How poorly designed staircases put tenants at risk, inhibit movement

 

From poorly maintained buildings to inadequate facilities, tenants have taken to social media to share their frustrations with rental housing conditions. [AFP]

For many Kenyans, renting a house is an unavoidable part of life. But while tenants are expected to pay their rent on time, questions are increasingly being raised about whether some landlords are doing enough to ensure the safety, comfort and well-being of the people living in their properties.

From poorly maintained buildings to inadequate facilities, tenants have taken to social media to share their frustrations with rental housing conditions.

Among the complaints is one concerning a seemingly ordinary feature of any multi-storey building: the staircase.

One tenant recently lamented the state of a two-storey residential apartment in which he lives, accusing the landlord of neglecting the property and failing to make meaningful improvements.

According to the tenant, the building has only one staircase, which is narrow and steep, with no intermediate landings to provide residents with a place to pause between flights. For those using it daily, what should be a simple trip up or down the building has become a physically demanding exercise.

“By the time you’ve climbed about 10 steps, you’re already exhausted and panting, looking like you’re in a fitness club,” he wrote.

The tenant further explained that the staircase is so narrow that two people of a heavier build cannot comfortably pass each other while moving in opposite directions. One has to wait at either the top or bottom of the flight to allow the other to pass.

His concerns struck a chord with other Kenyans, some of whom warned that poorly designed staircases could become dangerous bottlenecks during emergencies, particularly fires, when residents might need to evacuate a building quickly.

Architect George Nguthiru shares these concerns, arguing that poorly designed residential buildings can expose occupants to serious risks, especially when an emergency requires a rapid evacuation.

He warns that a staircase that appears merely inconvenient during ordinary use could become a major hazard when large numbers of people attempt to escape simultaneously.

“Think of it like in a school setting where hundreds of students trapped in a fire are rushing down that staircase. If it’s steep, think of the many falls the students will go through as others stampede on them. And in case of poor ventilation, the staircase easily fills with smoke, choking the rest trying to open that door the matron may have locked from outside. A good example is the case of the Utumishi Academy fire recently,” he says.

The scenario illustrates how the design and condition of escape routes can influence people’s ability to leave a building safely. Narrow passages, steep steps and poor visibility can complicate evacuation, while smoke-filled stairwells can make escape even more difficult. Nguthiru also points out that the dangers of poorly designed staircases extend beyond emergencies. Their everyday use can present physical challenges to residents, particularly pregnant women, older people and those with underlying health conditions.

From poorly maintained buildings to inadequate facilities, tenants have taken to social media to share their frustrations with rental housing conditions. [AFP]

“You’ve that eight-month-pregnant tenant on the third floor going like 12 steps from one floor to the other. If each floor has a uniform number of stair treads, from ground floor to third floor is like doing thirty-six steps, with only pauses mid-flight or on corridor landing. I’m sure she’d be too dizzy if not have passed out,” he says.

Older residents face their own challenges. A person relying on a walking stick or walker may find a steep staircase difficult to navigate, especially if the steps are uneven or there are no sturdy handrails to provide support.

Nguthiru cautions that the dimensions of individual steps also matter. In some buildings, he says, staircases have steps with inconsistent riser heights or tread depths, creating an additional risk for users.

Zack Methu, who also weighs in on staircase safety, argues that handrails should not be treated as mere decorative additions to a building. “Handrails must be spaced close enough such that a child’s head cannot fit through, therefore lessening the anxiety of parents on kids crawling about or a drunk person losing their footing and going through them to that dangerous fall,” Methu says.

Also, he says adequate headroom is another important consideration as beams or other structural elements hanging too low above a staircase or landing may force users to bend down to avoid hitting their heads.

 In a confined space, such obstructions can make movement more difficult and increase the risks.