1.

INTRODUCTION OF STAIRCASE

Stairs may be straight, round, or may consist of two or more straight pieces
connected at angles. Stairs are the conventional means of access between floors in
buildings. A stair is described as a set of steps leading form one floor to another and a
staircase includes the part of the building surrounding the stair. Stairs should be constructed
to provide real easy and safe access up and downs, with steps that are either laborious or
difficult to climb with in a compact are a so as to take up no excessive floor area. In the
building, stairs have two main functions. Firstly that of normal everyday access from floor
to floor. Secondly, they must provide an easy and rapid escape, from the upper floor in case
of emergency (as fire or earthquakes).

FIGURE 1.1 Normal Staircase Design FIGURE 1.2 Modern Staircase Design
2. TYPES OF STAIRCASE

Stairs may be straight, round, or may consist of two or more straight pieces
connected at angles. Stairs are the conventional means of access between floors in
buildings. They have a few types of staircase that common used for inter-housing aesthetic
value. For purpose of design, stairs are classified into two types; transversely, and
longitudinally supported.

a) Transversely supported (transverse to the direction of movement):

Simply supported steps supported by two walls or beams or a combination of both.

Steps cantilevering from a wall or a beam.
Stairs cantilevering from a central spine beam.

b) Longitudinally supported (in the direction of movement): These stairs span between
supports at the top and bottom of a flight and unsupported at the sides. Longitudinally
supported stairs may be supported in any of the following manners:

Beams or walls at the outside edges of the landings.

Internal beams at the ends of the flight in addition to beams or walls at the outside
edges of the landings.
Landings which are supported by beams or walls running in the longitudinal
direction.
A combination of (a) or (b), and (c).
Stairs with quarter landings associated with open-well stairs.
FIGURE 2.1 Straight Run Staircase FIGURE 2.2 180-Degree Return Staircase

FIGURE 2.3 L-Shaped Staircase FIGURE 2.4 Spiral Staircase

2.1 Straight Run Staircase

i. Simplest form of stair arrangement

ii. Consists of one straight flight of stairs linking two levels.
iii. The width and the length of the landings should be equal (max.120cm).

2.2 180-Degree Return Staircase

i. Open well with two flights: Space between the lower and upper flights cause half
space landing to be longer.

ii. Dog leg: Two short flights with a half space landing between them.
iii. Outer strings of two flights lie in the same vertical plane.

2.3 L-Shaped Staircase

i. L-shaped stair may have either equal or unequal flights.

ii. For an example for the flights :

2.4 Spiral Staircase

i. Have treads which turn and rise around a central column

ii. The opening left for spiral staircases is 15 cm more than the diameter.

Diameter: 1900mm
 3. LOAD DISTRIBUTION ASPECT OF DESIGN

3.1 DESIGN OF STAIRCASE

3.1.1 Simply Supported

Figure 3.1 shows a stair, simply supported on reinforced concrete walls.

FIGURE 3.1 Simply Supported Stair

The waist is chosen to accommodate the reinforcement using appropriate concrete cover.
A waist t of 7.5 cm is reasonable for this type of stair.
Loading:
a. Dead load:
The dead load includes own weight of the step, own weight of the waist slab, and surface
finishes on the steps and on the soffit.
b. Live Load:
Live load is taken as building design live load plus 150 kg/m2, with a maximum value of
500 kg/m2.
Design for Shear and Flexure:
Each step is designed for shear and flexure. Main reinforcement runs in the transverse
direction at the bottom side of the steps while shrinkage reinforcement runs at the bottom side of
the slab in the longitudinal direction. Since the step is not rectangular, an equivalent rectangular
section can be used with an average height equals to
 3.1.2 Cantilever Stairs
Figure 3.2 shows a stairs cantilevered from a reinforced concrete wall. The waist is
chosen to accommodate the reinforcement using appropriate concrete cover. A waist t of
7.5 cm is reasonable for this type of stairs.

FIGURE 3.2 Cantilever Stair

Loading:
a. Dead load:
The dead load includes own weight of the step, own weight of the waist slab, surface
finishes on the steps and on the soffit, in addition to a concentrated dead load of 100 kg on each
step, applied at its free end.
b. Live Load:
Live load is taken as building design live load plus 150 kg/m2 with a maximum value of
500 kg/m2.
Design for Shear and Flexure:
Each step is designed for shear and flexure. Main reinforcement runs in the transverse
direction at the top side of the steps, while shrinkage reinforcement runs at the bottom side of the
slab in the transverse and longitudinal directions. To hold the top reinforcement in position
diameter of 6 mm stirrups are used every 20 to 25 cm.
 3.1.3 Longitudinally-Supported Stairs
This type of stairs is designed as one-way slab supported at the top and bottom of the flight,
while the steps themselves are treated as nonstructural elements. Figure shows a half-turn
longitudinally supported stairs. Deflection Requirement is since a flight of stairs is stiffer than a
slab of thickness equal to the waist t, minimum required slab depth is reduced by 15 %. Effective
Span is the effective span is taken as the horizontal distance between centerlines of supporting
elements.

FIGURE 3.3 Longitudinally Supported Stairs

Loading:
a. Dead Load:
The dead load, which can be calculated on horizontal plan, includes:
Own weight of the steps.
Own weight of the slab. For flight load calculations, this load is to be increased by dividing
it by cos (a) to get it on horizontal projection, where (a) is the angle of slope of the flight.
Surface finishes on the flight and on the landings. For flight load calculations, the part of
load acting on slope is to be increased by dividing it by cos (a) to get it on horizontal
projection.
b. Live Load:
Live load is always given on horizontal projection.
Design for Shear and Flexure:
The stairs slab is designed for maximum shear and flexure. Main reinforcement runs in the
longitudinal direction, while shrinkage reinforcement runs in the transverse direction. Special
attention has to be paid to reinforcement detail at opening joints.
4. METHOD IN DESIGN

4.1 HOW TO DRAW A DETAILED STAIR PLAN

FIGURE 4.1 Staircase Design

1. Number each of the steps starting from the lowest

2. Indicate all the dimensions like tread widths & depths, total length & width of the stair,
balustrade details etc.
3. Specify all the different types of materials.

FIGURE 4.2 Staircase Detailed Design

FIGURE 4.3 Plan of Staircase Drawing FIGURE 4.4 Balustrade Connection Details
 FIGURE 4.5 Staircase Components

1. Flight: A series of steps between different levels or storeys of a building

2. Landing: An area of floor at the top of or between flights of stairs for changing direction
in the stairs & providing a resting place between long flights of stairs.
3. Tread: The part of the step that is stepped on.
4. Riser: The vertical portion of the step between steps.
5. Nosing: An edge part of the tread that extends from the riser beneath.
6. Winders: Winders are steps that are narrower on one side than the other. They are used to
change the direction of the stairs without landings. A series of winders form a circular or
spiral stairway.
7. Stringer or string: The structural member that supports the treads. There are typically two
stringers, one it her side of the stairs; though the treads may be supported many other ways.
The stringers are notched so that the risers and treads fit into them.
8. Handrail: A rail fixed parallel above the pitch line at the side so fast air.
9. Balusters: Vertical members which support a handrail.
10. Newel: A vertical post which might provide support for either the handrail, or support for
the upper end of an outer string.
11. Bullnose: When one or both sides of the stairs are open, the first step above the lower floor
may be wider than the other steps. The rounded portion of the step is called a "bullnose".
12. Riser and tread: In a flight of stairs all steps should have the same riser and same tread.
13. Steepness of stairs: Regular pitch: 25-36