Eng.

Khalid Mohamed
 Chapter 7- Stair case
◦ Definition,
◦ Technical terms
◦ Stair of different materials: wood,
Brick, reinforced concrete, steel.
◦ Classification of stairs
◦ Requirements of good stairs
◦ Dimensioning of stairs
 Stairs are the medium through
which a person can travel from one
horizontal level to another
horizontal level although it
connects two different horizontal
levels.
 Or
A set of steps leading from surface
of a building to another surface,
termed as Stairs.”
 A stair is a set of steps leading from one floor to the
other.
 It is provided to afford the means of ascent and descent
between various floors of the building.
 The room or enclosure of the building, in which the stair
is located, is known as staircase.

The opening or space occupied by the stair is known as
a stairway.
 In a domestic building the stairs should be centrally
located to provide easy access to all rooms.
 In public buildings, stairs should be located near the
entrance. Stairs may be constructed by timber, bricks,
stone, steel or reinforced cement concrete.
 Staircases provide access and
communication between floors in multi-
storey buildings, and are a path by which
fire can spread from one floor to another.
 Staircase, therefore, must be enclosed by
fire resisting walls, floors, ceiling and
doors. It is desirable that the linings to the
walls and the ceilings are non- combustible
and of low flame spread.
 Another important aspect in the design of
stairs is the strength aspect. It must be
designed to carry certain loads, which are
similar to those used for the design of floor.
 Technical Terms of stair
 RISE: it is the vertical distance between two
successive tread faces.
 GOING: it is the horizontal distance between

two successive riser faces.

 STRINGS AND STRINGERS: these are the

slopping members which support the steps in

a stair. They run along the slope of the stair.
 NEWEL POST: newel post is a vertical member

which is placed at the ends of flights to

connect the ends of strings and hand rail.
 Cont…..
 BALUSTER: it is vertical member of wood or metal,
supporting the hand rail.

 HAND RAIL: it is the surrounded or moulded member

of wood or metal following generally the contour of
the nosing line, and fixed on the top of balusters.

 Nosing :It is the projecting part of the tread beyond

the face of the riser. It is rounded to give good
architectural effect.

 Run :It is the total length of stairs in a horizontal

plane, including landings.
 Terms in stair case
 Flight: a series of steps provided between two
landings.
 Landing: a horizontal slab provided between two

flights.
 Waist: the least thickness of a stair slab.
 Winder: radiating or angular tapering steps.
 Soffit: the bottom surface of a stair slab.
 Nosing: the intersection of the tread and the

riser.
 Headroom: the vertical distance from a line

connecting the nosings of all treads and the

 soffit above.
 STAIRS OF DIFFERENT MATERIALS
 TIMBER STAIRS: these stairs are light in weight and easy
to construct, but they have very poor fire resistance.
They are used only for small rise residential buildings.
Sometimes, fire resisting hard wood of proper thickness
may be used.
 STONE STAIRS: these are widely used at places where
ashlar stone is readily available. Stone stairs are quite
strong and rigid, though they are very heavy. Stone used
for construction of stairs should be hard, strong and
resistant to wear. The simplest form of stone stairs is
those supported on both the ends, though an open well
stair case can also be built.
 BRICK STAIRS: these are not very common, except at the
entrance. However, brick stairs of single straight flight
are often made in village houses. The stairs consist of
either solid wall, or also, arched openings may be left
for obtaining storage space.
 METAL STAIRS: stairs of mild steel or cast
iron are used only as emergency stairs.
They are not common in residential and
public buildings, though they are strong
and fire resistant. These are commonly used
in factories, workshops, etc.
 R.C.C: these are the stairs widely used for

residential, public and industrial buildings.

They are strong, hard wearing and fire
resisting. These are usually cast- in – situ
and a wide variety of finishes can be used
on these.
 TYPES OF STAIR Based on there
shape
•STRAIGHT STAIRS
•Intermediate Landing straight stairs
• Dog legged Stair
•Quarter turn Stair
•Open Newel Stair
•Three Quarter Turn Stair
•Bifurcated Stair
•Geometrical Stair
• Spiral or Circular Stair
1. STRAIGHT STAIRS
•These are the stairs along which there is no
change in direction on any flight.
•It is used where stair case hall is long and
narrow
•No more than 18 rises without a change in direction.
•Allows the Stair to continue in same direction
•Required where more than 18 Risers
•May be used to give a rest
•Width of landing = Stair Width
•Length of landing = Stair Width or greater
•Itconsists of two straight
flights of steps with abrupt
turn between them. A level
landing is placed across the
two flights at the change of
direction.

•This type of stair is useful

where the width of the
staircase hall is just sufficient
to accommodate two width of
stair.
•A stair turning through one
right angle is known as
quarter turn stair.

•The change in direction can

be affected by either
introducing a landing or by
providing winders.
•In these type of stair there is
a well or opening between the
flights in plan.

•This well may be rectangular

or of any geometrical shape
and it can be used for fixing
lift.
•A stair turning through right
angles (270 degree) is known
as three quarter turn stair.

•Inthis case an open well is

formed.
•These stair are so arranged
that there is a wide flight at
the start which is further
sub-divided into two narrow
flights at the mid-landing.

•The two narrow flight starts

from either side of the mid-
landing.

•These
stairs are suitable for
modern sub building.
•These stairs have no newel
post and are of any
geometrical shape.

•The change in direction is

achieved through winders.

•The stairs require more skill

for its construction and are
weaker than open newel stair.
It is known as spiral stair.

When viewed from top it

appears to follow a circle
with a single centre of
curvature.

The spiral stairs are

provided where space
available is limited and
traffic is low.

These stairs can be

constructed in R.C.C., Steel
or Stone
 Spiral

Circular
• The respective dimensions of tread and riser for all the
parallel steps should be the same in consecutive floor of a
building.
• The minimum vertical headroom above any step should be
2 m.
• Generally, the number of risers in a flight should be
restricted to twelve maximum up to 18 for straight flight.
• The minimum width of stair should be 850 mm, though it is
desirable to have the width between 11 to 16 m. In public
building, cinema halls etc., large widths of the stair should be
provided.
• Open Risers: where open riser are used, the gap between
the top of one tread and the bottom of the next tread must not
exceed 125mm
2R + G Between 550 to 700
Best Going
2R + G Between 550 to 700
Midpoint = 625 Determine Total Rise = 2700
Select suitable Rise Say 175mm

Divide Total Rise by Rise = 2700/175 = 15.429

Either 15 or 16 Risers = 2700/15 = 180mm

2700/16 = 168.75mm
Use 180mm is closer to 175mm
Best Going
2R + G Between 550 to 700
Midpoint = 625 Determine Total Rise = 2700
Select suitable Rise Say 175mm

Divide Total Rise by Rise = 2700/175 = 15.429

Either 15 or 16 Risers = 2700/15 = 180mm (Use)

2700/16 = 168.75mm
Determine Best Going 2R + G = 625
G = 625 – 2R
Best Going for180 Riser 265 = 625 – 2 x 180

Either

Rise 180
Going 265
 Use
Rise 180
Going 265

15 Risers

14 Goings
 Best Going
2R + G Between 550 to 700
Midpoint = 625

Preferred Rise 175mm

Divide Total Rise by Rise = 2700/175 = 15.429
15 Risers
Either 15 or 16 Risers = 2700/15 = 180mm
2700/16 = 168.75

Use 180mm
Determine Best Going
3800/14 = 271.43 + 2 x 180 = 631. 43 (Closest)
3800/15 = 253.33 + 2 x 168.75 = 591

14 Goings Use
Rise 180
Going 271.43
Stair width 900mm
Once an Intermediate Landing is
introduced the top flight becomes
constrained
Best Going
Stair width 900mm Preferred Rise = 165mm
2R + G Between 550 to 700
Midpoint = 625
G = 625 – 2R 2700/165 = 16 .364

2700/16= 168.75 (3.75 Diff)

2700/17= 158.824 (6.176 Diff)

Use Rise = 168.75

Best Going = 625 – 2R

= 625 – 2 x
168.75
= 287.5

1800/287.5 = 6.261

1800/6 = 300 (12.5 Diff)

1800/7 = 257.143 (30.357 Diff)

Rise = 168.364
Going = 300
Best Going
2R + G Between 550 to 700
Midpoint = 625
G = 625 – 2R Stair width 900mm Preferred Rise = 165mm

2700/165 = 16 .364

2700/16= 168.75 (3.75 Diff)

2700/17= 158.824 (6.176 Diff)

Use Rise = 168.75

Best Going = 625 – 2R

= 625 – 2 x
168.75
= 287.5

1800/287.5 = 6.261

1800/6 = 300 (12.5 Diff)

1800/7 = 257.143 (30.357 Diff)

Rise = 168.364
Going = 300
Best Going
Stair width 900mm
2R + G Between 550 to 700
Midpoint = 625 From Previous we know
625- 2 x 180 = 265 15 Risers at 180

Length of 1st Flight = 2700 - 900

Divide by Best Going = 1800/265
= 6.79
Going Either 1800 /6 = 300mm
1800/7 = 257mm

257.14 is Closest to 265

 Preferred Riser 170mm

3600/170 = 21.176
Stair width 900mm
3600/21 = 171.429
3600/22 = 163.636

Use 171.429mm

Best Going = 625 – 2R

= 625 – 2 x
171.429
= 282.142

Length of 1st Flight = 4050 – 900

= 3150

Divide by Best Going = 3150/282.142

= 11.16
3150/11 = 286.364
3150/12 = 262.500
Use 286.364
Stair width 900mm Preferred Riser 170mm

Rise 171.429mm

Going 286.364
Stair width 900mm Preferred Riser 170mm

4100/170 = 24.118

24 4100/24 = 170.833
25 4100/24 = 164

Use Rise 170.833

Best Going
625 – 2R = BG

625 – 2 x 170.833 = 283.334

2650/ 283.334 = 9.353

2650/9 = 294.444 (USE)

2650/10 = 265

Rise 170.833
Going 268.75
Thanks