LECTURE 5: DESIGN STAIRCASES 1.0 GENERAL REQUIREMENT General accepted definitions of parts of a flight of stairs are given in Figure 1. Figure 1 : Notation for staircase Although there are different requirements for the maximum rise and going for different occupations, the general rules for offices are: Rise: not greater than 190mm Going: not less than 250mm Number of risers in a flight: not more than 16 Another common usage is 550<(2R+G)< 700. The dimensions given above apply to the finished stairs, not to the reinforced concrete part of the stairs. As each staircase must have an equal rise and an equal going for every step between consecutive floors, if frequently means that with different finishes on the floors and stairs the risets at the top and bottom of the concrete have to beadjusted. For example, if we have 2.85m between finished on the floors could have 15 risers of 190mm each (finish). If we have 50mm finish on the floor, 40mm finish on the upper floor and 20mm finish on the stairs, the height of the bottom concrete riser would be 190+50-20=220mm, and the top concrete would be 190- 40+20=170mm. This means that the junctions of threads and riser will not lie on a straight line and will have to be taken into account when determine the thickness of the waist. If the staircase cannot be accommodated in a single flight, then we have to provide two flights, with a landing, generally at mid height. Stair spans may be divided broadly into two types, spanning transversely and longitudinally. 2.0 TRANSVERSE SPANS In this category we have: 1. steps cantilever from wall at one side 2. steps span between supports at each side — e.g. wall, stringer beam 3. steps cantilever across a central spine beam. In the first two cases the waist need only be thick enough to accommodate the distribution reinforcement with the necessary cover, and thickness between 50 and 75mm are adequate. This thickness is considered adequate to provide effective lateral distribution of load so that we need only consider a uniformly distributed load. In case (3) there is no lateral distribution between adjacent threads so that each thread must be designed for concentrated load. EXAMPLE 1 Consider a case (2) staircase with a 2.0m effective span between centers of supporting walls. The staircase is internal (i.e mild exposure) without any additional finishes and is to carry animposed load of 3kN/m2, R=175mm, G=250mm, N=25mm, W=75mm. Use concrete C35 and reinforcement Grade 460. 3.0 TYPES OF STAIRCASES (i) Precast staircase Gi) Cast-in-situ staircase Staircase can be designed as one way -spanning slab and catogerized as: @ Transverse spanning (a)steps cantilever from wall at one side (b)steps span between supports at each side — e.g wall, stringer beam (c) steps cantilever across a central spine beam In the first two cases, the waist need only be thick enough to accommodate the distribution reinforcement with the necessary cover, and thickness between 50 and 75mm are adequate. The thickness is considered adequate to provide effective lateral distribution of load so that we need only consider a uniformly distributed load. (ii) Longitudinal spanning These stairs span between supports at the top and bottom of the flight and are unsupported at the sides. The supports themselves may be: (a) beams which are cast monolithic with the stairs at the top and bottom of the actual stairs (b)beams or walls at the outside edges of the landing (c) the landings themselves spanning at right angles to the stairsIn both cases, the span of the stairs will be taken as horizontal distance I, the stairs designed as a slab with a thickness equal to the waist thickness and the self-weight of the slab equivalent to the weight of the stairs on the slope. 4.0 DESIGN CODE REQUIREMENTS (A) Imposed loading The imposed loading on stairs is given in BS 6399: Part 1, Table 1. From this table, the distributed loadings is as follows: 1. dwelling not over three storeys, 1.5kN/m” 2. all other buildings, not less than 3kN/m” and more than SkN/m? (B) Design Provision Provisions for design of staircases are set out in BS $110: Part 1, section 3.10 and summarized below: 1. The code states that staircase may be taken to include a section of the landing spanning in the same direction and continuous with the stair flight. 2. The design ultimate load is to be taken as uniform over the plan area. When two spans intersect at right angles, the load on the common area can be divided equally between two spans 3. When a staircase or landing spans in the direction of the flight and is built into the wall at least 110mm along part or all the length, a strip 150mm wide may be deducted from the loaded area. . The effective breadth = Loading + 150mm + 2/3 ao - The design procedure is similar as designed one-way spanning slab. we6. For staircases without stringer beams when the stair flight occupies at least 60% of the span the permissible span-to-effective depth ratio may be increased by 15%. 7. The design moment for sagging moment near mid-span and the hogging moment over the support is given by: Mmax = FL/10 Where F is the design load (KN), L is the length of span. 5.0 DESIGN EXAMPLE #1 Consider case (2) - staircase with a 2.0m effective span between centers of supporting walls. The staircase is internal (i.e mild exposure) without any additional finishes and is to carry an imposed load of 3kN/m2. R=175mm, G=250mm, N=25mm, W=75mm. Use concrete Grade C35 and reinforcement Grade 460. Loading Dead load: 6.0 DESIGN EXAMPLE #2 7.0 DESIGN EXAMPLE # 3STAIRCASES 15.1 General requirements The generally accepted definitions of parts of a flight of stairs are given in Fig. 15.1 G=Going R=Rise T= Tread N= Nosing W = Waist Fig. 15.1 Notation for stairs15.2 Although there are different requirements for the maximum rise and going for different occupations, the general rules for offices are: Rise ; not greater than 190 mm Going : not less than 250 mm Number of risers in a flight : not more than 16. ‘Another value in common usage is that twice the rise plus the going shall be between 530 mm and 700 mm, ie. 550 < (2R + G) < 700 Another requirement is that for headroom the vertical distance from the pitch line should not be less than 2.0 m, where the pitch line is a notional line connecting the nosings of all treads in a flight. The dimensions given above apply to the finished stairs, not to the reinforced concrete part of the stairs. As each staircase must have an equal rise and an equal going for every step between consecutive floors, if frequently means that with different finishes on the floors and stairs the risers at the top and bottom of the concrete have to be adjusted to suit. For example, if we have 2.85 m between finished floors could have 15 risers of 190 mm each (finish). If we have 50 mm finish on the floor, 40 mm finish on the upper floor and 20 mm finish on the stairs, the height of the bottom concrete riser would be 190 + 50 - 20 = 220 mm, and the top concrete would be 190 - 40 + 20= 170 mm. ‘This means that the junctions of treads and riser will not lie on a straight line and will have to be taken into account when determine the thickness of the waist. If the staircase cannot be accommodated in a single flight, then we have to provide two flights, with a landing, generally at mid height. Stair spans may be divided broadly into two types, spanning transversely and longitudinally. ‘Transverse spans In this category we have: steps cantilever from wall at one side steps span between supports at each side — e.g, wall, stringer beam steps cantilever across a central spine beam. epee In the first two cases the waist need only be thick enough to accommodate the distribution reinforcement with the necessary cover, and thickness between 50 ‘and 75 mm are adequate, This thickness is considered adequate to provide effective lateral distribution of load so that we need only consider a uniformlydistributed load. In case (3) there is no lateral distribution between adjacent treads so that each tread must be designed for concentrated load. EXAMPLE 15.1 Consider a case (2) staircase with a 2.0 m effective span between centers of supporting walls, The staircase is internal (i.e. mild exposure) without any additional finishes and is to carry an imposed load of 3 kN/m’, R = 175 mm, G = 250 mm, N = 25 mm, W = 75 mm. Use concrete Grade C35 and reinforcement Grade 460. 5 fe b= (250? +1757)=305 D=275 sina+75 =233. There is no universal agreement as to how these steps should be designed, but one method is to assume the lever arm as half the maximum thickness from the nose to the soffit measured normal to the soffit. Loading Dead: One step = % x 0.275 x 0.175 x 24 = 0.58 kN/m run of step Waist =0.305x0.075x24 = 0.55 kN/m mun of step 1.13 KN/m run of step Imposed = 0.25 x 3.0 = 0.75 kN/m run of step Design load = (1.13 x 1.4 +0.75 x 1.6)x2=5.6kN M=(5.6 x 27/8 = 2.80 kNm Effective lever arm = 233/2 = 116 m 2.8x 10° AW T76x0.87x460 = 60 mm?, Use 1-109.For distribution use (0.13 x 1000 x 75/100 = 98 mm*/m. suggest 8 at 300 mm centers. az ew (EE J 8@ at 300 crs 10 $ each step Longitudinal spans ‘These stairs span between supports at the top and bottom of the flight and are unsupported at the sides. The supports themselves may be (a) beams which are cast monolithic with the stairs at the top and bottom of the actual stairs; or (b) beams or walls at the outside edges of the landing; or (c) the landings themselves spanning at right angles to the stairs. Cases (a) and (b) only are shown in Fig. 15.2, case (¢) will be dealt with later. Fig. 15.2 Supports for longitudinal spanning stairs In both cases shown, the span of the stairs will be taken as the horizontal distance 1, the stairs designed as a slab with a thickness equal to the waist thickness and the self weight of the slab as equivalent to the weight of the stairs on the slope. To find the weight of the waist on plan we must increase the weight on the slope by the ratio \(R? + G2)G. So if R= 175, G = 250 the ratio is 305/250 = 122: therefore the weight on plan = weight on slope x 1.22. For estimating their weight, the steps can be regarded as a slab thickness equal to half the rise and no increase is necessary to obtain the weight on plan.‘The imposed load, being on the treads, is the actual load on plan and need not be increased. In case (a) where the stairs are continuous over the beams it is usual to take the maximum bending moment in the span as F//10 and allow for continuity in the top over the beams. As we are taking some continuity at the ends of the stairs we must treat it as such when we come to detailing. For deflection, the Code now recognizes that a flight of stairs is stiffer than a slab of thickness equal to the waist of the stairs. Where the stair flight occupies at east 60% of the span, the allowable spar/effective depth ratio can be increased by 15%. This, of course, only applies to staircases spanning in the direction of the flight and without stringer beams. EXAMPLE 15.2 ‘An internal staircase consisting of 175 mm risers and 275 mm treads with 250 mm going is-Tequired to span a horizontal distance of 3.35 m between supporting beams at the top and bottom of the flight, the total rise of the stairs being 2.275 m (13 steps). ‘The treads have 15 mm granolithic finish. Design the stairs assuming they lead to a place of public assembly without fixed seating, Concrete Grade 35 and high yield reinforcement. For a one-way spanning slab, with continuity, try a span/effective depth ratio of 30; we can increase this by 15%, so try 34.5. So d = 3350/34.5 = 97 mm. For Grade 35 concrete minimum cover = 20 mm, and this will satisfy 1 hour resistance. If we have 126 bars then h = 123 mm, so try waist thickness of 130 mm, d = 104 mm. Since R = 175 mm and G = 250 mm, ratio for weight increase = 1.22. Loading Dead: Waist =0.130x 1.22x24.0 = 3.81 KN/m’ on plan Steps = (0.175/2) x 24.0 = 2.10 kN/m? on plan Grano= 0.015 x (275/250) x 24.0 = 0.40 kN/m? on plan Total = 6.31 KN/m* "Imposed (due to occupancy) Design load = 6.31 x 1.4 +5.0x 1.6 = 16.8 KN/im* Mat FI/10 = 16.8 x 3.35°/10 = 18.9 KNm 18.9 x 10° pane a5 es To*x 104? :. And from tables 100A,/bd = 0.46 So A= (0.46/10) x 1000 x 104 = 478 mm’/m. Use 126 at 225 ers (503 mm’). ‘The total design load on the flight = 17.4 x 3.35 x 1.35 = 78.7 KN. Mat F1/10 = (78.7 x 3.35)/10 = 26.4 KNm. This is ona breadth of 1.573 m, so 100A,/bd = 0.42, so ‘A, = (0.42/100) x 1573 x 104 = 687 mm’, ‘This is the total area so use 7/12 bars spaced across the 1.5 m clear breadth of stairs. For case (b) stairs, that is where the supports are at the outside edges of the landing, it is more usual to consider the span as simply supported, the distance J being center to center of bearings. In some cases where the landing is continuous with a floor slab the bending moment in the span is taken as F1/10 as in the last example, but this is a matter of individual preference. Whether itis designed with continuity or not, it must be remembered that there will be a monolithic connection and some reinforcement should be provided to prevent cracking. EXAMPLE 15.3 Use the information given in Example 15.2 but now omit the beams at the top and bottom of the flight and take the bearings at the extreme ends of the landings, which increases the span by 1.5 m at each end.‘The span is now 6.35 m and designing the span as simply supported try @ span/effective depth ratio of 24, The stair flight does not occupy 60% of the span so no enhancement factor. So d= 6350/24 =265. Assuming 160 bars plus 20 cover, h = 293 m ‘Try waist of 300 mm, d= 272m, Loading Dead: Waist =0.30x 1.22% 24.0 = 8.80 KN/m? Steps and finish = 2.50 kN/m? Total = 11.30 N/m? Imposed: = 5.00 kN/m? Design load = 11.3x14+5x16 = 238 kN Mat FI/8 = 23.8 x 6.352/8 = 120 kNm Mfbd = (120 x 109/(10° x 272”) = 1.62, And from tables 100A /bd = 0.43, So A, = (0.43/100) x 1000 x 272 = 1170 mm*/m Use 166 at 150 centres (1340 mm’) For deflection, f, = 288 x 1170/1340 = 252 N/mm’. Modification factor for tension reinforcement = 1.29. Allowable span/effective depth ratio = 20 x 1.29 = 25.8. Actual ratio = 23.3 Tt will have been noticed that the loading across the whole span has been taken as if the stair loading is the same as the landing. This is obviously not the case and if fone wishes to carry out the design as accurately as possible the following method will be adopted.ee Landing 300 mm thick, as waist 7.20 KN/m* Grano 0.015 x 24.0 0.36 kN/m? Total = 7.56 kNim? Design load = 7.56 x 1.4 + 5.0 x 1.6 = 18.6 kN/m 18-6 kN/n 23.8 kNim? 18-6 KNIm? 1m 5m Lem 6.357 175?7-1.5" Ma 18.6 x2 +036-18.6(25—**) =114kNm. This is slightly less than before. Up to now we have been considering the landings spanning in the same direction as the stairs, but there are many cases where the landings span at right angles to the stairs, classed as case (c) earlier on. These landings now become the supporting members within the definition in the Code and the effective span should be taken as the clear horizontal distance between the supporting members plus half the breadths of the supporting members subject to maximum additions of 900 mm at both ends. So if we have a staircase of eight goings at 250 mm with a landing at one end of 1.5 m and a landing at the other end of 2.2 m, the span of the stair is 8 x 0.25 + 1.50/2 + 0.9 (max) = 3.65 m. The following example will illustrate the procedure. EXAMPLE 15.4 Design the stairs shown where the risers are 175 mm, going is 250 mm, tread is 275 mm, 25mm tile finish on treads, 15 mm plaster on underside and an imposed load of 3 KN/m”. For deflection, modification factor for tension reinforcement is 1 19, so allowable ratio = 26 x 1.19 x 1.15 = 35.6 Actual ratio = 32.3 Distribution reinforcement = (0.13 x 1000 x 130)/100 = 169 mm’/m.Use 86 at 300 centres. The arrangement of reinforcement is shown in Fig. 15.3 ‘Additional 12-225 Sie Spor Fig. 15.3 Arrangement of reinforcement in Example 15.2 15.4 Flights or landings built into walls Where flights or landings which span in the direction of the flight are built at least 110 mm into the walls, a 150 mm strip adjacent to the wall may be deducted from the loaded area. The effective breadth of the staircase will be the clear distance projecting from the wall plus two-thirds of the embedded distance up to a maximum of 80 mm. This is illustrated in fig. 15.4 and has been taken from CP110 as it appears to have been omitted from BS8110. For example, assume that the clear breadth of the stair in Example 15.2 is 1.5m and that there is an open well on one side, the stair flight being built 110 mm into a brick wall on the other side. The loaded area may be taken on a 1.35 mm wide strip and the effective breadth as 1.50+}x0.110=1.573 m. oy 10mm Locsin 150 od Psasaston eens Fig. 15.4 Flights or landings built into wallsil (0-25m 325m tot 15m Span of stairs = 0.75 + 2.0 + 0.9 = 3.65 m Using same grade of concrete as before, i.e. fay = 35, fy = 460 and assuming continuity, take span/effective depth ratio as 30, d= 122 mm. Allowing 26 mm for cover etc, = 148 mm. For landing if we assume a ratio of 24 (simply supported) we shall get d= 135, which means h = 161 mm. ‘Try a waist thickness of 150 mm and landing thickness of 160 mm. Ratio for increase in weight due to slope = 1.22. Stairs Waist = 0.150 x 1.22 x 24.0 = 4.40 kN/m? on plan 2.10 KN/m? 0.55 KN/m? Loading Design load = 7.4.x 14+3x 1L6= 15.2 KNém* 15-2 kN/m™ 075.0, 20m, 09m Ra = 15.2 x 2.0 x 1.9/3.65 = 15.8 KN. Rg = 30.4 - 15.8 = 14.6 kN Maximum M at 0.9 + 14.6/15.2 = 1.86 m from B M= 146 x 1.86 ~ 15.2 x 0.967/2 = 20.2 kNmAnd from tables 100A,/bd = 0.35 Ag = (0.35/100) x 1000 x 124 = 434 mm*/m. Use 126 at 250 centres (452 mm’) Factor for tension reinforcement = 1.3 Allowable //d = 26 x 1.3 = 33.8 Actual ratio = 29.4 which is satisfactory. Distribution reinforcement = (0.13 x 1000 x 150/100 = 195 mm?/m. Use 86 at 250 centres. Fe Landing For smail landing we shall assume load from stairs is carried uniformly on whole width. ——_—— eee Loading Slab 0.16 x 24.0 Finish Plaster Total Design load = 4.6 x 14+3x 1.65112 kNm Total load per metre run of landing is 11.2 KNm? Total load per metre run of landing is 11.2 x 1.5 + 15.8 = 32.6 KN. Mat FI/8 = 32.6 x 3.252/8 = 43.1 kN m. B= 1500 mm, d= 134mm. M/bé = 1.60, and from tables15.5 100A fod = 0.42. As= 844 mm? This is total so use 8/126 bars (905 mm?) F,= 288 x 844/905 = 269 N/mm? so factor for tension reinforcement = 1.24. Allowable /d = 20 x 1.24 = 24.8 Actual ratio = 24.2, which is just satisfactory. For the wider landing we shall assume the effective width carrying the load from the stairs is 0.9 x 2= 1.8 m. The calculations would therefore be done as for the smaller landing. For the reinforcement in the remaining 400 mm it is suggested that bars of the same size and spacing as for the main part of the landing slab are putin. Stairs with quarter landings One further type of stair is that surrounding a lift well, an example being shown in Fig. 15.5. At each floor level there is a beam and large landing, and between two successive floors occur two small landings. Each small landing slab receives steel from two flights and is supported by two walls at right angles to one another. Mm. 20m icra i TTT: STAIRCASES 1am Span 3-4 m| THT Beam 200mm wise pan sm) Encl an | tanding 1 Quarter 1 1 Fig. 15.5. Stairs surrounding a lift wellThe Code says that the loads on the small landings may be assumed to be divided equally between the two spans. So if n; is the load per unit area of the landings, and ng is the load per unit area of the stairs, the loading from the flight from the large landing to small landing is:aiTio-7 A 3+4No-& 2 N50 4d GTi2-3 +6TI2-34 FLIGHT ‘“B COVER to Ourer bars = ZO Sede 1:50 | | Hae 125,olfernete me 407 12- 12- 150 B- 150. IS IG 2 fe Lani 2 | @ 415 A-A = 150 Ucar Cover =40, 3BMO-9-300 ne 12 10T12-@-150 x YESS J JoT412-5-150, 8 ts a FLIGHT A ‘Commentary on bar arrangement BS 8110 ref Table 3.29 Table 3.27 Bar marks Notes 1,56 fee gennpey; Lappmernntig-am ames ary G@TAO-13-250 | 3T10-2-300 GU2-3+GTIA-4 5 "i | a 42 alternate rat? | LS} || 4 ay 2nd J. ae. foTi2-4-4150 AM 10 -2-300 ‘Main tension reinforcement. Lap lengths and anchorage bond lengths = 32 12 = 384 mm, say 450 mm. Laps are located to facilitate likely construction sequences, Similar for bar marks 12, 13 and 15, Secondary reinforcement, Minimum area = 00013 X 1000 x 175 = 228 mm?/m.9 | Stair slabs The usual form of stairs can be classified into two types: (1) those spanning horizontally in the transverse direction, and (2) those spanning longitudinally. 8.9.1 Stairs spanning horizontally Stairs of this type may be Supported on both sides or they can be cantilevered from a supporting wall. Figure 8.21 shows a stair supported on one side by a wall and on the other bya stringer beam. Each step is usually designed as having a breadth b and an effective _ depth of d = D/2 as shown in the figure; a more rigorous analysis of the section is _ farely justified. Distribution steel in the longitudinal direction is placed above the main reinforcement, Details of a cantilevered stair are shown in figure 8.22. The effective depth of the member is taken as the mean effective depth of the section and the main reinforcement must be placed in the top of the stairs and anchored into the Support. A light mesh of reinforcement is placed in the bottom face to resist shrinkage cracking. 8.9.2. Stair slab spanning longitudinally The stair slab may span into landings which span at right angles to the stairs as in figure 8.23 or it may span between Supporting beams as in figure 8.24 of the example, The dead load is calculated along the slope length of the stairs but the live load is based on the plan area. Loads common to two spans which intersect at right angles and surround an open well may be assumed to be divided equally between the spans. The effective span (/) is measured horizontally between the centres of the supports and the thickness of the waist (f) is taken as the slab thickness. Span-effective depth ratios may be increased by 15 per cent provided that the stair flight occupies at least 60 per cent of the span.Figure 8.21 Stairs spanning horizontally Figure 8.22 Cantilever stairs Stringer beamee ie ee ee eae oe en een Figure 8.23 Stars spanning into landings Landing Open well Design of a stair slab + The stairs are of the type shown in figure 8.24 spanning longitudinally and set into pockets in the two supporting beams. The effective span is 3 m and the rise of the stairs is 1.5 m, ~ With 260 mm treads and 150 mm risers. The live load is 3.0 kN/m? and the characteristic material strengths are fz = 30 N/mm? and f, = 250 N/mm? Try a 125 mm thick waist, effective depth, d = 90 mm, Slope length of stairs = /(3? + 1.57) = 3.35 m | Considering a 1 m width of stairs weight of waist plus steps (0.125 x 3.35 + 0.26 x 1.5/2)24 14.7 kN Live load = 3.0 x 3 = 9.0 KN Ultimate load F = 1.4 x 14.74 1.6 x 9.0 = 35.0kN ‘With no effective end restraint 35.0 3.0 8 =13.1KNm Check span to effective depth ratio: — M_BAx 10 Ba? = To00 x 908 = for simply supported span, basic ratio from table 6.6=20 and modification factor from table 6.7 for a service stress of 167 N/mm? is 1.58,Figure 8.24 Stairs supported by beams 12-270 R12-270 Since the stair flight occupies more than 60 per cent ofthe span, a further increase of. 15 per cent is permitted, thus aie gan z limiting sive dep 720% 198% 115 =363 span 3000 ‘ev ese dei = 509 M 13.1 x 108 Bah ~ TOO0 x 90 x30 = 904 Therefore from the lever-arm curve of figure 7.5, h, = 0.93 M a 0.95 fled ____ B1x 10 © 0.95% 250 x 0.93 x 90 = 659 mmm Provide R12 bars at 150 mm centres, area 754 mm2/m, O.24bh _ 0.24 x 1000 x 125 10 100 = 300 mm’/m Transverse distribution steel = Provide R10 bars at 250 mm centres, area =314 mm2/m, Continuity bars at the top and bottom ofthe span shouldbe provided and about SO per cent of the main stel would be reasonable, while satisfying maximum spacing limits of 3d = 270 mm. 4