Chapter 8 Staircase 8.1 INTRODUCTION Staircase is an inclined structural system for movement from one level to another. Since it is stepped, it is called staircase. Common types of staircases are shown in Fig. 8.1. The steps of a straircase may be on waist slab or slabless tread riser or isolated steps as shown in Fig. 8.2. In this chapter, the behaviour and design of various types of staircases have been presented. 8.2 BEHAVIOUR OF STAIRCASE A staircase behaves like an ordinary slab. It may span either in the direction of the steps or in the direction of going. A staircase spanning in the direction of steps may be fixed on one end (cantilever), simply supported, supported on central stringer beam and fixed on both ends as shown in Fig. 8.3. It may be constructed with steps on waist slab or with slabless tread riser or with isolated steps. Their structural behaviour shall be similar to that of the slab. A stairway spanning in the direction of going may have the following support conditions as shown in Fig. 8.4. (a) Simply supported on edges AB and CD at landing levels (Fig. 8.4(a)). (b) Fixed support on edges AB and CD at landing levels (Fig. 8.4 (b)). (c) Supported on beams along AB and CD at the junction of landing slab and flight (Fig. 8.4 (c)). (d) Supported on landing panels-ACDB and EGHF which span transversely to the flight (Fig. 8.4 (d)). The stairway spanning in the longitudinal direction may be constructed with steps on waist slab or with slabless tread riser. Their structural behaviour shall be similar to that of the slab. In case of a tread riser staircase, the design load may be considered acting at the junction of tread and riser as shown in Fig. 8.5. Moment in the riser is constant throughout its depth and moment in the tread varies linearly as shown in the figure. In case of restrained ends, the analysis for moments can be made by the force method considering the end moments as redundants.STAIRCASE 395 (a) Single flight stair case (t) Two flight stair case — (€) Quarter turn stair cose (d) Open newel stair case with halt landing (e) Open newel stair case with quarter landing (1) Multiple tight stair (g) Spiral stair case (h) Spiral stair case Fig. 8.1. Types of staircase 8.3 DESIGN OF STAIRCASE ‘The design of staircase requires proportioning of its different components and determination of reinforcement and its detailing to satisfy both the serviceability and strength requirements.996 REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN os © ~ © cin p stab (a) Steps on —_(b) Slabless tread (c) Isolated steps slab riser Fig. 8.2 Types of steps < WA Section A-A Section A-A (a) Cantilever (b) Simply supported < eis Section A-A Section A-A (c) Cantilever on both sides (4) Fixed supports Fig. 8.3 Staircase spanning in the direction of steps The live load for design is considered in accordance with the recommenda- tions as given in Table 8.1. Table 8.1 Live Load on Staircase Type of Staircase Live load Service stairs for maintenance as in watertanks, catwalks etc. 1.5 kN/m? Staircase for residential buildings 3.0 kN/m? Staircase for offices and public houses 5.0 KN/m? Staircase with isolated steps 1.5 kNistepSTAIRCASE 397 Section 1-1 Fig. 8.4 (a) Staircase simply supported on edges A-B at floor level and C-D at landing levels Section 1-1 Fig. 8.4 (b) Staircase fixed support on edges A-B at floor level and C-D at landing levels In case where the flights or landings are embedded into the walls for at least 110 mm and are designed to span in the direction of the flight, the loaded area and the effective width of flight and landing are obtained by increasing the clear width by 75 mm as shown in Fig. 8.6.398 REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN Section 1-1 Fig. 8.4 (c) Double cantilevered staircase supported on edges Section 1-1 Fig. 8.4 (d) Staircase supported on landing panels ABDC at floor level and EFHG at landing level which span transverse to the flight In case of stairs with open wells, parts of the stairs span in two orthogonal directions. Loads on such parts common to two orthogonal spans may be equally divided in each direction as shown in Fig. 8.7.400 REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN Fig. 8.7 Distribution of load on areas common to two orthogonal landing slabs Table 8.2 Width of staircase Type of staircase Width of staircase Service stair for maintenance, catwalks and two-floor residential buildings 1-12m Staircases for offices, apartments, etc 12-16 m Staircases for public houses, etc. 12-2.0m 2x rise + tread = 600 mm rise x tread = 40,000 to 42,000 mm? (©) Width of landing: The width of landing is generally kept equal to the width of staircase. (d) Junction of landing and flight: The cross-sectional details at the junction of landing and flight of staircase are complex. The commonly adopted cross- sectional details at these junctions are shown in Fig. 8.8. 2. Design of staircase The design of staircase for serviceabilty and strength requirements are made as follows. (a) Design for serviceability requirements: The design of staircase is made for serviceability requirements of deflection and cracks. The serviceability require- ment of deflection is controlled by the effective span to effective depth ratio. The effective span of staircase is taken as in the case of an edge supported slab except for the staircase spanning in the direction of flight and supported on the landing slabs that span transverse to the direction of flight. In such cases, the effective span shall be as shown in Fig. 8.9. The serviceability requirement for crack is controlled by the spacing of reinforcement as discussed in Section 5.3. (b) Design for strength: The-design of reinforcement is made to satisfy the strength requirements for moments and shears. The design for moments is made for maximum moments either by the working stress method or by the limit state method as discussed in Chapter 3. The area of the stee! is expressed as diameter and spacing of bars. It is provided along the span of staircase and necessarySTAIRCASE 401 LES Stoig case supported on AB Stair case supported at CD Fig. 8.8 Cross-sectional details of junction of landing and flight slabs Min, of 112 —je-efe—— G whore Min. of yi? or im k— Effective span—o] Fig. 8.9 Effective span for waist slab supported on landing slabs spanning transversly to the flight curtailment is made wherever it is not required as in the case of edge supported slabs. Generally the shear reinforcement is not required in staircase as the shear strength of concrete is much greater than the nominal shear stress. The shear strength of concrete in staircase is determined as in the case of edge supported slab. The detailing of reinforcement in staircase shall be similar to that of the edge supported slab except at the junction of landing and flight of staircase where it should ensure that the reinforcement bars in tension tending to straighten out do not cause cracking in concrete. Figure 8.10 shows reinforcement detailing for staircase simply supported at the end of landing slabs and double cantilever staircase with support at the junction of landing slab-and flight. Reinforcement detailing of slabless tread riser is shown in Fig. 8.11. The reinforcement detail- ing with stepped tension bars are tied with pin and stirrup that resist resultant tension tending to cause cracks. The reinforcement detailing with closed links should be checked for bond so that bars are stressed to their full strength.402 REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN Nosing rein- forcement Distribution bors (a) Simply supported staircase Asn Nosing rein- forcement and Lg Max. of 031 and La (b) Double cantilevered staircase Fig. 8.10 Reinforcement detailing for simply supported and double cantilevered staircase406 REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN = 15x (25x 0.23 x (tread? + rise”) */tread) + 25 x 0.5 x tread x rise/ tread + 0.5 + 3.0) 1.5 x (25 x 0.23 x ((0.25? + 0.15917)°5/0.25) + 25 x 0.5 x 0.25 x 0.1591/0.25 + 0.5 + 3.0) = 18.457 kN/m? 1,= length of horizontal projection of flight = 2.5m M,= 13875x1.355 isasT x25 x (1.355 +2.5/4) 2 " 58.418 kN: n/m Area of steel is determined with the use of design aids as, Ay, = 827.5 mm*/m £0.0012 b D (= 0.0012 x 1000 x 230 = 276 mm*/m) Provide 12 mm @ bars at 130 mm c/c/( < 3d or 450 mm whichever is less) with necessary curtailment (A,, = 870 mm?/m). The continuing bars shall be embed- ded into the support a minimum length given by, 0.87 Ly cD HO _ 1 O8TXAISKI2 _ 1 seq 188 mm 3 43 4x92 3 3. Check for serviceability for deflection: The value of d shall be more than the value given by, 1 d= rnin 20 X my where my = 1.4 from Fig. 5.2 corresponding to p, = 100 A,,/bd = 100 x 827.5/(1000 x 209) = 0.395 and f, = 0.58 f, x A,,required/A,, provided = 0.58 x 415 x 827.5/870 = 228.94 N/mm* 5209 20x 14 Therefore the above condition is satisfied. 4. Secondary reinforcement: Area of secondary reinforcement is given by, A, = 0.0012 bD = 0.0012 x 1000 x 230 = 276 mm’/m doin = = 186.035 i 1250 —+++ — 2500 ——_—>e— 1250 250 - Fig. E 8.1(b) Reinforcement detailing for staircase simply supported at the end of landing slabs forcement bars at the top of the upper landing slab has been extended up to the development length of bar (Ly = 0.87 f, 6/4 Ty) = 0.87 x 415 x 12/4 x 1.92) = 570 mm) as shown in the figure. Same reinforcement as that for span moment has been provided at the bottom of top landing slab which has been extended at the top of the waist slab up to the development length of the bar as shown in the figure. Half of the reinforcement as that for span moment has been provided at the top of the landing slab as shown in the figure. Case (ii) Supported on landing slabs which spans transversely to the flight 1. Thickness of staircase slab: It is considered to provide uniform depth of waist and landing slabs which is governed by the thickness of waist slab. It is determined as follows,STAIRCASE 409 = 1.5 x (25 x 0.165 x (tread + rise”)”*/tread) + 25 x 0.5 x tread x rise/tread + 0.5 + 3.0) = 1.5 x (25 0.165 x (0.25? + 0.15917)°5/0.25) + 25 x0.5 x 0.25 x 0.1591/0.25 + 0.5 +3.0) = 15.567 kN/m? 2 11.4375 0.625 + 15.567 28 (0.625 + 2.5/4) = 26.557 KN- m/m Area of steel is determined with the use of design curves as, A,, = 536.5 mm*/m ¢ 0.0012 bD (= 0.0012 x 1000 x 165 = 198 mm*/m) Provide 10 mm ¢ at 140. mm c/c (< 3 d or 450 mm whichever is less) giving Ay, = 561 mm?/m, Maximum ultimate span moment in landing slab, My = Wye (7/8 where W,, = ultimate load on landing slab + ultimate load transferred from waist slab = Wy + Wy, X05 I, /B, B, = width of landing slab = 125m = 11.4375 + 15.567 x 0.5 x 2.5/1.25 = 27.0045 kN/m? 1,= span of landing slab = clear span + d or clear span + width of support whichever is smaller 2.5 + 0.145 or 2.5 + 0.25 whichever is less = 2.645 m = 27.0045 x 2.6457/8 = 23.62 KN - m/m Area of steel is determined with the use of design curves as, A,, = 485.75 mm*/m ¢ 0.0012 bD (= 0.0012 x 1000 x 165 = 198 mm*/m) “ My Provide 10 mm ¢ at 160 mm c/e (< 3 d or 450 mm whichever is less) giving A,,=491 mm’/m. 3. Check for serviceability requirement for deflection: The value of d shall not be less than the value given by, 1 dns = 2 my,410 REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN where my = 1.5 from Fig. 5.2 corresponding to p, = 100 A,,/bd = 100 x 536.5/(1000 x 145) = 0.37 and f, = 0.58 f, x A,, required/A,, provided = 0.58 x 415 x 536.5/561 = 230.19 N/mm? 310 = 125 mmed 20x15 Gog = Therefore the above condition is satisfied 4, Secondary reinforcement: Area of secondary reinforcement is given by, A, = 0.0012 bD = 0.0012 x 1000 x 165 = 198 mm?/m Provide 8 mm ¢ at 250 mm c/e (< 5 d or 450 mm whichever is less) giving = 201 mm7/m 5. Reinforcement detailing: Reinforcement bars of 10 mm @ at 140 mm c/c for span moment at the bottom of the waist slab has been extended at the bottom of the lower landing slab up to its end and at the top of the upper landing slab up to the development length of bar (Ly = 0.87 f, @/4 %,) = 0.87 x 415 x 10/4 x 1.92) = 475 mm) as shown in Fig. E 8.1 (c). Same reinforcement as that for span moment has been provided at the bottom of top landing slab which has been extended at the top of the waist slab up to the development length of bar as shown in the figure. Half of the reinforcement bars as that for span moment has been provided at the top of the landing slab. Reinforcement bars of 10 mm ¢ at 160 mm c/c for span moment at the bottom of landing slab has been alternatively bent up at the top at a distance of 0.15 x distance between c/c of supports = 0.15 x 2750 = 415 mm from the centre of support. The remaining reinforcement at the bottom and the bent up bars at the top has been adequately embedded into the support as shown in the figure. Case (iii) Double cantilevered staircase with support at the junctions of landing and flight 1. Thickness of staircase slab: It is considered to provide uniform thickness for waist and landing slabs which is governed by the thickness of landing slab. It is determined as follows. Pa Ty where I; = effective span of landing slab =1.25m Consider my = 1.6 d= 2250 111.61 mm 7x16 and D = 111.61 + clear cover of 15 mm + assumed diameter of 10 mm of reinforcement bars/2STAIRCASE 413 Myy = 14.234 x 2.5°/8 - 5.8125 x 1.257/2 KN - m/m = 6.579 KN- m/m Area of steel is determined with the help of design curves as, Ay, = 166.75 mm?/m ¢.0.0012.bD (= 0.0012 x 1000 x 135 = 162 mm*/m) Provide 8 mm ¢ at 250 mm c/e (< 3d or 450 mm whichever is smaller) giving A,, = 201 mm*/m), as shown in Fig. E 8.1(d). 8200cIc -&—1250 ——>++——__—— 2800 ———_—+»——1250 —¥} Fig. E 8.1(d) Reinforcement detailing for double cantilevered staircase with support at the junction of landing and flight 3. Check for serviceability requirement for deflection: The value of d shall not be less than the value given by,414 REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN 4 TX my where ‘my, = 2.0 from Fig. 5.2 corresponding to p, = 100 A,,/bd = 100 x 207/(1000 x 115) = 0.18 and f, = 0.58 f, x A,, required/A,, provided = 0.58 x 415 x 207/251 = 198.51 N/mm? 1250 sin= 7¢2,9 = 89.3 mm) (0.51 - 0.5x — (x - 1) x) - nal 4 P, (0.51-4.5x) -Q x (0.51-4.5x-ny) where P= 15 x (dead load + surface finish + live laod) on x length of landing slab (Fig. E 8.2(b))STAIRCASE 417 = 15x (25 x 0.2 x 0.27 + 0.5 x 0.27 + 3.0 x 0.27) = 3.4425 KN .5 x (dead load + surface finish + live load) on 0.5 x length of landing slab and 0.Sy length of tread riser steps = 15x (25 x (0.2 x 0.135 + (0.2 + 0.1625) x 0.125) + 0.5 x (0.135 + 0.125) + 3.0 x (0.135 + 0.125)) = 4.077 KN Q = 1.5x (dead load + surface finish + live load) ony length of tread riser = 15 x (25 x (0.075 x (0.2 + 0.1625) + 0.05 x 0.2 + 0.125 x (0.2 + 0.1625)) + 0.5 x 0.25 + 3.0 x 0.25) = 4.40625 kN 4 M,, = (4X 3.4425 + 4.077 +4 x 4.40625) x 0.5 x 4.68 — 3.4425 x ¥ (0.5 nal x 4.68 — 0.5 x 0.27 — (n - 1) x 0.27)) - 4.077 x (0.5 x 4.68 - 4.5 4 % 0.27) - 4.40625 x ¥ (0.5 x 4.68 — 4.5 x 0.27 — n x 0.25) asl = 30.89 KN- m/m The area of steel is determined with the use of design curves as, Ag = 517 mm?/m ¢ 0.0012 b D (= 0.0012 x 1000 x 200 = 240 mm’/m) Provide 10 mm ¢ at 150 mm c/c (¢3 d or 450 mm whichever is less) giving Ay, = 524 mm’/m. 4. Check for serviceability requirement for deflection: The value of d shall not be less than the value given by, eat 20m where mg = 1.52 from Fig. 5.2 corresponding top = 100A,/bd= 100 517/ 1000 x 180 = 0.287 and f, = 0.58 f, x A,, required/A,, provided = 0.58 X 415 x 517/524 = 237.48 Nimm? rsin 4680 in = 29 x 1,52 = 153.95 mm 1175 —= 50h Fig. E 8.2 (c) Reinforcement detailing with stepped barsSTAIRCASE 419 ‘ta, 80 200cic 80 pins 10 150 cle links -1250h— 1125 es 2250 ———>>— 1125 1504 Fig. E 8.2 (d) Reinforcement detailing with closed links PROBLEMS Prob. 8.1 Design a two flight staircase with steps on waist slab for floor to floor height of 3.3 m, width of flight equal to 1.15 m and superimposed load of 3 N/m’ for the following support conditions. (i) Simply supported at the end of landing slabs which span in the direction of flight. (ii) Simply supported on landing slabs which span transversely to the flight. Prob. 8.2 Design a two flight staircase with steps on waist slab for floor to floor height of 3.6 m, width of flight equal to 1.5 m and superimposed load of 4. KN/m for the following support conditions. Prob. 8.3 Design atwo flight staircase of slabless tread-riser for a floor to floor height of 3.6 m, width of flight equal to 1.25 m and superimposed load of 3 kN/m*? for the following support conditions (i) Fixed support at the end of landing slabs which span in the direction of flight. (ii) Double cantilevered staircase with supports at the junctions of landing and going.