Stairs in AutoCAD Architecture:

From the Ground Up

Bill Glennie – Autodesk AEC Solutions

AB314-3 Learn all you need to know about stairs and railings in AutoCAD Architecture. Never again will
you settle for simple linework in a floor plan. After attending this class, you'll be able to draw
Stair and Railing objects that are displayed properly in Plan, Isometric, and Elevation views.
We’ll also cover tips and tricks for using the full power of the Stair and Railing objects,
including the use of Custom Stairs for creating elaborate shapes.

About the Speaker:

Bill is user “number one” of AutoCAD Architecture (formerly Autodesk Architectural Desktop) software.
He joined Autodesk as a QA analyst in 1997, a year before the release of Desktop Version 1. Since
Version 3, Bill has led the design of the Stair and Railing features, and is now QA manager for the
AutoCAD Architecture team. Prior to Autodesk, Bill taught CAD courses for 14 years at the University of
Pennsylvania and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He also worked for a small architecture and solar
consulting firm as a programmer and design analyst after receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in
Architecture and a Master of Science in Education (Civil Engineering) degree from Princeton University.

bill.glennie@autodesk.com
 Stairs in AutoCAD Architecture: From the Ground Up

Fundamental Limitations of the ADT Stair object (from AU 2005 presentation)

1. Riser heights are equal for every step

Exception - Bottom Offset can be used to make stringer extend below floor level

2. “Design Development” level of detail only (e.g. square nosing & rectangular stringers)

3. Tread depths are constant – along the construction line

Can adjust position across Multi-landing stairs

4. First and last tread edge must be perpendicular to construction line

5. Tread edges between sides of stair must be straight
6. Risers extend full width of stair
7. Stringers extend full length of stair
8. Stringers must follow or are offset from stair edges

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Not any more! Seven of these eight limitations have been overcome with recent releases of AutoCAD
Architecture. The exception is:

Riser heights must still be equal for every step.

Stairs can now be much more realistic and varied.

1. Nosing & Stringers can be customized using

Body Modifiers

(01 - Stringer&RiserCustomized.dwg)

2. Tread depths no longer need to be

constant – Custom Stairs allow the
creation of any length of tread

3. First and last tread edge must not

necessarily be perpendicular to
construction line

4. Tread edges between sides of stair may

be almost any shape

5. Risers can extend across any

portion of stair – as long as it
includes the Stair Path

6. Stringers can be made longer or

shorter than the default length using Body
Modifiers

(02 - TreadEdge&RiserCustomized.dwg)

7. Stringers can follow paths that are

independent of stair edges –
ReplaceStringerPath

(03-StandardToCustom-Saddled.dwg)

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 Stairs in AutoCAD Architecture: From the Ground Up

Stair Shapes and their Properties

A. Straight (04-StraightStair.dwg)
1. Length vs. Height grips
Length grip will change Tread depth if it is manually set

Can change length of Landing if Stair ends with one

Height grip can be used to match height to existing geometry

2. Edge grips

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 B. U-shaped
1. Constrained to have equal (or nearly) treads per flight. Use Multi-landing shape
to control the distribution.
2. “Flip” grips

3. Dynamic dimensions

Be careful to move perpendicular to stair. Tab twice to set gap between flights.
4. Alignment Constraints – also unique to U-shaped Stairs

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 Stairs in AutoCAD Architecture: From the Ground Up

Customize Edge – Project

Along interior edge, objects (polyline or wall) must extend beyond ends of stair.

This is also necessary for interior edges of Multi-landing and Spiral stairs.

Note that an Interference Condition can also be used to accomplish this result (as of ADT 2007).

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 C. Spiral (06-SpiralStair.dwg)
1. Radius – measured to Justification position (inside, center, outside)
As with all Stair shapes, Justification controls how the stair changes when width
is modified. Justification location is held constant – stair gets wider or narrower
around that position.

2. Angle Limits – Free, Total, Degrees per Tread

3. Cannot simultaneously set Angle and Radius

Adjust tread depth to achieve desired result

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 Stairs in AutoCAD Architecture: From the Ground Up

D. Multi-landing (07-Multi-LandinglStair.dwg)
1. Adding with Flight Length = Tread Length
This will create a stair that turns exactly at a tread (providing the Stair Style has
no imposed Landing Extension).

Does account properly for Landing Extensions in Stair Style

Does not account properly for Stringer width when Landing Extension is zero
Add only, not persistent – changes can affect alignment
When adding with 1/2 Landing Turn Type, distance will be between flights.

The corner is tight when

“Tread Length” is used.

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 2. Editing flights and landings

3. Adjusting edges of flights & landings

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 Stairs in AutoCAD Architecture: From the Ground Up

Custom Stairs (08-CustomStair-TwoApproaches.dwg)

Two Approaches to building a simple custom stair

Draw Linework as required - left & right sides, stair path (automatic path is straight
segments between the midpoints of all treads), and tread
edges.

2. Right-click on Stair Tool > Apply Tool Properties to > Linework > pick the
left & right edges, the stair path, [Enter] three times for the stringer paths,
pick the first tread and remaining treads.

3. Select Stair, right-click > Modify Custom Stair >

Edit Tread/Riser > Select trigger grip > Select Edge grip >
Move to upper Tread line.

4. Select trigger grip on bottom tread > Select top Edge

grip >
[Ctrl] for Add Vertex Mode > Pick at edge of upper tread >
Select right Edge grip > drag ½ inch up for nosing
overhang.

Start with a Parametric Stair and Convert to Custom Stair.

1. Draw a Stair of the desired size.

2. Select Stair, right-click > Convert to Custom Stair

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 3. Select Stair, right-click > Modify Custom Stair >
Edit Tread/Riser > Select trigger grip >
Select one corner grip > pick new location >
Select second corner grip > pick new location >
Select edge grip > [Ctrl] twice to Convert to Arc >
pick midpoint of desired arc.

4. Select upper edge grip > [Ctrl] for Add Vertex mode >
Pick endpoint of upper tread > pick right upper edge grip >
pick new location

5. Switch to an ISO view, select Stair, right-click >

Edit Tread/Riser > pick trigger grip on bottom riser >
Move the right arrow grip to the endpoint of the curved
tread.

The finished Stair. Either

approach will produce the same
result.

Changing the height of a Custom Stair will NOT add or remove treads - only the Riser
Height will be adjusted. Set the desired number of treads in the Property Palette. If
adding, the upper tread will be copied as needed.

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 Stairs in AutoCAD Architecture: From the Ground Up

Winder Styles (09-TurnTypes&WinderStyles.dwg)

A. Balanced – continuous turn – default Winder Style

B. Manual

1.Endpoint grips – nosing pivots around construction line

(must maintain equal tread depth)

2. “Straighten” grip

C. Single-point

1.Treads in turn – if specified in style, used as default on creation

2.Adjusting turn center – easiest to position using relative distance (@)

3.“Straighten” grip – extends first flight so tread edge aligns with turn center

4.Add/remove tread grips - can also use WinderTurnAdjust command

D. For the ambitious OMF developer, it is possible to create additional Winder Styles to
meet the needs of specific locales.

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 II. Display of true Up and Down Stairs in Multi-level drawings (AU2007 project)
A. Stair Tower Construct
1. Add Stairs and Slabs at different levels as needed – place them on individual
layers by level (so the display can be controlled in the host floor plan drawings).
2. Set Medium Detail – Intermediate Level display configuration Cut Height to 3’6”
(so height above intermediate levels in host floor plans will appear correctly)
3. Use Mass Elements to create openings in Slabs – this allows better control of the
positioning and exact shape of the hole

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 Stairs in AutoCAD Architecture: From the Ground Up

B. First Floor Level

1. Set Display Configuration to Medium Detail (the default)
2. Freeze the layers of upper floor level stairs (to prevent the appearance of the
above cut component)

C. Second and Third Floor Levels (Intermediate)

1. Select the Xref and right click > Edit Object Display … >
Override the display configuration > pick Medium Detail Intermediate Level
2. Freeze the layers of unwanted lower level slabs (to prevent the appearance of
the below cut outline component)

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 D. Fourth Floor Level (Top)
1. Set Display Configuration to Medium Detail Intermediate Level
2. Freeze the layers of unwanted Slabs at lower levels
3. Set the Cut Height to display the desired amount of the Stair Down components
(equals Stair Height minus Cut Height – to display 7’6” of 10’0” Stair – set to 2’6”)

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 Stairs in AutoCAD Architecture: From the Ground Up

III. Additional new commands in AutoCAD Architecture 2007

A. Replace Stringer Path and Match Tread (03-StandardToCustom-Saddled.dwg)

The “Replace Stringer Path” command only allows the Stringer to be inside of the
current Stringer location. This means that if you move the Stringer too far, you
must Undo, since the Stringer cannot be moved out again.

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 B. Tread Body Modifier applied to Wrapped Tread Stair (11-WrappedTreads.dwg)

The “Sides” of the Stair are

most of the back end. There
must be a small “Tread”
between them.

Create the Stair to terminate with a

Landing. When first created, the Stair will
have a small projection at the location of
the final “Tread.”

Eliminate this projection by editing the top Tread. Select the

trigger grip, then each of these four grips in turn.
Hit [Ctrl] once for the “Remove” mode, then click.

The resulting Stair. This would

have required three Stairs to
accomplish prior to the Custom
Stair feature.

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 Stairs in AutoCAD Architecture: From the Ground Up

Tread Body Modifier applied to Wrapped Tread Stair – (12-RoundedTreadEdge.dwg)

Trace a Polyline around
the top edge of each
Tread.
Switch the UCS to align
with the back face and
add an Arc on one
Tread edge.
Add a line to complete
a “D” shape.
Pedit > select the Arc
> Yes (to convert to
polyline) > Join > select the Line > [Enter]
Copy the “D” to the other Tread.

3D Solids > Sweep >

Select one “D” >
[Enter] >
Select the Polyline >
[Enter]

Convert the 3D Solids to Mass Elements

Add the lower Mass Element as a Body Modifier on

the Tread.
Add the upper Mass Element as a Body Modifier on
the Landing. Remember that setting above?

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 IV. Stair Style Design Rules – Code Limits and Calculation Rules
A. Calculator Limits – Strict vs. Relaxed (Options > AEC Object Settings)
When set to Strict, a defect marker will be
displayed when the Stair is outside of the
Rise and Tread limits set on the Style >
Design Rules tab.

Note that Calculator Limits do not apply to Custom

Stairs.

B. Effects on Calculation Rules

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 Stairs in AutoCAD Architecture: From the Ground Up

1. With Calculator Rule ON

a. Generally only ONE property can be set

Must click OFF Manually controlled values to have access to others.

b. Exceptions
1) Tread and Riser Count
2) Straight Length and Riser Count

2. With Calculator Rule OFF

a. One Height property (Riser Count or Riser)

b. One Length property (Straight Length or Tread)

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 V. File Format Change
A. Why it happens
Many of the enhancements in Autodesk® Architectural Desktop 2007 (ADT
2007) would not have been possible without changing the file format.
Custom Stairs, Body Modifiers and Interference with other objects are
examples of improvements in ADT that required a file format change.
Additional information needs to be stored in the drawing file, which cannot be
correctly interpreted by earlier versions. File format changes do not occur in
every release - the last was in ADT 2004 - so there is a long period of stability
in which multiple versions can open and work on the same drawing files.
B. Why there can be no backwards compatibility
There are two reasons for this. First, the changes in ADT 2007 are so
extensive that “porting” them back to ADT 2006 would require a huge
development effort. This would take away from new feature work. Second,
visual fidelity of drawings is of primary importance. Having a drawing change
appearance when opened in an earlier release is not acceptable. As an
example, Columns can now interfere with Walls in Xrefs - they no longer need
to be in the same drawing. If these drawings could be opened in ADT 2006,
the Wall would not be the same.
C. What you can do to provide older formats
There are two options - Export to AutoCAD or set ProxyGraphics to 1 (ON)
and save in the earlier format. Export to AutoCAD works because the
individual objects are exploded to AutoCAD entities, which can be saved to
the earlier format. This method preserves full visual fidelity in multiple
viewports when the command is run from a Layout tab. When run from the
Model tab, the appearance in the current viewport (Plan, Model or Reflected
Display Configuration) will be preserved. These drawings can be modified,
but the AEC object behavior is not present - the objects are replaced by
AutoCAD blocks or loose entities. This is the preferred method for providing
drawings to users of earlier releases. In general, they are required only for
backgrounds, so the object behavior is not critical - changes to the drawing
should not be made.
When ProxyGraphics are enabled, a single representation of the AEC objects
is stored. These cannot be modified, nor can they be used for snapping. The
presence of ProxyGraphics can also increase the file size considerably, so this
is not a recommended approach.

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