CHAPTER SIX

STAIRCASE DESIGN

INTRODUCTION
COMPONENTS OF A STAIRCASE
WORKED EXAMPLE
 6.0 INTRODUCTION
Staircases are basically used to access or exit
buildings. There exist different types of
staircases, namely:
1. Simple staircases – one flight or
two flights staircases.
In the two flights staircase a
landing is required to break the
flight into two.
It is normally recommended to
have a maximum of 17 steps in
one flight.
2. Free standing staircase
3. Slab less or saw tooth or dog leg
staircase
4. Helical staircase
5. Spiral staircases – may be in
reinforced concrete (in-situ or
precast) or steel
6. Pre-cast stairs
6.1 COMPONENTS OF A STAIRCASE
The main features of a staircase are:
a). Riser,
b). Thread or going and
c). Waist
Threa
d factor may be multiplied by 15%.
For residential building, the minimum
waist thickness should be taken as
125mm.
For public or commercial buildings, the
minimum waist thickness should be
taken as 150mm.
Step 3: Determine the supports and the
effective span of the staircase.
Step 4: Calculate the total dead load of the
staircase per meter, which will include self-
weight of waist, self-weight of steps and
characteristic superimposed loads due to tiles
and screed.
Step 5: Calculate the imposed load per meter.
Step 6: Determine the ultimate load, F
Step 7: Determine the Ultimate moment M
Step 8: Calculate the area of main
reinforcement as well as the distribution steel.
Step 9: Check for deflection criteria
NB: If the stair flight occupies at least
60% of the span, the Modification

Step 10: Detail the staircase reinforcement.

Riser waist 6.3 WORKED EXAMPLE
8x250

Section through staircase

The optimum dimensions of staircase as laid
down in BS5395 are as tabulated below. All
dimensions are in mm. 9x175

Usage Going Riser Min.

Width
Public 300 150 1000
Semi- 275 165 1000
public
Private 250 175 800 Waist thickness = 125mm
Step 1: Riser = 175mm
6.2 METHODOLOGY Thread= 250mm
Step 1: The Riser and thread should be
determined depending on usage. Step 2:Waist = 125mm

Step 2: The waist of the staircase need to be Step 3:

specified.

1575mm

3000mm
 Diameter of main bar = 10mm
Effective depth d = 125-20-(10/2)
= 100mm
Moment coefficient, k = M/fcubd2
Step 4: Dead loads = 15x1000000/(30*1000*100*100)
Consider unit width of staircase, i.e. b = = 0.05
1000mm Lever arm
Slope length of staircase, l = sqrt (horizontal Z= d[0.5 + sqrt(0.25- (k/0.9))]
distance2 + vertical distance2) = 100*[0.5+sqrt(0.25 – (0.05/0.9))]
l = [(32) + (1.5752)]1/2 = 94.09mm
= 3.39m Area of steel reinf.
CSP = M/(0.95fyZ)
Characteristic superimposed load = 1.0kPa = 15000000/(0.95*460*94.09)
Dead load due to CSP = 1.0*3.39*(unit width of = 364.8 mm2/m
staircase = 1m) = 3.39kN Minimum area of steel= 0.13%bh
Waist = 0.13*1000*125/100
Self-weight of waist = 0.125*24 = 162.5mm2/m
= 3.0 kPa Area of steel provided = T10 – 200 equivalent
Dead load due to waist= 3.0*l *(unit width of 396mm2/m
staircase = 1m) Secondary reinforcement = Area of minimum
= 3.0*3.39*1.0 steel = 0.13%bh = 162.5mm2/m = T08-200
= 10.17 kN
Steps Step 9: Deflection check
Self-weight of steps = Service stress, fs = 2*fy*As req/( As prov * 3)
(Thread/1000)*vertical distance*0.5*24*(Unit = 2*460*364.8/(3*396)
width of staircase=1m) = 282.5 N/mm2
= .25*1.575*0.5*24*1.0 Modification factor
= 4.725kN = 0.55 + [(477-fs)/(120*(0.9+(M/bd2))]
Total dead load = load due to CSP + Load due to Waist + = 0.55 + [(477-282.5)/(120*(0.9+(0.05*30)))]
Load due to steps = 1.23
= 3.39 + 10.17 + 4.725 Since flight occupies more than 60% of the span,
= 18.29 kN the modification factor may be increased by
15%.
Step 5: Imposed load Modification factor = 1.23*1.15
The imposed load will act vertically on the stair; hence = 1.41
instead of using the slope length, the projected length Actual l/d ratio = 3000/100
should be used. = 30
Projected length of staircase = 3.0m Basic l/d ratio = 20
Imposed load = 3.0kPa Permissible l/d ratio = 20*1.41
Imposed load on staircase = 3.0*3.0*(unit width of = 28.2
staircase =1m) Since permissible l/d ratio is less than actual l/d,
= 9kN the deflection criterion is not satisfied.
Alternative 1: Increase the reinforcement
Step 6: Ultimate load F provided from T10-200 to T10-175
‘@ULS load F = 1.4*dead + 1.6*Live Therefore area of steel provided = 449mm2/m
= 1.4*(18.29)+1.6*(9)
= 40kN Service stress,
fs = 2*fy*As req/( As prov * 3)
Step 7: Moment at ULS = 2*460*364.8/(3*449)
‘@ULS moment M = Fl/8 = 249 N/mm2
= 40*3/8 Modification factor
= 15kNm = 0.55 + [(477-fs)/(120*(0.9+(M/bd2))]
= 0.55 + [(477-249)/(120*(0.9+(0.05*30)))]
Step 8: Area of reinforcement = 1.34
‘b = 1000mm
Cover = 20mm
Since flight occupies more than 60% of the span,
the modification factor may be increased by
15%.
Modification factor = 1.34*1.15
= 1.54
Actual l/d ratio = 3000/100
= 30
Basic l/d ratio = 20
Permissible l/d ratio = 20*1.54
= 30.8
Since permissible l/d ratio exceeds the actual l/d,
the deflection criterion is satisfied.