Types Of Stairs - Engineering and Architecture

Classifications of Stairs According to Their Layout

1.     Straight flight stairs:-

The stairs which rises from one floor to another in one direction is known as straight flight or simply straight stair.

This type of stair maybe constructed with or without landing.

·        Suitability :- 

This type of stair is only suitable for a long and narrow staircase.

2.     Quarter Turn Stairs :-

The stairs which turns through 90^o either to left or to the right is known as quarter stair.

This type of stair maybe provided with winders or with quarter-space landing.

·        Suitability :-

This type of stair is suitable where the width staircase is more but it has got limited length.

3.     Half-Turn Stairs :-

The stairs which turn through 180^o is known as half turn stair.

In such stairs the adjacent flights are in opposite directions separated by half space landing.

Half turn Stair are further classified into two types.

·        (a)  Dog-legged stairs :-

A half turn stair with no space between its flights is known as dog legged stair.

·        Suitability :-

This type of stair is suitable where the width of the staircase is limited and is commonly used for single or double storied modern buildings.

·        (b)  Open Well Stairs :-

 A half turn stair with a spacing ( Called Well) between its flights is known as open well stair.

This stairs is also known as open newel stair when the well left between the flight is of rectangular shape.

·        Suitability :-

This type of stair is suitable for multi-storied buildings as in this case well allows for top lightening.

4.       Geometrical Stairs :-

A half turn stairsin which the well is of curved shape between the forward and backward flights is called geometrical stairs.

In this type of stairs, the change in direction is obtained by winders.

It provides easy turning but is tiresome as it is generally without landing.

·        Suitability :-

This type of stairs is suitable for single or double-storied buildings.

5.       Circular Stair :-

      
  The stairs which provide in a circular stair case is called circular stairs. In this stair, the strings and the hand rails are continuous and the change in direction is obtained by winders.

A circular stairs having all its steps radiating from a central newel is known as spiral stair.

Video link How to Make Spiral Stairs in Auto Cad : How to make Spirat Stairs in Auto Cad

·        Suitability :-

This type of stairs is suitable when a limited space is available for the stair case.

Iron spiral stairs are very suitable for back door entrance as they occupy very little space.

6.      Bifurcating Stairs :-

The stairs having its bottom flight wide which is divided into two narrow flights at the landing at right angles in opposite direction is called bifurcating stair. 

·        Suitability :-

This type of stairs is suitable for public buildings, assembly halls, railway foot bridges etc.