Graphical Construction Glossary >> stairs. >> general >> Staircase

Staircase

A flight of stairs or series of flights used as a means of getting between floors or levels. Includes all supports,and handrails and safety features.
Also known as simply a Stair or Stairway in the US

1. The stairway above goes goes from one complete level in the building, the basement level where the musicians are to the next floor level, Where people are seated etc.
2. This particular stairway consists of two Stair Flights and one Landing.
3. Any level section between flights of stairs is known as a landing, and it may be there for a couple of reasons
   • The area that the stair occupies is restricted and one long simple flight of stairs will not fit.
   • Legislation or regulations state that we may not build a continuous flight of stairs more than a certain number of steps. For instace where I live it is 18 steps. This is to minimise the risk of injury in case of a fall and also the provision of a landing gives the elderly somewhere to rest.
   • The stair must be adequately lighted.
4. In this case the landing because it turns 90 degrees is know as a Quarter Turn Landing or Quarter Space Landing.
5. In any one stair each flight of stairs must have the same geometry. The ratio of the rise to tread or the angle of the flights must not change. This means that both of the flights above have the same ratios or angles.
6. Every stairway should have a clear landing area at the top and a the bottom. This is a minimum of 750 but more normally the same width of the stair or greater.
7. Each staircase over 1M. high, which includes the flights and landings must have a balustrade to protect people from falling over the edge.
8. The area at the top of the stairs overlooking the Stair Well or void must also have a balustrade

The stairway here also consists of two flight and a Straight Landing.. As stated before, these landing are not a matter of choice for the stair designers but they are in both cases here forced on them by building regulation.

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Adam Smith 1723-1790

"When we build, let us think that we build for ever."John Ruskin 1819-1900