References: ACI Code & Prof.M.

Nadim Hassoun Book (Structural Concrete 1998)

Design of Stairs
There is many types of stairs. Each one has its own usage & properties.
This program will design a general case which looks something like the drawing below.

Usually the length for run varies between 25 to 33 cm, and 15 to 20 cm for Rises.
Stairs must be designed for the worst case. In case of emergency, usually people use stairs
to evacuate a building. Therefore, it can be crowded and Carrying a big load (Load of people=L.L).
Slope of the stairs should be between 30 to 40 degrees.

TYPICAL UNIFORMLY DISTRIBUTED DESIGN LOADS

DESIGN LIVE LOAD
OCCUPANCY CONTENTS lb/ft2 Kg/m2
Assembly hall Fixed seats 60 290
Movable seats 100 480
Hospital Operating rooms 60 290
Private rooms 40 190
Hotel Guest rooms 40 190
Puplic rooms 100 480
Balconies 100 480
Housing Private houses and apartments 40 190
Puplic rooms 100 480
Institution Classrooms 100 480
Corridors 100 480
Library Reading rooms 60 290
Stack rooms 150 720
Office Building Offices 50 240
Lobbies 100 480
Stairs (or balconies) 100 480
Storage Warehouses Light 100 480
Heavy 250 1200
Yards and terraces 100 480

Page 1
Eng.M.Al-Haider Program
For Designing Stairs (Version1/Aug,2002)
Date:09/24/2022

DESIGN OF STAIRS
Insert fc' = ? Mpa
Insert fy = ? Mpa
Insert the Concrete Density = ? Kg/m3
Insert Live Load = ? Kg/m2 (See the instructions for more details)
Insert Rise height = ? cm
Insert Run width = ? cm
Insert the Slope of the stair (in degrees) = ?
Assume the thickness of the slab (waist) = ? cm

Weight of one step = #VALUE! Kg/Step

Then Average weight per meter = #VALUE! Kg/m
Weight of Landing = #VALUE! Kg/m
(For 1 meter wide)
Insert the weight of step cover = ? Kg/m
Then, the Dead Load on Stairs = #VALUE! Kg/m
And the Dead Load on Landing = #VALUE! Kg/m
Wu (on the Stairs) = #VALUE! Kg/m
Wu (on Landings) = #VALUE! Kg/m
Because the load on the landing is carried into two directions, only half of the load will be
considered in each direction.
0.5Wu(on landings) = #VALUE! Kg/m #VALUE! Kg/m
#VALUE!
Landing Length ( ) = ? m Kg/m
Stair Length ( ) = ? m
Then Total Length = #VALUE! m
Taking Moment @ A = 0
Reaction @ A (Kg) = #VALUE! Kg
Reaction @ B (Kg) = #VALUE! Kg

Maximum Bending Moment & Steel Reinforcement

Moment @ Midspan
Mu = #VALUE! Kg.m

d = Slab thickness - Concrete Cover - (0.5 bar diameter " can be ignored")
Insert Concrete Cover (in cm.) = ?
d = #VALUE! cm
Mu = 0.9xAsxfy(d-a/2) Insert a = ? mm
As = #VALUE! mm2 Check a = #VALUE! mm
Note: Keep changing the value of a until it almost equal the checking. (1.5 almost = 1.523123)
Minimum As (mm2)= #VALUE! mm2
Then, As (Used) = #VALUE! mm2

Insert the Bar No. = ? (10,12,14,16 or 18)

The Diameter (mm) = 0
Area = 0 mm2
No. of Bars needed = #VALUE! Per Unit meter
Total No. of Bars = #VALUE! Spaced @ #VALUE! cm

Page 2
Eng.M.Al-Haider Program
For Designing Stairs (Version1/Aug,2002)
Date:09/24/2022

Transverse reinforcement must be provided to account for shrinkage.

As = 0.0018 x b x d As = #VALUE! mm2/m
Insert the Bar No. = ? (10,12,14,16 or 18)
The Diameter (mm) = 0
Area = 0 mm2
No. of Bars needed = #VALUE!
Total No. of Bars = #VALUE! Spaced @ #VALUE! cm

Minimum Slab thickness for deflection = L/25 which = #VALUE! cm

But this is for simply supported slab. In our case, we can assume L/28
Therefore, Minimum slab thickness (cm) = #VALUE! cm Where the Assumed= ?
#VALUE!

Design of Landing #VALUE! Kg/m

Assume it to be simply supported.
Maximumu Bending moment = #VALUE! Kg.m
Bars in the landing will be placed at the
top of the main reinforcement.
d is almost the same as previously: ? m
Insert a (Assume it) = ? mm
As = #VALUE! mm2 Check a = #VALUE! mm
As(min.) = #VALUE! mm2 Use As = #VALUE! mm2
Insert the Bar No. = ? (10,12,14,16 or 18)
The Diameter (mm) = 0
Area = 0 mm2
No. of Bars needed = #VALUE! Per Unit meter
Total No. of Bars = #VALUE! Spaced @ #VALUE! cm

?cm

?cm No.?
No.? No.10 Spaced @
Spaced @ ?cm #VALUE!
#VALUE! No.?
Spaced @
No.? #VALUE!
Spaced @
#VALUE!
No.?
Spaced @
#VALUE!
?m ?m ?m

Page 3
DESIGN OF STAIRS
Insert fc' = 30 Mpa
Insert fy = 420 Mpa
Insert the Concrete Density = 2500 Kg/m3
Insert Live Load = 480 Kg/m2 (See the instructions for more details)
Insert Rise height = 17 cm
Insert Run width = 30 cm
Insert the Slope of the stair (in degrees) = 35
Assume the thickness of the slab (waist) = 20 cm

Weight of one step = 246.8664 Kg/Step

Then Average weight per meter = 822.8879 Kg/m
Weight of Landing = 500 Kg/m
(For 1 meter wide)
Insert the weight of step cover = 3 Kg/m
Then, the Dead Load on Stairs = 825.8879 Kg/m
And the Dead Load on Landing = 503 Kg/m
Wu (on the Stairs) = 1972.243 Kg/m
Wu (on Landings) = 1520.2 Kg/m
Because the load on the landing is carried into two directions, only half of the load will be
considered in each direction.
0.5Wu(on landings) = 760.1 Kg/m 1972.243 Kg/m
760.1
Landing Length ( ) = 1 m Kg/m
Stair Length ( ) = 3 m
Then Total Length = 5 m
Taking Moment @ A = 0
Reaction @ A (Kg) = 1746.222 Kg
Reaction @ B (Kg) = 1746.222 Kg

Maximum Bending Moment & Steel Reinforcement

Moment @ Midspan
Mu = 626.5804 Kg.m

d = Slab thickness - Concrete Cover - (0.5 bar diameter " can be ignored")
Insert Concrete Cover (in cm.) = 2
d= 18 cm
Mu = 0.9xAsxfy(d-a/2) Insert a = 1.5 mm
As = 92.47532 mm2 Check a = 1.523123 mm
Note: Keep changing the value of a until it almost equal the checking. (1.5 almost = 1.523123)
Minimum As (mm2)= 666.6667 mm2
Then, As (Used) = 666.6667 mm2

Insert the Bar No. = 12 (10,12,14,16 or 18)

The Diameter (mm) = 11.63
Area = 106.2308 mm2
No. of Bars needed = 6 Per Unit meter
Total No. of Bars = 22 Spaced @ 17 cm
Transverse reinforcement must be provided to account for shrinkage.
As = 0.0018 x b x d As = 360 mm2/m
Insert the Bar No. = 10 (10,12,14,16 or 18)
The Diameter (mm) = 9.5
Area = 70.88235 mm2
No. of Bars needed = 5
Total No. of Bars = 18 Spaced @ 20 cm

Minimum Slab thickness for deflection = L/25 which = 20 cm

But this is for simply supported slab. In our case, we can assume L/28
Therefore, Minimum slab thickness (cm) = 18 cm Where the Assumed= 20
Slab Thickness Assumed is O.K

Design of Landing 760.1 Kg/m

Assume it to be simply supported.
Maximumu Bending moment = 95.0125 Kg.m
Bars in the landing will be placed at the
top of the main reinforcement.
d is almost the same as previously: 1 m
Insert a (Assume it) = 0.23 mm
As = 13.97314 mm2 Check a = 0.230146 mm
As(min.) = 666.6667 mm2 Use As = 666.6667 mm2
Insert the Bar No. = 12 (10,12,14,16 or 18)
The Diameter (mm) = 11.63
Area = 106.2308 mm2
No. of Bars needed = 6 Per Unit meter
Total No. of Bars = 6 Spaced @ 17 cm

30cm

17cm No.12
No.12 No.10 Spaced @
Spaced @ 20cm 17cm
17cm No.10
Spaced @
No.12 20cm
Spaced @
17cm
No.12
Spaced @
17
1m 3m 1m