Structure 04
Stairs 1: concrete
Details
1 Guarding
2 Handrail
3 Staircase
4 Treads projecting from concrete wall
5 Cast-in-place staircase
6 Precast staircase
7 Floor slab
8 Loadbearing concrete wall
2
a Part elevation of concrete cantilever stair
Concrete stairs have the advantage of good fire resistance combined
with the ability to absorb impact sound. Concrete can be used in
conjunction with both steel and concrete structures. Stairs can be of
cast-in-place or precast types, but the type used must be compatible
with the overall type of construction used.
In-situ cast concrete
In-situ cast concrete stairs are made by setting steel reinforcement into
reusable steel or timber formwork. A screed is added afterwards to
provide a smoother and more exacting finish to the exposed surfaces.
The screed can be used as a self-finish, when used internally, but the
dusty nature of concrete walking surfaces often leads to the use of floor
paint, polishing the concrete, or inserting treads in another material
such as timber. Where the screed is used as a self-finish, anti-slip
nosings are added. They can be recessed or surface fixed. Where the
stair is exposed to view, the formwork into which the concrete is cast
has to be designed and built carefully to reflect the quality of the finish
demanded.
The junction at stair landings is often designed to create a single
arris line across the soffit. This allows handrails on different flights to
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8
7
b 3D view showing cantilevered
concrete stair configuration
be properly aligned, achieved by offsetting flights by a distance equal
to one tread width.
Precast concrete
Precast stairs are manufactured either as complete flights, sometimes
with a landing attached to one end, or as individual treads which are
fixed together on site. Precast stairs are used primarily where there is a
large number of stairs of the same design used in a single project, and
where a shorter construction time is an important factor. These stairs
also assist in the construction process itself by providing convenient
access. This is particularly important if the design of the stair is complex,
where the cost of precast staircases can be considerably more than
the cast-in-place type.
Guardrails
Guardrails on concrete stairs are most often pre-fabricated in parts,
typically in steel, and then grouted into slots or holes drilled into the
sides or treads of the stair. Alternatively, they can be fixed to the side of
the stair with steel brackets. Handrails in metal are either integral with
the guardrails or fixed to an adjacent wall.
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 c 3D view showing cantilevered concrete
stair configuration

8 3
4

7 2

d 3D view showing precast

concrete stair

e Cast in-situ stair

2

4
2

f Precast stair with individually cast treads g Plan view of stair h 3D view showing cantilevered concrete stair configuration
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 Structure 04
Stairs 2: steel
Details

2
1 Guarding
2 Handrail
1 3 Steel stringer
4 Tread
5 Inserts, typically timber or
2
concrete, set onto steel plate
6 Steel channel
7 Landing in steel plate
7
1
5
6

a 3D view showing underside of

5
steel staircase

5
1

7
6

b 3D view showing c 3D view showing

steel staircase steel staircase

Steel stairs have the advantage of being lighter in weight, allowing them
to be prefabricated and delivered to site as completed sections of flights
and landings. They can be lifted into place more easily than concrete
stairs, but lack the high fire resistance associated with that material.
There are two generic types, with either treads as plates set between
stringers, or with folded sheet set between stringers. In addition, spiral
stairs in cast iron and steel are available as proprietary products in
a range of standard sizes. These comprise a central post to which
radiating treads are fixed.
Flat plate type
Stairs with plate set between stringers are made by bolting or welding
treads formed from either smooth- or checker-plate. Stringers, which
form the beams at the sides of the stair, are usually made from steel
channel which provides a straight vertical face to which the treads can be
fixed. The position of the treads within the depth of the stringer is critical
in order that stringers can be aligned neatly where they intersect at
landings. Bolted or welded connections are made to be sufficiently stiff so
that the stair does not rattle or experience any significant movement while
in use. Depending on their width, treads may need to have either their
edges folded to provide stiffness which can accommodate an additional
finish such as a decorative timber tread, or formed as a composite steel
tray with a concrete fill. An alternative method of stiffening treads is to
weld a vertical steel plate to their underside to form a T-section.
MCH_ 342
Stairs can be formed by folding a steel sheet and supporting it, either
on stringers set at the sides or by a single central stringer set beneath
the plate. The inherent rigidity of the folded sheet allows a wide range
of economic solutions for the arrangement of the stringers. As with
the flat plate type, the assembly can be either bolted or welded, and
decorative inserts in other materials such as timber can be added. Both
stair types can be finished in a variety of coatings from galvanizing to
painting to polyester powder coating. Softer coatings such as PVDF are
rarely used due to their poorer wearing qualities. In addition to visual
considerations, the choice of finish is determined by the required degree
of durability and appearance.
Guardrails
Steel guardrails are prefabricated but are not often fixed to staircases
before delivery to site in order to make the stair both easier to install
and to make it easier to align the guardrails with adjacent walkways
or enclosing walls. Guardrails are usually finished before delivery to
site. If a paint finish is used, the guardrail will at least be prepared and
primed before arriving on site where finish coats can be applied after
its installation.
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 h 3D view showing folded steel
plate stair
2

1
1
2
7

3
7
1
2
11 7
1 Details
1 Guarding
2 Handrail
3 Steel stringer
4 Tread
2
d Vertical section through treads 11 5 Inserts, typically timber or
concrete, set onto steel plate
6 Steel channel
1 Landing in steel plate
7
8 Steel plate deck
9 RHS box section
1 10 Balustrade
2 11 Folded steel plate to form
continuous tread and risers
12 One stringer with projecting
arms to support treads/
risers or two stringer sets
1 7 near edges of stair
3
7
2
9

4 3D view showing underside of

j
folded steel plate stair

e Vertical section through treads

1

2
6 4
7
8
9

1
11

7
3

2
7
f Horizontal section 1

k 3D view showing folded

steel plate stair
2 1 11
2
1 2

4
7

8 5
7 11
6 4 1
3
3

g Vertical section
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 Structure 04
Stairs 3: timber
d (Below) 3D view showing
timber staircase against
in-situ cast concrete wall
a 3D view showing timber staircase against
in-situ cast concrete wall
Details
1 Handrail 7 Bracket
2 Balustrades 8 Wall
3 Timber beam 9 Riser
4 Tread 10 Newel post
5 Carriage 11 Trimmer joist
6 Wedge
An advantage of timber staircases is that they can be integrated easily
into adjacent timber construction and can be modified easily on site in
a way that is very difficult to achieve in an equivalent steel or concrete
construction. Timber stairs consist of stringers or carriages, which
support the stair to which treads and risers are fixed. Several carriages
may be positioned between stringers as loading demands. The stair is
generally delivered to site as a complete structure secured with timber
wedges, avoiding the need for visible fixings. Relatively small pieces of
timber are used. The thin timber sections are prone to shrinkage and
creep unless they are locked together. Because timber stairs have
poor fire resistance, they are often restricted to residential use. Treads
and risers are fixed together with tongue-and-groove (or rabbeted)
joints that provide a tight fit and avoid creaking when the stair is in
use. Both treads and risers are fitted into rebated slots cut into the
stringers where they are wedged to provide the correct alignment of
treads. Trimmer beams are sometimes added at the top and bottom
of the staircase to stabilise it and provide fixing points to the adjacent
floors, which are typically also of timber construction.
MCH_ 344
b Vertical section 1:10
through handrail
c 3D view showing freestanding
timber staircase supported by
steel beam
9 6
4
e Vertical section 1:10 & 1:50 through stair
5 8
4
6
9
7 5
7 6
f Vertical section 1:10 through treads
An alternative approach is to use heavy timber sections to form
staircases that resemble those in steel. Steel brackets that are bolted
into the timber sections connect the stringers and separate treads
together. They can easily accommodate steel guardrails which are
bolted through the large stringer sections. Timber guardrails follow the
traditional use of balusters at close centres, typically set 100mm apart.
The lack of large structural members in timber stairs makes the use of
balusters at wider centres, as used in steel or concrete construction,
less suitable. Timber connections are more fragile than those in steel;
they must also accommodate more movement due to moisture.
Balusters at close centres allow imposed loads on the guardrail to be
spread evenly along the length of the stair stringers.
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g 3D view showing h 3D views showing timber
freestanding timber staircase against in-situ
staircase supported by cast concrete wall
steel beam

11

10
2 1

4
4
10 9
5

j Vertical section k Vertical section

1 8

4 1
3
4

8
8

l Horizontal section m Horizontal section

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 Structure 04
Stairs 4: glass
4 2
4
2
1
7
2
4
a Vertical section 1:50
Stairs with glass treads have the advantage of transparency, allowing
light to penetrate down the stair enclosure. The glass used is usually
a thick laminated glass which can be made of two sheets of float glass
with a thin interlayer, or toughened glass with a more robust interlayer
that stays in place if the two toughened sheets are broken. Glass treads
can be supported either within a steel tray which provides support on all
edges, or be two-edge supported. An alternative is to bolt-fix the glass
using techniques taken from their primary application in glazed walls.
This method allows the stair to be suspended from cables, a technique
still in the early stages of use. The tread assemblies are then usually sup-
ported by steel stringers, though concrete can also be used.
Where glass treads are set within a steel supporting tray, the laminat-
ed glass sheet is set directly onto a silicone-based bedding. In addition
to holding the glass in place, the bedding provides both a cushion and
a method of ensuring that the glass is evenly supported along all the
edges and is fixed level. An additional weather seal is used on the sides
of the glass between the glass and frame, if the stair is to be used in
external conditions. Treads often have a surface treatment to provide
MCH_ 346
b 3D view showing glass
staircase supported on steel
structure
slip resistance. Sandblasting, etching or the addition of a carborundum
coating, typically in strips, is used for this purpose.
Guardrails
All-glass, or structurally glazed, balustrades can be constructed with
sheets of toughened or laminated glass and used with a stair built in
another material. They comprise sheets of toughened or laminated
glass fixed at floor level with either a clamped plate secured by bolts or
by bolt fixings directly through the glass. The glass must be sufficiently
strong and rigid to span vertically without additional vertical support. A
12mm thick sheet is typically used. A handrail can be added by introduc-
ing a rebate into the handrail section and setting it directly onto the
top of the glass guardrail. An alternative method is to form a guardrail
from steel posts that support a handrail, with laminated or toughened
glass sheets used as infill panels. The glass can be fixed with clamps or
be bolt-fixed back to the posts. Glass sheets are set with a vertical gap
of around 10mm between them which is filled with a translucent or
transparent silicone seal.
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 c 3D view showing glass staircase
supported on steel structure

d 3D view showing
glass staircase
supported on steel
structure

Details
1 Glass balustrade
e 3D view showing glass fixed at base
staircase supported on 2 Stainless steel
steel structure handrail
3 Steel stringer
4 Glass treads,
typically sandblasted
to provide friction
2 5 Steel tube support
2 frame
6 Steel angle
7 Glass landing in steel
1 plate
1

7
7
6

6
4

3
3

f Horizontal Section g Vertical Section h Horizontal section 1:10

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AuthenticatedMCH_ 347
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 Brought to you by | Universidad de Navarra
MCH_ 348 Authenticated
Download Date | 3/1/17 4:46 PM