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- Product Description
- Height & Layout
- Fixing
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- Staircase FAQs
- Additional Information
- Product's Review
The Civik spiral staircase is probably the world's best selling metal spiral staircase kit. It is made by an Italian company called Arke and has been in production for well over a decade. It's easy to assemble and most people manage to do this in a single day using standard tools.
The Civik staircase comes in four different sizes and can be adjusted to suit most houses. For more information please read the height and layout tab. Otherwise the most common queries about the Civik spiral staircase kit are:
What comes in the box?
A universal landing plate with a protective mat and brackets to fix it to the upper floor
A centre pole and floor fixing plate
Treads and protective mats
Tread spacers
Balusters
Handrail
Two wall brackets
Written installation instructions and a DVD
What are the main parts made from?
The landing plate and treads are made from pressed steel. They are powder coated and coloured either white, grey or black. They come with protective black plastic mats.
The balusters and tread spacers are made from steel tube. They are powder coated and coloured either white, grey or black.
The handrail is made from polyurethane (a type of plastic) and is black in colour.
How is the delivery made?
The Civik spiral staircase is supplied in kit form. It is shipped in a large plywood box on a wooden pallet and depending on the number of treads ordered there may be a few smaller cardboard boxes as well. The delivery is made using a large vehicle with a tail lift and a pump truck because the main box is too heavy to be lifted by hand. The driver will take the goods off the lorry and deliver them to the roadside outside your property, or as close as possible if you live on an unmade road. From there you will need to provide the means of bringing them into the building. If you need to do this by hand you can do so only by opening the box and carrying in the pieces inside. It is not possible to move the complete box by hand as it will weigh at least 150kg.
How can I tell if it will fit my house?
You need to take a few measurements and then carefully read the information we give on heights and layout and fixings. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to call our technical sales team on 0800 098 8778. We're here to help!
Will my new staircase meet building regulations?
Approved Document K from the Building Regulations refers to British Standard 5395 1984 part 2 for guidance on the design of spiral staircases. Essentially the standard gives different requirements depending on where a spiral staircase is going to be used. For example the requirements for a staircase in a private house are different to those for a staircase in a public place. Even within a house the requirements can change because a staircase up to a small loft conversion can be smaller and steeper than a staircase going from ground to first floor in a family house. If your installation needs to comply with building regulations then you need to find out which category of spiral staircase is right for your situation (ask Building Control). Providing you buy either the 1500mm or 1600mm diameter models, and you assemble it so that the rise per step is less than 220mm, the Civik will meet the requirements of a category A or "Small Private" stair. It is your responsibility to determine whether or not this will meet your requirements.
Accessories for the Civik spiral staircase
In addition to the Civik spiral staircase kit there are some accessories available which you might need to finish your job. They are:
Riser bars for the Civik spiral staircase kit by Arke
Riser bars are horizontal steel tubes which fit between the treads for the safety of small children. You should fit them if children under the age of five are likely to have access to the staircase.
For more information on riser bars for the Civik spiral staircase kit please click here
Landing balustrade kit for the Civik spiral staircase kit by Arke
The Civik spiral staircase kit comes with enough handrail and balusters to go on the staircase and landing plate only. It does not come with any balustrade to sit on the upper floor. The collective name for the handrails, balusters etc that sit on top of the upper floor is landing balustrade. If you need landing balustrade you must buy it separately. It is sold in kits 1200mm long and comes in straight lengths, although you can bend it if you need to make a curve.
For more information on landing balustrade kits for the Civik spiral staircase kit please click here
Before you buy a Civik kit spiral staircase you need to check that it will fit the space you have available for it. Please read through the information below before you place your order and also take a look at the accessories which are available for the Civik kit spiral staircase, just to make sure you have everything you need to finish the job properly. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact one of our technical sales people on 0800 098 8778, we’re always happy to help!
Staircase Height
At the bottom of the Civik kit spiral staircase there is a steel fixing plate which sits on top of the lower floor. At the top there is a steel landing plate which overlaps the upper floor and is bracketed on the underside to the apron. The height between the underside of the lower floor fixing plate and the underside of the landing plate is known as the floor to floor height. Different buildings have different floor to floor heights and so the Civik spiral staircase kit is adjustable so that it can fit the exact floor to floor height on your site.
What is the floor to floor height?
The floor to floor height should be measured vertically from the top of one floor to the next.
Floor to floor table
This table allows you to work out how many treads and risers you will need to be able to reach your floor to floor height. The term “riser” refers to the height of each step and the tread is the surface you stand on. There is always one more riser than there are treads because the last riser is the step up from the top tread to the landing plate.
| Floor to floor | No. of risers | No. of treads |
|---|---|---|
| 2100 - 2350mm | 10 | 9 |
| 2310 - 2580mm | 11 | 10 |
| 2520 - 2820mm | 12 | 11 |
| 2730 - 3050mm | 13 | 12 |
| 2940 - 3290mm | 14 | 13 |
| 3150 - 3520mm | 15 | 14 |
| 3360 - 3760mm | 16 | 15 |
Staircase Layout
Once you have determined the number of treads that will be in your staircase you also need to check whether or not the layout of the stair will be appropriate for your site. The drawings below show the typical layout of a 12 tread (13 riser) staircase. Of course your installation may well need more or fewer treads than this so if you want us to make a specific drawing for you please call our technical sales team on 0800 098 8778. Please bear in mind that the staircase must positioned so that it is at least 25mm clear of any surrounding walls.
Typical layout drawings - Clockwise rotation
Clockwise rotation refers to the direction in which that treads turn if you start from the bottom of the stair
Typical layout drawings - Anticlockwise rotation
Anticlockwise rotation refers to the direction in which that treads turn if you start from the bottom of the stair
The Landing Plate
The landing plate supplied with the Civik kit spiral staircase can be used to fit round or square openings, or to fit against the side of mezzanines. The landing plate is triangular in shape but since it overlaps the floor edge it doesn't make a difference if the floor edge is curved or straight. Please note that finished openings/ stairwells must be at least 50mm bigger than the staircase diameter and ideally 100mm bigger.
As you might expect the Civik kit spiral staircase needs to be securely fixed in a few key places. Before you buy a Civik spiral staircase kit you need to take a close look at your site to see whether or not secure fixings can be achieved. The different types of fixing are:
Staircase plans and instructions
Here you can download drawings and installation instructions for the Civik spiral staircase kit:
Base Plate
At the centre of the stair there is a galvanised steel tube attached to a steel base plate, which needs to be bolted to the lower floor. You need to make sure that when you erect the centre pole it is perfectly vertical. If the floor isn't level then put some packers underneath the base plate to compensate. Below are a few common types of floor and ways of fixing to them. Please bear in mind that if there is an under floor heating system present then you will need to be sure that the area is clear of pipes before you start drilling holes:
Concrete
Drill holes as required and bolt the fixing plate down with the standard expansion bolts supplied.
Concrete under insulation and screed
In this situation there is a danger that the weight of the stair could cause the insulation to compress and damage the screed and floor covering. One solution is to chemically fix threaded rods into the concrete slab and then fit some locking nuts so that the base plate is held just fractionally above the floor. You need to be sure that the threaded rods connect solidly onto the concrete and that you fill the shaft with the resin. The idea is that the load is imposed onto the concrete and not the insulation or screed.
Concrete floors under floating wooden floorboards
You can generally drill some clearance holes in the wooden floor board and then just fix into the concrete using expansion bolts. The only danger is whether or not your floorboards need space to expand and contract. If you are in doubt check with the flooring supplier. In most cases, and especially with laminates and engineered floor boards, they just tell you to leave some clearance around the holes in the wood.
Wooden joists
Replace the expansion bolts with some M10 coach screws and washers so that you can screw straight through the floor board and into the joists beneath. If there are no joists in the required spot lift the floor boards and put some in place.
Landing Plate Fixing Brackets
At the top of the stair there is a steel landing plate which overlaps the upper floor. It is bracketed on the underside to the apron of the upper floor. The brackets are typically fixed as follows:
Concrete
Drill clearance holes in the apron and then drill into the concrete and fix the brackets with the expansion bolts supplied.
Wood
Replace the expansion bolts supplied with some M10 coach screws and washers. Screw the brackets in place but remember to drill small pilot holes in the wood first to avoid it splitting.
Baluster Fixing Cup
The first baluster is fixed to the floor to prevent the tread from bouncing when you walk on it (all the treads are connected together by balusters for the same reason). The way it does this is with the use of a special metal cup. The cup gets screwed to the floor first then the baluster sits in the cup and a grub screw holds it firmly in place. The exact type of fixing to the floor varies depending on the type of floor. Here are a few examples:
Concrete floor
Drill into the concrete or screed, fit the plastic plug supplied and then screw the cup to the floor.
Wooden floor
Screw the cup directly onto the floor (preferably over a joist). Remember to drill a pilot hold first to avoid splitting.
Wall Brackets
The Civik kit spiral staircase can be freestanding. That is to say that it isn't essential for you to fix it to surrounding walls. However, if there is a wall very near to the staircase then you should bracket the stair to it to help reduce movement when you walk up and down. The positive effect of fitting wall brackets becomes more apparent with bigger staircases (i.e. lots of steps or a big diameter), where movement is most likely to occur. Brackets are most effective if evenly spread. Either find a spot approximately halfway up the stair, or two spots at a third and two thirds of the way up.
Solid walls
Find a position between two treads where the bracket can grasp the baluster and still reach the wall. Drill into the wall, fit the plastic plugs supplied and then screw on the bracket.
Stud walls
Prepare the wall to receive the bracket. Either fix a sheet of plywood under the plasterboard to allow fixings at any point or work out the exact position of the bracket and fit a vertical stud if possible or a horizontal noggin between to studs if not. The idea being that the bracket has something solid to fix to rather than just plasterboard. Then position the bracket so that it grasps a baluster between treads and screw it to the wall.
Staircase installation manual and how to videos
Here you can find blah blah blah
Staircase plans and instructions
Here you can downlaod staircase plan drawings and staircase installation instructons
Frequently asked questions for the Civik Spiral Stair by Arke
Can I specially order the Civik Spiral Stair in any other colours?
Can I specially order the Civik Spiral Stair in any other colours?
No. The Civik spiral stair kit from Arke is only available in the standard colours. These are white, grey and black for the metal parts and a light or dark colour finish for the beech treads. If you are looking for alternative colours please email us at contact@staircasewarehouse.com with your requirements, and we will try to suggest an alternative product
Will my new staircase conform to the building regulations?
Staircase installations are subject to the building regulations. These are described in Approved Document K, and additionally for spiral stairs, BS5395: 1984: Part 2. It is important to understand that the regulations vary according to individual site circumstances and therefore you should check with the local authority that the installation you are planning is approved before purchasing a staircase. Staircase Warehouse is not responsible for ensuring the suitability of your installation for Building Regulations.
Should I specify the direction I want the stair to rotate when I order?
No. The Civik can rotate in either the clockwise or anti clockwise direction. The direction is determined during the assembly.
How does the universal landing platform work?
The universal landing platform is wooden board that butts up against the side of the floor, level with the finished floor surface. It is supplied as an oversized triangle and is cut by the installer to suit site requirements. If the stair is being installed into a square opening the installer trims a straight edge and if the opening is circular he scribes and cuts a curved line.
The staircase doesn’t reach my floor height - can I extend it?
Yes. The modular design of the Civik spiral stair kit allows you to extend the height by adding extra treads to the standard kit. You can also reduce the height by using fewer treads. Please see the assembled size table and stair plan drawing sections on the product information page for more information.
How long does it take to install the staircase?
If you have done your planning and preparation work beforehand, and your structural opening is formed the staircase should not take more than one day for two people to install fully.
Do I require any specialist tools?
The staircase has been designed to be installed by DIY’ers. No specialist tools are needed to install the Civik spiral stair. The standard tools that you will require are as follows; electric drill/ driver, spirit level, Allen keys 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 12mm, plumb line, spanners, 13, 17, 30mm, measuring tape, hacksaw, Phillips screw driver, mallet and dill bits.
Can Staircase Warehouse install this product for me?
Currently Staircase Warehouse does not provide an installation service. Although depending on your location, we might be able to put you in contact with a staircase installer please email us a contact@staircasewarehouse.com
How long will my stair take to arrive?
The delivery will normally take around 7-10 working days to arrive with you. The stair will be dispatched to you directly from the manufacturer in Italy. Every year the manufacturer closes for seasonal holidays in August and December. Around these periods delivery times will vary. Please contact us if you are in doubt.
| Wood colour | No |
|---|---|
| Delivery time | 10 working days |
| Main materials | Metal |
| Balustrade style | Standard |
| Handrail material | Plastic (flexible) |
| Treads | Material: Pressed mild Steel Thickness: 2mm Finish: Powder coated Colours: White, Black or Grey |
| Handrail | Material: Plastic Flexible or rigid: Flexible Size and profile: 45mm diameter, circular Finish: Textured surface Colour: Black |
| Balusters | Material: Mild Steel tube Diameter: 20mm Finish: Powder coated Colours: White, Black or Grey |
| Handrail to baluster connectors | Material: Plastic Finish: N/A Colours:Black or Grey |
| Handrail to handrail connectors | Material: Plastic Finish: N/A Colours: Black or Grey |
| Centre column | Colours: White, black or grey Finish: Powder coated Material: Steel tube Diameter: 140mm for 1400 & 1600mm Dia, 108mm for 1200mm Dia Tread spacers: Black, Nylon |
| Instructions supplied | Written and DVD |
| Accessories available | Extra tread kits, landing balustrade kits, riser bar kits and extra singular riser bars |
