Case Studies
Astex Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge
This steel spiral staircase was for building 436 on Cambridge Science Park. Home to the European Corporate and Research Headquarters of Astex Pharmaceuticals.
We were contracted by SDC Builders to install an external spiral staircase as a means of escape from the building - which they were extending.
We offer an in-house design, manufacture and install service for all our fire escape spiral stairs, which are custom made. This spiral staircase fire escape was connected to a special gated landing which led over the building parapet to a straight access stair.


The escape stair we installed was compliant with a Category E Public stair defined by BS5395 Part II as to be used by large numbers of people at one time e.g. stairs in places of public assembly.
- Project:
- Astex Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge
- Requirement:
- Spiral fire escape stairs
- Contractor:
- SDC Builders Ltd
Fire escape spiral stair
This was a galvanised steel spiral staircase with durbar treads. The balustrade was made up of perforated sheet infill panels fixed to post brackets with steel tubular handrails.
To access the spiral escape stairs we installed a small straight staircase that led over the roof parapet to a push latch gate and walkway. This gave access to the escape stairs and created a comprehensive means of escape from the building.
At a glance
Floor to floor height: | 5345mm |
Spiral diameter: | 2500mm |
Risers: | 29 @ 184.31mm |
Tread radius: | 27 @ 1250mm |
Clear tread width: | 1008mm |
Tread type: | 4.5mm durbar plate |
Balustrade: | Steel 38mm diameter tubular handrail with perforated steel infill panels connected at every third tread by a 48mm diameter post. |
Landings: | 1 x intermediate rest landing 1 x special connector landing 3500mm x 1254mm in 3mm durbar |
Additional: | Straight staircase from special landing to roof space made up of 6 1105mm wide straight treads in 4.5mm durbar |