# Building Regulations in England: Approved Document K England's stair and guarding rules for homes come from Approved Document K — the rise, going, pitch and guarding numbers — and how it sits within the UK's devolved building regulations. - Canonical HTML: https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/uk/england/ - Publisher: Chippy Tools - Language: en - Updated: 2026-09-13 [Browse all topics](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/topics/)[Free web tools](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/tools/)[Printable references](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/printables/) [All countries](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/) [United Kingdom](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/uk/) Topics Stairs - [Scotland Stair Going & Pitch: 225 mm Going, 42° Max](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/uk/scotland/stair-going-and-pitch/) - [UK Stair Rules (Approved Document K): Rise, Going, Guarding](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/uk/stairs/stair-and-barrier-requirements/) Roofing - [Minimum Roof Pitch in England: Choose the Roof System](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/uk/roofing/minimum-roof-pitch/) Footings - [UK Foundation Depths & Footing Widths (Doc A)](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/uk/footings/footing-sizes-and-depth/) Room heights - [Does the UK Have a Minimum Ceiling Height?](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/uk/rooms/minimum-ceiling-heights/) Ramps - [UK Ramp Gradients (Approved Document M)](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/uk/ramps/ramp-gradients/) Wet areas - [Wet-Room Waterproofing in England: Part C and the Project Detail](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/uk/wet-areas/waterproofing-requirements/) By nation - [England](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/uk/england/) - [N. Ireland](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/uk/n-ireland/) - [Scotland](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/uk/scotland/) - [Wales](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/uk/wales/) Calculation guides - [Concrete Calculations: The Complete On-Site Guide](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/concrete-calculations-guide/) - [How to Calculate Concrete Volume for a Slab](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/concrete-volume-slab/) - [How Many Bags of Concrete Per m³? (20kg, 25kg, 40kg)](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/bags-of-concrete-per-m3/) - [Concrete for Post Holes: Volume Per Hole & Bags Needed](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/concrete-post-holes/) - [Concrete Mix Ratios Explained: 1:2:3, 1:2:4 & Water-Cement Ratio](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/concrete-mix-ratios/) - [Roof Pitch to Angle: Convert Rise/Run to Degrees & Grade](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/roof-pitch-to-angle/) - [Rafter Length Calculation: Run, Rise & Overhang](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/rafter-length/) - [Stair Rise & Run Setout: Riser, Going & the 2R+G Formula](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/stair-rise-and-run-setout/) - [How to Convert a Fall or Gradient: Ratio, Percentage & Degrees](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/fall-and-gradient-conversion/) - [Stud & Joist Spacing Takeoff: How Many at 400, 450 & 600 mm Centres](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/stud-and-joist-spacing-takeoff/) - [Gravel & Base Volume: Compacted Depth vs Loose-Fill Order Quantity](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/gravel-and-base-volume/) In this section [Browse all topics](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/topics/)[Free web tools](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/tools/)[Printable references](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/printables/) [All countries](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/) [United Kingdom](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/uk/) Topics Stairs - [Scotland Stair Going & Pitch: 225 mm Going, 42° Max](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/uk/scotland/stair-going-and-pitch/) - [UK Stair Rules (Approved Document K): Rise, Going, Guarding](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/uk/stairs/stair-and-barrier-requirements/) Roofing - [Minimum Roof Pitch in England: Choose the Roof System](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/uk/roofing/minimum-roof-pitch/) Footings - [UK Foundation Depths & Footing Widths (Doc A)](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/uk/footings/footing-sizes-and-depth/) Room heights - [Does the UK Have a Minimum Ceiling Height?](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/uk/rooms/minimum-ceiling-heights/) Ramps - [UK Ramp Gradients (Approved Document M)](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/uk/ramps/ramp-gradients/) Wet areas - [Wet-Room Waterproofing in England: Part C and the Project Detail](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/uk/wet-areas/waterproofing-requirements/) By nation - [England](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/uk/england/) - [N. Ireland](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/uk/n-ireland/) - [Scotland](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/uk/scotland/) - [Wales](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/uk/wales/) Calculation guides - [Concrete Calculations: The Complete On-Site Guide](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/concrete-calculations-guide/) - [How to Calculate Concrete Volume for a Slab](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/concrete-volume-slab/) - [How Many Bags of Concrete Per m³? (20kg, 25kg, 40kg)](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/bags-of-concrete-per-m3/) - [Concrete for Post Holes: Volume Per Hole & Bags Needed](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/concrete-post-holes/) - [Concrete Mix Ratios Explained: 1:2:3, 1:2:4 & Water-Cement Ratio](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/concrete-mix-ratios/) - [Roof Pitch to Angle: Convert Rise/Run to Degrees & Grade](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/roof-pitch-to-angle/) - [Rafter Length Calculation: Run, Rise & Overhang](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/rafter-length/) - [Stair Rise & Run Setout: Riser, Going & the 2R+G Formula](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/stair-rise-and-run-setout/) - [How to Convert a Fall or Gradient: Ratio, Percentage & Degrees](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/fall-and-gradient-conversion/) - [Stud & Joist Spacing Takeoff: How Many at 400, 450 & 600 mm Centres](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/stud-and-joist-spacing-takeoff/) - [Gravel & Base Volume: Compacted Depth vs Loose-Fill Order Quantity](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/gravel-and-base-volume/) [Building Codes](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/) [United Kingdom](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/uk/) England # Building Regulations in England: Approved Document K England's stair and guarding rules for homes come from Approved Document K — the rise, going, pitch and guarding numbers — and how it sits within the UK's devolved building regulations. In England, building work follows the **Building Regulations 2010**. For stairs, ramps and guarding in a home, the guidance you build to is **Approved Document K** (2013 edition). It sets the rise, going, pitch, headroom, handrail and guarding numbers — and it’s guidance showing one way to meet the regulations, not the only way. For the full set of numbers — **220 mm** max rise, **220 mm** min going, **42°** max pitch, **900 mm** guarding — see the [England stair & guarding rules](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/uk/stairs/stair-and-barrier-requirements/). **Wales** runs its own Approved Document K. Read that text for a Welsh job. **Scotland** (Building Standards Technical Handbook) and **Northern Ireland** (Technical Booklet H) use their own separate codes — building rules are devolved, so always confirm which nation the job is in. ## Adoption status Adopted Current code in force Approved Document K (2013) Next edition — Adoption / transition England follows the Building Regulations 2010; stairs and guarding guidance is Approved Document K (2013). Wales runs a parallel Doc K with the same figures; Scotland and Northern Ireland use separate codes. [Official source →](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protection-from-falling-collision-and-impact-approved-document-k) Last verified 2026-07-28 No state-specific variations recorded yet for this jurisdiction. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. This page is general information for tradespeople and is not compliance, engineering or legal advice. Requirements are subject to state and territory variations and adoption timing. Always confirm requirements with your building certifier and relevant state authority. ## Page directory