Creating Safe and Stunning Staircases Approved By NZ Builders and Designers

Staircases do more than connect levels in a home or commercial space. When thoughtfully designed, they become architectural features that enhance a space’s flow, light, and character. However, no matter how beautiful, a staircase must also be safe and compliant. In New Zealand, all staircases must meet strict design and performance requirements under the NZ Building Code.

At Ackworth House, we design bespoke staircases that balance form with function. With over 40 years of experience working alongside architects, designers, and builders across the country, we understand the critical role compliance plays. We ensure that every staircase not only meets the NZ Building Code for stairs, but exceeds expectations for safety and visual impact.

Why Compliance Matters

The NZ Building Code sets clear requirements for the safe use of stairs, including:

• Tread depth and riser height consistency
• Slip resistance
• Minimum headroom clearance
• Handrail placement and graspability
• Load-bearing capacity and durability

These regulations exist to reduce the risk of trips, slips, and falls in both residential and commercial environments. Whether you’re building a family home or managing a commercial fit-out, compliance with the stairs NZ building code is non-negotiable. It protects everyone who uses the stairs, and it protects the project from costly delays or retrofits.

The Ackworth House Approach to Safe, Stylish Staircases

Every Ackworth House staircase is the result of a tailored process, where safety is embedded from concept through to completion. Our team collaborates with project architects, engineers, and builders to align the design with Code requirements from the outset. We ensure that dimensions, materials, structural elements, and handrails are not only visually integrated but fully compliant.

Here’s how we deliver staircases that are safe, certified, and stunning:

1. Expert Consultation and Code-Ready Design

We start by understanding the project scope, use of space, and who will be using the stairs. Whether it’s a family with young children, a retail space with high foot traffic, or a luxury apartment with open-plan living.

Our designers apply their knowledge of NZ Building Code clauses, including D1 (Access Routes), to ensure every aspect, from step geometry to balustrade height, is carefully considered. This allows for design creativity within clear safety parameters.

2. Integrated Safety Features

We believe that compliance shouldn’t compromise beauty. Many of the safety features we include are designed to enhance the final result:

• Handrails: Carefully positioned and often integrated into the balustrade or wall to maintain clean lines
• Non-slip finishes: Applied to timber or concrete treads without detracting from the look or texture
• Consistent step geometry: Engineered with precision to avoid trip hazards and meet Code specifications
• Glass or solid balustrades: Designed for safety, but also used as a sculptural element within the space

Take our work on the Matapōuri Home, for example. We created a timber staircase with a solid balustrade that also acts as a safety barrier, with an integrated handrail and negative detailing. The result is compliant and visually seamless.

3. Structural Integrity and Engineering

All staircases are engineered to support their intended load and usage. We work with experienced structural engineers to ensure our floating, cantilevered, or suspended stair designs have the support required to pass inspections and provide long-term peace of mind.

This was key to the staircase in the Goldmark Queen Street retail fit-out, where we combined marble treads with a robust landing and concealed steel supports, ensuring strength, durability, without compromising on a high-end aesthetic.

4. On-Site Installation by Trusted Professionals

Our installation team has extensive experience fitting staircases to site with precision. We make sure every component is fixed according to Code requirements. Balustrades are secure, handrails meet the right height and clearance, and treads are aligned and level.

Where needed, we work closely with building inspectors and site managers to ensure smooth certification at handover.

Supporting NZ Builders and Designers

We understand how important it is for architects and builders to partner with trusted suppliers who know their craft and the regulations inside out. Our staircases are manufactured with NZ Building Code requirements in mind, and our documentation makes it easy to demonstrate compliance during consent and inspection stages.

Whether it’s a high-spec residential build or a commercial project with accessibility needs, Ackworth House is known for staircases that meet performance expectations, without compromising on design ambition.

Final Thoughts: Safety, Elegance, and Enduring Quality

Compliance and creativity can coexist. In fact, the most successful staircase designs are those that integrate safety in subtle, sophisticated ways.

By working with Ackworth House, you’re choosing a team that understands both the technical and the aesthetic demands of your project. We deliver staircases that are beautiful to look at, intuitive to use, and fully aligned with the NZ Building Code for stairs.

Talk to our team today about how we can bring safe, standout staircase solutions to your next project.