1. FBE04 BUILDING CONSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS
Stairs
Wong Chear Ching

2. STAIRS 1

3. Why do we need to learn about Stairs
Interconnectivity of space
Accessibility
Circulation / Flow
Fire escape
Functional requirements
Design considerations
Types of Stairs

4. OBJECTIVES State the functional requirements of stairs
Define the various terminology related to stairs
Identify the different forms of staircase construction and list the design considerations of staircases.
Describe the characteristics of different staircases and compare their advantages and disadvantages. 4

5. Introduction
Staircases provide a mean of access between different floor levels within a building 5

6. Functions of Stairs To allow normal access from floor to floor
To allow escape from upper floors in the event of fire 6

7. Functional Requirement
Strength & stability
Fire Resistance
Sound Insulation
Aesthetics

8. CLASSIFICATION Shape Materials flight Concrete Straight Timber
Quarter turn
Steel
Brick
Dog leg
Spiral

9. Configuration of Staircases

10. Configuration of Staircases

11. Straight Flight Stairs

12. Quarter Turn Stairs

13. Half Turn (dog-leg) Staircases

14. Spiral Stairs

15. CLASSIFICATION Shape Materials flight Concrete Straight Timber
Quarter turn
Steel
Brick
Dog leg
Spiral

16. Timber Stairs

17. Concrete Stairs

18. Brick Stairs

19. Metal Stairs

20. Composite Stairs combination of at least two different materials
made of concrete or steel
composite stairs are steel support with concrete or timber treads

21. Components of A Staircase
Treads and Risers
Strings
Closed String
Open or Cut String
Landings
Balustrades
Open balustrade
Closed balustrade

22. Cut to the profile of the treads and risers to support them
Open Strings

23. Encloses the treads and risers which it supports and top edge protrude 50- 63mm above nosing
Closed Strings

24. Landings

25. Handrail,Baluster & Newel Post
Handrail Newel post 24

26. Consists of framed or unframed panels acting as baluster to support the handrail
Closed Balustrades

27. Vertical balusters spaced at certain interval to support the handrail
Open Balustrades

28. Handrails & Balustrades

29. Stair Terminology

30. Stair Terminology

31. Basic Design Considerations
The risers and treads within each flight of stairs shall be of uniform height and size.
The height of a riser shall not be more than 175 mm. The width of a tread shall not be less than mm. The width of a tread of any staircase in any residential unit shall not be less than 225mm. The width of a tread of any staircase in any industrial building shall not be less than 250mm. The width of the tread of any tapered step shall be taken as that when measured at a distance of 500mm from the narrower end.
Riser
Tread

32. Basic Design Considerations
The pitch of the stair shall be a maximum of 42°. The clearance of headroom should not be less than 2.0 m measured vertically above pitch line.

33. Basic Design Considerations
A landing shall be provided at every floor
level and door opening.
Except for spiral staircases, an intermediate landing shall be provided in between floor levels at intervals of not more than 18 risers.
The clear width of any landing, measured from the handrail or kerb (whichever protrudes further into the landing) to the wall or external railing of the landing, shall not be less than 900 mm 32

34. Width of Stair & Landing (min 900mm)

35. Basic Design Considerations
A handrail shall be provided on at least one side of the flight of staircase
The height of the handrail shall be between 750mm and 1000mm above the pitch line.
Where there is a vertical drop in level of 1.0 m or more (for a staircase with more than say 5 steps), appropriate measures shall be taken to prevent people from falling from a height. Where a barrier is used to prevent falling from a height, the barrier shall not have any feature that facilitates the climbing of the barrier. The height of a barrier shall not be less than 1.0 m. The height of a barrier at the flight of stairs is measured vertically from the pitch line to the top of the barrier.

36. Basic Design Considerations
Handrails shall:
have a circular section of 32mm to 50mm in diameter or an equivalent gripping surface; and
have a clear space between the handrail and all wall surface –
(i) not less than 40mm; or
(ii) at least 60mm where the wall has a rough surface.
A recess containing a handrail shall extend at least 450mm 35
above the top of the rail

37. Basic Design Considerations
For a flight of staircase,
In all buildings, except for industrial buildings, any triangular opening or void formed around a tread, riser and the bottom edge of the barrier, the size of any opening or gap shall not be large enough as to permit the passage of a sphere of a diameter of 150mm.
In all buildings, except for industrial buildings, the gap size between any two consecutive steps shall not be large enough as to permit the passage of a sphere of a diameter of 100mm; and
In industrial buildings, the gap size between any two consecutive steps shall not be large enough as to permit the passage of a sphere of a diameter of 150mm.

38. Basic Design Considerations
Number of risers is not to exceed 18 in any flight of steps. Except for spiral, circular or geometric staircases, an intermediate landing shall be provided in between floor levels at intervals of not more than 18 risers.
The width of landings should not be less than the width of the stairway.

39. Concrete Staircases Most common Advantages good fire resistance Strong
better sound insulation
Disadvantages
Slow in erection – wet process
Proper training required

40. Concrete Staircases Requirements: Concrete Grade 30 or above
Minimum concrete cover 20 mm
Waist thickness between 100 to 250mm
Mild steel or high yield steel bars can be used as reinforcement
Handrail to be at least 900 mm above the pitch line

41. Concrete Staircases Hand- railing Min 900 mm Concrete cover
Waist thickness

42. Concrete Staircases Finishes
Warehouse – natural finishes. Add carborundum dust
/ rubber strips for slip resistance
PVC tiles
Rubber tiles
Carpet mats

43. Concrete Staircases

44. Precast Staircases Advantages Better quality control
Saving in site space
Faster construction
Installation is
simple.
Disadvantages
Requires mass production.

45. Precast Staircases Precast Concrete Treads

46. Precast Staircases

47. Precast Staircases