STAIRS

STAIR
A stair may be defined as series of steps suitably arranged for the
purpose of connecting different floors of a building.
STEP : It is a portion of stair which permits ascent or descent.
STAIR CASE
The room or enclosure of the building, in which the stair is located
is known as stair case.
The opening or space occupied by the stair is known as stairway.
1. Tread
Horizontal upper portion of a step
2. Riser
Vertical or front member of the step, which is connected to treads.
3. Rise
Vertical distance between two successive treads
4. Going
Horizontal distance between the faces of two consecutive risers
5. Flight
Unbroken series of steps between landings
6. Landing
Horizontal platform between two flights of a stair
7. Nosing
Projecting part of the tread beyond the face of riser
8. Scotia
It is a moulding provided under the nosing to improve the elevation
of the step, and to provide strength to nosing.
9. Soffit
Under surface of a stair
10. Line of Nosings
Imaginary line parallel to the strings and tangential to the nosings
11. Pitch or Slope
The angle which the line of nosing of the stair makes with the
horizontal.
12. String
Inclined member of a stair which supports the ends of steps
13. Newel Post
Vertical member which is placed at the ends of flights to connect
the ends of strings and hand rails
14. Baluster
Vertical member which is fixed between string and handrail to give
support to the handrail
15. Balustrade
Combined frame work of handrail and balusters
16. Hand Rail
Inclined rail over the string, and fixed on the top of balusters.
17. Head Room
Vertical distance between the nosings of one flight and the
bottom of flight immediately above it.
18. Run
Total length of a stair in a horizontal plane, including landings.
19. Waist
Thickness of structural slab in case of an RCC stair.
Requirements of a good stair
Types of Stairs

1.Straight stairs
2.Turning stairs
a) Quarter turn stairs
b) Half turn stairs
(dog-legged and open-well)
c) Three quarter turn stairs
d) Bifurcated stairs

3. Circular or helical or spiral stairs

4. Geometrical stairs
1. Straight stairs

In case of a straight stair, all steps lead

in one direction only.
This stair runs straight between the
two floors.
This type of stair may consist of either
one flight or more than one flight.
These are used when the space
available for staircase is long but
narrow in width.
2. Turning stairs

a) Quarter turn stairs

A stair turning through one right angle is known as a quarter-turn
stair.
b) Half turn stair
A stair turning through two right angles is known as a half-turn stair.
A half turn stair may be of dog-legged type or open newel type .
Dog-Legged Stairs
In this type, the flights run in opposite direction and there is no space
between them in plan.
These stairs are used for space available for the staircase is equal to
twice the width of steps.
The name is given because of its appearance in sectional elevation.
Open Newel Stairs
In this type, there will be a well or hole or opening between the flights
in plan.
These stairs are useful where available space for staircase has a width
greater than twice the width of steps.
c) Three quarter turn stairs
A stair turning through three right angles.
This type of stair is used when the length of the stair room is limited
and when the vertical distance between the two floors is quite large.
d) Bifurcated stairs
If a quarter turn stair is branched into two flights at a landing, it is
known as Bifurcated stair
3. Circular or helical or spiral stairs
4. Geometrical stairs

These stairs have any geometrical

shape and they not require any
newel posts.

The handrail of a geometrical stair

continues without interruption and
without any angular turns.

Considerable skill is required for

construction.
Types of stairs based on
Materials of Construction

( RCC Stairs )
5. RCC Stairs
Plan a dog legged stair case for a building in which the vertical
distance between floors is 3.60 Mtrs.

Stair hall measures 2.50 Mtrs X 5.00 Mtrs

Let Rise=15cm,Tread=25cm,
Let us keep width of each flight=1.20mtrs
Width of Landing =Width of stair =1.20mtrs
Height of each flight=3.60/ 2 =1.80mtrs
No. of risers required in each flight=180 / 15=12
No of treads in each flight =12-1=11,
Space required for treads 11 x25 =275 cms
Space left for passage = 5.00-1.20 - 2.75 =1.05 mtrs