STAIR DESIGN &

CONSTRUCTION

ID 270 – BUILDING SYSTEMS & MATERIALS

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Stair Components:
•  Tread
•  Riser
•  Stringer
•  Rise / run
•  Handrail
•  Balustrade
•  Nosing
•  Winder
•  Newel post
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Commercial v. Residential Stairs:

•  Egress stairs (protected path) must be enclosed and be made of fire-

rated . materials as per code
•  Non-egress stairs may be open and are not subject to the same fire codes

•  Minimum head clearance in residential buildings is 6’-6”

•  Minimum head clearance in commercial buildings is 6’-8”

•  Minimum width in residential buildings (or occupant load < 50) is 36”
•  Minimum width in commercial buildings with occupant load > 50 is 44”

•  Maximum handrail profile encroachment in commercial buildings is 4½”

into . minimum width
•  Maximum handrail profile encroachment in residential is 3½” into minimum width

•  Caveat: codes vary for all circumstances; must verify dimensions accordingly!
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Stair Drawings: Clearances and Dimensions
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Commercial v. Residential Stairs:

•  Egress stairs (protected path) must be enclosed and be made of fire-

rated . materials as per code
•  Non-egress stairs may be open and are not subject to the same fire codes

•  Minimum head clearance in residential buildings is 6’-6”

•  Minimum head clearance in commercial buildings is 6’-8”

•  Minimum width in residential buildings (or occupant load < 50) is 36”
•  Minimum width in commercial buildings with occupant load > 50 is 44”

•  Maximum handrail profile encroachment in commercial buildings is 4½”

into . minimum width
•  Maximum handrail profile encroachment in residential is 3½” into minimum width

•  Caveat: codes vary for all circumstances; must verify dimensions accordingly!
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Stair Drawings: Handrails
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Handrails and Railings:

•  Handrails on both sides of a stair required in commercial buildings

•  Handrails required only on one side in private dwellings
•  Handrail gripping surface must be continuous and without obstructions
•  In residences, newel posts are allowed at landing and at base of stair
•  Extra-wide egress stairs must have intermediate handrails, within 30” of reach
•  Handrails must be located at 34”- 38” above nosing (generally required at 36”)
•  End of handrail must have a return
•  Handrails in public buildings must extend at both the top and bottom of a flight of stairs
•  Inside railing at switchback stairs must be continuous (change in slope)
•  Railings and balustrade members must have no gaps 4” or larger
•  Balustrades should be oriented vertically so as not to encourage climbing
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Stair Drawings: Plan and Section
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Stair Drawings: Handrails
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Stair Drawings: Handrails
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Treads and Risers:

•  Treads must be at least 10” deep (not including nosing) in residential buildings
•  Treads must be at least 11” deep in commercial buildings and in compliance with ADA
•  Must be strong enough not to deflect under span, weight, and concentrated force

•  Risers must be no greater than 7¾” in residences

•  Risers must be no greater than 7” in commercial buildings
•  Open risers are generally not allowed by code
•  Difference in riser height permissible < 1/8”per riser, or 3/8” over length of run

•  Nosings cannot project more than 1½”and have a maximum radius of ½”

•  Number of treads in a straight run stair is 1 less than the number of risers, and
2 less in a switchback (landing instead of tread)

•  Proportion of tread depth to riser height: 2R + T = 25” (most comfortable for stride)
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Stair Drawings: Nosing Profiles
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Stringers:

•  Open stringers (treads fastened from above)

•  Closed stringers (treads fastened from side)
•  Code requires (3) 2 x 12’s for 36” wide residential stair
•  Kicker plate at bottom to anchor stair structure
•  Mounted at top with hangers or plates onto floor structure
•  May be exposed or finished with fire-rated gypboard + sound insulation
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Stair Drawings: Stringers
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Spiral Stairs:

•  Head clearance of 78”

•  Riser height may not exceed 9½” in non-egress conditions
•  May be used as means of egress if exit access space is < 250 sf and < 5 occupants
•  Same riser heights as per code apply for egress
•  Minimum diameter for egress = 5’- 0”; 26” clear width + 4” center column (steel)
•  Can make three-quarter turn or full 360 degree turn
•  One baluster per tread

•  Center column (cantilever)

OR
Center column + stringer
OR
Double stringer
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Stair Drawings: Spiral
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Fire Egress Stairs:

•  Must be completely enclosed

•  Must be made of fire-rated materials (fire-rating according to code)
•  Generally made of concrete in public buildings requiring egress
•  Width dimensions depend on occupancy load
•  Rescue assistance requirements to accommodate rescue personnel and
waiting . areas on landings for wheelchairs
•  Number and locations of fire stairs regulated by code
•  Minimum distance between stairwells in large commercial building is 30 ft
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Stair Types: Straight Run

If rise > 12’, then landing required

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Stair Types: Straight Run

If rise > 12’, then landing required

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Stair Types: L-shaped & Winders
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Stair Types: L-shaped & Winders
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Stair Types: L-shaped & Winders
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Stair Types: L-shaped & Winders
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Stair Types: L-shaped & Winders
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Stair Types: Switchback or Return
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Stair Types: Switchback or Return
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Stair Types: Switchback or Return
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Stair Types: Switchback or Return
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Stair Types: Switchback or Return
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Stair Types: Switchback or Return
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Stair Types: Curved and Spiral
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Stair Types: Curved and Spiral
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Stair Types: Curved and Spiral
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Stair Types: Curved and Spiral
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Stair Types: Curved and Spiral
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Stair Types: Curved and Spiral
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Stair Types: Curved and Spiral
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Stair Types: Curved and Spiral
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Stair Types: Curved and Spiral
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Stair Types: Curved and Spiral
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Stair Types: Curved and Spiral
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Stair Types: Curved and Spiral
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Stair Types: Curved and Spiral
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Stair Types: Curved and Spiral
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Stair Types: Other Shapes
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Stair Types: Alternating
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Stair Types: Alternating
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Stair Types: Alternating
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Stair Types: Alternating
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Stair Types: Alternating
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Stair Types: Sculptural Stairs

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Stair Types: Sculptural Stairs

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Stair Types: Sculptural Stairs

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Stair Types: Sculptural Stairs

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Stair Types: Sculptural Stairs

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Stair Types: Sculptural Stairs

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Stair Types: Sculptural Stairs

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Stair Types: Heightened experience

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Stair Types: Sculptural Stair Details

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Stair Types: Sculptural Stair Details

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Stair Types: Sculptural Stair Details

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Stair Materials: glass, steel, wood, concrete

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Stair Materials: glass, steel, wood, concrete

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Stair Materials: glass, steel, wood, concrete

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Decorative Stairs: lighting, color, images, motif
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Decorative Stairs: lighting, color, images, motif
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Decorative Stairs: lighting, color, images, motif
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Decorative Railings:
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Stair Drawings: Residential Stair details
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Stair Drawings: Commercial Stair details
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How to calculate stair dimensions:

•  Start with determining riser dimension because floor height is fixed (treads
and . horizontal run have more flexibility)
•  Calculate the floor-to-floor height (ceiling height + floor thickness, including
finish . floor); convert to inches
•  Divide by a standard 7” riser height
•  For commercial buildings, round up, and for dwellings, round down; this
represents . the number of risers
•  Divide the floor-to-floor height by the number of risers to establish the exact riser .
height, and verify that the dimension meets the applicable code
•  Number of treads is 1 less for straight run, and 2 less for stair with landing
•  Depth of tread can be calculated by available run, code requirements, and tread/
riser . proportion
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How to calculate stair dimensions:

•  Calculate the floor-to-floor height

Ceiling height = 8’– 0” = 96”
Floor thickness = 2 x12 + gypboard ceiling + subfloor + finish floor
= 11-1/4” + 5/8” + 3/4“ + 3/4” = 13-3/8”
Ceiling height (96”) + floor thickness (13-3/8”) = 109.375”

Determine riser:
•  Divide by a standard 7” riser height = 15.625
For commercial buildings, round up = 16 risers
For dwellings, round down = 15 risers

•  Divide the FTF height by the number of risers (verify with code)
Commercial = 6.836”
Residential = 7.29”
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How to calculate stair dimensions:

Determine tread & run:

•  Straight run commercial stair will have 15 treads

T = 25 – 2R (13.67) = 11.33”; run = 11.33” x 15 treads = 170” (14’– 2”)
Minimum run = 11” x 15 treads = 165” = 13’– 9”

•  Straight run residential stair will have 14 treads

T = 25 – 2R (14.58) = 10.42”; run = 10.42” x 14 treads = 145.88” (12’–1-7/8”)
Minimum run = 10” x 14 treads = 140” = 11’– 8”
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How to draw stairs:

By hand:
•  Use architectural scale and set 0 to 1st floor and 15 (# of residential risers) to 2nd floor
•  Draw a diagonal line (this represents the slope of your stair) and tick off every foot
•  Draw horizontal construction lines through each tick; these represent your treads
•  Draw vertical line from tick to construction line below; these represent your risers

In AutoCAD:
•  Draw a vertical line from first to second floor
•  Use your ‘divide’ command to divide into 15 parts
•  Snap horizontal construction lines through each tick to establish your tread locations
•  Set vertical line for either top or bottom tread (depending which point is fixed)
•  Offset by your tread dimension (10.42” for residential) to establish your riser locations
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Exercise: Calculate stair dimensions for the community center