20A01505 - Building Technology

UNIT III
Vertical transportation in a building: Types of vertical transportation-stairs-different
forms of stairs-planning of stairs-other modes of vertical transportation –lifts-ramps-
escalators

Vertical transportation in a building

Most multi-storied hotels have many floors above the ground floor and also
one/two floors below the ground floor. Hence appropriate and efficient building
transport systems are not only important but necessary also for operation. The
systems should be a mix of manual and automatic operations.
There are two types of building transport system namely
1. Vertical Transport System and
2. Horizontal Transport System.
Vertical transportation systems are mechanisms used to transport people or goods
between different levels of a building or structure, typically vertically. These systems
include elevators, escalators, and moving walkways.

Vertical transportation (Circulation) system is the means by which building

Occupants access specific areas of a building, including internal stairs, internal
ramps, elevators.

Element of Vertical circulation:

 Stair
 Elevator
 Ramp
 Escalator

Stair:
A stair is a set of steps leading from one floor to the other. It is provided to afford the means
of ascent and descent between various floors of a building. The room or enclosure of the
building, in which the stair is located is known as staircase. The opening or space occupied by
the stair is known as a stairway. It should be suitably located in a building. Stairs may be
constructed of timber, bricks, stone, steel or (R.C.C) reinforced cement concrete.

 Medium of travel which connects two consecutive horizontal surfaces.

 A complete arrangement of steps, stringers, newel posts, handrails, balusters,
etc.
 Easy and quick access to different floors with comfort and safety.

1. Every high-rise building Have minimum 2 number of staircases.

2. Width of staircases varies from 1 m to 2 m.

Dr.V.S.Satheesh., M.E., A.M.I.E., C.Engg., Ph.D, Associate Professor 1

Department of Civil Engineeirng, Kuppam Engineering College, Kuppam, AP
 20A01505 - Building Technology

Fig:Stair

Components of Stair:

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1.Step: It is a portion of stair which permits ascent or descent. It is

comprised of a tread and a riser. A stair is composed of a set of steps.
2.Trend: It is the upper horizontal portion of a step upon which the foot
is placed while ascending or descending.
3.Riser: It is the vertical portion of a step providing a support to the
tread.
4 Flight: This is defined as an unbroken series of steps between landings.
5.Landing: It is the level platform at the top or bottom of a flight between
the floors. A landing facilitates change of direction and provides an
opportunity for taking rest during the use of the stair.
6. Rise: It is the vertical distance between two successive tread faces.
7.Going: It is the horizontal distance between two successive riser faces.
8.Nosing :It is the projecting part of the tread beyond the face of the riser.
lt is usually rounded off from architectural considerations.
9.Scotia: It is a moulding provided under the nosing to improve the
elevation of the step, and to provide strength to nosing.
10. Soffit: It is the underside of a stair
11.Line of nosings:
It is an imaginary line parallel to the strings and tangential to
the nosings. useful in the construction of hand rails, giving the line with
which the under-surface of the hand rail should coincide.
12.Pitch or slope: It is the angle which the line of nosing of the stair
makes with the horizontal.
13.Strings or stringers: These are the sloping members which support the
steps in a stair. They run along the slope of the stair.
14.Newel post: Newel post is a vertical member which is placed at the
end of flights to connect the ends of strings and hand rail.
15.Baluster: It is vertical member of wood or metal, supporting the hand
rail.
16.Balustrade: It consists of a row of balusters surmounted by a hand rail
to provide protection for the users of the stair.
17.Hand Rail: It is a rounded or moulded member of wood or metal
following generally the contour of the nosing line, and fixed on the top of
balusters.
18.Head Room: It is the minimum clear vertical distance between the
tread and overhead structure (Le, ceiling etc.).
19.Run: It is the total length of stairs in a horizontal plane, including
landings
20.Header: It is the horizontal structural member supporting stair
stringers or landing.

Dr.V.S.Satheesh., M.E., A.M.I.E., C.Engg., Ph.D, Associate Professor 3

Department of Civil Engineeirng, Kuppam Engineering College, Kuppam, AP
 20A01505 - Building Technology

Requirements of a good stair:

Stair is the means of vertical transportation between the floors. It should, therefore,
be designed to as to provide easy, quick and mode of communication between
the floors .Following are the general requirements which a stair should fulfill.
1. location:
 It should be so located as to provide easy access to the occupants of the building.
 It should be so located that it is well lighted and ventilated directly from the exterior .
 It should be so located as to have approaches convenient and spacious.
2.Width of stair:
lt should be wide enough to carry the user without much crowd or inconvenience. Width of
stairs depends upto its location in the building and the type of the building itself. In a
domestic building, a 90 cm wide stair is sufleand while in public building, 1.5 to 1.8 m width
may be required.
3. Length of flight: From comfort point view, the number of steps are not more than 12 and
not less than 3.
4. Pitch of stair:
The pitch of the stairs should match with the French theory the labour of moving
vertically is about twice that of moving horizontally, if the average human stride is taken as
23 inches. If the rise and going are measured in inch units, the best pitch of the stairs is that
inclination which by twicing the rise and adding the going equals 23. When measured in cm
units, a comfortable slope is achieved when twice rise plus going is equal to 60
approximately. Pitch should however, be limited to 30° to 45°. (should not exceed 40 degree
and should not be flatter than 25degree)
5. Head Room :
The clear distance between the tread and soffit of the flight immediately above it should not
be less than 2.1 to 2.3 m, so that even a tall person cause the stair with some luggage on its
head.
6. Balustrad: Open well stair should always be provided with balustrade, to provide safety
to the users. Wide stair should have hand rail to both the sides.
7. Step dimensions: The rise and going should be of such dimensions as to provide comfort
to the users. Their proportion should also be such as to provide desirable pitch of the stair.
The going should not be less than 25 cm, though 30 cm going is quite comfortable. The rise
should be between 10 cm (for hospitals etc.) to 15 cm. The width of landing should not be
less than the width of stair.
8. Materials of construction: The material used for the construction of stair should be such
as to provide (i) sufficient strength, and (ii) fire resistance.

Dr.V.S.Satheesh., M.E., A.M.I.E., C.Engg., Ph.D, Associate Professor 4

Department of Civil Engineeirng, Kuppam Engineering College, Kuppam, AP
 20A01505 - Building Technology

Types Of Steps:
Steps in a stair ray be of following types:
1) Bull nose step
2) Round ended step
3) Filer
4) Commode step
5) Dancing step
6) Splayed step
7) Winder

Fig:Various types of steps

1) Bull nose step:
It is generally provided at the bottom of the flight, projecting in front of the newel post. Its
end near the newel forms the quadrant of a circle.
2) Round ended step:-
A round ended step is similar to a bull nose step except that it has semi-circular end which
projects out from the stringer.
3) Filer:
A filer is an ordinary step of uniform width and rectangular shape in plan.
4) Commode step:
A commode step has curved tread and riser.
5) Dancing steps or Balancing steps:
Dancing steps are the winders which do not radiate from a common centre.
6) Splayed step :
This step has one end or both ends splayed in plan.
7) Winders : Winders are tapering steps, such as those which radiate from a point usually
situated at the centre of a newel post.

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Department of Civil Engineeirng, Kuppam Engineering College, Kuppam, AP
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Fig: Round ended step Fig : Bull nose step

Fig: Winders Fig: Splayed step

CLASSIFICATION OF STAIRS:
1. Straight stairs
2. Turning stairs
(i) Quarter turn stairs
(a).Newel quarter turn stairs
(b).Geometrical quarter turn stairs
(ii) Half turn stairs
(a).Dog-legged or Newel half turn stairs
(b). Open newel half turn stairs
(c). Geometrical half turn stairs
(iii) Three-quarter turn stairs
(iv) Bifurcated stairs.

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Department of Civil Engineeirng, Kuppam Engineering College, Kuppam, AP
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3. Geological or Continuous stairs

(i) Circular stairs
(ii) spiral stairs
(iii) Helical stairs

1. STRAIGHT STAIRS
In this type, this stair runs straight between the two floors. It is used for small houses

where there are restrictions in available width. The stair may consist of either one single flight

or more than one flight (usually two) with a landing, as shown in Fig

Fig:Straight stairs

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Department of Civil Engineeirng, Kuppam Engineering College, Kuppam, AP
 20A01505 - Building Technology
2.Turning stairs:

In case of turning stairs,flights take turn.

(i) Quarter turn stairs

A quarter turn stair is the one which changes its direction either to the left or to

the right, the turn being affected either by introducing a quarter space landing or by

providing winders shown in figure below.

Quarter turn stairs are of two types:

(a).Newel quarter turn stairs

(b).Geometrical quarter turn stairs
(a) Newel quarter turn stairs

These stairs have the conspicuous newel posts at the beginning and end of each flight.

At the quarter turn, there may either be quarter space landing or there may be winders. Two

forms of this type are shown in figure below.

Fig:Newel quarter turn stairs

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(b) Geometrical quarter turn stairs

In geometrical stairs, the stringer as well as the hand rail is continuous, with no newel

post at the landing. Two forms are shown in Figure below.

Fig:Geometrical quarter turn stairs

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(ii) Half turn stairs:
Half turn stairs is the one which has its direction reserved, or changed for 1800. Such
stairs are quite common. These may three types
(a).Dog-legged or Newel half turn stairs
(b). Open newel half turn stairs
(c). Geometrical half turn stairs

(a).Dog-legged or Newel half turn stairs:

This name is given be cause of its appearance in sectional elevation. It comes under the

category of newel (or solid newel) stairs in which newel posts are pro- vided at the beginning

and end of each flight. These may be of two forms: (i) with half space landing, and (it) with

quarter space landing and winders. Generally, the former type (ie.. without winders) is more

common, as shown in Fig. below.

Fig : Dog-legged or Newel half turn stairs

(b). Open newel half turn stair:

Open well or open newel half turn stair has a space or well between the outer strings.

This is the only aspect in which it differs from the dog-legged stair. The additional which is

required between the two flights; the space between the two strings may vary from 15 cm

(min) to 100 cm. When the space left is more, a small flight containing two to four steps may

Dr.V.S.Satheesh., M.E., A.M.I.E., C.Engg., Ph.D, Associate Professor 10

Department of Civil Engineeirng, Kuppam Engineering College, Kuppam, AP
 20A01505 - Building Technology
be introduced at the turn, between the two quarter space landing, as shown in Figure below.

Otherwise, for small width well, a half space landing may be provided as shown in Figure

below.

Fig:Open newel half turn stair

(c) Geometrical half turn stairs:

The essential features of such stairs are that the stringers and the hand rails are

continuous, without any intervening newel post. These may be either with half-space landing

or without landing shown in figure below.

Dr.V.S.Satheesh., M.E., A.M.I.E., C.Engg., Ph.D, Associate Professor 11

Department of Civil Engineeirng, Kuppam Engineering College, Kuppam, AP
 20A01505 - Building Technology

Fig:Geometrical half turn stairs

(iii) Three-quarter turn stairs:

A three quarter turn stairs has its direction changed three times with its upper flight

crossing the bottom one. It may either be newel type or open newel type. Such type of stair is

used when the length of the stair room is limited and when the vertical distance between the

two floors is quite large.

Fig:Three-quarter turn stairs

Dr.V.S.Satheesh., M.E., A.M.I.E., C.Engg., Ph.D, Associate Professor 12

Department of Civil Engineeirng, Kuppam Engineering College, Kuppam, AP
 20A01505 - Building Technology
(iv) Bifurcated stairs:

This type of stair is commonly used in public buildings at their entrance hall The stair

has a wider flight at the bottom, which bifurcates into two narrower flights, one turning to the

left and the other to the right, at the landing. It may be either of newel type with a newel post

as shown in Figure below (left side) or of geometrical type, as shown in the right portion of

Figure below with continuous stringer and hand rails.

Fig:Bifurcated stairs

3. Geological or Continuous stairs :

Continuous stairs are those which do neither have any landing nor any intermediate

nowel post. They are, therefore, geometrical in shape. Continuous stairs may be of the

following types:

(i) Circular stairs

(ii) Spiral stairs, and

(iii) Helical stairs.

Circular stairs are shown in Figures below. Spiral stair is shown in Figure below. Such

a stair is usually made either of R.C.C. or metal, and is employed a location where there are

space limitations. These are also used as emergency stairs, and are provided at the back side

of a building. All the steps are winders.

Dr.V.S.Satheesh., M.E., A.M.I.E., C.Engg., Ph.D, Associate Professor 13

Department of Civil Engineeirng, Kuppam Engineering College, Kuppam, AP
 20A01505 - Building Technology

Fig:circular Fig:spiral

A helical stair, shown in Figure below, looks very fine but its structural design and

construction is very complicated. It is made of R.C.C. in which a large portion of steel is

required to resist bending, shear and torsion.

Fig:Helical stair

Dr.V.S.Satheesh., M.E., A.M.I.E., C.Engg., Ph.D, Associate Professor 14

Department of Civil Engineeirng, Kuppam Engineering College, Kuppam, AP
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Elevator

An elevator can be defined as an electric lift which is used as vertical

transportation of goods as well as people among the floors in buildings using bins
otherwise silos. As usual, these are activated with the electrical motors that also to
drive counterweight system cables for drive transaction such as a hoist, otherwise,
pump hydraulic fluid for raising a cylindrical piston such as a jack.
These are used in many areas like agriculture, manufacturing, etc. Elevators
are classified into different types based on our requirement. Elevators are frequently
used in the latest multistory constructions, in particular wherever ramps of
wheelchair would be not practical.
Elevators are the most common type of vertical transportation system, and
they use an electric motor to lift or lower a platform, or car, between floors of a
building. Modern elevators can travel at high speeds, with some capable of reaching
speeds of up to 20 meters per second.
o An elevator is a hoisting and lowering mechanism equipped with a car or
platform that moves along guides in a shaft, or hoist way, in a substantially
vertical direction and that transports passengers or goods, or both, between
two or more floors of a building.
o Considered as a requirement in all building over 3 storeys
o Minimum standards of service - one lift for every four storeys with a maximum
distance of m 45to the lift lobby.
o Floor space estimates and car capacity can be based on an area of 0.2m2 per
person

Dr.V.S.Satheesh., M.E., A.M.I.E., C.Engg., Ph.D, Associate Professor 15

Department of Civil Engineeirng, Kuppam Engineering College, Kuppam, AP
 20A01505 - Building Technology

Components of lifts or elevators

:
 Overspeed governor  Landing doors

 Electric motor  Machine drive

 Car guide rail  Buffers- Car buffer

 Elevator car  Counterweight buffer

 Elevator shaft  Safety device

Dr.V.S.Satheesh., M.E., A.M.I.E., C.Engg., Ph.D, Associate Professor 16

Department of Civil Engineeirng, Kuppam Engineering College, Kuppam, AP
 20A01505 - Building Technology

Different Types of Elevator

The different types of lifts or elevators include building lift, capsule lift,
hydraulic elevator, pneumatic elevator, passenger lift, freight elevator, traction
elevator/cable driven, residential elevators, machine room-less elevator, etc.
1) Hydraulic Elevator

A hydraulic elevator is power-driven by a piston that moves within a cylinder. The

piston movement can be done by pumping hydraulic oil to the cylinder. The piston
lifts the lift cab easily, and the oil can be controlled by an electrical valve.
The applications of hydraulic elevators involve in five to six-floor buildings.
The operating of these elevators can be done at speeds up to 200 ft or 61 meters for
each minute. All the current hydraulic pumps are designed with a mechanical Y-
delta starter otherwise solid state contractor. For the power supply of motor as well
as building, solid-state starters are superior. Because the windings stay longer as
well as there is no voltage drop across the building power supply

Hydraulic Elevator Pneumatic Elevator

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2) Pneumatic Elevator

The pneumatic elevator can be designed with an external cylinder, and the
cylinder is a crystal clear self-supporting cylinder. This cylinder includes modular
sections to fit effortlessly into one by one. The top of this tube is designed with steel
material that ensures tight air shutting by suction valves as well as inlets. A lift car
runs within the cylinder, & the head unit on the top cylinder surface consists of
valves, controllers, and turbines for controlling the elevator movements.

Pneumatic elevators are very easy to fit, operate as well as maintain when
compared with the traditional elevators. These are used in existing homes because of
their solid design. The main benefits of using these elevators include solid design &
smooth, speed and flexibility, energy efficient and very safe.

3) Cable Driven or Traction Elevator

The traction elevator or cable driven elevators are the most popular elevators.
It consists of steel cables as well as hoisting ropes that run above a pulley which is
connected to the motor.
This is geared otherwise gearless-traction type elevator. In this kind of
elevator, several wire and hoisting cables are connected to the surface of an elevator
car with covering around it on sheaves at one end & the other side is connected to a
counterweight that travels up & down on its guide rails.
The counterweight is equivalent to the car’s weight and half of the weight of
the passenger in the car. This means, throughout the lifting process it needs extra
power for the additional passengers in the car; the rest of the load is managed with
the weight of the counter.

When the control system is connected to the lift, then it drives the motors in a
frontward way, and sheave turns around to move the car lift upwards and stops in
the preferred floor where the car is controlled by the weight of the counter.

For the car downstairs movement, overturn occurs during a rotating motor
through a control method. For conserving the energy, some types of lift use electric
motors with four quadrant operation in the regenerative method. Because of the
high rise as well as high-speed capacities, these are applicable in several escalators,
lifts, etc.

Dr.V.S.Satheesh., M.E., A.M.I.E., C.Engg., Ph.D, Associate Professor 18

Department of Civil Engineeirng, Kuppam Engineering College, Kuppam, AP
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4) Capsule Lift

Capsule lift or Elevators are used in prestigious buildings, which can be called as
decoration of a building because they improve the building’s beauty as well as
carries life into it.
The main features of this elevators mainly include design, and travel comfort
is best. The interior design of these lifts is attractive with a large glass panel for
viewing. The ultramodern design of these lifts offers a cosmic zone travel experience
for the passengers. These lifts are consistent and inexpensive with the least
maintenance.

Cable Driven or Traction Elevator Capsule Lift

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5) Building Lift

A building lift is a vertical transportation among the floors of the building.

These are frequently used in public buildings, complexes, offices, and multistory
building. These lifts are important in providing vertical movement, mostly in high
buildings, for a wheelchair as well as other non-ambulant building customers. Some
type of lifts also is applicable for emigration & firefighting purposes.

Building Lift

6) Passenger Lift

This type of lift has entirely included a lift car that moves vertically in a
specially equipped lift shaft. Passengers are traveled between the floors in the
building at quick speed.
The control systems in the lift frequently designed to offer the most
economical sharing of passengers all over the building. These lifts are very space
efficient which are used in existing buildings where space is at a best.
The main advantages of using passenger lift give a very comfort traveling
among different floors, particularly space efficient, fully fixed shaft, small
construction works, and no level loadings on the building.

Dr.V.S.Satheesh., M.E., A.M.I.E., C.Engg., Ph.D, Associate Professor 20

Department of Civil Engineeirng, Kuppam Engineering College, Kuppam, AP
 20A01505 - Building Technology

Passenger Lift

7) Freight Elevator

In the world of elevators, these lifts are workhorses. These are very useful for
transporting materials, goods in warehouses, manufacturing industries, shopping
malls, seaports, etc. This type of elevator is separated into classes, to describe their
load capacity as well as application. These lifts are strong in nature, and they are
specially manufactured by engineers.
The features of this elevator include: the range of loading capacity is from
2500 lbs to 10000 lbs, height of the travel up to 50fts. The benefits of these elevators
include; these elevators are designed for commercial as well as industrial
applications. The flexible design to hold the application, door designs can be
changed, eco-friendly, etc.

Dr.V.S.Satheesh., M.E., A.M.I.E., C.Engg., Ph.D, Associate Professor 21

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Freight Elevator

8) Residential Elevators

Residential elevators provide stylish options to the platform as well as stair

lifts. These lifts can be effortlessly incorporated in any available home, otherwise
incorporated in edifice plans for latest homes.
These types of elevators are available in different styles, and these can be
installed in your home walls, otherwise included effortlessly to improve your
home’s decoration. The main benefits of residential elevators are; they can move you
securely among floors even during a power failure. Quick installation and offers you
an effortless life

Dr.V.S.Satheesh., M.E., A.M.I.E., C.Engg., Ph.D, Associate Professor 22

Department of Civil Engineeirng, Kuppam Engineering College, Kuppam, AP
 20A01505 - Building Technology

Residential Elevators

Dr.V.S.Satheesh., M.E., A.M.I.E., C.Engg., Ph.D, Associate Professor 23

Department of Civil Engineeirng, Kuppam Engineering College, Kuppam, AP