18.

2 Types of Stairs
18.2

669

TYPES OF STAIRS

There are different types of stairs, which depend mainly on the type and function of the building
and on the architectural requirements. The most common types are as follows.
1. Single- ight stairs: The structural behavior of a

ight of stairs is similar to that of a

one-way slab supported at both ends. The thickness of the slab is referred to as the waist
(Fig. 18.1). When the ight of stairs contains landings, it may be more economical to
provide beams at B and C between landings (Fig. 18.2). If such supports are not provided,
which is quite common, the span of the staircase will increase by the width of two landings
and will extend between A and D. In residential buildings, the landing width is in the range
of 4 to 6ft, and the total distance between A and D is about 20 ft.
An altemative method of supporting a single ight of stairs is to use stringers, or
edge beams, at the two sides of the stairs; the steps are then supported between the beams
(Fig. 18.3).
2. Double- ight stairs: It is more convenient in most buildings to build the staircase in double
ights between oors. The types commonly used are quarter-tum (Fig. 18.4) and closed-or
open-well stairs, as shown in Fig. 18.5. For the structural analysis of the stairs, each ight
is treated as a single ight and is considered supported on two or more beams, as shown
in Fig. 18.2. The landing extends in the transverse direction between two supports and
is designed as a one-way slab. In the case of open-well stairs, the middle part of the
landing carries a full load, whereas the two end parts cany half-loading only, as shown
in Fig. l8.5(d). The other half-loading is carried in the longitudinal direction by the stair

ights, sections A-A and B-B.

3. Three or more ights ofstairs: In some cases, where the overall dimensions of the staircase
are limited, three or four ights may be adopted (Fig. 18.6). Each ight will be treated
separately, as in the case of double- ight staircases.
4. Cantilever stairs: Cantilever stairs are used mostly in re-escape stairs, and they are sup-

ported by concrete walls or beams. The stairsteps may be of the full- ight type, projecting
from one side of the wall, the half- ight type, projecting from both sides of the supporting
wall, or of the semispiral type, as shown in Fig. 18.7. In this type of stairs, each step acts
as a cantilever, and the main reinforcement is placed in the tension side of the run and
the bars are anchored within the concrete wall. Shrinkage and temperature reinforcement
is provided in the transverse direction.
Another form of a cantilever stair is that using open-riser steps supported by a central
beam, as shown in Fig. 18.8. The beam has a slope similar to the

ight of stairs and

receives the steps on its horizontally prepared portions. In most cases, precast concrete
steps are used, with special provisions for anchor bolts that x the steps into the beam.
5. Precast ights of stairs: The speed of construction in some projects requires the use of
precast

ights of stairs (Fig. 18.8). The

ights may be cast separately and then

xed

to cast-in-place landings. In other cases, the ights, including the landings, are cast and
then placed in position on their supporting walls or beams. They are designed as simply
supported one-way slabs with the main reinforcement at the bottom of the stair waist.
Adequate reinforcement must be provided at the joints, as shown in Fig. 18.9.
Provisions must be made for lifting and handling the precast stair units by providing
lifting holes or inserting special lifting hooks into the concrete. Special reinforcement must
be provided at critical locations to account for tensile stresses that will occur in the stairs
from the lifting and handling process.