Stair Notes

Functions
• To allow for safe movement between different levels of a building.
• To provide a means of escape in the event of a fire.
Design features
• Safety.
• Ease of use.
• Strength and stability.
• Sound insulation.

Design features of a stairs

1. Safety: building regulations ensure that a stair is designed to be as safe as possible for all
users.
2. Strength and stability: a stair must be constructed to safely support its own weight along
with any expected weight that may be placed on it. It must be made of appropriate
materials and be securely constructed.
3. Sound insulation: a stair should not be excessively noisy when being used. The correct
material selection can have a large impact on sound insulation, for example, using a carpet
finish or constructing a concrete stair.
4. Ease of use: a stair must be designed so that it can be used without conscious effort. Each
step should be the same size and must be sized to suit a typical user.
5. Aesthetics: the main stairs is often the first thing people see when they enter a house. Its
aesthetic design, therefore, is important to the overall impression of the house.
Parts of a stairs
• Stairs: several steps and landings leading from one floor level to another.
• Stairwell: the space occupied by the stairs.
• Flight: a continuous set of steps from one floor to another or to a landing.
• Landing: a flat space between two stair flights. It provides a rest space and can also be used
to change the direction of stairs.
• Tread: the upper surface of a step (where the foot is placed).
• Riser: the vertical member between two treads.
• String: a sloping board at the sides of the stairs that support the tread and the riser.
o Wall String against the wall
o Outer String away from wall
o Cut or open String is an outer string with its top edge cut to follow the profile of the
treads and risers.
• Handrail: a safety guard and aid for a person climbing the stairs.
• Baluster: the timber that supports the handrail and prevents people from falling off the
stairs.
• Balustrade: the term for both the entire baluster and handrail system.
• Newel post: the post at the top and bottom of a flight of stairs which supports the handrail
and string.

Terms for a stair

• Total rise: the overall height of the stairs from the ground floor to the first floor.
• Total going: the overall length of the stairs measured from the nose of the first step to the
nose of the final step.
• Rise: the vertical height of each step when measured from the top of one tread to the top of
the next tread.
• Going: the horizontal distance of each step measured from either the nosing of one step to
the nosing of the next step, or from the front of one riser to the front of the next riser. Total
going
• Nosing: the distance the tread projects beyond the riser, Usually the thickness of tread
• Pitch line: this is an imaginary line connecting the nosing of each step, indicating the
slope/pitch of the stairs. The edge of the string should be a maximum of 50 mm away from
the pitch line.

Constructing a stair
1. The inner and outer string are routed 12mm to accommodate the tread and then the riser.
2. The tread and riser are then wedged in place Wedges using wooden wedges.
 3. Additional support is added by angle blocks glued to the tread and Wall string riser. These
prevent the treads sagging and creaking.

Detail of abutment at landing

1. The string is mortised to the newel post.
2. Mortise and tenon joints are pinned by dowels driven into a hole through the newel post
and the tenon. The holes in the newel and the string are drilled slightly off centre so when
the dowel is hammered in, it draws the two together.
3. The newel post is housed over the trimmer joist and bolted to it.
The handrail is mortised to newel post in the same way as the string.
Stair regulations

1. For ease of use, building regulations ensure that the stair step size is like a person's natural
stride. Samples of these regulations include:
• the pitch shall not exceed 42° (optimum 37°).
• the rise shall not exceed 220 mm (optimum 175 mm).
• the going shall not be less than 220 mm (optimum 250 mm).
• twice the rise plus the going (2R + G) must be between 550 mm and 700 mm.

2. To prevent a person from falling from the stairs:

 • firm guarding must be provided.
• balusters must not allow a 100 mm sphere to pass through.
• the guard rail must be securely mortised into the newel post.
• a handrail should be provided on the wall side of a stairs for any stairs wider than 1000
mm.
• guarding must be designed so that it cannot be easily climbed by children.
horizontal rails should not be used.

3. Other stair regulations include:

• A maximum of 16 steps is permitted without a landing.
• Nosing must project a minimum of 16 mm beyond the riser.
• The handrail must be located 840 mm—900 mm above the pitch line.
• The handrail at a landing must be a minimum 900 mm high.
• Stairs should have a minimum width of 800 mm.
• A minimum of 2 m headroom, measured vertically from the pitch line, must be provided.
• There must be a minimum of 1.5 m headroom measured perpendicular from the pitch
line
• A landing must be provided at the top of every flight.

4. Where a door opens out onto a landing, a minimum space of 400mm, free of obstruction
must be left for safety.

5. Tapering/winder step regulations

• For treaded tapered stairs, the minimum going at any part of the stairs is 75 mm.
• If the stair is less than 1m wide, the going is measured from the centre.
• If the stair is greater than 1m wide, the going is measured 270 mm in from the side.
 • All tapered steps should have the same taper.
• Winders should be placed at the bottom of the flight to minimise any risk of injury.

Stair calculations
Key measurements
• Maximum number of risers = 16
• Rise ≤220
• Going ≥220 (optimum 250)
• 550 ≤ (2 x rise) + going ≤700

Step 1: calculate height of risers

• divide the height to be climbed (the total rise) by 16
(number of risers), then 15, then 14 until an even number is found that is less than or equal
to 220.
Step 2: calculate the going
• remember, the number of treads will be one less than the number of risers.
• start by testing if the total number of treads multiplied by the optimum going of 250 mm is
equal to the distance to be spanned (the total going).
• if not, try the nearest round number of lesser value.
Step 3: use the formula
• 550 ≤ (2 x rise) + going ≤700 to test your measurements for the rise and going.
• if the answer is less than the minimum (550), then the going will have to be increased.
• if the answer is above the maximum (700), then the going will have to be reduced.

Sample Exercise 1
Calculate an appropriate rise and going for a stair to fit in the space outlined below.
• Total rise = 3150
• Total going = 3750

Try 16 steps
315016 = 196.87
Is this acceptable? ✖

Try 15 steps
315015 = 210
Is this acceptable? ✔

Calculate the going

250 (optimum going) x 14 = 3500
Is this acceptable for the given space? ✔

Check twice the rise plus the going (2R +G) must be between 550 mm and 700 mm
 (2 x 210) + 250 = 670
Yes, it is acceptable. ✔

Sample Exercise 2
Calculate an
appropriate rise and
going for a stair to fit in
the space outlined
opposite.

• Total rise = 3200

• Initial going = 3750

Useable going = 3750 — 400 = 3350

3200  16 = 200
Is this acceptable? ✔

Calculate going
250 (optimum going) x 15 = 3750
Is this acceptable for the space? ✔
3350  15 =223

Check twice the rise plus the going (2R +G) must be between 550 mm and 700 mm
(2 x 200) + 223 = 623
Yes, if is acceptable. ✔

Concrete stairs
Concrete stairs are becoming more popular in modern house construction. They provide excellent
sound insulation over traditional timber stairs. Concrete stairs can be either cast on site or
prefabricated in a factory and lowered into position on site using a crane.