Staircase

TERMINOLOGIES
OF
STAIRCASE
• Baluster :-
It is vertical member of wood or metal supporting
the hand rail.
• Handrail :-
The inclined rail over the string is known as a
handrail.
• Newel post :-
This is the vertical member which is placed at the
ends of flights to connect hand rail.
• Soffit :-
It is the underside of a stair.
• Waist :-
The thickness of structural slab in case of an
R.C.C. stair is known as a waist.
• Nosing :-
It is the projecting part of thetread beyond the face
of the riser.It is rounded to give good architectural
effect.
• Scotia :-
It is a moulding provided under the nosing to
improve the elevation of the step.
Step :-
It is a portion of stair which permits ascent and
descent. It is comprised of a tread and riser.
Tread :-
It is the upper horizontal portion of a step upon
which the feet is placed while ascending or
descending.
Rise :-
It is the vertical distance between two successive
tread faces.
Going :-
It is the horizontal distance between two
successive riser faces.
Flight :-
A series of steps without any platform, break or
landing in their direction.
Landing :-
It is the level platform at the top or bottom of a
flight between the floors.
Run :-
It is the total length of stairs in a horizontal plane,
including landings
Winder Steps
The triangular treads used to
change the direction of the stair,
usually around right-angle corners.
Stringers
The main beams that support treads
and risers.
Capping
The piece of timber that forms the
edge or border for the carpet or
other floor coverings, located at the
edge of the floor on upper level.
Closed Stair
A stair that has treads and risers.
Open Stair
A stair that has no risers
PRINCIPLES TO BE OBSERVED WHILE PLANNING AND
DESIGNING A STAIR
1. Width of Stair: It should not be less than 1.00m.
2. Length of flight: The number of steps in a single flight should not be more than
12.
3. Pitch of the stair: It should be between 25 to 40.
4. Width of landing: It should be 150mm, more than the width of stair.
5. Winders or kite steps: Odd shaped steps should be avoided and incase found
necessary. These should be provided at the start of a stair.
6. Han-rails: It should be 750 to 850 mm in height from the top of respective step or
landing.
7. Step proportions: The size of rise and tread in a stair should be kept uniform
through out the whole stair.
8. Headroom: Minimum of 2000mm of clear headroom is required above the pitch

line.
9. FAR: the area of the staircase is added just once for all the floors in FAR
Following proportions are recommended:
(i) Residential buildings- Tread=250 mm Rise=160 mm
(ii) Public buildings - Tread=300 mm Rise=150 mm
(iii) Industrial buildings, Railway station,etc Tread =not less then 250 mm =250
to 300 mm
Rise =not less then 150 mm =150 to 190 mm
Otherwise work out the sizes of rise and tread by using any one of
the following proportions
(i) (2xRise)+(Tread), In mm=550 to 600 mm
(ii) Rise x tread, both in cm = 400 to 410 cm2.
(iii) With basic proportion of going 300 mm and rise 150 mm,
add 10 mm to rise for every 20 mm deduction from going.
e.g. For a going of 280 mm the rise will be 160 mm.
The above rules act as guide but the actual sizes

depend upon the availability of space, while planning stairs
practical-field.
STAIR ANGLES
According to AS 1657-1992 (Fixed platforms, walkways, stairways &

ladders- Design, construction & installation), stairways should be angled
between 26.50 and 450- That’s between 1 in 2 and 1 in 1.
PLATFORMS AND SWING DOORS
Where doors or gates open

directly on a stairway,
provide a platform that
extends at least 20 inches
beyond the swing of the
door.
CLASSIFICATION OF STAIRS:
STRAIGHT FLIGHT OPEN WELL DOG LEGGED
BIFURCATED STAIRCASE SPIRAL OR CURVED

STRAIGHT FLIGHT
These are the stairs along which there is

no change in direction on any flight
between two successive floors. The
straight stairs can be of following types.
•Straight run with a single flight between

floors
•Straight run with a series of flight without

change in direction
•Parallel stairs
•Angle stairs
•Scissors stairs
Straight stairs can have a change in

direction at an intermediate landing.
OPEN WELL STAIRCASE
• These stairs change their direction

through 1800.
• In this type ,there is a well or opening

between the flights .
• These stairs are used at places where

sufficient space is available.
• It may have two or more flight of stairs.
• In cases in which there is two flights

(then called a U-shaped stair) to cover a
level, the open well staircase looks
similar to the dog – leg staircase where
the main difference lies in the gap
present between the balustrades.
DOG LEGGED STAIRCASE
• These stairs change their direction

through 1800. In case of dog legged
stairs the flights are in opposite
directions and no space is provided
between the flights in plan.
• Doglegged stair case is the most
economical staircase. It is the most
common type of stairs arranged with two
adjacent flights running parallel with a
mid landing.
• Where space is less, doglegged
staircase is generally provided resulting
in economical utilization of available
space.
• In this type of staircase landing is
provided corresponding to the level at
which the direction of the flight changes.
BIFURCATED STAIRCASE
• Bifurcated stairs are commonly used in

public building at their entrance hall.
• This has a wider flight at the bottom,

which bifurcates into two narrower
flights, one turning to the left and other
to the right, at landing.
• It may be either of newel type with a

newel post or of geometrical type with
continuous stringer and hand rails.
CIRCULAR STAIRCASE
• These stairs, when viewed from above,

appear to follow circle with a single
Centre of curvature and large radius.
• These stairs are generally provided at

the rear of a building to give access for
servicing at various floors.
• All the steps radiate from a newel post

in the form of winders.
• These stairs can be constructed in

stone, cast iron or R.C.C.
• Each Going not less than 215mm & not

more than 305mm
SPIRAL OR CURVED STAIRCASE
• These stairs are similar to circular stairs
except that the radius of curvature is
small and the stairs may be supported
by a center post.
• Radius to center line of stairway not less

than 600mm; where radius to Centre
line is less than 3000mm, maximum
width of curved stairway 750mm.
• Spiral stairs can be attractive and there

are may variations on railings styles
which can have a major impact on the
overall appearance of the stair.
• Spiral stairs are more difficult to

navigate than other types of stairs. It is
for this reason that codes do not allow
them to be used as the primary access
to a full second floor of a home.
FIRE ESCAPE STAIRCASE
A fire escaping stair is a special kind of
emergency exit, usually mounted to the
outside of a building or occasionally inside
but separate from the main areas of the
building.
PRINCIPLES OF FIRE ESCAPE STAIRCASE

• Fire escape staircase shall be provided for every
building of,
-residential occupancy exceeding three storeys
above ground level
-occupancies other than residential exceeding two
storeys above ground level.
• the width of fire escape staircase shall not be less than 0.75metre,
the width of fire escape stair tread shall not be less than 15 cm,
the height of the fire escape stair riser shall not exceed 19 cm, and
the number of risers shall not exceed 16 per flight of stairs.
• the height of handrail shall not be less than 1 metre.

(4) fire escape stair shall be constructed only in the exterior of the building and
shall be connected directly to the ground either with large openings or with
break open glass to facilitate rescue operations during an emergency.
(5) fire escape stairs shall have a straight flight.
(6) entrance to fire escape staircase shall be separated and remote from
internal staircase.
(7) the use of spiral staircase shall be limited to low occupant load and
buildings upto 9 metres in height unless they are connected to platforms such
as balconies and terraces to allow easy exit.
(8) a spiral staircase shall not less than 1.50 metres in diameter and shall be
designed to give adequate headroom.
(9)fire escape staircases are more important in multi-storey buildings. These

are made mostly of steel or fire retardant materials. To match the architectural
style and interior ambiance, staircase can be built using materials that
compliment the color scheme.
(10) wall thickness should be at least 230mm.
(11) fire escape doors should be airtight and fire resistant

DIFFERENT MATERIALS THAT ARE USED IN A STAIRS
TIMBER – Gives design flexibility, it is GLASS – Gives an openness and a

lightweight and easy to install. clean airy feel to a room that other
Cheap, light in weight, easy to construct materials just don’t provide.
& maintenance ,that’s why mostly used
for residential buildings.
STONE – Marble stairs can have STEEL – Hardwearing and
creative inlayed geometric or floral incredible strength. This allows
patterns and can also be carve into you to increase
vertical slabs or tiles, granite gives a the span and length of the stair
rich shiny look, sandstone provides a and makes it great for
more rustic feel. One can choose commercial stairs that
different are exposed to high traffic.
stones in combination as per tastes,
needs and the décor of the surrounding
area.
BRICK - not frequently used. METAL - The external fire-
• may be built of solid masonry escape stairs are generally
construction or arches made of metal.
• When arches are provided, the total • The common metals used
masonry work is reduced and cupboards are cast iron, bronze and mild
may be provided in this hollow space. steel.
• Treads are generally made equal to • used only as emergency
length 1.50 bricks and risers with the layers stairs…..not common in
of 2 brick respectively. residential and public building.
• The treads and risers are finished with • mostly used in factories,
suitable flooring material. godowns, workshops
etc.
R.C.C. STAIRS
• commonly used in all type of constructions for residential, public, and

industrial buildings ,in case of framed structures, R.C.C. stairs is
perhaps only choice.
• are very good fire resistance.
• can be easily moulded to the desired shape.
• steps can be provided with suitable finishing material such as marble,
tile, etc.
• can be easily maintained clean and they are strong, durable and
pleasing in appearance.
• can also be easily rendered non-slippery and can be designed for
greater width and longer shapes
STAIRCASE LIGHTING
Stairway Lighting is required, with light switches at top and bottom
of the stairway if the stairs encompass more than six stair treads.
List of Common Stair Lighting Defects
• Interior light fixtures or switches used on outside stairs - not weather
protected (see photo at left)
• Stair lighting missing or light switches not present at both top and
bottom
• Stair light switches not properly located (wrong height)
• Stair lights burned out, damaged, not working
• Stair or landing lighting too dim - insufficient lumens
Staircase being an important part of services also plays a major
role in the aesthetics of the building

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TERMINOLOGIES

3. Pitch of the stair: It should be between 25 to 40.

4. Width of landing: It should be 150mm, more than the width of stair.

8. Headroom: Minimum of 2000mm of clear headroom is required above the pitch

(i) Residential buildings- Tread=250 mm Rise=160 mm

(ii) Public buildings - Tread=300 mm Rise=150 mm

(i) (2xRise)+(Tread), In mm=550 to 600 mm

(ii) Rise x tread, both in cm = 400 to 410 cm2.

The above rules act as guide but the actual sizes

According to AS 1657-1992 (Fixed platforms, walkways, stairways &

Where doors or gates open

STRAIGHT FLIGHT OPEN WELL DOG LEGGED

BIFURCATED STAIRCASE SPIRAL OR CURVED

These are the stairs along which there is

•Straight run with a single flight between

•Straight run with a series of flight without

Straight stairs can have a change in

• These stairs change their direction

• In this type ,there is a well or opening

• These stairs are used at places where

• It may have two or more flight of stairs.

• In cases in which there is two flights

• These stairs change their direction

• Bifurcated stairs are commonly used in

• This has a wider flight at the bottom,

• It may be either of newel type with a

• These stairs, when viewed from above,

• These stairs are generally provided at

• All the steps radiate from a newel post

• These stairs can be constructed in

• Each Going not less than 215mm & not

• Radius to center line of stairway not less

• Spiral stairs can be attractive and there

• Spiral stairs are more difficult to

PRINCIPLES OF FIRE ESCAPE STAIRCASE

• the height of handrail shall not be less than 1 metre.

(5) fire escape stairs shall have a straight flight.

(9)fire escape staircases are more important in multi-storey buildings. These

(10) wall thickness should be at least 230mm.

(11) fire escape doors should be airtight and fire resistant

TIMBER – Gives design flexibility, it is GLASS – Gives an openness and a

• commonly used in all type of constructions for residential, public, and

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