Chapter 4 BCO

Prepared by Mrs Kalpana Hiren Patel

Civil Department
K K Wagh Polytechnic Nashik
Types of vertical communication
Vertical transportation refers to travel from one floor to
another. Vertical transportation is an important service to be
designed with due care especially in multi storied buildings
for the circulation of traffic both in normal use & in
emergencies. The various measures of vertical transport are
staircases, ramps, elevators or lifts and escalators.
Staircase
This is the most common and essential for vertical
movement of people and goods.It is also mandatory as it is
an escape route in case of fire in buildings. In case of power
failure, lifts do not operate and hence staircase is the only
alternative for vertical movement. It must be fireproof so
that guests can safely exit to upper and lower building
floors.

Provision of handrails and non-slip steps are recommended

for safety purpose.
Elevator or lift
Elevator or lift is an appliance designed to transport persons
or materials between two or more levels in a vertical or
substantially vertical direction by means of a guided car or
platform.

Elevators are used in buildings having more than three

storeys. They are either electric traction elevators or hydraulic
elevators. Electrical traction elevators are used exclusively in
tall buildings. Hydraulic elevators are generally used for
low-rise freight service which rises upto about six storeys.
Various types of lifts are passenger lift, hospital lift, goods
lift, service lift, fireman’s lift. The important considerations of
design of lift system are number of floors to be served, Floor
to floor distance, Population of each floor, maximum peak
demand. Various design parameters are population (The total
building population & its future projections are required),
quantity of service (Handling capacity- It is the measure
passenger handling capacity), & Quality of service
(or interval – time interval a passenger has to wait). The
location of elevators should be such that it can be easily
accessed by people.
Escalator
Escalators are power driven, inclined and continuous stairway used
for raising or lowering passengers. These are used to move large
number of people from floor to floor of buildings.

Escalators are installed at commercial centres, shopping malls,

airports, railway stations and in other public buildings where heavy
people movement is expected. These stairs have continuous
operation without the need of operators. Escalators with electronic
sensors are also available which operate automatically only when
people approach to use it so as to save energy. Escalators have
large capacity with low power consumption. Escalators are in the
form of an inclined bridge spanning between the floors.
They are generally operated at a speed of 0.5 to 0.75 m/s.
Slope of stairs is standardized at 30°. For a given speed, the
width of steps decides the capacity of the powered stairs.
Normally a design capacity of 3200 to 6400 person per hour is
adopted depending upon the width of the escalator. Escalators
are installed at where traffic is heaviest & convenient for
passengers in a building. Escalators are generally installed as
pair. Up going traffic & down moving traffic are carried by this
pair of escalators. The arrangement of escalators in each
storey can be either parallel or criss-cross. Criss-cross is
more compact & reduces walking distance.
Ramp
Ramps are sloping surfaces used to provide an easy
connection between the floors or access from ground to the
floors. They are especially useful when large number of
people or vehicles have to be moved from floor to floor. They
are usually provided at places such as garages, railway
stations, stadiums, town halls, offices etc. As per the
prevailing building bye laws, ramps are to be provided in all
public buildings and residential apartments for the use of
physically challenged persons in lieu of steps/stairs. It is also
provided in hospitals to facilitate movement of stretchers &
wheel chairs from one floor to other floor.
Ramps should be constructed with a non-slippery surface.
Ramps are generally given a slope of 15 percent. But a slope
of 8 to 10 percent is usually preferred. A level landing of
minimum length 1.1m is provided at places where direction of
ramp changes or at door steps. Minimum width of pedestrian
ramp is 1.2m.
Staircase
A stair is a series of steps arranged in such a manner as to
connect different floors of a building. Stairs are designed to
provide an easy and quick access to the different floors.

A staircase is an enclosure which contains the complete

stairway.

A few technical terms generally used for the design of

staircases are as follows.
Terminology
1. STEP

This is a portion of stair which permits ascending or

descending from one floor to another. It is composed of a
tread and a riser. A stair is composed of a set of steps.

2. TREAD

It is the upper horizontal portion of a step upon which the foot

is placed while ascending or descending a stairway.
3. RISER

It is the vertical portion of a step providing a support to the

tread.

4. RISE

It is the vertical distance between two successive tread faces.

5. FLIGHT

It is a series of steps without any platform or landing or break

in their direction.
6. LANDING

This is a platform provided between two flights. A landing

extending to full width of staircase is known as half spaced
landing and the space extending only half across a staircase
is called a quarter space landing. A landing facilitates change
of direction and provides an opportunity for taking rest during
the use of the stair.

7. GOING

It is the horizontal distance between two successive riser

faces.
8. NOSING

This is the outer projecting edge of a tread. This is generally

made rounded to give more pleasing appearance and makes
the staircase easy to navigate.

9. WINDERS

They are tapering steps used for changing the direction of a

stair.

10. SCOTIA

It is a moulding provided under the nosing to improve the

elevation of the step, and to provide strength to nosing.
11. SOFFIT

It is the underside of a stair.

12. LINE OF NOSING

It is an imaginary line parallel to the strings and tangential to

the nosings. It is useful in the construction of hand rails,
giving the line with which the under surface of the hand rail
should coincide.

13. PITCH OR SLOPE

It is angle which the line of nosing of the stair makes with the
horizontal.
14. STRINGS OR STRINGERS

These are the sloping members which support the steps in a

stair. They run along the slope of the stair.

15. NEWEL POST

Newel post is a vertical member which is placed at the ends of

flights to connect the ends of strings and hand rail.

16. BALUSTER

It is a vertical member of wood or metal, supporting the hand

rails.
17. BALUSTRADE

The combined framework of handrail and baluster is known as

balustrade. This provides protection for the user of the stair.

18. 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.
19. HEAD ROOM

It is the minimum clear vertical distance between the tread

and overhead structure (i.e. ceiling etc)

20. RUN

It is the total length of stair in a horizontal plane, including

landings.

21. WAIST

The thickness of the R.C.C. slab over which steps rest is

known as Waist.
 Types of staircases

● Straight stairs
● Quarter turn stairs
● Half turn stairs
● Three quarter turn stairs
● Circular stairs
● Spiral stairs
● Curved stairs
● Geometric stairs
● Bifurcated stairs
1. STRAIGHT STAIRS

The straight staircase generally has one straight flight of

stairs, or sometimes two flights separated by a landing.
The straight staircase enables the user to continue going
in the same direction between two consecutive floors.

This type of stairway is economical and easy to design

with all types of possible stringers. However, it uses
more floor space.
Intermediate landings can
be provided into a straight
staircase, making it safer
with a resting place.

With the exception of a

landing between two flights
of stairs, all the treads are
rectangular and of the same
dimensions.
2. QUARTER
TURN STAIRS
They are provided when
the direction of flight is
to be changed by 900.
The change in direction
can be effected by
either introducing a
quarter space landing or
by providing winders at
the junctions.
3. HALF TURN STAIRS
These stairs change their direction through 180°. It can be
either dog-legged or open newel type. In case of dog legged
stairs the flights are in opposite directions and no space is
provided between the flights in plan. On the other hand in
open newel stairs, there is a well or opening between the
flights and it may be used to accommodate a lift. These stairs
are used at places where sufficient space is available.
Dog legged staircase
Open newel well half turn staircase
4. THREE QUARTER TURN STAIRS
These types of stairs
change their directions
through 2700. In other
words direction is
changed three times with
its upper flight crossing
the bottom one. In this
type of construction an
open well is formed.
5. CIRCULAR STAIRS
These stairs, when viewed from above, appear to follow circle
with a single centre of curvature and large radius. These stairs
are generally provided at the rear of a building to give access
for servicing at various floors. All the steps radiate from a
newel post in the form of winders. These stairs can be
constructed in stone, cast iron or R.C.C.
6. SPIRAL STAIRS
These stairs are similar to
circular stairs except that
the radius of curvature is
small and the stairs may be
supported by a center post.
Overall diameter of such
stairs may range from 1 to
2.5 m.
7. CURVED
STAIRS
These stairs, when
viewed from above,
appear to follow a curve
with two or more centre
of curvature, such as
ellipse.
8. GEOMETRICAL STAIRS
These stairs have no newel post and are of any geometrical
shape. The change in direction in these stairs is achieved
through winders. The stairs require more skill for its
construction and are weaker than open newel stairs. In these
stairs the open well between the forward and the backward
flights is curved.These stairs are similar to the open-newel
stair except that the well formed between the two adjacent
flights is curved. They may be of any geometrical shape and
are also called as continuous stairs. Continuous handrail is
recommended in these types of stairs.
9. BIFURCATED STAIRS
These stairs are so arranged
that there is a wide flight at the
start which is subdivided into
narrow flights at the
mid-landing. The two narrow
flights start from either side of
mid landing. Generally these
stairs are more suitable for
modern public buildings.
Types of Stairs on the Basis of Materials Used

Different materials are used for the

construction of stairs like timber, stone, brick,
steel or cast iron, plain concrete or reinforced
cement concrete (RCC). They are classified
based on the materials used for construction.
Stone Stairs
Stone stairs are heavy and
require strong supports. They
are preferred for threshold;
approach to basements,
heating chambers, and in
ashlar masonry buildings.
They are widely used in places
where ashlar stones are
readily available. Stones that
are hard, non-absorbent and
weather resistant.
Timber Stairs
Timber stairs or wooden
stairs are light and easy to
construct but are very
poor in fire resistance.
These stairs are generally
used in residential
buildings and most
preferred in areas where
abundant wood is
available.
Well-treated
fire-resistant hardwood
of proper thickness
should be used, and it
should be free from
fungal decay, insect
attacks and other
defects. Timber stairs
are used only in
low-rise buildings.
Brick Stairs
Brick stairs may be of solid
masonry construction with arches
provided in the lower portion.
Entrance steps form a typical
brick stair.These steps need a
facing with a coat that can resist
wear and tear as concrete finished
with mortar. The treads and risers
of the brick stair should be
finished with the suitable flooring
material.
Steel Stairs
Mild steel or iron cast stairs are of a special type, used in
factories, workshops, godowns, etc. These are made of
pre-stressed sheet steel that is strong and fireproof. These
stairs are also called lubricated stairs.The disadvantage of
these stairs is that they produce a lot of noise when used and
also look unattractive. Therefore, they are not preferred in
residential buildings. Cast iron is commonly used for spiral
stair types.
Concrete Stairs
Plain concrete stairs are preferred in place of stone stairs
these days. These steps are mostly of spandril type and used
for the entrance to the buildings.

Nowadays, RCC stairs are widely used in almost all types of

buildings, as they offer a number of advantages compared to
other types.
● They have excellent resistance to wear and fire better than
any other material.
● They give a highly attractive appearance.
● They are very durable and easy to maintain.
● They are less noisy.
● They can be easily rendered non-slippery.
● They can be designed to accommodate greater widths and
longer spans.
● They can be cast into any required shape and size.
The thickness and
reinforcement required for
the stairs can be suitably
determined by the design
engineers.

In order to have a
comfortable ascent and
decent, proper design has
to be stipulated as regards
to the size of stairs, slope
and landing space.