This section provides an overview for outdoor staircases as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 12 outdoor staircase manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked outdoor staircase companies as of November, 2024: 1.DOLLE A/S, 2.FIBRE NET S.P.A., 3.ROBUSTA-GAUKEL GMBH & CO. KG.
Table of Contents
An outdoor staircase refers to staircase installed on the exterior of a building.
As per the Building Standards Act, outdoor staircases are defined by the following criteria:
For emergency outdoor staircases, the exposed part in the open air must meet the following criteria:
It is worth noting that the installation of outdoor wooden stairs for direct access is generally prohibited.
Applications of Outdoor Staircases
Outdoor staircases are used for general access and emergency purposes. In general use, they are installed in buildings such as office buildings and apartments. In single-family homes, they might be installed when there is a need to access the second floor or higher without entering the interior of the first floor.
Examples include homes with an entrance on the second floor or multi-generational homes where separate entrances are required. Additionally, outdoor staircases can be incorporated into design and aesthetics, such as installing a terrace on the second floor and an accompanying outdoor staircase.
For emergency purposes, specific conditions mandate the installation of outdoor escape stairs. These stairs, providing a direct route without passing through doors, are necessary for buildings:
For buildings taller than 15 floors, special evacuation stairs are mandated instead of regular outdoor escape stairs. Outdoor staircases prove effective as an evacuation route in situations where elevators malfunction or internal staircases are inaccessible due to a fire. However, buildings, especially tall ones, may require additional measures for wind protection, and not all cases strictly meet the definition of complete outdoor stairs.
Principles of Outdoor Staircases
General Outdoor Staircases
The Building Standards Act, Enforcement Ordinance Article 23, specifies the conditions that outdoor staircases must meet:
Outdoor staircases, defined as "landing edges and the like" in the Building Standards Act, fall under the same classification as balconies, verandas, and terraces. Generally, areas enclosed by external walls or columns are included in the building's floor area. When calculating the building area, the measurement typically involves a 1m setback from the tip of the protruding part.
The term "open to the outside air" in the regulation refers to ensuring the "vacant dimensions to the adjacent boundary line" and "vacant dimensions to the building facing the stairs". These conditions vary depending on the specific local government, necessitating caution.
Outdoor staircases with the following two conditions can be excluded from floor area calculations:
Outdoor Escape Stairs
In the "Explanation of Fire Prevention and Evacuation Regulations for Buildings," outdoor escape stairs must meet the following additional conditions:
Furthermore, outdoor escape stairs are mandatory for buildings that meet the following conditions:
However, for fire-resistant buildings meeting certain conditions, the obligation to install outdoor escape stairs might be exempted for buildings with five floors or more.
Types of Outdoor Staircases
Classification by Use
Various types of outdoor staircases are available for different purposes. Representative types include steel stairs unitized with corridors for condominiums, residential stairs enhanced with louvers for safety and design, and small truck bars and platforms for warehouses and factories. Additionally, there are straight stairs for evacuation in nurseries and emergency slides.
Classification by Material
Materials used for outdoor staircases include aluminum, aluminum alloys, steel, and other materials such as precast concrete and resin.
Classification by Shape
Outdoor staircases come in various shapes, such as circular stairs, turning stairs, spiral stairs, and straight stairs.
Classification by Functionality
Some outdoor staircases are designed with enhanced functionalities like noise reduction and rust prevention.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Tubesca-Comabi, established in 1954 and headquartered in France, is a manufacturer of working-at-height solutions. The company offers standard and customized height access solutions for work sites, structural building projects, and industrial and aeronautical maintenance. Its products include light access systems, mobile and fixed scaffolds, and permanently fixed guardrails. Its specific access solutions feature platforms, walkways, and hooped ladders. It also provides fixed scaffold solutions with frames, posts, diagonal components, and accessories like umbrellas and storage trailers. The company offers after-sales service for maintenance and repairs beyond the warranty period and supports customers with training, technical expertise, and customized action plans.
Changzhou Yueyang Machinery Co. Ltd., established in 2004 and headquartered in Changzhou, China, is a manufacturer and supplier of construction equipment and tools. The company's products include scaffolding systems, barrier and edge protection systems, and concrete formwork. It also supplies customized industrial ladders, step systems, and formwork clamps. These products are used during and after construction and also have applications for outdoor events such as outdoor stage platforms, bridges, and stairways.
ROBUSTA-GAUKEL GMBH & CO. KG is a German manufacturer and supplier of castors and wheels that was established in 1928 in Königsbach-Stein, Baden-Württemberg. Under the brand name ROBUSTA, the company manufactures and markets castors for material storage and retrieval, wheels for motion and load-bearing applications, and related accessories such as swivels and locks. It also offers custom design and manufacturing services to its customers with unique projects. The company is certified to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards, and serves notable clients including Bosch and Wanzl.
Item Industrietechnik GmbH, founded in Germany in 1976, is a supplier of construction solutions and building kit systems for machinery, fixtures, and plants. The company's item product portfolio comprises more than 4,000 high-quality components designed for use in machine bases, work benches, automation solutions, and lean production applications. It has 10 subsidiaries and support centers throughout Germany and also has wholly owned subsidiaries in the USA, China, Italy, Poland, and Switzerland.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | DOLLE A/S |
15.4%
|
2 | FIBRE NET S.P.A. |
15.4%
|
3 | ROBUSTA-GAUKEL GMBH & CO. KG |
15.4%
|
4 | Prima Industry Co.,ltd |
7.7%
|
5 | Foshan Yurihomes Architectural Products Co., Ltd |
7.7%
|
6 | Sun Stone Co.,Ltd |
7.7%
|
7 | Wuxi Youhui Steel Grid Co., Ltd. |
7.7%
|
8 | D&B Building Materials Co.,Ltd |
7.7%
|
9 | Tubesca-comabi |
7.7%
|
10 | Item Industrietechnik GmbH |
7.7%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the outdoor staircase page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
France | 1 | 50.0% |
Germany | 1 | 50.0% |