Stair design and

construction

Brisbane City Hall staircase

Brisbane North Point Institute of

TAFECertificate 3 in Stonemasonry

BCF3027A Lay stair & floor surfaces

Stair facts• In February 2003,

Canberra’s Paul Crake won the Empire State Building ‘run-up’ for the fifth consecutive time

He ran up• 86 levels• 1576 stairs• Rising 303m from start

to finishin 9 minutes 33 seconds!

That’s • 3.52m per level• Average 18.3 steps

per level• 192.25mm per step

Stair factsPaul ascended 1576 steps

through 86 levels to rise 303m

Stair geometryStair safety and geometry are related-

rhythmic movement along a straight line is important for safe ascent or descent

Milton, H.J. (1994). Glossary of Building Terms. Standards Australia, Sydney (p 364)

Stair proportionsImperial (feet and inches)Rise (R) ≥ 6”; Going (G) ≤ 12”1. 2R” + G” = 23”2. 17” ≤ (R” + G”) ≤ 17.5”3. 70” ≤ (R” x G”) ≤ 75”Metric150mm ≤ R ≤ 215mm; 215mm ≤ G ≤

305mm4. 45 000 ≤ (Rmm x Gmm) ≤ 48 000

Stair anglesAccording 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

Rise = 1Going = 2

Rise = 1Going =

126.50

450

AS 1657-1992 Fixed platforms, walkways, stairways & ladders- Design, construction & installation

(p 5)

Limits of slope

AS 1657-1992 fig 1.1

Stairway rises & goingsAS 1657-1992 fig. 4.3

AS 1657-1992 Fixed platforms, walkways, stairways & ladders- Design, construction & installation (p 14)

Stair words

• Baluster• Balustrade• Go• Going• Handrail• Headroom

•Rise•Riser•Stair•Step•Tread•Wall string

•Landing•Newel post•Nosing•Outer string•Pitch•Pitch line

Stair type 1

Straight flight stair

• 4.1 Stairways >600mm between handrails

• 4.1 Slope not less than 26.50 & not more than 450

Milton, H.J. (1994). Glossary of Building Terms. Standards Australia, Sydney (p 364)

Straight two-flight stair with half-landing

• 4.2.1 stairs constructed in flights straight or curved horizontally

• 4.2.2 Number of rises not to exceed 18 in a flight; not more than 36 rises without a change in direction

Stair type 2

Milton, H.J. (1994). Glossary of Building Terms. Standards Australia, Sydney (p 364)

Quarter-turn stair with landing

• 4.3.1 All treads to be slip resistant, with provision made for drainage

• 4.3.1 (a) Rises & goings (in the same flight) to be within ± 5mm

Stair type 3

Milton, H.J. (1994). Glossary of Building Terms. Standards Australia, Sydney (p 364)

Dogleg stair with half-landing

• 4.3.2 Head clearance min 2000mm vertically from nosing of tread

• 4.3.3 Nosing of tread must be highlighted

Stair type 4

Milton, H.J. (1994). Glossary of Building Terms. Standards Australia, Sydney (p 364)

Open-well stair with two quarter landings

• 4.3.1 (b) Each rise not less than 150mm & not more than 215mm

• 4.3.1 (c) Each going not less than 215mm & not more than 305mm

Stair type 5

Milton, H.J. (1994). Glossary of Building Terms. Standards Australia, Sydney (p 364)

Quarter-turn stair with winders• 4.4 Landings:

• (a)  Length & width must be not less than the stairway

• (b)  Landing minimum vertical clearance 2000mm

• (c) Every access landing- standing space at least 600mm clear of cross-traffic or door swing

Stair type 6

Milton, H.J. (1994). Glossary of Building Terms. Standards Australia, Sydney (p 364)

Spiral stair with central column

• 4.2.3 Radius to centre line of stairway not less than 600mm; where radius to centre line is less than 3000mm, maximum width of curved stairway 750mm

Stair type 7

Milton, H.J. (1994). Glossary of Building Terms. Standards Australia, Sydney (p 364)

Circular stair with central well

• 4.3.1 (c) Each Going not less than 215mm & not more than 305mm

Stair type 8

Milton, H.J. (1994). Glossary of Building Terms. Standards Australia, Sydney (p 364)

Geometric stair (900) turn

• 4.3.1 (d) 45 000< RxG <48 000

• 4.3.1 (e) Tread width must not be less than the going and there must be an overhang of at least 10mm

Stair type 9

Milton, H.J. (1994). Glossary of Building Terms. Standards Australia, Sydney (p 364)

THE END