The British Woodworking Federation (BWF) has launched a Stair Secrets campaign to promote its new Stair Scheme. The BWF hopes the video will highlight examples of defects in a timber staircase. The video reveals technical failures such as insufficient headroom, poor measuring and installation, missing spindles, twisted handrails, gaps and misalignments.

“The technical requirements for timber stairs are still poorly understood and are often ignored.” Pauline Kelly, chair of the BWF Stair Scheme, said.

Flyers advertising the video will go to 13,000 local authority and building control officers and contractors. They will be sent to all approved inspectors and private building regulations consultancies, too.

Paul Timmins, managing director of Approved Inspector Services Ltd, said: “Statistically, staircases form the majority of non-Building Regulations compliance reporting, and the building control industry is crying out for a simple control mechanism to improve the inspection process.”

The new certification scheme negates the need for onsite tests.