Access Staircases and Platforms for Healthcare Facilities

Key Features

• MJ Patch Engineering is a specialist steel fabricator designing and installing permanent and temporary access staircases and platforms for hospitals and healthcare estates across the South West and the wider UK.
• Well-designed stair and platform systems are essential for the safe movement of staff, visitors, and mobile patients.
• They also provide compliant access to plant rooms, roofs, and clinical support areas across NHS and private estates.
• All solutions need to meet UK healthcare guidance, Building Regulations, and relevant standards for stairs, balustrades, and structural steelwork.
• Heavy-duty, non-slip finishes, infection-control-friendly details, and integrated balustrading make a measurable difference in busy NHS hospitals, private clinics, and care environments
• MJ Patch provides a full service from survey and 3D design through fabrication, installation, and ongoing modification or extension.

Safe Access in Modern Healthcare Buildings

Stairs and platforms are key part of any hospitalbuildings. Staff move equipment between floors, maintenance teams reach plant on rooftops, and patients and visitors use them every day. They also carry the load when lifts are out of service or during emergency egress, which means they have to be safe, compliant, and durable from day one.

Demand for upgraded access steelwork in NHS estates has grown alongside the wider expansion of complex hospital buildings. As clinical needs change and rooftops fill with new HVAC plant, photovoltaics and medical gas equipment, estates teams need staircases and platforms that hit current standards and adapt to future use.

MJ Patch brings decades of experience delivering bespoke stair and platform projects for NHS hospitals and private healthcare providers across the South West, with every structure designed for the realities of clinical environments.

Design Considerations for Healthcare Access Staircases

Healthcare staircases have to balance accessibility, safety, durability, infection control, and regulatory compliance. So you may be asking, what does that look like in practice UK healthcare guidance specifies the following baseline dimensions for clinical access stairs:

Well-designed staircases do more than meet minimum dimensions — they directly improve operational efficiency. Studies suggest that optimised stair layouts can save hospital staff up to 15 minutes per workday compared to relying solely on lifts. Stairways must also accommodate emergency evacuation, requiring a minimum width of 1.1m to 1.4m based on occupant load. Under the Equality Act 2010 and UK Building Regulations Part K (safety) and Part M (accessibility), all access staircases must be designed to accommodate users with disabilities, ensuring no patient, visitor, or staff member is excluded from safe vertical circulation.

Material choices typically favour mild steel structures (S275 grade) with powder-coated finishes, 316 stainless steel handrails, and anti-slip treads. Aluminium suits some stair and platform components where weight and corrosion resistance matter more than load capacity. Whatever material is used, it must be durable, easy-to-clean, and non-porous to meet hospital hygiene standards.

Visual contrast nosings help patients with dementia or visual impairment and reduce trip hazards on busy circulation routes. Continuous handrails and high-contrast step edges add stability for older or less mobile users. Landings and half-landings at regular intervals support staff carrying equipment and aid efficient evacuation during fire drills.

Adjustable staircases are also used in rehabilitation settings, where physical therapists work with patients to rebuild muscle strength and improve stair-walking ability. These specialist systems allow clinical teams to modify riser height and going depth to match each patient’s recovery stage, making them a valuable addition to physiotherapy units and post-operative wards.

Access Platforms for Plant, Roofs, and Clinical Support Areas

Stairwell Platform Access for Rooftop and Plant Areas

Healthcare facilities rely on a large amount of rooftop and plant room equipment, which can take up around 40% of available roof space. Safe access platforms and walkways are essential for maintenance teams servicing air handling units, chiller plant, medical gas manifolds, photovoltaics, and cable trays.

Platforms are typically fabricated from structural steel sections with open mesh or GRP grating decks, providing drainage and slip resistance in UK weather. Design must comply with BS EN ISO 14122 for:

• Load ratings suitable for workers and equipment
• Minimum 1100mm guardrail heights
• Toe boards to contain tools
• Safe step-off points at 600mm minimum width

MJ Patch surveys existing hospitals, builds 3D models, and configures bespoke platforms to fit around live ductwork in tight spaces. A recent example is our access stair to a hospital roof, built around existing services on a working clinical site. Future-proofing the design allows for additional plant during refurbishment cycles planned on 10 to 20 year horizons.

Temporary and Modular Access in Live Healthcare Environments

Modular Systems for Temporary Healthcare Access

A large share of NHS capital projects happens inside operational buildings. Temporary staircases, gantries, and platforms have to protect patients and staff while construction works continue in adjacent areas.

Modular systems built from bolt-together steel units can be assembled in hours without site welding, allowing installation during weekend or night shifts. This allows clinical operations to continue while construction areas remain safely separated from public spaces.

Temporary access still has to comply with the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and be designed by competent engineers. MJ Patch works alongside main contractors and estates teams to install project-specific temporary access, keeping safe circulation in place while wards or theatres are upgraded.

Need temporary access on a live healthcare site?

Call our structures team on 01275 288984 to talk through programme and design.

Access stairs and temporary staircase systems used during construction or renovation are typically modular, bolt-together structures engineered to provide safe and reliable movement between levels on active sites. Scaffold stairs are designed with an optimal pitch angle of 30 to 35 degrees, balancing safe, comfortable ascent for workers carrying tools and equipment while maintaining structural stability throughout the duration of the project.

Balustrades, Handrails, and Non-Slip Finishes

Handrails, guards, and surface finishes play a key role in keeping healthcare access systems safe.Continuous handrails and non-slip treads provide essential support for users with limited mobility, including elderly patients and those recovering from surgery.

Balustrade options include:

• Stainless steel posts with mesh infills (gaps under 100mm)
• Laminated safety glass panels
• Vertical bar infill to prevent climbing in paediatric areas

Non-slip treads using serrated steel plates or bonded aggregates achieve slip resistance values that exceed HSE guidelines and hold up to repeated cleaning with hospital-grade disinfectants.

MJ Patch designs and fabricates complete stair and balustrade packages, which means structural integrity, clean detailing, and long-term serviceability come from one supplier.

Stair Access and Lift Integration in Healthcare Facilities

Home Lifts and Stair Access Integration

Specialised lift systems are essential for transporting beds, stretchers, wheelchairs, and life-saving equipment between departments. A recent government study showed that 46% of disabled people noted having difficulty accessing medical facilities, highlighting the importance of specialised lift systems in healthcare settings.

Falls risk is a particular concern in care home and hospital environments. Adults aged over 80 are three times more likely to fall in a care home than anywhere else, which means both stair design and vertical access planning must prioritise stability, clear sightlines, and reliable alternative routes when stairs are unsuitable for certain users.

Compliance, Testing, and Infection Control

Healthcare clients need access systems that meet structural, fire, and infection control standards before sign-off. Structural design follows Eurocode 3 (BS EN 1993), with load testing where required for heavily trafficked stair cores. All access systems must meet current safety regulations under UK Building Regulations and the Work at Height Regulations 2005 before sign-off.

Fire safety considerations include non-combustible steel structures and coordination with compartmentation strategies, often requiring intumescent coatings for 60 to 120 minute fire resistance.

Infection control demands:

• Smooth, cleanable surfaces with minimal dirt traps
• Coved junctions with vinyl or resin flooring
• Corrosion-resistant finishes that tolerate NHS cleaning agents
• Flush fixings that avoid exposed bolt heads

MJ Patch coordinates with infection prevention teams to make sure installations are easy to clean, maintain, and inspect.

MJ Patch & Co’s End to End Service for Healthcare Projects

MJ Patch acts as a single-source partner for staircases, platforms, balustrades, and the structural steelwork around them. MJ Patch delivers a practical solution for estates managers who need reliable access steelwork without coordinating multiple contractors.

A typical project usually follows these steps:

• Initial site survey and consultation with estates managers
• Concept design and 3D modelling
• Detailed structural calculations
• CNC profiling, laser cutting, and coded welding in our South West workshop
• Installation by trained teams experienced in live hospitals

Our crews work under CDM regulations, permit systems, and the specific access rules of each site. Ongoing support covers modifications, tread replacement, and integration of new plant platforms during future upgrades, including additions like our bespoke access platform tower for tight roof-level service spaces.

When to Upgrade or Replace Access Staircases and Platforms

Many UK healthcare buildings date from the 1960s to 1990s, and their original stair and platform systems no longer meet current standards.

Common triggers for upgrading include:

• Repeated slip or trip incidents creating injury risk
• Visible corrosion on steel structures
• Non-compliant balustrade heights below 1100mm
• Changes in clinical use or new plant installations
• Falls or near-misses reported by maintenance staff

Estates teams should commission condition surveys for critical access routes, particularly escape stairs and primary plant access serving theatres, imaging suites, and intensive care.

MJ Patch can assess existing steelwork, advise on strengthening or full replacement, and plan phased works. A typical replacement project runs from 2 weeks survey and design through 4 weeks fabrication to 3 to 7 days on-site installation.

Working with MJ Patch & Co on Your Next Healthcare Project

MJ Patch brings proven experience across hospitals, community health centres, and private clinics in the South West and the wider UK. Bringing us in early ensures staircase and platform solutions integrate seamlessly with existing architectural layouts, mechanical services, and fire strategies.

We can provide budget estimates, outline designs, and programme advice at RIBA Stage 2 to 3. Our typical response time allows mobilisation within 24 to 72 hours for urgent safety-driven upgrades.

Got a healthcare access project on the table?

Send us your concept designs, planning drawings or performance specifications and our structures team will come back with a quote. Call 01275 288984 or contact us through the form. We cover Bristol, Bath, and the wider South West, with supply-only across the UK mainland.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it typically take to install a new hospital access staircase?

Timescales depend on complexity, but a straightforward external steel escape stair typically involves 2 to 4 weeks for detailed design, several weeks for manufacturing, and 3 to 7 days on-site for installation. MJ Patch can accelerate programmes for urgent safety works by prefabricating modules and planning night or weekend installations to suit clinical schedules.

Can existing hospital staircases be brought up to current standards without full replacement?

In many cases, yes. We can retrofit higher balustrades, new handrails, anti-slip nosings, or additional intermediate landings to improve safety and compliance. A full structural assessment confirms whether the existing stair can carry additional loads before any partial upgrade goes ahead, which avoids unnecessary repair costs.

What finishes are best for infection control on steel staircases and platforms?

Smooth, hard-wearing finishes such as polyester powder coating or brushed stainless steel resist chipping and stand up to common NHS cleaning agents. Avoid unnecessary crevices and exposed bolt heads in clinical areas, and coordinate junctions so vinyl or resin flooring can be coved neatly against stair stringers.

Do roof and plant access platforms in hospitals need edge protection?

Permanent guardrails and toe boards are normally required wherever there is a risk of falling, with heights and configurations aligned to relevant British Standards and the Work at Height Regulations. MJ Patch designs integrated stair, platform, and guardrail systems for safe maintenance around rooftop equipment.

Can MJ Patch & Co work on live NHS hospital sites without disrupting clinical services?

Yes. Our installation teams work under strict hospital protocols, coordinating with estates, infection control, and clinical leads. Measures include out-of-hours working, dust control, noise management, and temporary protection routes. The aim is to protect patients, visitors, and staff from site activities while keeping the clinical service running.