Types of Stairs

Staircase
Types of Stairs
Staircase types
Stairs in Civil Engineering
Advantages of stairs
Disadvantages of stairs
Uses of stairs

1. Staircase:
A Staircase is a series of steps with or without landings or platforms,
which is installed between two or more floors of a building to bridge a large
vertical distance.
Types of Stairs:
Stairs are generally divided into 3 types:
1. Straight stairs
2. Turning stairs
3. Continuous stairs
1. Straight stair: A type of stair in which there is no change of direction in any
flight is called as straight stair.
It may or may not consist of a center landing.
Advantages:
- Easiest to build and walk.
-They are only connected at the both ends so no
intermediate supporting structure is needed.

Disadvantages:
-Use big amount of linear space.
-These stairs do not provide privacy between 2
floors.
Uses:
 Where there is more free linear space.
 Commercial Buildings
Straight stair with Landing

2. 2.Turning Stairs:
(i). Quarter Turn stair (L-shaped stair):
A stair which turns at right angle (90”) is called as quarter turn stair.
Change in direction is provided by a landing or with the help of winders.


Advantages:
-Provide Visual barriers between floors.
-Safer than straight stairs because number of treads before a landing is reduced
on which a person may fall.
Disadvantages:
-A bit difficult to build and expensive.
-Construction of handrail for these stairs require more skill.

With Landing
With Winders

3. (ii). Half Turn stair (U-shaped stair):
U Shaped stairs are basically 2 parallel flights of straight stairs joined by a landing
that requires a 180-degree turn in the walk line. If a third flight is inserted into the
middle of the stairs, it would become a double L stair (or quarter landing).









Advantages:
-Landing provides a resting point while covering steps.
-It fits best in architectural plans
Disadvantages:
-Difficult to build
-Requires more skill

4. (iii). Three quarter trun stairs:
A stair turning through 270 degrees, is called as three-quarter turn stair.
It consists of two landings or turns.




(iv). Bifurcated Stairs:
This type of stair is designed in such a way
that it has a wide flight in the beginning
which is further divided into two narrow
flights at the mid endings, on each side.
Uses:
Used in Public buildings at the entrance.

5. 3.Continuous Stairs:
(i). Circular stairs:
A circular stair is a type of stairway that occupies a circular volume and layers the
stair treads in a spiral pattern about a central support post.
Advantages:
Aesthetically appealing.
Disadvantages:
-Difficult to build
-Occupies greater space









(ii). Spiral stairs:
A type of round stair or curved stairs that consists of individual steps, or treads,
that are connected to a center column. The treads rotate around this central point
Plan of continuous stairs

6. Advantages:
-One of the key advantages of spiral stairs is their
compactness
-Spiral stairs can be attractive and there are many
variations on railings styles which can have a
major impact on the overall appearance of the
stair.

Disadvantages:


-Spiral stairs are more difficult to navigate than
other types of stairs-It is difficult to carry large items up spiral stairs.
Only one person can go up or down the stairs at the same time.