FLOORS, ROOF, STAIRS

Floors, Roofs and Stairs

5.1 Floors: Glossary of terms ,Types of floor finishes – cast-in-situ, concrete
flooring(monolithic, bonded), terrazzo tile flooring, cast in situ Terrazzo
flooring, timber flooring (Concept only)
5.2 Roofs: Glossary of terms, Types of roofs, concept and function of flat,
pitched, hipped and Sloped roofs
5.3 Stairs: Glossary of terms; Stair case, winder, landing, stringer, newel,
baluster, rise, tread, width of stair case, hand rail, nosing, head room,
mumty room.
5.4 Various types of stair case – straight flight, dog legged, open well,
quarter turn, half turn (newel and geometrical stairs), bifurcated stair, spiral
stair, cantilever stair, tread riser stair.
• Flooring is the general term for a permanent covering of a floor, or
for the work of installing such a floor covering.
• Floor covering is a term to generically describe any finish material
applied over a floor structure to provide a walking surface. Both
terms are used interchangeably but floor covering refers more to
loose-laid materials.
• COMPONENTS OF FLOOR:
• The lower portion of floor structure consisting of beams, slabs,
rammed earth etc. prepared to provide necessary support to the
floor covering.
• Purpose:
To provide proper support to floor covering without sinking &
settlement.
Floor Covering/ Paving:-
The upper portion of floor structure consisting of base, under layer &
topping.
Purpose: To have clean, smooth, non absorbent and a durable surface.
It also shall not be slippery, noisy and unpleasant in appearance.
IMPORTANT TECHNICAL TERMS:
• Base course: Base is the prepared surface on which
floor topping or under layer is laid. The layer of
material provided for this purpose is known as Base
course.
• Under layer: Layer of material provided in between
the base & floor topping.
• Topping: Topmost layer of floor provided over the
under layer / base course, in the absence of under
layer.
• Screeding: The art of bringing the floor to a true and
level surface by means of screeds.
• Floor systems: Arrangement provided to support the
toppings of floor. It may be single, double or triple joist
system.
• Floor boards: Wooden boards which form the floor
toppings.
• Floor finish: Top surface of floor. Also known as
"wearing surface“
• Bedding: A layer of mortar applied to the base or
sub floor and brought to a prescribed level
• Screeds: Narrow strips of wood, bands of plaster
or pieces of tiles laid on the floor to act as guides
for bringing the toppings to a true even surface.
• Bridging Joists: Horizontal structural members
place along shorter spans immediately below floor
toppings. They are used as main supporting
members in timber floors.
• Binders: Horizontal structural members placed at
right angles two bridging joists to take their load
and that of floor toppings.
• Girders: Horizontal structural members placed to supports
the load of binders, bridging joists and that of floor
toppings. Used as main supporting member in a triple joist
floor system.
• Wall plates: Horizontal wooden members which support
one end of bridging joists and distribute the load from joist
to the wall.
• Sleeper/Honey comb brick wall: Wall constructed with
holes for free circulation of air in case of single joist wooden
floor at ground level. This act as a dwarf wall and is
generally constructed longitudinally in the middle of the
room.
• Air brick :- A brick provided with holes for free circulation of
air in the interior of wall or floor. They are placed in external
wall of wooden ground floor.
GLOSSARY TERMS used in floor:-
Backing
• Backing is the bottom-most layer of a floor. When used with vinyl flooring, it can
be made of felt or fiberglass. Carpet backing refers to the underside of carpet. It
helps to extend the life of carpet
• Back Layer
• The back layer is the bottom layer or base of laminate flooring. It is typically
made of a sturdy and moisture-resistant material, such as melamine.
• Berber
• Berber carpet is named for a type of woolen, textured carpet made by Berber
tribes in Morocco and other parts of North Africa. The yarns on Berber carpet
are in loops that connect directly to the backing. Berber carpet is known for
being able to withstand a lot of foot traffic and for being easy to clean.
• Carpet Pile
• Carpet pile refers to the fibers on the top layer of carpet. Pile can be low,
medium or high. A low-pile carpet has fibers that are less than 1/4-inch high.
• Impact Resistance
• Impact resistance refers to how well a type of material can withstand the force of items being
dropped on it. A floor with a high impact resistance will continue to look good even if things are
regularly dropped on it or dragged across it.
Marble
• Marble is a type of stone sometimes used as a material for flooring. Marble has a distinct
appearance and usually features swirls or veins of color. It does tend to be more high-maintenance
and more expensive than other flooring options. Imitation marble is available for people looking
for the look and elegance of the stone without the cost and upkeep requirements.
Refinish
• Refinish means to add a new coat of finish to the top of a hardwood floor. The goal of refinishing
is to minimize the appearance of scratches, scuff marks and other signs of damage.
TYPES OF FLOOR FINISHES:-
cast-in-situ flooring:-
• A suspended reinforced concrete floor can be either cast monolithically in position in
a building or can be formed of a series of reinforced pre-cast concrete units,
manufactured in a factory and brought to the site ready for building into position. The
former method is referred to as being “cast in situ”.
Concrete flooring(monolithic, bonded):-
Cement Concrete Flooring is commonly used both in residential as well as public
buildings.
The method of laying cement concrete flooring on ground floor of a building can be
broadly divided in the following steps.
(i) Preparation of sub-base:
The earth filling in plinth is consolidated thoroughly so as to ensure that no loose pockets
are left in the whole area. A 10 to 15 cm. thick layer of clean coarse sand is then spread
over the whole area. The sand layer a consolidated and dressed to the required level and
slope.
(ii) Laying of base concrete:
The base concrete used under floors may be cement concrete or lime concrete laid to a
thickness varying from 75 to 10 cm. In case of cement concrete, the mix commonly
used is 1:5:10 (1 cement: 5 sand : 10 stone or over burnt brick aggregates 40 mm.
nominal size). Lime concrete, if used, should be made up out of 40 mm. nominal size
stone/over burnt brick aggregate and 40% mortar comprising of 1 lime : 2 sand/surkhi or
1 lime : 1 surkhi/ash : 1 sand. The base concrete layer is deposited over the whole area,
thoroughly lamped and levelled to a rough surface.
(iii) Laying the topping:
• When the base concrete layer has fully set and
hardened, its surface is thoroughly cleaned and the
entire area is divided into rectangular or square panels
by use of 4 mm, thick glass strips or 5 mm, thick plain
asbestos strips.
• The surface of base concrete should be made damp and
applied with a coat of neat cement slurry prior to laying
the topping., The rough finished surface of base
concrete coated with cement slurry ensures adequate
bond between the base and the topping.
• The cement concrete topping, normally consisting of
1:2:4 (1 cement :2 sand : 4 stone aggregate) is then laid
in required thickness in one operation in the panels.
• The concrete is spread evenly by using a straight edge
and the surface is thoroughly tamped and floated with
wooden floates till the cream of the mortar comes at
top.
1. In order to prevent the tendency of separation of the. cement
concrete flooring from the R.C.C. slab, a 20 mm. thick
cushioning layer of lime mortar (1 lime : 2 sand/surkhi or/lime
: 1 surkhi/sand) or 50 to 75 mm. thick lime concrete is
sometimes provided between the R.C.C. slab and the cement
concrete flooring.

2. If the working conditions permit, the flooring can also be laid

monolithically over the R.C.C. slab while the slab concrete is
still green. In this case, the slab concrete is roughened with
wire brushes so as to ensure a good bond between the base and
the flooring layer. Prior to laying of flooring, the slab surface is
cleaned and a coat of cement slurry is applied over it. In this
case, any slope required for the floor is given in structural
concrete itself.
2. Terrazzo tile flooring:-
Terrazzo flooring is composed of composite material. It contains any
variety of mixture of aggregate chips like stone or marble and either
epoxy resin or concrete. It can be used both indoors and outdoors and
can be poured as concrete or laid in tiles

ADVANTAGE OF TERRAZZO FLOORING:-

Terrazzo floors are among the easiest to clean: There’s no scouring,
polishing or scrubbing.
• The customization option is limitless for terrazzo floors.
• The speckled texture and strong base material make them difficult to
stain.
• When terrazzo flooring is properly sealed, it is non-porous and
resistant to mold
• Because it is made up of sturdy materials like cement, terrazzo is
highly durable, which is why it is used so often in institutional and
commercial buildings.
• Elegant and timeless, with endless design possibilities,
Terrazzo Cast in situ flooring:-
Procedure of Laying In-situ Terrazzo Flooring
1. Mixing of MaterialsI.
• To achieve a uniform appearance, it is essential to mix the materials thoroughly.
• It is recommended to mix the chips well in the required proportions of various colors and sizes when different
colored chips are used.
Under-Layer of Terrazzo Flooring
• The cement concrete of the design mix shall be used, as discussed in the above design mix heading.The
panels shall be of uniform size, not exceeding two sqm in area or two m in length for inside situations.
• In exposed situations, the length of any side of the panel shall not be more than 1.25 meters.Cement slurry at
2.00 kg per sqm shall be applied before laying of underlayer over the cement concrete / RCC base.
Fixing of Strips
• A 4 mm thick glass strips or 5 mm thick plain asbestos sheet or 2 mm thick PVC strips/aluminum strips
Ibrass strips shall be fixed with their top at the proper level to required slope.
• The strips of stone or marble or any other material of specified thickness can also be used if specifically
required.
Laying of Topping Layer of Terrazzo Flooring.
• All the topping materials, coloring material, cement, marble powder, and marble chips are
dry mixed thoroughly.
• The dry mortar is then mixed with water by adding the water in fine sprays till the mortar is
homogeneous, stiff, and workable.
• The terrazzo topping must be laid when the underlayer is sufficiently hard enough to
prevent the cement from traveling to the surface, and the underlayer is still plastic.The
topping layer shall be slightly more in thickness than that specified to achieve uniform
thickness after compacting.
• The surface shall be brought to the required thickness by trowelling and pressing with the
help of a straight edge and steel floats.It must be carried out in such a manner that the
maximum amount of marble chips are visible and evenly spread over the surface.
Polishing, Curing and Finishing of Terrazzo Topping Layer
• The polishing of toping layer shall be strictly carried out by machine means after 36 hours
of laying the top layer.
• The surface shall be watered and ground evenly with machine fitted with special rapid
cutting grit blocks of coarse grade till the marble chips are evenly exposed, and the floor is
smooth.
• TIMBER FLOORING:-
What is Timber ?
• Simply the name suggest that the flooring made of timber i.e wood is called
timber fboring.
Wood is a common choice as a flooring material due to its environmental profile,
durability, and restorability.
Why Timber ?
• Long lasting i.e more durablity.
• Easy to clean.
• Easy to resurface.
• Soft for foots unlike concrete and tiles.
• Gives better look.
• Low maintainence.
• Soft for falling objective
• Strip flooring
They are narrow and thin strips of timberjointed by
tongue and groove jointsNormal strips 6 to 10 cm in with
and 2 to 2.5 cm in thickness are used.
• Wood block flooring
This consist of short but thicker wood blocks which are
laid in suitable designs over a concrete baseThis block are
properly joined together with the grains exposedSize
varying from 200 8cm to 30*8cm thickness 2 to 4 cm are
used
• Parquet flooring
This is similar to block flooring except thin bbcks are
suported on sub-floorsThe blocks are laid by means of
glue in desired pattem and then nailed with panel pins.
Popular in this days
• Plank flooring
In this type of flooring wider planks are used Jointed
by tongue and grooves.
Single joist Timber flooring:-
• This is the simplest type of timber floor used
for residential buildings, where spans are short or
moderate (say up to 4 m) and loads are
comparatively lighter
• All joists require supporting at their ends and, in
case of ground floor joists, at intermediate points
along their length.
• The use of these intermediate supports reduces the
clear span so that joists of smaller section can be
used.
• For ground floor joists, the distance between these
intermediate supports ranges from 1 Sm to 2.0m.
• Joists should have a minimum bearing point of not
less than 90mm at any
2. DOUBLE JOIST TIMBER FLOOR:-
• Intermediate supports known as binder, are provided for bridging
joist.( C/C 1.80m to 2.40m)
• Stronger than single joist timber floor
• Prevent passage of sound ina better way & suitable for a span upto
3.60 to 7.50m.
• Disadvantages:- due to use of binder height of floor increased and
accordingly room height decreased.
3.Framed Or Triple Joists Timber Floor
• This type of floor is suitable for spans greater than 7.50 m, in which
intermediate supports, known as girders are provided for the
binders.
• There are four elements of flooring.
(i) floor boards,
(ii) bridging joists,
(iii) binders, and
(iv) girders.
• The bridging joists support the floor boards.
• The binders are staggered and connected to girders by tusk and
tenon joints, to increase the rigidity of the floor and to decrease the
overall depth of floor.
5.2 Roofs: Glossary of terms, Types of roofs, concept and function of flat, pitched, hipped and Sloped roofs
GLOSSARY OF TERMS:-
1. Span:- Span of roof is the clear distance between the two supports on which roof is positioned by some
other elements.
2. Ridge:- The apex of the angle which is developed at top by the inclined surfaces at the top of slope.
3. Rise:- The vertical distance or height of top of ridge from wall plate is called as rise.
4. Wall plates:- Wall plates are provided at top of wall or supports. And these are generally made of wood
and are used to fix the common rafters.
5. Pitch:- Pitch is nothing but slope of roof with the horizontal plane and i calculated as the ration of rise to
span.
6. Eaves:- The bottom edge of sloped roof surface is called as eaves from which rain water is drops down
during raining.
7. Hip:- Hip is a place where two sloping surfaces meet, where exterior angle is more than 180⁰
8. Hipped end:- At the end of a roof sloped triangular surface is formed which is called as hipped end.
9. Valley:- It is also a place where two sloping surfaces intersects but the exterior angle is less than 180.
10. Verge:- Verge is the edge of gable roof which runs between ridge and eaves.
11. Ridge board:- Ridge board is a wooden member which is provided long the ridg lie or apex of the roof.
Common rafters are supported by this ridg board. This is also called as ridge beam or ridge piece.
12. Common Rafters:- Common rafters are wooden members fixed to the ridge board perpendicularly. They
run from ridge to the eaves. These are fixec to the purlins at intermediate points. Batten or boarding's are
supported by this rafter. In general, the spacing between rafters is 30 to 45 cm.
13. Purlins:- Purlins are wooden or steel members supported by truss or wall. If the span is large they are
used to support the common rafters.
14. Hip rafters:- These rafters are provided at the hip end. And they run diagonally from ridge to the
corners of the wall.
15. Valley rafters:- Valley rafters run diagonally from ridge to the eaves. They are provided in sloping
positions to bear support valley gutters. The ends of purlins and jack rafters will receive by the valley
rafters.
16. Jack rafters:- The rafters run from hip to the valley are called as jack rafters and usually they are short
in length.
17. Eaves board:- The ends of lower most roof covering materials are rests on eaves board. It is made of
wood and usually 25mm x 25mm thickness and width. It is placed at the feet of common rafters.
18. Barge board:- To hold the verge formed by the common rafters a wooden board is used which is called
as barge board.
19. Post plate:- Post plate is similar to wall plate. Post plates are parallel to
the face of the wall and run continuous. Post plates provide support for
the rafters.
20. Battens:- Battens are usually made of wood and they are nailed to the
rafters to give supports for the roof covering material.
21. Template:- Template is a masonry block made of concrete or stone which
is placed under the truss to provide larger load area of the wall.
22. Boarding’s:- Boarding's are similar to battens and these are also used to
give support for the roof covering material by nailing them to the rafters.
23. Truss:- Truss is frame which consists of triangles and designed to support
the roof tops.
24. Cleats:- To support the purlins, short sections of steel or wood are fixed
to the rafters and these sections are called as Cleats.
Types of roofs:-
Gable roof
The gable roof is a very popular type of roof: easy to build, sheds water well, facilitates
ventilation and can be applied to most house designs.
Hip
Hip roof is slightly more difficult to build and usually has 4 sides. It’s a popular choice
but does not provide for ventilation. They do perform better in high wind areas.
Dutch
Dutch roof is basically a hip roof with a small gable at either end. The result is easier
access to the lower portion of the roof with the added benefits of natural light and extra
space.
Mansard roof
It is a French design and is more difficult to build than the hip or gable roof. It actually
features two slopes within one on each side. The bottom part of the roof slope is steeper
so that the pitch of the roof barely starts. This allows more room on the inside and in
most cases creates an extra space.
Flat roof
Most flat roofs are not really 100% flat, they are low-sloped roofs that appear flat, but
have a little bit of a slope to allow for the run-off water.
Shed roof
Shed roof is similar to a flat roof but has more pitch, it is frequently used for additions or with other
roof styles.
Butterfly roof
This is a very modern design that is aesthetically unique. It provides plenty of light and ventilation
but drainage is a problem.
Gambrel roof
It is also called barn roof because it has been used extensively on barns. It provides additional
headroom in the attic.
Dormer roof
A dormer is more an addition to an existent roof. It is a window and a roof (gabled, hipped, flat,
among others) protruding from the existing slope of the roof. A functional dormer creates usable
space out of the roof, adding natural light and headroom.
M Shaped
A M-shaped roof is basically a double gable roof featuring two sloped sides that meet in the middle
with corresponding slopes on each side.
Concept and function of flat, pitched, hipped and Sloped roofs
FLAT ROOF:-
• A roof which is nearly flat is known as flat roof.It should be noted that no roof can be laid perfectly level.
• The roof must slope in one direction or the other to cause rain water to flow off rapidly and easily.The construction of
flat roof is same as that of floors except that the top surface is made slightly sloping in case of flat roofs.
ADVANTAGES OF FLAT ROOFS
The roof can be used as terrace for playing, gardening, sleeping and for celebrating functions.
• Construction and maintenance is easier.
• They can be easily made fireproof in comparison to pitched roof.
• They avoid the enclosure of the triangular space. Due to this, the architectural appearance of the building is very much
improved.
• Flat roofs have better insulating properties.
DISADVANTAGES OF FLAT ROOF
• They are vulnerable to heavy temperature variations, specially in tropics, due to which cracks are developed on the
surface. These cracks may lead to water penetration latter, if not repaired in time.
• It is difficult to locate and rectify leak in flat roof.
• The speed of flat roof construction is much slower than the pitched roof.
• The initial cost of flat roof is more than pitched roof.The flat roofs exposes the entire building to the weather agencies,
while the projecting elements of pitched roofs provide some protection to the building.
TYPES OF PITCHED ROOF
1. Single Roofs:
• Lean-to-RoofCouple Roof
• Couple-close Roof
• Collar beam Roof or Collar tie Roof
2. Double or Purlin Roof
3. Framed or Trussed Roof
• King Post Roof Truss
• Queen Post Roof Truss
• Combination of king-post & queen-post truss
• Mansard roof Truss
• SINGLE ROOFS
In this type of roofs common rafters are provided to each slope without any
intermediate support.Such roof is used only when the span is limited to 5m.
It is of following types:
1. Lean-to-Roof
2. Couple Roof
3. Couple-close Roof
4. Collar beam Roof or Collar tie Roof
1. LEAN-TO-ROOF
• It is the simplest form of a pitched roof and it is known as pent roof or Aisle
roof.
• In this type of roof, one wall is carried up sufficiently higher than the other to
give necessary slope to the roof.
• A lean-to roof is generally used for sheds, outhouses attached to main buildings
verandah etc.This is suitable for a maximum span of 2.4m..
2. COUPLE ROOF
This type of roof is formed by couple or pair of rafters which slope to both the
sides of the ridge of the roof.
In this type of roof the common rafters slope upwards from the opposite
walls and they meet on a ridge piece in the middle.A couple roof is suitable
for spans up to about 3.6m.
3. COLLAR BEAM ROOF
• When the span increases or when the load is more the rafters of the couple
close roof have the tendency to bend.This is avoided by raising the tie beam
and fixing it at one-third to one-half of the vertical height from the wall
plate to the ridge.
• This raised beam is known as collar beam.This beam roof is adopted to
economise the space and to increase the height of a room.This roof can be
adopted up to a maximum span of 4.8m.
DOUBLE OR PURLIN ROOFS
• When the span exceeds 2.4m, the necessary size for
the rafters becomes uneconomical.Hence in order to
reduce the size of rafters, intermediate supports
called purlins are introduced under the rafters.This
roof can be adopted economically up to 4.8m.
FRAMED OR TRUSSED ROOF
• When the span exceeds 5 m and when there are no
inside supporting walls or partitions for purlins,
framed structure known as trusses are on the roof,
position of cross walls, span and material of the
truss.
• The spacing is 3m for wooden trusses.Trusses carry
the ridge piece and purlins on which the common
rafters rest.
KING POST TRUSS
• In this type of truss, the central post known as
king-post forms support for the tie beam.
• The inclined members, known as struts, prevents
the principal rafters from bending in the middle.
• A king-post truss suitable for roofs of span
varying from 5 to 8 m.
QUEEN POST TRUSS
• This truss is differ from a king-post truss in having
two vertical members known as queen posts.
• The upper ends of the queen posts are kept in
position by means of a horizontal member known
as straining beam.
• Additional purlins are supported on the queen
posts.A queen post truss is suitable for roof spans
varying 8 to 12 m.
• 5.3 Stairs: Glossary of terms; Stair case, winder, landing, stringer, newel, baluster, rise, tread, width of
stair case, hand rail, nosing, head room, mumty room.
Technical Terms used in Staircases :-
1. Stairs. Stairs are steps arranged in series for the purpose of an assess from one floor to the other.
2. Stair-case. The room or apartment in which stairs are enclosed, is called stair-case.
3. Rise. It is the vertical distance between the two consecutive steps. The vertical portion of the step is
called
4. Tread. The horizontal portion of the step is called tread. The horizontal distance between the two
consecutive risers is called Go, Going or Run.
5. Nosing. It is the front edge of the tread which projects beyond the riser.
6. Fliers.The rectangular steps of uniform shape and size are called Fliers.
7. Winders.The triangular or wedge shaped steps, used for changing the direction are called winders.
8. Flight. It is a continuous series of steps in one direction,, separated by horizontal platforms or winders.
9. Landing. It is the horizontal platform provided at the top-of a flight. If the landing is of a rectangular
shape, having a length equal to twice the width of the stairs, the landing is called Half Space Landing. If
on the other hand, the stairs run at right angles to each other and are separated by a square landing, the
landing is-called Quarter Space Landing.
9. Scotia block. It is a triangular wooden block used below the nosing to give it additional
strength.
10. Strings or stringers. These are inclined members which support the steps.
11. Headroom:- It is the space that lies between the head and sill of a doorway or between
the ceiling and floor, allowing passage of a person standing upright.
• Headroom is also the height above the nosing of a tread to the ceiling above it.
• The minimum head room over a stair must be 2.1m
9. Railing.This is a moulded block of wood or some other material, provided to afford
assistance and safeguard to persons while going on the stairs. The height of a railing
should be nearly-75 cm above the line of nosing.
10. Balusters. These are short vertical members which support the hand-railing.
11. Balustrade or Banister. The composite member c insisting of a hand rail, balusters,
newel posts is called balustrade.
12. Newel posts. These are principal balusters used at the ‘top and bottom of a flight.
17. Mumty Room:- A small room with only one purpose; to provide a roof
over staircase. You don't want your stairs to be out in open on the roof. It has
to be covered with walls and roof to keep rain and dust from going down
the stairs to the rooms.
18. Width of Staircase:- Depending on the use and local regulations, a
minimum width of 80 cm is recommended for stairs in single-family homes,
and greater than 1.00 meters in public buildings, taking into consideration the
tentative number of people who will use it.
• Various types of stair case – straight flight, dog legged, open well, quarter
turn, half turn (newel and geometrical stairs), bifurcated stair, spiral stair,
cantilever stair, tread riser stair.
Straight staircases
• The straight staircase generally has one straight flight of stairs, or
sometimes two separated by a landing part way up. 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 incorporated into a straight staircase,
making it safer with a resting place partway up.
• With the exception of a landing between two flights of stairs, all the
treads are rectangular and of the same dimensions.
Dog legged stairs.
• It is a very common and popular type of stairs and is used in public as well as residential
buildings.
• It consists of two flights running in opposite directions, separated by a half space landing
or a quarter space landing and a set of winders.
• The dog-legged stair is so called because the bent of the stairs is similar to the dog’s leg.
• When the space available is equal to twice the width of the stairs, dog legged stair is
used.
Open newel or Open well stairs.
• It is similar to the dog legged, stair except that in this case the two flights are separated
by an open well.
• The open newel stair is a convenient type of stair and is generally used in public
buildings. The width of the open well depends upon the space available but the varies
from 60 cm to 120 cm.
• The two flights ate either separated by a half space lending’ or two quarter space
landings with a set of steps. The open well between the two flights can be used for fixing
a ‘Lift’.
Quarter turn stairs.
• In this type of stair, the two flights run at right angles to each other and are
separated by a quarter space larding.
• The stairs are generally provided when wall support is on one side only, or when
in a huge appartment such as an entrance hall, stairs are to be provided.
Geometrical stairs.
• The geometrical stairs are generally used in high class residential buildings. The
stair is in the form of some curve, having all the steps as winders, radiating from
the-centre of curvature of the curve.
• The hand rail of a geometrical stair, continues without interruption and without
any angular turn-Considerable skill is required for fie designing and construction
of a geometrical stair.
• The minimum width of this stair has been, fixed at 1.75 m.
Bifurcated stairs.
• These stairs are commonly used in public buildings. In this type of stairs, the
bottom flight is wider and is bifurcated into two narrower flights at the landing.
• The bifurcated stairs may be of two types, viz. Quarter turn and half turn.
• In the quarter turn type, the upper the lower flights run at right angle whereas in the
half turn bifurcated stairs, the sets of flights go in opposite directions as in a quarter
turn stair and dog-legged stair respectively.
Spiral stairs.
• These stairs are generally constructed either of cast iron or R.C.C. The steps which
are all winders, radiate from a central vertical shaft and are attached to it.
• The steps are generally pre-cast and are fitted to the central pillar.
• These stairs are used on the back-side of a building for emergency use as well as in
those places where the space is limited.