick Maintenance & Repair

The individual brick can also be problematic from a maintenance and repair standpoint. In some instances, owners or property managers may choose to repair portions of a stairway without properly evaluating the overall condition and addressing potential material or design failure.

In extreme cases, this can result in rushed repair that may negatively impact the original brick, creating highly irregular stair surfaces, as demonstrated in Figure 2 below.

There are standards for restoring, repairing, and maintaining masonry. Depending on the age of the brick and mortar, there are certain types of mortar mixes used historically versus modern brickwork, and the wrong mix could trap moisture that may cause spalling of the brick. A historic era softer brick could be damaged by a repair using a harder modern mortar mix.

Evidence to Consider

From a forensic standpoint, the physical condition of brick stairways and walkways generally provides sufficient evidence of how it changed over time due to use, environmental conditions, and maintenance or repairs.

A trained eye can assess physical qualities such as staining, fading, and wear on the bricks and mortar to determine if maintenance and repairs were performed.

If work was performed on the stairs, forensic investigation can help to determine if the proper materials were used and whether that work was done by a trained professional with attention to relevant, codes, standards, use of materials such as brick, and the elements of a safe stairway (tread depth, riser height, planar, uniform in pitch).

Premises Safety Expert Investigations

The Premises Safety Experts at Robson Forensic investigate cases involving the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of residential, institutional, and retail premises. We conduct site investigations, perform tests, and review applicable standards to learn facts and form opinions about how and why individuals were injured within the built environment.

For more information, submit an inquiry or call us at 800.813.6736.

Featured Expert

Andrea T. Baranyk, AIA, NCARB, LEED, CXLT

Architecture, Construction & Premises Safety Expert

Andrea Baranyk is a Registered Architect with 25 years of experience in architectural design, construction, and project management. Her experience includes a wide range of building and facility types,… read more.