Print this page Stairs & Stairways
Ruben A. Gomez, P.E.
Course Outline
In this course the reader will find all the workings of the traditional stairways from the proportioning of treads and risers to the best approach to the ideal stair configuration. He will also find the pros and cons of spiral, orthopolygonal, circular, helical and free standing stairs.
Regular design methods, procedures and shortcuts are covered in a comprehensive way for both, the novice and the experienced engineer.
This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.
Learning Objective
At the conclusion of this course, the attendant will achieve the following objectives:
- How to determine the correct finished floor to finished floor height;
- Understanding the best tread/riser proportions for a safe stair;
- Where the pitfalls in stair design are;
- Familiarity with the different calculation methods;
- How to simplify the erection of complex stairways;
- Valuable hints about proper execution of effective formwork; and
- Best ways to proceed with logical reinforcement patterns.
Intended Audience
This course is intended as a help guide for professional engineers, practicing architects and contractors.
Benefit for Attendee
Attendees to this course will find the material of this course to be a helpful guide not only to stair planning, but also to structural design, formwork, re-bar installation and successful concreting.
Course Introduction
Although separated by thousands of miles, the old civilizations of Europe, Asia and the Americas, such as the tribes of Catal Huyuk in today’s Turkey or the Incas of Machu Pichu in Los Andes, found the need to carve steps in the mountain rocks to facilitate escalation through the rough terrain.
In building construction, stairs became a necessity the moment the builders decided to elevate the house floor above the surrounding ground, as in the Sumerian Ziggurats or the Harapan cities of the Indus Valley. They first started with a single stepping stone and kept on adding up as the need arose. Little by little they added more steps until ending up with the stairs and stairways we have all around us today.
Course Content
The course content is contained in the following PDF file:
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Course Summary
Stairs and stairways come in all kinds, sizes, shapes, configurations and materials. In this course we have made an attempt to cover the basic information that is needed to know, as well as the pitfalls to avoid in successfully conceiving and planning an efficient, comfortable and reasonably safe set of stairs for any giving purpose.
Related Links and References
For additional related technical information on this subject we recommend the latest edition of:
1. Morgan, V. A., “Analysis Comparison of Helical Stairs”, Volume 55 of “Concrete and Constructional Engineering”, London, UK
2. Kemp, Sozen & Siess, “Torsion in Reinforced Concrete”, Structural Research Series, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois.
Quiz
Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.
DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.
