DK Ching VD - Stair

stair

one of a flight or series of steps for going from one level to another, as in a building

riser

the vertical face of a stair step [D]

tread

the horizontal upper surface of a step in a stair, on which the foot is placed [B]

step

a support for the foot in ascending or descending

raking riser

a riser that is inclined inward to permit more footroom on the tread below

stairway

a passageway from one level of a building to another by a flight of stairs

flight

a continuous series of steps between one floor or landing of a building and the next

nosing

the usually rounded edge of a stair tread that extends over the riser [C]

handrail

a rail providing a handhold and serving as a support at the side of a stair or platform

headroom

the clear vertical space from the nosing of a stair tread to any overhead obstruction

stairhead

the top or top landing of a stairway

rise

the measured height of a stair step or a flight of steps

stairwell

a vertical shaft or opening containing a stairway

run

the horizontal distance between successive risers of between the first and last risers of a flight of steps

ladder

a structure of wood, metal, or rope, usually consisting of two sidepieces joined at suitable intervals by bars or rungs, forming a means of climbing up or down at an angle of pitch between 75d and 90d

rung

one of the crosspiece usually rounded, forming the steps of a ladder

ship's ladder

a fixed stepladder having an angle of pitch between 55d and 70d, usually equipped with handrails

critical angle

the angle of pitch above which a stair is considered to be uncomfortable or unsafe, usually 45d

riser:tread ratio

the preferred ratio between the riser and tread of a stairstep

preferred angle

for a flight of stairs, any angle of pitch between 28d and 36d, or, for a ramp, an angle of pitch less than 5d

ramp

a sloping floor, walk, or roadway connecting two levels

stepped ramp

a series of ramps connected by steps

helicline

a curved ramp

straight-run stair

a stair extending from one level to another without turns or winders

flier

one of the steps in a straight flight of stairs

straight flight

a flight of stairs having no turns or winders

winder

a more or less wedge-shaped stair step for changing direction

kite winder

the central of three stair winders making a 90d turn

balanced step

any of a series of winders so arranged that they are nearly as wide at the inside of the stair as the adjacent fliers; also called "dancing step", "dancing winder"

quarterspace landing

a square landing connecting two flights of a stair

walking line

a line 18 in. (457 mm) in from the centerline of a handrail, along which the run of a winder is the same as a flier; also called "line of travel"

landing

a platform between flights of stairs or the floor at the foot or head of a flight of stairs

quarter-turn stair

a stair making a right-angled turn, consisting of two straight flights connected by an intervening landing or a series of winders; also called "L stair"

pace

a raised step or platform, esp. one serving as a landing or resting place at the end of a short flight of steps

half-turn stair

a stair that turns 180d or through two right angles at an intervening landing

dog-leg stair

a half-return stair consisting of two straight flights immediately side by side and connected by an intervening landing

double-L stair

a half-turn stair having two intermediate landings, each offering a 90d change of direction

three-quarter-turn stair

a stair requiring a three-quarter turn for continued ascent or descent

double-return stair

a stair having one wide flight from the main floor to an intermediate landing, and two side flights from that landing to the floor above

winding stair

any stair constructed chiefly with winders, such as a geometrical or spiral stair

circular stair

a winding stair having a circular plan

spiral stair

a circular stair having wedge-shaped treads winding around and supported by a central post

newel

a central post from which the winders of a spiral stair radiate

elliptical stair

a winding stair having an elliptically shaped well

geometrical stair

a winding stair constructed around a circular or elliptical well without the use of newels and often no landings between floors

wreathe

a curved section of handrail

wreathed piece

a curved section of a staircase string

staircase

a flight or series of flights of stairs, including its supporting framework, casing, and handrails

open-string stair

a stair having an open string on one or both sides

open string

a staircase string having its upper edge cut to the profile of the treads and risers; also called "cut string" [purple]

face string

the outer string of a staircase, usually of better material or finish than the carriage which it covers; also called "finish string"

stair rod

a metal rod for holding a stair carpet in place against the bottom of a riser

bracket

an ornamental piece filling the angle between a riser and the overhanging edge of its tread

cut-and-mitered string

an open string having the vertical edges of the notches mitered with the ends of the stair risers

tread return

a continuation of the rounded nosing of a tread beyond the face of an open string

string

one of the sloping boards running alongside a staircase to support or cover the ends of the treads and risers

wall string

a stair string set against a wall, usually notched or housed to receive the ends of risers and treads

carriage

an inclined beam for supporting the steps of a stair; also called "horse", "rough stringer" [blue]

box stair

a stair having a housed string on both sides so that it may be more or less completely finished before being set in its final location

housed string

a stair string receiving the ends of risers and treads in a series of housings; also called "closed string"

apron piece

a header receiving the ends of stair carriages, strings, and the joists of landings; also called "pitching piece" [red]

kick plate

a plate for anchoring and absorbing the thrust of an inclined member, such as a stair carriage [orange]

landing tread

a board directly over the uppermost riser in a flight of stairs, having an edge matching that of the nosings on the stair treads [cyan]

railing

a barrier composed of one or more horizontal rails supported by spaced uprights or balusters

stanchion

an upright post or support, as in a window or railing [A]

balustrade

a railing with supporting balusters

baluster

any of a number of closely spaced supports for a railing [B]

newel drop

an ornamental, downward projection of a newel post, often through a soffit [C]

ramp

a short concave slope or bend, as one connecting the higher and lower parts of a stair railing at a landing [D]

safety nosing

a nosing having an abrasive, nonslip surface flush with the tread surface

safety tread

a tread having a roughened surface to prevent slipping

waist

the least thickness of a reinforced concrete stair slab

hanging step

a step projecting from a wall with no real or apparent support at its outer end; also called "cantilevered step"

curtail

a horizontal, spiral termination to the lower end of a stair rail; also called "volute" [E]

curtail step

a starting step having a scroll termination to one or both ends of the tread [F]

newel cap

the terminal feature of a newel post, often molded or turned in a decorative manner [G]

newel

a post supporting one end of a handrail at the top or bottom of a flight of stairs [H]

open-riser stair

a stair having open spaces between successive treads, allowing light to pass from above

open riser

an open space between two successive treads

pan tread

a steel pan receiving a concrete fill and serving as a tread or as a combined tread and riser

plate tread

a tread fabricated from metal plate, usually having a raised pattern to provide a nonslip surface