DESIGN OF STAIR CASES

General features, types of stair case, loads on stair cases, effective span as per IS code
provisions, distribution of loading on stairs, Design of stair cases with waist slabs.

Stairs

Stairs consist of steps arranged in a series for purpose of giving access to different floors of a
building. Since a stair is often the only means of communication between the various floors of a
building, the location of the stair requires good and careful consideration.

In a residential house, the staircase may be provided near the main entrance. In a public building,
the stairs must be from the main entrance itself and located centrally, to provide quick
accessibility to the principal apartments. All staircases should be adequately lighted and properly
ventilated.

The staircase is an important component of a building, and often the only means of access
between the various floors in the building. It consists of a flight of steps, usually with one or
more intermediate landings provided between the floor levels. The horizontal top portion of a
step is termed tread and the vertical projection of the step is called riser. Generally tread of 300
mm and Riser of 150 mm are ideally suited for public buildings. For residential and factory
buildings lower values of tread up to 250 mm combined with higher values of riser up to 190 mm
are preferred. The width of the stair is generally around 1.1 – 1.5m, and in any case, should
normally not be less than 850 mm. The horizontal projection (plan) of an inclined flight of steps,
between the first and last risers, is termed going of flight. Generally, risers in a flight should not
exceed about 12 in number.

Types of stair cases

Geometric classification
1. straight stairs (with or without intermediate landing)
2. quarter-turn stairs
3. dog-legged stairs
4. open newel stairs
5. spiral stairs
6. circular stairs
Structural Classification

1. Stair slab spanning transversely

(or horizontally between stringer beams or walls)
2. Stair slab spanning longitudinally

 Classification based on span

Based on type of span, following are the two types of stair cases;

❖Horizontally spanning or transversely spanning stairs. Figure 1

❖Longitudinally spanning stairs. For details refer IS: 456-2000 and SP (34).

Transversely spanning stair cases can be seen in figure 1. Here the main steel is provided transversely
and the distribution steel is in the longitudinal direction.

STEPS

STRINGER BEAMS
STRINGER BEAM

0.1L-0.15L

0.5 Ast

Ast
L
 Figure 1. Transversely spanning stair cases

Longitudinally spanning stair cases:

Here the main steel in provided longitudinally and the distribution steel is in the transverse direction.
Refer problem.

Effective span
The effective span is defined as follows based on the type of support.

Where flight supported at the ends of the landings in such a way that both landing and flight spans in the
same direction, the effective span is the distance between the center to center of the supporting beams or
wall. Refer Figure 2.

Where spanning on the edge of a landing slab which spans parallel with the riser, the effective span is the
distance equal to the going of the stairs plus at each end either half the width of the landing or one meter,
whichever is smaller. Refer Figure 3.

Where supported at top and bottom riser by beams spanning parallel with the riser, the distance center to
center of the beams is the effective span. Refer Figure 4.

Le
Figure 2. Flight supported at the ends of the landings on walls

X Y Y
X

Le

Figure 3. Flight supported at the sides of the landings on walls

Le

Figure 4. Flight supported on landing beams

 Guide lines
Guide lines to be followed for fixing the dimensions of component parts of stair.

1. Rise (R) is 150mm to 180mm and tread (T) is 220 mm to 250 mm for a residential building.
2. For public building rise is kept between 120 to 150 mm and tread between 250 to 300 mm
3. Sum of tread (T) and twice the rise (2R) should be between 500 mm to 650 mm
4. The width of the stair is dependent on the usage and is between 0.8 m to 1 m for residential
building and 1.8 m to 2 m for public building.
5. The width of the landing is equal to the width of stairs.
6. The number of steps in each flight should not be greater than 12
7. The pitch of the stair should not be more than 38 degrees.
8. The head room measured vertically above any step or below the mid landing shall not be less than
2.1 m.

Distribution of Loading on Stairs

In the case of stairs with open wells, where spans partly crossing at right angles occur, the load
on areas common to any two such spans may be taken as one half in each direction as shown in
Fig. 5. Where flights or landings are embedded into walls for a length of not less than 110 mm
and are designed to span in the direction of the flight, a 150 mm strip may be deducted from the
loaded area and the effective breadth of the section increased by 75 mm for purposes of design
(see Fig. 6).

Depth of Section

The depth of section shall be taken as the minimum thickness perpendicular to the soffit of the
staircase.
βL1, (1-2β )L1
RCC design of a Dog-legged staircase

In this type of staircase, the succeeding flights rise in opposite directions. The two flights in plan
are not separated by a well. A landing is provided corresponding to the level at which the
direction of the flight changes.

Design of Dog-legged Stairs

Based on the direction along which a stair slab span, the stairs maybe classified into the
following two types.

1. Stairs spanning horizontally

2. Stairs spanning vertically

Stairs spanning horizontally

These stairs are supported at each side by walls. Stringer beams or at one side by wall or at the
other side by a beam.
Loads

 Dead load of a step = ½ x T x R x 25

 Dead load of waist slab = b x t x 25
 Live load = LL (KN/m2)
 Floor finish = assume 0.5 kN/m

Stairs spanning Longitudinally

In this, stairs spanning longitudinally, the beam is supported at top and at the bottom of flights.

Loads

 Self weight of a step = 1 x R/2 x 25

 Self weight of waist slab = 1 x t x 25
 Self weight of plan = 1 x t x 25[(R2 + T2)/T]
 Live load = LL (KN/m2)
 Floor finish = assume 0.5 KN/m

For the efficient design of an RCC stair, we have to first analyse the various loads to be imposed
on the stair.

The load calculations will help us determine, how much strength is required to carry the load.
The strength bearing capacity of a staircase is determined on the amount of steel and concrete
used.

The ratio of steel to concrete has to be as per standards. Steel in the staircase will take the
tension imposed on it and the concrete takes up the compression
 Design of RCC Stair case

Ex. 1 Design a dog legged stair case for a residential building hall measuring 2.2 m x 4.7 m.
The width of the landing is 1m. The distance between floor to floor is 3.3 m. The rise and
tread may be taken as 150mm and 270mm respectively. The weight of floor finish is 1
kN/m2. The materials used are M20 grade concrete and Fe415 grade steel. Sketch the
details of steel. Here flight and the landing slabs spans in the same direction i.e, Flight
spans longitudinally. Assume width of landing and width of steps are same. Thickness of
supports are 200mm.

Data:
fck = 20 MPa, fy = 415MPa, Landing = 1m, H = 3.3m,
Size of stair case hall = 2.2m x 3.7 m.

Assume the wall thickness as 200 mm.

Proportioning of stair:
R = 150 mm, T= 270 mm. H = 3.3m. Height of each flight = H1= H/2 =3.3 /2 = 1.65m

Number of risers in each flight = H1/R = 1650 /150 = 11. Thus

Number of steps = 11-1 =10
Width of flight horizontally = 10 x 270 = 2700mm
Width of hall = 4700mm. Thus the each landing width = 1m Let
the width of step = 1m. Gap between the flights = 0.2 m

To fix the depth of waist slab:

l/d = 26, assuming partial fixity

le = 4700 + 200 = 4900 mm. d= 4900/26= 188mm.

Assume effective cover = 20 mm NC ( mild exposure) + 10/2 = 25 mm, D= d
+ de = 213 mm say 215mm. Thus, d= 190mm

Calculation of loads: T
Tanθ = R/T = 0.56. Hypotenuse, h = 309mm. Cosθ = T/h= 270/309= 0.874 θ R
h
Deal load of waist slab in plan = (0.215x1x1x25) 1/Cosθ = 6.14 kN/m2
Weight of all floor finish horizontally, assumed as = 1kN/m2
Weight of steps = R/2 x1 x1 x 24 = 1.80 kN/m2
Imposed load = 3 kN/m2
Total load = w = 11.94 kN/m2
Ultimate load= 1.5x11.94 = wu = 17.91 kN/m2
Design of second flight:
Factored bending moment for second flight taking partial fixity effect BM
= wul2/10 = 17.91 x 4.92/10 = 43.0 kNm
Mu, lim of the given waist slab as balanced section = Qbd2
= 2.76 x 1000 x 1902=99.63 kNm> 43kNm. Under reinforced section. The depth
provided is ok.
To find area of steel: Main steel

By calculation (Use this approach in exam)

For URS, Area of steel: Mu = 0.87 fy Ast (d – fyAst/fck b) = 43x106
68599Ast – 7.49 A2 =st43 x 106. Thus, 7.49 A2 - 68599A
st
6
st + 43 x 10 = 0
Solving Ast = 676 mm2, p = 100Ast/bd = 0.356% < pt, lim = 0.96%, URS
Provide 10 mm @ s= 78.6/676 x 1000 =116.2, say 110mm c/c. Provide #10@110. Here
spacing is <300mm, <3d. Thus ok from serviceability requirements for cracking.

Use of SP 16 flexure table

Mu/bd2 = 43x106/1000 x 190x 190 = 1.191. From SP-16,Table 2, page 48, p =0.359% , pt, lim =
0.96%
Ast = 0.359 x 1000 x 190/100 = 682 mm2. Provide #10@110.

Use of SP 16 design table for slabs

Also from SP-16, Table 23, page 64 for slab design, for a moment of 43 kNm, the steel can be
obtained directly for M20, fy=415 and D=225 mm as #10@120. As D = 215mm, provide
#10@110.
Ast = 79/110x1000 = 718 mm2, p = 100Ast/bd = 0.38%

Use of SP 16 design charts for slabs and beams:

Chart 13, page 33 for M20, Fe415, d=190mm, Mu =43 kNm, percentage of steel p = 0.355%.
Provide #10@110. These tables are valid for flexure members having 50mm to 800 mm depth
which covers both slabs and beams.

Distribution steel:

Area of steel = 0.12% of Ag = 0.12 bD/100 = 0.12 x 1000 x 215/100 = 258 mm2. Provide #8@
50/258 x1000 = 190 mm c/c. The spacing is less than 450mm and also 5d. Thus safe in cracking.

Design for shear:

Vu = wule/2 = 17.91 x 4.9/2 = 43.88 kN. τv = Vu/bd= 43.88 x1000/(1000x190) = 0.23MPa
Pt =0.35%, From IS:456-2000, τc, slab = ksτv =1.18 x 0.41. Thus, τv < ks τc < τc, max. ok Hence
the slab is safe in shear.

Check for development length:

Provide enough development length at the junction of flight and landing and also necessary
anchorage over the support as shown in figure. Ld= 47φ =470 mm and ld/3
=160mm.

Check for deflection:

As the effective depth provided is more than that required for controlling the deflection, the
slab is safe in shear. (Le/d)available < (l/d)basic value x k1 k2 k3. 4700/190 = 24.7 <
26x1x1.3x1. ok. Here k2 is 1.3 from IS:456-2000, Fig. 4, page 38, for p=0.35% and fs = 240MPa
of Fe415 steel.

Check for cracking:

As the detailing requirements with regard to diameter, spacing for main and dist. steel and
cover for slab are satisfied as per the requirements of IS:456-2000, the cracking is prevented
indirectly. Thus slab is safe in serviceability requirements.

Detailing: As shown in figure 1.

Design of First flight which starts from foundation

The same steel can be provided for first flight also. However the effective span for this flight is
less (le= 3.9 m) and hence the steel required is also less. Thus, ground flight is safe in shear,
deflection and cracking as well.

If the support conditions are different, then the effective span will be different. All other design
calculations remain same. In this problem, if the flight is supported at its ends by means of
landing slab (i.e. at the junction of flight and landing), then l e = 2700 mm (distance b/n first and
last risers) for both flights. Here the flight and the landing spans in opposite directions. Flight
spans longitudinally and landing spans transversely). Landing is to be designed separately
depending on its edge conditions. Similarly for the other support condition, i.e. when the flight is
supported at all edges of the landing, then le = lg
+x +y as per IS;456-2000.
 Ld
FLOOR LEVEL
=470mm
T= 270 ROW OF CHAIRS
R=15 LAP LENGTH
REINFORCEME 0
NT FROM
BM

LANDIN
G FIRST FLIGHT

Ld =470mm

MAIN
STEEL # 10
Wall @ 110
DIST.
D=215 mm STEEL # 8
150 @ 190

GL
FOUNDATION
500 mm

GROUND
FLIGHT 500 mm
1000 mm 2700 mm 1000mm 200 mm

1000 mm
2200 mm

200 mm

1000 mm
200 mm

PLAN
Le = 4900 mm
Figure 1. Detailing for stair case when supported at the ends on landing on walls. Ex.1
 Y=0.3 l or Ld Y
l
X = 0.15 l or Ld
DS X
LANDI
NG
BEAM
Y
MAIN STEEL

150 FIRST FLIGHT

LANDIN INTERMEDI
G BEAM ATE
LANDING

ROW
OF MAIN STEEL # 12 @ 120
CHAIR
DIST. STEEL # 8 @ 150
S

150
GL

FOOTIN
500
GROUND G 150
FLIGHT
500

Le
PLAN

Figure 2. Detailing for stair case when supported on landing beams.