Landings at stairways must be located where?

Landings at stairways must be located at both the bottom and the top to ensure safety and accessibility. A landing provides a flat area where individuals can pause and gather their balance before ascending or descending the stairs. This is particularly important at the top of the stairway to prevent falls when someone is transitioning from stairs to another level.

In addition, having a landing at the bottom allows for a safe entry or exit point from the stairway. These landings serve as a buffer zone to help guide users safely between different elevations, particularly in emergency situations where quick exits are necessary.

While it may seem sufficient to have landings at just the top or the bottom, this arrangement would increase the risk of accidents and impede accessibility. Therefore, effective design requires landings at both levels to comply with safety standards and building codes.