STAIRS

OVERVIEW

Stair

Introduction Functional requirements Basic elements of stairs Type of stairs

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INTRODUCTION
What is vertical movement or vertical circulation? Circulation is a movement of human and goods between interior spaces in the building to the entrance or exit. Can be channeled through several types passageway, corridor, stairs, ramps, etc. Vertical circulation is movement of human and goods between stories of a building.

Classified into 2 classes;

Class 1 system ramps, staircase, elevators, escalators. Class 2 system mainly not for human, e.g. dumbwaiters.

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INTRODUCTION (cont.)

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INTRODUCTION (cont.)
STAIRS/STAIRWAY
A set of steps formed to make it possible to pass to another level on foot by putting one foot after the other on alternate steps to climb up or down the stair. Stairs can be made of concrete, stone, wood, steel or combination of any of these.

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INTRODUCTION (cont.)
LADDER
A series of narrow horizontal steps fixed between two upright of wood or metal, on which a person usually climbs up or climbs down facing the ladder.

Usually fixed in an upright, near vertical position or more at a shallow slope for ease of use. Therefore, it only occupy the least floor area.
Not suitable for elderly and handicapped and as a mean of escape in case of fire. Should only be used for access to loft conversion of one room, where there is not enough space for a stair, and that should be fixed in position and fitted with handrails both sides.
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INTRODUCTION (cont.)
STEPLADDER
A series of comparatively narrow, flat, horizontal steps, fixed between two vertical upright, which provide more comfortable and secure support for the foot than the slim.

RAMP
A ramp is a surface, sloping uniformly as an inclined plane up and down which a person may pass on foot between levels. Formed at a slope of at least 1:20. Thus, it occupies a considerable area, usually adjacent to a long, low building.
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FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS
STRENGHT
Able to support for movement between floors, including dead and imposed load.

SAFETY IN USE
Comply with the Building Regulation in determining the rise, thread, headroom and dimensions of the handrails and guarding.
Should be constructed of materials that are capable of maintaining strength and stability for a period of time sufficient to escape to the outside.

FIRE SAFETY
The steps and the width should be adequate for the safe escape to the outside.
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PRIMARY FUNCTIONS
Provide an access from one floor to another. Provide a safe means of travel between floors. Provide a degree of insulation where part of a separating element between compartments in a building. Provide an easy mean of travel between floors. Provide a suitable means of escape in case of fire. Provide a mean of conveying fittings and furniture between floor levels.

STAIR TERMINALOGY

Stair

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STAIR TERMINALOGY
STEPS
A series of horizontal open treads with a space between the treads with a space between the treads or as enclosed steps with a vertical face between the treads. Tread horizontal surface of a step Riser vertical surface or near vertical of a step

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STAIR TERMINALOGY (cont.)

FLIGHT
Uninterrupted series of steps between floor and landing, or between landing and landing. A flight should have no fewer than 3 steps and no more than 16 risers. The rise and tread in one flight and landings between floors should be equal.

The rise and tread should have the same size to avoid interruption in the rhythm of going up or down.
The dimension of the riser and thread will determine whether the stair is steep or shallow.

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STAIR TERMINALOGY (cont.)

FLIGHT (cont.)
The dimensions will depends on the function of the building and should comply with the Building Regulation (UBBL), e.g. Section 40. The steeper stair will save more space and is accepted for houses because the occupants are more familiar with the stair. The shallow stair requires more area but suitable for public building to minimise danger to the public escaping via stair during emergency.
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STAIR TERMINALOGY (cont.)

HEAD ROOM
A clearance height between the pitch line of the stair and the underside of the stairs, landings and floors above the stair. Minimum 2 m clearance from the pitch line for a convenience of human and goods movement.

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STAIR TERMINALOGY (cont.)

Baluster
Vertical stand that supports handrails for security purposes. Can be made from timber or steel. Can be bolted to the sides of flights or through the material, grouted or set in mortices either cast or cut in the material.

Handrail
Horizontal member fixed on the top of series of balusters. Can be made from timber or steel.

Balustrade
A series of baluster, capped by a handrail.
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STAIR TERMINALOGY (cont.)

Closed railing

Open railing

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TYPE OF STAIRS
Type of stairs: o Straight flight/straight run

o Quarter turn/L-shaped
o Half turn (dog leg)/180 return o Spiral (helical) & elliptical

o Winder

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TYPE OF STAIRS
Straight Flight Stair
Rises from the floor to floor in one direction with or without an intermediate landing.

Known as cottage stair as well, commonly used in the traditional two-up two-down cottage. The most economical use of the straight flight is to locate the stair in the centre of the plan running for front to back.

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TYPE OF STAIRS (cont.)

Quarter Turn Stair/ L-shaped
Rises to a landing between two floors, turns through 90, then rises to the floor above. Good in compact planning. The quarter turn sometime will be replaced with winders for economic use of space.

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Half Turn (Dog Leg) Stair

Rises to a landing between floors, turns through 180, then rises parallel to the lower flight to the floor above. The most common arrangement of stairs. Advantage can be constructed within the confined vertical stair well.

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Spiral & Elliptical Stair

Constructed as either a spiral(helical) stair or an ellipse stair.

The most economical way to save space, but difficult to use due to the sharp turns. Very dangerous for the very young and elderly.
Usually use where the space is very limited for access to an intermediate floor of one room.

Spiral (helical) stair

Elliptical stair
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TYPE OF STAIRS (cont.)

Winder Stair
Triangular treads/tapered treads that wind around quarter of half turn in place of landings.

To reduce the number of steps required in the rest of the stair and to economise in space.
Usually use in domestic stairs. Can be hazardous as they only offer little foothold at the interior corner. Not recommended for public buildings in the means of escape stairs especially for the very young and elders.
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Stairs can be made of : Timber

Concrete precast & cast-insitu

Metal Stone

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Timber Staircase
Constructed from timber board

Common use in domestic work. The design of stairs flight landings or tapered steps is depend on the space to accommodate it. Handrail balustrading is important to provide visual and practical safety barrier to the side of stairs.

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Timber Stair (cont.)

Tapered stairs/winder Frequently used because can use space economically

Open tread stairs Closed string Cut strings or carriages Mono-carriage Alternating tread stairs

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Timber Stair (cont.)

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Timber Stair (cont.)

Open riser stairs

Closed riser stairs with housed stringer

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Alternating trade stairs

Application access to domestic loft conversion only Very steep pitch very economic use of space Not very safe.

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Reinforced Concrete Staircase

Can be cast in-situ, precast or combination of both.

Better fire resistant from timber staircase.

Common use in multi-storey building. Can be formed as straight flight, quarter turn, half turn or geometrical. But, the usual form is half-turn. The construction of the staircase depends on the structural of the building and the convenience in casting the stairs in situ or the use of reinforced concrete support and precast steps.

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TYPE OF STAIR
In-situ RC stair

(cont.)

Variety of stair types and arrangements are possible, which of having its own appearance , characteristic and method of construction. Common use as it is non-combustible, stronger and hardwearing. Will maintain its strength and integrity for a reasonable period during an outbreak of fire. Therefore, it is more suitable than timber stair as an escape route. Typical in-situ RC stairs are: o Inclined slab stair o Cranked slab stair o String beam stair o Cantilever stair
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TYPE OF STAIR
Inclined slab stair

(cont.)

Constructed when there are LB wall around the stair. The landing is built into the walls as one way span slab. The flight span from floor to landing and landing to floor. Disadvantage wasteful cutting of brick or block to allow the flight built into the walls.

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TYPE OF STAIR
Cranked slab stair

(cont.)

The stair is constructed as a cranked (bent) slab spanning from landing to flight and to landing with no side supports. This type of construction only use when the landings can not gain support each side of stair. Disadvantage more costly

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TYPE OF STAIR

(cont.)

String and trimmer stair/String beam stair The landing beams are supported by side walls (LB) or the beams of the frame and in turn support inclined beams that support the flight. Disadvantages - cause untidy soffit or underside of the stair.

Best suited for to the use of precast concrete steps and precast landing.

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TYPE OF STAIR

(cont.)

Cantilevered stair/cantilevered spine wall Constructed to cantilever from the spine wall, or can be partly cantilever from the spine wall and supported by the enclosing frame or walls.

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TYPE OF STAIR

(cont.)

Precast Concrete Stair

Can be produced to most of the formats used for insitu RC stair. Seldom used because of the majority using cast in-situ method. Common use for aesthetic reason. Advantages o good quality control of finished product o no formwork thus no storage required and save the site space o stair can be installed at any time, thus the stair shaft can be used for other purposes e.g. for lifting or hoisting space

o Hoisting, positioning and fixing of stair can be carried out by semi-skilled worker.
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TYPE OF STAIR
Stone Stair

(cont.)

Traditionally constructed using natural stone as the steps. Can be formed as: o Rectangular/stepped soffit o Flush soffit The end of the steps are built into the walls. The landings are constructed using one or more large slab of natural stone built into enclosing walls and bearing on the steps below.

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TYPE OF STAIR
Stone Stair (cont.)

(cont.)

Stone steps with stepped soffit

Stone steps with flush soffit

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Metal Stair
Can be produced in cast iron, mild steel or aluminium alloy for both external and internal used. Usually is custom made, therefore is more expensive. Steel channel section serves as stringer.

Treads can be in the form of steel pan filled with concrete, steel flat plate with textured top surface or bar grating.
Can be painted or covered with concrete for fire safety reason. Advantage no need formwork during construction. Disadvantage regular maintenance in the form of painting.

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Metal Stair (cont.)

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Simple Reinforced Concrete Stairs

Formwork Reinforcement
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Metal stairs

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Timber Spiral Stair

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Precast Stairs hoisting and assembling

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Precast Stair

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REFERENCES

1) R.Barry,1992, The Construction of Building,Vol. 2, 5th ed, Blackwell Science Ltd. 2) Frederick S. Merritt et. al, 2001. Building Design and Construction Handbook, 6th ed., McGraw Hill. 3) Roy Chudley, et.al, 2005.Building Construction Handbook ,5th ed, Elsevier. 4) Francis D.K.Ching, 1991, Building Construction Illustrated, 2nd ed.,Van Nostrand Reinhold.