Free tools / Compliance
Stair and Ramp Compliance Checker
Check a stair against the code and against comfort, which are two different tests.
Why this exists. Stair calculators are everywhere but almost all are single code. Where a jurisdiction publishes conflicting codes, as Dubai does with three, nothing shows the conflict.
Everything here is calculated in your browser. Your numbers are never sent anywhere, stored or seen by us.
- Number of risers
- 17
- Actual riser heightMaximum 180 mm
- 176.5 mm
- Number of treads
- 16
- Tread depthMinimum 280 mm
- 300 mm
- Total going
- 4,800 mm (4.80 m)
- 2R plus T (comfort)Comfort range 600 to 640 mm
- 653 mm
- Minimum headroom
- 2,030 mm
Fails the Dubai Building Code 2021 check. The flight has more than 14 risers and needs a landing.
Two risers plus a tread comes to 653 mm, outside the 600 to 640 mm comfort range. The stair may be legal but will feel wrong underfoot.
Mandatory riser 100 to 180 mm and tread at least 280 mm. Recommended for regular use is a riser of 150 to 165 mm and a tread of at least 300 mm. Applies emirate wide, including free zones, under Decree 45 of 2021.
Dubai publishes three stair geometries that genuinely conflict. The Building Code permits a 180 mm riser where Trakhees caps at 175, and requires a 280 mm tread where Trakhees allows 270. Never average them, and never present one as the other.
How this is calculated
- The code check and the comfort check are separate and are reported separately. A stair can be fully compliant and still feel wrong, or feel excellent and be illegal.
- Dubai values are taken from the published Dubai Building Code, the Trakhees Blue Code and the Dubai Universal Design Code, which conflict with one another. All three are shown rather than merged.
- For jurisdictions this tool does not carry, use the custom option and enter the values from the code your authority has actually adopted. That is more honest than a preset the tool cannot verify.
- Riser count assumes a straight flight landing at floor level, so treads are one fewer than risers.
- This tool advises. Your authority decides.
This is a planning estimate, not professional advice. Read the full disclaimer.
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