This article is part of a series designed to help architects use Source, Architizer’s premier marketplace for building products. For more information on the platform, click here.
If you’re an architect, contractor or do-it-yourselfer, you probably already know how difficult and time-consuming it can be to research and select the building products that are right for your next project. Luckily, Architizer is here to help: Using our product catalog and Source, the new marketplace for building products, we’ve written a collection of “spec guides” on everything from marble to surface-mounted lighting. These will help you understand what factors to consider before making your next specification or purchase and help you to make the perfect product search on Source. Think of them as the ultimate specifier cheat sheet.
Today, we’re highlighting one of architecture’s most crucial elements, and traditionally one of its most complex: the stairs.
Stairs & Railing
Categorization
Architizer: Building Products > Stairs & Railing
MasterFormat: 05510, 05520, 05550, 06430, 06448
Introduction + Tips
So you want to specify a stair or railing? Luckily for you, it’s pretty simple. The most complicated information you’ll probably need to provide is the dimensions of the installation space and your desired components. Beyond that, think about the form, color and material you envision for the steps, handrails, balustrades or ramps. Do you want glass or bronze balustrades? A decorative cast-iron spiral staircase? With Source, the key is to provide as much information as you can — this will help the platform match you with ideal product manufacturers that offer exactly what you need.
Use normal descriptive words to describe what you are looking for, useful information such as dimensions and performance requirements, and — where possible — pictures and diagrams to demonstrate the type of aesthetic you are interested in. The manufacturer will do the rest!
Components
List which components you need.
Balustrade: Material beneath and supporting the handrail, often a series of balusters (vertical posts)
Railing: The angled member for hand-holding, on one or both sides of the stair
Spiral staircase: A series of steps that wind around a central pole (called a newel)
Staircase: A series of steps either in a straight run or intersecting another staircase
Treads & Nosings: Treads are the part of the stairway that is stepped on. Nosings are the edge of the tread that protrudes over the riser beneath it.
Access Ramps: An inclined plane installed in addition to or instead of stairs, permitting wheelchairs, strollers, carts and other wheeled objects easier access to a space
Fire Escapes: A number of horizontal platforms mounted on the outside wall of each story of a building, with ladders or stairs connecting them
Application
Think about the location of your stairs, and its nature — will it be indoors or outdoors? Will it be within a manufacturing or agricultural building? Identifying the typology will help illuminate the specific requirements and priorities for the stairs of your project:
Residential: Single-family and multifamily homes or apartments
Commercial: Hotels, gyms, retail, etc.
Institutional: Hospitals, therapy centers, penal/security centers, etc.
Public: Parks, urban spaces, etc.
Dimensions
Manufacturers will want to know all of the standard spatial measurements into which the balustrade, handrail, stair or ramp will fit, as well as the desired dimensions of the individual components. You can reference these common international residential building codes or this InspectAPedia article for guidance.
Length: Horizontal distance spanned between landings, or spanned by the railing, balustrade or grating
Rise: Vertical distance between landings on each floor
Headroom: In all parts of the stairway, the headroom is generally no less than 6 feet 8 inches, measured vertically from the sloped line adjoining the tread nosing or from the floor surface of the landing or platform on that portion of the stairway.
Inclination: Codes dictate maximum inclination for specific settings and uses, though in most settings it is usually 30 degrees.
Tread: Depth is measured from the outer edge of the step to the vertical riser between steps and is generally no less than 10 inches. Tread width is generally no less than 36 inches.
Riser: The vertical portion between each tread on the stair, generally measuring no more than 7¾ inches; may be missing for an “open” stair effect
Nosings: The edge of the tread that protrudes over the riser beneath it. Generally this is between ¾ and 1¼ inches.
Width: Identify the total width available for the entire stair, handrails included.
Handrail height: Generally 34 to 38 inches high
Baluster spacing: Balusters are the vertical posts comprising the barrier in guardrails and handrails. The distance between balusters is generally no more than 5 inches.
Projection: Building codes dictate how far handrails and some mounted or hanging stairs (like fire escapes) may project from a wall. For handrails it is generally not more than 4½ inches from either side of the stair. Fire escapes follow more specific local building codes.
Spiral staircases: Generally the minimum width at and below the handrail is 26 inches, with each tread having a 7½-inch minimum tread depth. All treads shall be identical, and the rise shall be no more than 9½ inches (241 millimeters). A minimum headroom of 6 feet 6 inches (1,982 millimeters) shall be provided.
Structure: If ordering an attached or hanging stair, like a fire escape, you should provide information on how it will be mounted to the wall and how much weight the structure can support.
Aesthetic
Within Source, upload a picture or rendering as an example and describe how you intend your specification to appear. Be sure to discuss the materials, finish and color that you would like. Stairs, railings, balustrades and ramps come in a wide variety of styles, and the more information you can provide, the more closely it can be matched to the right manufacturers.
Performance
Accessibility: State if you have accessibility requirements that must be met (e.g., ADA, OSHA).
Circulation: In public or commercial places, you should think about human circulation and the estimated maximum number of people that will need to use the stairway over the course of the busiest hour. This can affect the step width and durability of materials chosen.
Durability
Climate: If your stair/railing components are outdoors or face an extreme climate, be sure to note this. Manufacturers can recommend different equipment to withstand the elements.
Vandalism: If graffiti or vandalism is common to your project’s location, make a note of it. Manufacturers can use durable materials to withstand human abuse.
Visit Architizer’s Product Catalog to check out the latest stairs and railings products.
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External Links
Common International Residential Building Codes