If the stairs are being used by young or elderly then one of the simplest ways to improve safety on the stairs is to have a handrail both sides,’ agrees Peter Wright. ‘This is a particular benefit for people with knee or hip issues as it gives them a better balance being able to hold on both side. It also makes it easier to comfortably control their rate of descent.’ Prevention of Slips and Trips: The primary purpose of the Safety Stair Rods is to prevent slips and trips on stairs. When decorators or homeowners lay dust sheets or other types of sheeting on stairs, it can disguise the edge of each step, or worse grouping up, making it easy for someone to misstep, slip, or trip. Safety stair rods hold these sheets tight and securely in place, reducing the risk of accidents. Safety First: Reusable rods designed to secure dust sheets and carpet protectors on stairs, preventing slips and trips.

Safety stair rods are a must-have for both decorators and homeowners. They provide a straightforward and efficient answer to typical safety concerns, keeping staircases hazard-free during renovations or decorating tasks. Whether you're an expert in decorating or just love DIY projects, adding safety stair rods to your toolkit is a smart move for safety and assurance. Yes, Safety Stair Rods are made with robust materials, designed to last, and provide long-term protection for your carpets. As a reusable product, they can help you reduce your use of single-use products. Who can benefit from using Safety Stair Rods? I’ve been asked to write a review of Safety Stair Rods for the Decorators Forum UK. I thought it might be a good idea to start with a real-life example of why I think these are a good idea, and an important addition to your kit to help you work in a safer way. Peter Wright is Sales Manager at Neville Johnson: ‘When renovating a staircase, we always observe these standards and recommend additional safeguards where appropriate. There are many older staircases that don’t meet the current regulations so we look to improve the safety in any work we do.' While it’s not possible to go in retrospectively and make these changes in every home, quite often, where there are changes to building regulations, it applies to new homes and any homes where there are substantial renovations. It might depend on the circumstances, but there is a likelihood it will apply to homes being renovated,’ adds Ashley.Affordability: Safety Stair Rods are a cost-effective solution for carpet protection, especially compared to the potential costs of cleaning or replacing damaged carpets. This covers such key areas as the spacing between spindles, handrail heights, installing guarding adjacent to drops and avoiding horizontal features that can encourage children to climb.’ Affordability: Safety stair rods are a super affordable solution to a significant safety concern. They are a small investment, which pale in comparison to the potential medical costs and lost work time resulting from accidents. However, the Jubilee and Homepride stair rods are offered in four fixed lengths and you then cut them to size. These are our value ranges, designed to meet a budget. Jubilee runner rods provide an off-the-shelf solution at a modest price Can you use carpet runner rods with natural flooring?

Durability: Made with robust materials, these rods are designed to last, providing long-term safety solutions. If you are painting your staircase, use specialist floorboard paint or non-slip paint designed for use on wood.If you don't like the look of a fully carpeted staircase but are worried that wood could prove too slippery, consider a stair runner idea. Runners providethebest of both worlds, the narrow-width floorcoverings run down the centre of the staircase exposing the wood at the sides of the staircase. Protecting your carpets and investing in safety during any work in your home is crucial, and Safety Stair Rods offer an effective solution. Whether you're a professional decorator or a DIY enthusiast, these rods are a must-have for carpet protection on staircases. Don't wait until it's too late. Protect your carpets and ensure safety during renovations with Safety Stair Rods. So if you ripped out your rail in favour of a fancy wall panelling idea, you really should consider reinstating it to align with staircase safety tips. Safety gates are useful for children up to the age of 24 months,’ says Ashley Martin. ‘We don’t recommend them for children older than that, because the safety standard on such gates is only applicable to children up to 24 months. It’s related to the child’s weight and ability to either climb or open the gate once they reach 24 months. It’s important that as children move from the crawling to the toddling stage that they are then well versed in how to use the stairs safely, through guidance and supervision.’

The gates should be fitted securely according to the manufacturer’s instructions. You can buy pressure-mounted gates but we don’t tend to recommend those, particularly not for the top of the stairs, as it’s very difficult to ensure that pressure is adjusted correctly and safely. So while you may be reluctant to drill into walls, it is by far the safest way to attach a gate.’ Carpet rods for stairs are an instant way to create a striking focal point to a staircase and brighten up the most mundane. Appreciated for their decorative style, rods fitted across each step can also create an impression of breadth and spaciousness. Even the most cramped of stairs will seem refreshed. The result is a lovely ‘open’ feel to the centre of your home. Fitting stair rods to your staircase is a decorative statement. Personal choice is certainly part of the decision-making process. However, it is also worth considering what finish will flatter your staircase and stair runner. Ultimately, choosing a stair rod finish which is visible and attracts the eye, rather than matching and therefore unobtrusive, is desirable.Both terms are widely use and are interchangeable. Are carpet runner rods suitable for fitted carpets?

Carpet Protector: Besides safety, these rods help protect carpets, runners, and floors from damage during maintenance or decorating activities. By holding dust sheets securely, they prevent them from moving and letting paint or contaminants to the fabrics and surfaces underneath. Safety Stair Rods have been successfully used by many customers to protect their carpets during renovations. They have even been endorsed by organisations like British Gas, highlighting their reliability and effectiveness. One customer, Robin Gofton, shared his experience of an accident due to a misplaced ladder on a dust sheet-covered staircase, underscoring the critical need for safety measures like stair rods. Wrapping Up Earlier this year I was decorating the hall, stairs and landing in a large house. I had dust sheets all the way up the stairs, and (as I always do) warned the customer every time she went near the stairs to be careful, because the sheets can disguise where the edge of the stair is, meaning it’s easy to slip or lose your footing. So, I was working away, and had my ladder about three quarters of the way up the stairs, just beyond the point where they turned 90 degrees on the way up to the landing. Dust sheets are a popular choice for protecting carpets during renovations. They are easy to lay down and can provide a barrier against spills and debris. However, dust sheets have their limitations. On staircases, in particular, they can easily shift or bunch up, creating trip hazards. This not only puts your carpets at risk but also poses a safety risk to anyone using the stairs. Introducing Flowflex Safety Stair Rods

Product Specification

Effective Protection: By securing dust sheets, these rods prevent them from moving, ensuring that your carpets are protected from spills, stains, and wear. Durable and Reusable: Made with robust materials, these stair rods provide a long-term solution to safety and clean working areas. Clearly, the choice is yours and there is no right or wrong answer. However, if you prefer something more toning in appearance, then choose a matching finish such as chrome on a pale grey carpet or polished brass on a busy, patterned design featuring amber, yellows and mid brown tones. You could also consider toning in with other metal fixtures in the vicinity such as wall lighting, door threshold strips or door handles. The pewter finish of these Sphere carpet rods helps provide an accent against the white staircase Always make sure the floorcoverings on the stairs are in very good condition,’ advises Ashley. Look out for any rips or tears in carpet and repair them immediately, and ensure your surfaces are non slip. It’s not an area where you want to see a highly polished finish.’ The result of improving these safety standards for stair design will significantly reduce the number of people needlessly dying and getting hurt. ‘It’s been estimated that by building all stairs to that standard it would reduce falls by around 60%,’ says Ashley Martin. ‘RoSPA is of course concerned about falls on stairs as they claim around 700 lives every year, and around 37,000 hospital admissions. This is a significant number, particularly when you consider the consequences of the fall. People, quite often, when they’ve had a fall, never recover their full mobility and strength.’