DETAILING OF STEEL IN STAIR CASES

Stair case

Stair cases are used for the purpose of giving access to different floors of a structure.

Parts of stairs

There are two main parts namely flight and landing. Series of steps are provided in the
flight. The vertical height of the step is called the rise and the horizontal distance between
the vertical faces of risers is known as going. The horizontal distance available on the
step is called tread. The horizontal length obtained by deducting going from the tread is
called nosing. These parts can be seen in the Figure 1.

T
G
N
R
W

Figure 1. Parts of stair case

Types of stair cases

The different types of stairs may be classified under the following main heads:

 Straight stairs
Dog legged stair
Open well or open newel stairs
Geometrical stairs such as spiral, circular, etc.

Classification based on span

Based on type of span, following are the two types of stair cases;
Horizontally spanning or transversely spanning stairs. Figure 2
Longitudinally spanning stairs. For details refer IS: 456-2000 and SP (34).
Transversely spanning stair cases can be seen in figure 2. Here the main steel is provided
transversely and the distribution steel is in the longitudinal direction.

STEPS

STRINGER
BEAMS

STRINGER
BEAM

0.1L-0.15L
0.5 Ast
Ast
L
Figure 2. Transversely spanning stair cases
Longitudinally spanning stair cases:

Here the main steel in provided longitudinally and the distribution steel is in the
transverse direction.

Effective span

The effective span is defined as follows based on the type of support.

Where flight supported at the ends of the landings in such a way that both landing and
flight spans in the same direction, the effective span is the distance between the center to
center of the supporting beams or wall. Refer Figure 3.
Where spanning on the edge of a landing slab which spans parallel with the riser, the
effective span is the distance equal to the going of the stairs plus at each end either half
the width of the landing or one meter, whichever is smaller. Refer Figure 4.
Where supported at top and bottom riser by beams spanning parallel with the riser, the
distance center to center of the beams is the effective span. Refer Figure 5.

Le

Figure 3. Flight supported at the ends of the landings on walls

Le

Figure 4. Flight supported at the sides of the landings on walls

Le

Figure 5. Flight supported on landing beams

Guide lines

Guide lines to be followed for fixing the dimensions of component parts of stair.

1. Rise (R) is 150mm to 180mm and tread (T) is 220 mm to 250 mm for a residential
building.
2. For public building rise is kept between 120 to 150 mm and tread between 250 to
300 mm
3. Sum of tread (T) and twice the rise (2R) should be between 500 mm to 650 mm
4. The width of the stair is dependent on the usage and is between 0.8 m to 1 m for
residential building and 1.8 m to 2 m for public building.
5. The width of the landing is equal to the width of stairs.
6. The number of steps in each flight should not be greater than 12
7. The pitch of the stair should not be more than 38 degrees.
8. The head room measured vertically above any step or below the mid landing shall
not be less than 2.1 m.

Design of stairs

Design for maximum bending moment and check for maximum shear force. The depth is
to be fixed from deflection criteria. Stair case slab is designed as slab. All rules regarding
the detailing are similar to that of slab. Enough development and anchorage lengths for
steel should be provided.

Worked out problem

A dog legged stair case has to be provided for a residential building with the staircase
room size 2.1 m x 4.48 m (internal). The following details are given:
Vertical distance between the floors = 3.2 m
Waist slab thickness=160mm
Wall thickness =230
Main reinforcement= 12mm dia @ 120 mm c/c
Distribution steel = 8 mm dia @ 200 mm c/c
Grade of concrete used =M20
Grade of steel used =Fe415
First flight starts from foundation level.
Assume that the flights are supported at the ends of landing or landing spans in the
same direction as that of flight.
Draw to a suitable scale the following
a. Plan of staircase

b. Sectional elevation of first flight

c. Sectional elevation of second flight
d. Prepare the bar bending schedule

20 Marks

Solution:
Data: As above
Let Rise= R=160 mm and Tread= T= 250 mm
T + 2R=570 mm ok
Number of risers=H/R= 3200/160 = 20
Number of risers in each of the two flights= 20/2=10
Number of treads per flight= 10-1 =9
Going = 9 x 250 = 2250 mm
Width of landing in each flight= (4480-2250)/2= 1115 mm.
Width of stairs = 1000mm leaving a gap of 100 mm between the flights.
With this drawing can be made.
See details at the end in Figure 6
Exercise Problems:
A dog legged stair case is to be detailed with the following particulars:
Clear dimension of stair case room=5.5 m x 2.8 m
With of each tread =250 mm
With of each rise = 150 mm
Thickness of waist slab = 150 mm
Landing 1.4 m x 1.4 m
All round wall = 230 mm
Main steel for each flight = #12@120
Distribution steel for each flight = #8@ 200
Intermediate Landing is supported on 230 mm wall. The second flight rests on
rectangular beam of 230 mm x 350 mm.
6

Beam consists of 4-#16 at bottom out of which 2-#16 are curtailed up.
Two hanger bars #12 at top is also provided. Two legged stirrups #8 at 150 mm c/c up
to 750 mm from the face of supports and the spacing is increased to 200 mm c/c near
the center.
Draw to a suitable scale
The plan of stair case
Sectional elevation of first flight
Sectional elevation of second flight
Beam details
Bar bending schedule
Solution: All details are given. First draw the rough sketch and then the final drawing
and detailing. For bar bending schedule, measure the length of bars on the drawing
sheet and use it for the calculation.

December/January 2007
A dog legged stair case has to be provided for a public building with the staircase
room size 2.6 m x 5.4 m (internal). The following details are given:
Vertical distance between the floors = 3.6 m
Waist slab thickness=160mm
Wall thickness =230
Main renforcement= 12mm dia @ 120 mm c/c
Distribution steel = 8 mm dia @ 200 mm c/c
Grade of concrete used =M20
Grade of steel used =Fe415
Draw to a suitable scale the following
e. Plan of staircase
f. Sectional elevation of first flight
g. Prepare the bar bending schedule

20 Marks

Ld =564

FLOOR LEVEL
ROW OF CHAIRS

T= 250
R=160
REINFORCEMENT

LAP L

FROM BM
LANDING

FIRST FLIGHT

Ld =564

MAIN STEEL
# 12 @ 120

Wall

DIST. STEEL
# 8 @ 200
150
GL
FOUNDATION

500 mm

GROUND FLIGHT
500 mm
1115 mm

2250 mm

1115 mm

Le = 4710 mm
PLAN
Figure 6. Detailing for stair case when supported at the ends on landing on walls

Y=0.3 l or Ld

X = 0.15 l or Ld

DS
Y

MAIN STEEL

150
LANDING
BEAM

LANDING
BEAM

FIRST FLIGHT

INTERMEDIATE
LANDING

ROW OF
CHAIRS

MAIN STEEL # 12 @ 120

DIST. STEEL # 8 @ 150

150
GL
FOOTING
GROUND FLIGHT

500

150
500

Le

PLAN

Figure 7. Detailing for stair case when supported on landing beams.