Headroom in buildings and other structures
Contents |
[edit] Introduction
In a building, headroom is the clear, vertical height (vertical clearance) which exists from the top surface of a floor to the underside of a:
Between two floors, the headroom is the clear vertical space between the two decks, from the top of the finished floor level of the lower deck, to the underside of the soffit of the upper deck. Low headroom may increase the likelihood of injury or the difficulty of manoeuvring large objects.
The headroom may or may not be sufficient to allow people to pass under easily. If not sufficient, it will not be possible to pass through without crouching or striking the top surface.
[edit] Stairs
On a flight of stairs, the headroom is the vertical distance between the pitch line (or nosing line) and the ceiling, taking into account any bulkheads. Approved Document K of the Building Regulations (section 1.11, diagram 1.3) stipulates a minimum headroom of 2m for all building types – whether on the stairs or on a landing.
[edit] Tunnels and bridges
Headroom may also refer to the clear, vertical height from a road’s top surface to the underside of a bridge or to the crown of a tunnel (or the ceiling of some buildings such as car parks). A sign indicating ‘low headroom’ warns that some vehicles may not be able to pass through without hitting the underside of the structure. In these cases, the clear height of the available headroom will be displayed, and there may be additional warning signs in advance of the low headroom or barriers to try to prevent impact.
[edit] Culverts and outflows
Culvert, screen and outfall manual, (CIRIA C786) published by CIRIA in 2019, defines headroom as the: ‘Vertical gap between the water surface and the roof (soffit) of a culvert or outfall to allow for floating debris (also known as air draught).’
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
Cladding remediation programmes, transparency and target date.
National Audit Office issue report on cladding remediation.
HBPT and BEAMS Jubilees. Book review.
Does the first Labour budget deliver for the built environment?
What does the UK Budget mean for electrical contractors?
Mixed response as business pays, are there silver linings?
A brownfield housing boost for Liverpool
A 56 million investment from Homes England now approved.
Fostering a future-ready workforce through collaboration
Collaborative Futures: Competence, Capability and Capacity, published and available for download.
Considerate Constructors Scheme acquires Building A Safer Future
Acquisition defines a new era for safety in construction.
AT Awards evening 2024; the winners and finalists
Recognising professionals with outstanding achievements.
Reactions to the Autumn Budget announcement
And key elements of the quoted budget to rebuild Britain.
Chancellor of the Exchequer delivers Budget
Repairing, fixing, rebuilding, protecting and strengthening.
Expectation management in building design
Interest, management, occupant satisfaction and the performance gap.
Connecting conservation research and practice with IHBC
State of the art heritage research & practice and guidance.
Innovative Silica Safety Toolkit
Receives funding boost in memory of construction visionary.
Gentle density and the current context of planning changes
How should designers deliver it now as it appears in NPPF.
Sustainable Futures. Redefining Retrofit for Net Zero Living
More speakers confirmed for BSRIA Briefing 2024.
Making the most of urban land: Brownfield Passports
Policy paper in brief with industry responses welcomed.
The boundaries and networks of the Magonsæte.