BUILDING

CONSTRUCTION
Chapter 4 Superstructure_ VERTICAL
CIRCULATION
Types of vertical circulation
• Types of vertical circulation include

I. Ramps,
II. Ladders,

III. Stair,
IV. Lifts or elevators
V. Escalator

The last two being operated mechanically.

• MAIN PURPOSE is to give access to and descent
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from the various levels of floors in a building.
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CONT…
LADDER
STAIR
RAMP

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I. Ramp:
It is an inclined surface that connecting two levels,
 A simple machine for elevating objects or peoples;
consists of plane surface that makes an acute angle with
the horizontal.

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Recommended requirement
for ramp Design
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 II. Ladders
 A ladder is a vertical or inclined set of rungs or steps.

 A structure of wood, metal, or rope, commonly consisting of

two sidepieces between which a series of bars or rungs are set

at suitable distances, forming a means of climbing up or down.

There are two types:

 Rigid ladders: that can be leaned against a vertical surface
such as a wall,
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 Rope ladders: that are hung from the top.
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CONT…

Recommended angle 50-750

Handrails are required on both sides if risers are not left open or if there are
no side walls.
Widths: 500-600mm with handrails. 7
600mm min between side wall.
Riser: 180-250mm ,Tread : 75-150mm , Handrail: 45mm diameter maximum
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 III. Lifts or Elevators
 An elevator or lift is a type of
vertical transportation that moves
people or goods between floors
(levels, decks) of a building, vessel,
or other structure.
 Elevators are generally powered by
electric motors that either drive
traction cables or counterweight
systems like a hoist, or pump
hydraulic fluid to raise a cylindrical 8
piston like a jack.
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 lift providing Means of vertical
transportation to any user of the building
to move from one floor to another.
 Passenger lift: a lift intended primarily
for carrying people and having
automatic sliding doors.

 Car: the part of a lift installation

designed to receive the people and/or
loads to be transported.
 Pit: the space below the lowest level 9
served by the car.
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 IV. Escalator
 A power-driven installation forming
an endless moving stairway for the
conveyance of passengers in the
upward or downward direction.
 They can move a large number of people efficiently and
comfortably between a limited number of floors,
 Six floors are a practical limit.
 Because escalators move at a constant speed there is no
practical waiting period, but there should be adequate
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queuing space at each loading and discharge point.
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V. STAIR CASE
STAIRS: are one of the different means of vertical
circulation in a building.
A step arranged in series and placed in an enclosure
place. Stairs should be designed properly to provide
proper:-
 Ventilation Light (Natural)
Location of stair:
I. Public Buildings :
 Near Main entrance
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II. Residential buildings:
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Centrally for easy access and privacy
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Staircase may be either individually designed and constructed or
selected from the wide range of factory made staircases.
Timber and precast or cast in suit concrete are the predominant
materials used for staircase structure, although combinations of
these materials, steel and other materials, may also be used.
 
Primary function
 Providing a means of circulation between floors levels,
 Establish a safe and easy means of travel between floor
levels.
 Providing a means of conveying fittings and furniture 13

between floor levels.

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 REQUIREMENTS:
– Stairs should be designed so
that they may be ascended or
descended with ease and
safety
– Fire Escape Stairs should be
made of fire resisting
material and should be
smoke free (enclosed and
protected or well ventilated
open stairs)
– Good Esthetics

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 The technical terms of stairs

 Tread: It is the upper horizontal portion of a step upon which the

foot is placed while ascending or descending.
 Riser: it is the vertical portion of a step providing a support to the
tread.
 Flight: this is defined as an unbroken series of steps between
landings.
 Landing: it is the level platform at the top or bottom of a flight
between the floors. A landing facilitates change of direction and
provides an opportunity for taking rest during the use of the stair.
 Rise: It is the vertical distance between two successive tread faces. 18

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 CONT…
 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.
 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
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on the top of balusters.
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 CONT…

 Pitch line: an imaginary line linking the nosing’s of a flight of

stairs.
 Pitch: the angle between the pitch line and the horizontal.
 Head room : the vertical distance between the pitch line and
any surface ( such as a celing or beam) above it.

 Total Rise: the vertical distance

between the floor levels at the
top and bottom of a flight of
stairs.
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Important points for a good stair
Some of the important points, to be kept in mind, while providing
a stair are:-
 Location: it should be so located that there is sufficient light and
ventilation, it should be easily accessible from all parts of a building.
 Length of flight: maximum numbers of step for a comfortable ascend
to a stair; the numbers of steps should be restricted to a maximum of
12 or a minimum of 3.
 Pitch of stair: it should not exceed 420 and a minimum of 250.
 Landing: the width of landing should not less than width of the stair.
 Head room: it should not be less than 2.20m 22

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STAIR DESIGN GUIDES:
Other rules that govern the construction of stairs include:
• Equal rise for every step or landing
• Equal going for every parallel thread
• The maximum pitch angle should not exceed 42 0
• The going of a thread should not be less than 22 cm for
ordinary buildings and 30 cm for public buildings
• The rise of an ordinary stair should at least be 15 cm and
not greater than 22 cm (public stairs should be limited to
15 cm.)
• At least 200 cm head room measured vertically above
the pitch line
• Handrails should be at a height between 90 cm – 100
cm 23
• Balusters spaced to prevent a 100 mm diameter sphere
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 CONT…
 Width : of the flight is decided by the type of building as well as
the amount of traffic estimated.
• Public buildings and large villas, an average width of 120 cm is
a rule,
• Small villas etc., 90 cm is enough.
• The landing should equal or somewhat exceed the width.
 STEPS PER FLIGHT:
• A flight of stairs should preferably not have more than 16 steps.
• In public buildings a single flight between landings should be
limited to 12 steps. 
The comfort of a stair also depends quite a lot on its rise and going. The
dimensions are often calculated according to the formula:
 G+ 2 R = C Where G= going, R = rise
and C = 60 – 63 for ordinary buildings , C = 55 cm for kindergartens 25
C = 70 cm for homes for old people.
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TYPES OF STAIRS
 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.

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CONT….
 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.

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 R.C.C: these are the stairs widely used for residential, public
and industrial buildings. They are strong, hard wearing and
fire resisting.

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 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.
 Brick stairs: these are not very common, except at the entrance.
However, brick stairs of single straight flight are often made in
village houses.

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