STAIRS.

HISTORY.
The stairs are one of the oldest buildings
component in architectural history.
Although it is difficult to tell exactly in which year
they were introduced, it is believed its appearance
was by the year 6000 before Christ.

The first stairs in the history were wood trunks

fitter together, these kind of stairs were used to
acquire strategic positions for survival.
 HISTORY.
In a basic sense, the first use which was
given to the stairs was to overcome the
difficulties presented by the terrain, such
as valleys or mountains, the goal was to be
able to pass these difficulties as soon as
possible, move up often meant moving to
a place of greater security, then this could
have meant at that time the difference
between life and death, it was very
important to move quickly, hence the
importance of the stairs.

In the history they first emerged as a solution to a problem.

 HISTORY.
Years later it was found in China the first granite staircase leading to the sacred mountain in Tai Shan, this
indicates that one of the utilities that was given to the stairs in its story was for religious purposes.

Later spiral stairs were used in castles for military reasons.

They allow a strategic position to the soldier who defended the castle, these spiral staircases and railings
were built in order to make the solder placed in top an advantage, this soldier would have his right hand full
of space to move his sword, while the soldier placed on the bottom would constantly hit the wall while
fighting.
The lack of handrails was not casual, the aim was to push the opponent over the edge of the stair.
 HISTORY.
The end of the nineteenth century is regarded by many as the golden era of construction of
stairs.
By the end of 1980 Eva Jiricna in London started designing stairs in glass and stainless steel
which gave the stairs a sleek and futuristic look.

Today it is increasingly common to exit the conventional design of iron and wood and move on
to different materials such as stainless steel, glass and titanium.
 Stair facts
THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING
run-up
86 levels
1576 stairs
Rising 303m from start to finish
1576 steps through 86 levels
to rise 303m
Average 18.3 steps per level
 Stair geometry
Stair 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 proportions
Imperial (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
Metric
150mm R 215mm; 215mm G 305mm
1. 45 000 (Rmm x Gmm) 48 000
 Stair angles
According to AS 1657-1992 (Fixed
platforms, walkways, stairways &
ladders- Design, construction &
installation), stairways should be
angled between 26.50 and 450-
Thats between 1 in 2 and 1 in 1

Rise = 1
450 Rise = 1
26.50 Going = 2 Going = 1
Stairs of diff. Materials

Stone Stairs
R.C.C. Stairs Timber Stairs

Metal Stairs
Brick Stairs
 Stair words

Baluster Landing Rise

Balustrade Newel post Riser
Go Nosing Stair
Going Outer string Step
Handrail Pitch Tread
Pitch line Wall string
Headroom
STAIRS.

Terms used
STAIRS.

Terms used
 STAIRS.
The design principles of stairs :
1-Flight: the minimum number of flight 3 steps but the maximum number
14 steps and the width of flight must be constant (80 cm -120 cm)
2-The minimum dimension of landing width equals the width of stair
3-The minimum height of head room 210 cm
4-The height of handrail equal 90 cm
5-The distance between balusters is 30cm
6- (1) tread + (2) riser = 60 cm -63 cm

Terms used
 STAIRS.
STAIRS

Straight Stairs Turning Stairs

Single flight Double flight Quarter Half Three Bifurcated Continuous

Turn Turn Quarter

Dog-legged Circular
Or Newel
Newel
Quarter
Open Newel Spiral
Half Turn

Geometrical Geometrical
Quarter Turn Helical
Half Turn

CLASSIFICATION OF STAIRS.
 STAIRS.

Classification of stairs according to

construction materials
Timber stairs
Spandrel stairs( stone- marble )
Reinforced concrete stairs
Metal stairs
Plastic
Glass
Fiber glass