T C Rowan designs, fabricates and installs external steel staircases, fire escape stairs and access platforms for commercial and industrial buildings across Banbury and the wider region. From our own workshop on Thorpe Way Industrial Estate we handle the whole job under one roof: site survey, fabrication drawings, galvanised fabrication and installation by our own erection team. For a fire escape or an external access stair the chain matters, because the steel that is designed against the building’s escape strategy is the same steel our team bolts to the wall, with no gap where a measurement or a detail gets lost.
External steel staircases
A well-built external steel staircase has to do two jobs at once: carry people safely and survive years of weather without becoming a maintenance liability. We fabricate straight flights, dog-leg and switchback stairs, and stairs with intermediate landings to suit the height and the available footprint, from a single storey access stair up to multi-flight commercial routes. Stringers, treads, landings and guarding are detailed together so the finished stair is rigid underfoot rather than springy, and fixed back to the structure on properly designed connections.
Because these stairs are part of the architectural staircase family, they share the same workshop and the same standards as our bespoke steel staircases and balconies. The difference outside is the finish and the exposure, which is where galvanising and grip-rated treads earn their place.
Fire escape staircases
External escape stairs are not just a staircase that happens to be outside: they form part of a building’s means of escape and are subject to Building Regulations, in particular Approved Document B for fire safety, alongside the relevant access and structural standards. That governs things like the clear width, the going and rise of the treads, the guarding and handrails, and the capacity the stair has to carry.
The specific figures for your building depend on its use, its occupancy and its agreed escape strategy, so we do not invent them. They come from your design, your fire risk assessment and your engineer, and we fabricate and install to that approved design, coordinating with Building Control where sign-off is required. What we bring is the steelwork itself: escape stairs, landings and the connections back into the structure, fabricated correctly and fitted to match what has been approved. If you are a landlord or facilities manager adding or replacing a fire escape, contact us with the building details and we will work from your design.
Access stairs, platforms and walkways
Beyond escape routes, a lot of external steelwork is about getting people safely to plant and equipment: access stairs up to a roof or a mezzanine, raised platforms around tanks and machinery, and walkways linking levels. We fabricate access stairs and platforms with open mesh decking, guarding to height, kick plates and handrails so the route is safe to use day to day.
This work overlaps with our heavier industrial steelwork and, where the job is purely about plant access and maintenance routes, our dedicated industrial access steelwork service. If your project mixes a fire escape with plant access on the same structure, we detail it as one steel package so the connections and levels line up.
Galvanised and durable finishes
Anything that lives outside needs a finish that survives the rain. For external stairs, fire escapes and access steelwork the standard is hot dip galvanising: after fabrication the steel is dipped in molten zinc, which coats the section inside and out and gives a long, effectively maintenance-free life outdoors. Where the staircase is visible and appearance matters, galvanised steel can be powder coated or painted over the top in a chosen colour, so durability and looks are not a trade-off.
Treads are specified for grip. Open mesh or grating treads drain rainwater and shed leaves and grit, which keeps the surface usable in wet and icy weather, and the tread type, going and rise are set by the staircase design and the relevant standards for the building.
From design to install
Every external stair and fire escape follows the same disciplined path, and it is the reason ours arrive ready to fit rather than ready to argue about.
- Survey and design. We survey the building, capture real dimensions, and work from your architect’s drawings, your engineer’s calculations and, for escape stairs, the agreed fire strategy.
- Fabrication drawings and sign-off. We produce fabrication drawings, confirm the finish, treads and connections, and agree the package before any steel is cut.
- Galvanised fabrication. Cutting, drilling and welding by our coded welders in our Banbury workshop, then hot dip galvanising and any coating.
- Installation. Our own erection team installs the staircase, ties it into the structure and finishes the connections on site.
T C Rowan is CE approved and works to BS EN 1090 execution standards, with material traceability available on request. One firm from drawing to final bolt is the core advantage: fewer gaps, fewer surprises on site. Contact us for a free quote on your external staircase or fire escape.
Frequently asked questions
Does a steel fire escape have to meet Building Regulations?
Yes. External escape stairs form part of a building’s means of escape and are governed by Building Regulations, in particular Approved Document B (fire safety), alongside the relevant access and structural standards. The exact requirements for tread dimensions, widths, guarding and capacity depend on the building’s use, occupancy and escape strategy, so they are confirmed against your design and fire risk assessment rather than assumed. We fabricate and install to the agreed approved design and coordinate with your engineer and Building Control.
What finish do you use to stop an external steel staircase rusting?
For external stairs, fire escapes and access steelwork, hot dip galvanising is the standard. The steel is dipped in molten zinc after fabrication, which protects the whole section inside and out and gives a long maintenance-free life outdoors. Where appearance matters, galvanised steel can be powder coated or painted over the top in a chosen colour. The right specification is confirmed for your building and environment.
Are the treads non-slip?
Yes. External and escape stairs are normally fitted with open mesh or grating treads that drain rain and shed debris, or with treads finished for grip in wet and icy conditions. The tread type, going and rise are set by the staircase design and the relevant access and fire standards for the building, which we fabricate to rather than guessing.
Can you design, build and install the staircase, or only supply it?
All of it. We survey the building, produce fabrication drawings, fabricate the staircase in our own Banbury workshop and install it with our own erection team. One firm from drawing to final bolt is our core advantage: the steel that is designed for the building is the steel that gets fitted to it, with no handover gaps. Contact us for a free quote.