Fire Rating Requirements for Steel Stairs in Apartment Buildings

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Steel stairs in apartment buildings, especially emergency egress stairs, must meet fire safety requirements set by Israeli building and fire codes that depend on the building's height, use and layout. Fire resistance of the stair structure, its enclosure and its finishes must be confirmed with the project engineer and fire authority before fabrication.

Why fire rating matters for emergency stairs

An emergency stair is the route residents use to leave the building when something goes wrong. If the stair structure, its enclosure or its landings cannot resist fire for the required time, the escape route can fail exactly when it is needed most. For that reason, fire rating is treated as a life safety requirement rather than a cosmetic detail.

Building managers often focus on access and appearance, but the fire performance of the stair is equally important. It affects how long people can safely use the route and how the building is protected while residents evacuate.

Key items to check in the requirements

Fire requirements are set by the applicable codes and the fire authority, and they depend on the specific project. When reviewing a steel stair, managers and their engineer usually look at:

The required fire resistance period for the stair structure and enclosure
Whether the stair must be built within a protected shaft or staircase enclosure
The fire behavior of finishes, cladding and any combustible materials nearby
Requirements for doors, handrails and landings on the escape route

Exact numerical values should be confirmed with the engineer for each building.

How steel stairs are protected against fire

Steel is non-combustible, but unprotected steel loses strength quickly under high temperatures. To reach a required fire resistance period, steel stairs are often combined with fire-protective measures such as fire-rated coatings, enclosures or cladding that the engineer specifies.

The chosen solution must be documented in the drawings and specification so that the factory, the installer and the inspector all work from the same requirements.

Planning the stair with the engineer and fire authority

A practical approach starts early. Share the building layout, floor count and occupancy with the engineer, and ask which fire requirements apply to the emergency stair. Confirm whether the stair sits inside a protected shaft, how it connects to corridors and where doors and smoke control elements are placed.

Getting these answers before production avoids costly changes after the stair is installed.

Documentation and approvals to keep

Keep a clear record of the approved drawings, the fire specification and any test or certification documents supplied for the protective materials. Inspectors and building committees may ask to see them during approval or later reviews.

Approved stair drawings and specification
Fire protection product documentation
Installation and inspection records

Maintaining fire safety over time

Fire rating is not only a construction issue. Protective coatings can be damaged by impact, painting or cleaning, and doors or enclosures can be blocked by storage. Regular checks by the building committee help keep the emergency route compliant.

Any repair or modification to a fire-protected stair should be reviewed by the engineer before work begins.

Frequently asked questions

Do all steel stairs in apartment buildings need a fire rating?

Not every stair has the same requirement. Emergency egress stairs in apartment buildings are generally subject to fire requirements, and the exact rating depends on the building's code classification and layout. Confirm with the project engineer.

Can an unprotected steel stair be used as an emergency exit?

Bare steel can lose strength in a fire, so an unprotected stair may not meet the required fire resistance. The engineer should confirm whether protection or enclosure is needed for the specific building.

Who decides the fire rating for a steel stair?

The applicable building and fire codes set the requirements, and the project engineer and fire authority confirm how they apply to your building. The manufacturer then builds to those approved drawings.

Should we check fire requirements before ordering the stair?

Yes. Reviewing the fire requirements before production is the best way to avoid redesign, delays or changes after installation.

Common mistakes to avoid

A common mistake is ordering a steel stair from a general drawing without confirming the fire requirements for that specific building. Another is assuming that steel alone is enough without the protection the engineer specifies.

Our recommendation

Share your building layout, floor count and approved drawings with the engineer before requesting a quote, and ask for the fire requirements in writing so the stair is built to the correct specification from the start.

Summary

Fire rating for steel stairs in apartment buildings is set by codes and confirmed by the engineer, so plan it early and keep the documentation.

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