This SAE Aerospace Standard (AS) provides design criteria for onboard stairways intended for use by passengers aboard multi-deck transport category airplanes. It is not intended for stairways designed for use only by crewmembers, supernumeries, or maintenance personnel. Additionally, this AS does not apply to fuselage mounted or external stairways used for boarding passengers, which are covered by ARP836.

The purpose of this AS is to assist airplane manufacturers in designing stairways on which users will be less likely to experience a misstep or fall during normal operations and on which movement during an emergency evacuation will be as efficient as is possible.