Jordan University of Science and

Technology
Civil Engineering Department

Building Construction

Stairs
Definitions
 Stair: is the structural elements composed
of a series of steps that comfortably
connects two different levels.
Definitions
 Step: a portion of stairs containing the Go and
rise which allows ascending and descending
from one level to another.
 Rise: vertical portion of step
 Go: horizontal portion of step
 Landing: horizontal platform between two
flights ( as a breather and to able the users to
change their direction when ascending or
descending).
 Hand rail.
 Standard Dimensions for

Comfortable Stairs
For a comfortable stair, max number of steps ( which is equal to
the number of rises) should be less than 14, so it could be
needed one flight, two flights or more to transfer from level to
another.
 Rise (R) = 15 -17 cm.
 Go (Go) = almost 30cm, not less than 28cm.
 Max slope = ( Rise: Go) 1:2.
EX: R= 15 cm G= 30 cm
 No. of goes = No. of rises - 1
No. of rises = elevation difference between the two floors/rise
dimension
 Length of step= width of flight :
not less than 1.0 m in private houses ,
(for public buildings will be greater than private buildings).
 Min space between flights = 15cm.
 Width of landing = at least width of flight.
Standard Dimensions for
Comfortable Stairs
Standard Dimensions for
Comfortable Stairs

(Length of step)
The four shapes of stair are:

Stairs

Single Flight Dog – leg Open Well Spiral

Shapes of stair:
 Single flight: (Entrance)
Shapes of stair:
Single flight:
Shapes of stair:
 Dog - leg: ( most popular)
 2 flights with landing in between
 No. of steps in each flight are equal
Shapes of stair:
Dog - leg:
Shapes of stair:
• Open well ( large halls)
3 flights on 3 different walls
Shapes of stair:
Open well
Shapes of stair:

 Spiral : ( emergency)
Shapes of stair:
Spiral
Cross-section
 Structural Analysis

- Landing is a support for flight.

Effective Length of flight = horizontal projection of flight+
width of landing
BM = (W Le²)/8

- Shear wall is a support for landing .

Structural Analysis
∑R = Vertical projection

∑G = Horizontal projection

Length of flight  ( R) 2  ( G) 2
Load Calculations for Bending Moment
Calculations
 1) Dead Load:
Own weight of stair
 Thickness of flight slab should be assumed ( waist
slab thickness)
 Assumption is based on solid slab
tw= Le/20
( or assume (1.75 to 2cm ) for each step)

 Total thickness of slab h= tw+0.5 Rise

 Weight of flight = Li*b*h*γrc
Load Calculations for Bending
Moment Calculations
 Li= inclined length of flight=
Length of flight  ( R) 2  ( G) 2
 b = width of flight
 h= total thickness of slab
 γrc=density of R.C

- O.W ( flight) (load/m) = o.w of flight/ Horizontal

projection of flight
- Weight of steps finishing.
2) Live Load: ( 400 kg/m)
Reinforcement steel for stair case