Calculation of the number and size of staircase steps: formulas for how to correctly calculate the steps of a flight of stairs

If you do not follow the recommended parameters, the staircase will greatly lose not only in safety, but also in convenience. So, if you reduce the width of the tread below the limit specified in the table, it will be difficult to walk down it, and if you make it more than 300 mm, people will lose their step.

The same is with the angle of ascent: the steeper the staircase, the less space it takes up, and the more difficult it is to go down it.

Kate FORUMHOUSE Member

The steepness of a comfortable staircase should not exceed 45 degrees, otherwise you will have to go down it backwards.

And a “clearance” of less than 1.9 m will make any person of average height reflexively bow his head every time he goes onto the stairs.

A member of our portal with the nickname handur assembled a “demonstration stand” of two steps from pieces of plywood, and tested on it how convenient the selected parameters were.

Handur

I started with a tread width of 35 cm and a step height of 20 cm. I went up and down. Then I trimmed it a centimeter from the height, assembled the stand and tried it again.

It turned out that a step height of 15 mm is just excellent, 16 is very good, 17 is quite normal. Tread width - 35 cm is too spacious, 30 is quite normal. Then I made the tread width 25 cm and made it a 5 cm offset - the same width of 30 cm began to feel less comfortable: “if space allows, then it’s better to make a clean 30 cm, without offsets.”

How to calculate steps on a staircase?

The method for calculating steps depends on their shape and location.
Depending on the location of the steps, they are divided: How to calculate the winder steps, we have already described in another article. You can view it on our website. In this article we will consider options for determining the parameters of the steps of straight stairs.

The main criteria for a step are the height of the riser and the width of the tread. To make it easier for people to move up the stairs, the steps should correspond to the average step width of an adult (60-65 cm).

The relationship between step width, tread and riser height is determined by the formula:

where a is the height of the riser, c is the width of the tread.

Calculation example: 2/175+290=640 mm, in this case 175 is the height of the riser, and 290 is the width of the tread, the resulting result of 64 cm corresponds to the required range.

In addition to this ratio, the parameters of the steps depend on the angle at which the staircase is located relative to the floor; the optimal angle of inclination for residential premises is considered to be the range from 24° to 45°. According to this range, the size of the steps changes:

• riser height from 140 to 180 mm;
• tread width from 310 to 270 mm.

If you use a tread that is too wide, your pace will be disrupted during the ascent; if you use a tread that is too narrow, there is a danger of tripping during the descent and getting injured.

If the staircase is cramped, it is allowed to increase the tread to meet the parameters by overhanging the riser by 20-40 mm.

Requirements for winder steps

The steps of the winder staircase have the shape of a trapezoid or a truncated triangle. The depth of the tread is variable. At the base it is minimal, in the outer part it is large. If the tread depth parameters are different, the riser height remains the same.

Example of dimensions of a winder staircase

For the width of each fragment, SNiP standards determine the minimum size: at the base - 10 cm, outer - no more than 40 cm.

General concept of tilt

There are certain standards for arranging stairs in a private house, but some parameters have been worked out in practice and time-tested. For convenience, craftsmen recommend making the inclination angle 45 relative to the ground level. It is better if the depth of the step corresponds to foot size 45. If this is not possible, then the value should not be less than 30 cm, otherwise it will be inconvenient for the user to move when descending. If the width of the step is too large, you will have to take too large steps. It's also not comfortable.

It is not always possible to arrange the angle of inclination of the stairs with a convenient standard value. It all depends on what room and for what purpose the structure is being installed. In this case, it is necessary to perform special calculations. This process is, in principle, simple.

There are several ways to calculate the normal angle:

• The simplest measurements are performed. Using a tape measure, measure the distance between the ceiling and the wall and the location of the lowest step.

• Mathematical calculation. To do this, the properties of a right triangle are used. The parameters of the height of the wall and the linear value along the surface of the earth will act as legs. The hypotenuse is the length of the flight of stairs.

Basic parameters for calculating the angle of inclination

March width

The width of the flight is determined by the capacity of the staircase (the number of people per minute at the narrowest point) and assumes the comfortable movement of an adult.

For internal flights of stairs, building codes define this value (the size from the wall to the railing or between two railings on the left and right sides) as at least 900 mm, in luxury houses 1250-1600 mm.

There are exceptions for the width of the flight of stairs ( 0.8 m) of some types of stairs (for example, in garden houses), but when designing a staircase, you should focus on this size only in conditions of a severe lack of free space in the room.

Auxiliary structures can afford a width of less than 0.8 m , for example, a staircase to the basement or attic.

GOST rules

When planning the construction of a staircase for a private house, you must first refer to established standards. All of them are displayed in GOSTs and SNIPs:

• If the dwelling is two-story, then the staircase structures are designed for one flight.

• The width of the structure is designed to be comfortable for one person - at least 80 cm, for two people - at least 100 cm.

• The number of steps in a march is arranged to be no less than 3 and no more than 17. It is better if their number is odd - this allows you to start the ascent or descent and finish it from the same foot.

• The optimal angle of inclination of stairs to the second floor is created 1:1. In degrees this is 45. 1:2 is allowed, which is from 26 to 40 degrees.

Related article: Making a metal staircase with your own hands (assembly guide)

Distance between steps

Having decided to make a custom staircase, many do not even ask the question: “What should be the distance between the steps of the staircase?” But this is a very important nuance. All steps must have exactly the same height so that people who will subsequently use them are confident in their safety, because even if one of the steps differs in height by even 1 cm from the others, then the person will lose his step, stumble and You may even get injured. So what kind of distance between steps should a staircase leading to the second floor have?

SNiP requirements, calculation methods

How to calculate the steps of the stairs to the second floor? Building codes establish mandatory safety parameters:

• span widths - main flights - 0.9-1 m (to provide room for two people walking to turn around and move large objects), in the front and entrance groups - 1.2-1.5 m, in utility rooms - at least 0.6 m;
• tread width - ordinary - 25-30 cm (the average size of an adult's foot), winder - at least 10 cm in the narrow part, 14 - in the middle. Calculations are made for each specific case, based on the angle of inclination and dimensions of the stairs;
• riser heights - the distance between the upper planes of two successive treads. Climbing stairs will be comfortable when you do not strain your muscles, so the optimal value in interfloor structures is 14-15 cm.

The dimensions of the treads and risers determine the slope of the stairs. By adjusting these parameters, you can calculate the optimal angle of its inclination - 26-35 degrees. In this case, you need to leave a distance between the steps and the ceiling along the entire length of the flight 10-20 cm greater than the height of the tallest family member.

For calculation:

1. We measure the distance between the floor of the first and second floor, taking into account the ceiling and floor covering.
2. Dividing the resulting parameter by the riser height recommended by SNiP, we calculate the total number of steps (we round the fractional number up to a whole number). We calculate the exact height of the riser using reverse calculations. Ideally, if all values ​​do not go beyond the dimensions established by SNiP.
3. We calculate the convenient tread width using the formula - span length/number of steps.

A straight one-flight staircase can also be calculated graphically. To do this, draw a coordinate axis on graph paper, on which we measure the step length (60-70 cm) on the X axis, and the riser height (15 cm) on the Y axis. Connect the dots and draw a slope line. We draw the steps and calculate their dimensions adjusted to scale. To check the result, we find the sum of all values ​​- it should be equal to the total run. If not, we adjust the parameters up or down, using the formulas for convenience b – h = 12 and safety b + h = 46 cm, where b is the width of the tread, h is the height of the riser.

For correct calculations, we recommend using an online calculator. The program will calculate and find the optimal dimensions of the stairs that meet the requirements of SNiP.

SNiP standards

Before calculating stairs for climbing to the second floor, you need to familiarize yourself with the SNiP and GOST standards. If you decide to completely make the entire structure with your own hands, this step is mandatory.

First of all, you should pay attention to the following parameters:

• Slope. Reflects the angle of inclination of a flight of stairs. for residential premises this figure should be within 30-40 degrees.
• Number of steps. The exact value depends on the length of the span and the number of marches, the minimum number is three, the maximum is 16 for double-flight models and 18 for single-flight models.
• Site size. If a two-flight structure with a platform is installed to ascend to the second floor, the width of the latter must be no less than the width of the flights leading to it.
• Tread width. The distance from the edge of the step to the riser, the optimal distance is -29 cm, fluctuations of +/-3 cm are allowed.
• Riser height. The distance between steps is considered to be 17 cm as a standard, however, the interval of 14-20 cm does not go beyond the norm.
• Step. The total distance covering 2 treads and 1 riser, the ideal value is 62 cm.
• Width of the stairs. The distance from one edge of the step to the other, for a regular staircase to the second floor, is at least 80 cm.
• Dimensions of the staircase. The area of ​​the cage must be sufficient to allow the door to be opened or the person to pass without hindrance.

We recommend: Crushed stone: an irreplaceable material
If the staircase meets all the standards described above, it will be safe and very convenient for movement.

Diagram for calculating the optimal angle of inclination of stairs that meets the standards

In some cases, in particular when the house has already been built and it is not possible to make changes regarding the height of the floors and the layout of the room, deviations from the standard indicators are allowed, the main condition is that the changes made should not seriously affect the safety indicator of the staircase structure.

Relative amount of rise of the march (elevation angle)

In construction practice, the lifting angle is usually in the range from 20 to 50 degrees, but stairs with an angle of 30 to 45 degrees are considered the most convenient.

Table of the dependence of step sizes on the angle of inclination:

The choice of inclination angle determines a margin of distance (critical height) of at least 2000 mm from any step to the ceiling or any protruding element of the building (beam, parapet):

It is convenient to check the critical height by drawing the calculated steps on any sheet material or directly on the wall. As design practice shows, very often a line drawn from the ceiling or a dangerous ledge will be less than the desired value.

It is for this reason that it is not possible to design a staircase that is shallow enough. As the angle of inclination increases, comfort decreases, therefore, with the low average height of all households, sometimes this size is underestimated.

But we still recommend adjusting the slope of the stairs or considering a different location for its installation. Going through layout options is a smart and common practice.

In the already mentioned work of Novitsky O.V. “Modern stairs. Design, manufacturing, installation.” a real practical case was considered, in which as many as 6 options for the location of the stairs in the room were consistently and reasonably considered.

In any case, the final result is usually a middle ground between many conflicting arguments.

Characteristics of staircase parameters for a home

The rise to the second floor depends on the geometry of the premises of a private house. It can be straight, rotary or screw. The straight shape is the most convenient for moving people, carrying large objects, and is easy to calculate and install. But with a standard 3 meters between floors and a span width of 1 m, it requires a minimum of 10 m2 of space on the ground floor, which is not available in every room.

Due to turns, the length of the opening for L- and U-shaped structures is shorter than for straight ones, although both types occupy almost the same area. Platforms or winder steps are installed on turning areas.

The steps make the turn of 90 and 180 degrees smoother, reduce the steepness and size of the stairs, but the winder steps are less convenient than the landings. L- and U-shaped marches are placed along the walls, in the corners, and the space under the stairs is used for storing things or as a resting place.

Screw systems are the most compact (fit on 1 m2). The less space such a march takes up, the greater the steepness of the climb. Spiral structures can be placed in the center of the room, in the corner, in any area where there is an opening. The downside is that the roundabout is not very comfortable for the elderly and children. In narrow openings (60-80 cm) it is difficult for obese people to turn around and carry heavy loads. To build a convenient screw lift, you need to correctly calculate the dimensions of the main elements. When doing your own calculations, we recommend using a calculator (the program is based on the parameters of building codes) or ordering sizing calculations from specialists.

To calculate a convenient staircase to the second floor, during construction you need to follow the basic design standards:

• the width of the structure is at least 0.8 m. For a rotary one, one meter is optimal. If there are disabled people in the house - at least 1.5 m;
• steps - in one march from 3 to 18. An odd number allows you to start and end a step with one leg, which is convenient from the point of view of the biomechanics of movement. The optimal tread depth = the size of an adult’s foot (in main staircases; from 25, in non-residential premises on the second floor - from 20 cm). In the winder steps the narrow part is at least 10, on the midline - from 14 cm;
• the optimal slope is 37-45̊. If the slope is more than 45 degrees, the staircase will be steep; if it is less, it will be too flat, which is equally inconvenient for moving. The step height within one march is the same along the entire length (the permissible difference in size is no more than 5 mm), otherwise the risk of injury increases;
• the size of the platform between the flights - the width is equal to the width of the span, the length - not less than 1.3-1.4 m, for entrance doors opening onto the platform - the size of the door leaf + 0.5-0.6 m;
• fencing - for stairs between floors, 0.9 m is optimal. If there are children - 1.5. At an entrance of three or more steps - a minimum of 0.8 m.

Opening and dimensions of steps

You can calculate stairs, or rather, steps, only if you have all the formulas available and the basic indicators have been determined. To begin with, they are selected intuitively, based on SNiP standards. You also need to measure the opening; in the future, you can adjust the parameters if some deviations and discrepancies are identified. Since you can calculate the dimensions of the opening for the stairs using a simple tape measure, first measure the distance from the floor to the ceiling, and from the entrance to the second floor to the position of the first step.

In order to calculate the staircase in the house, as well as determine what size the opening should be, you first need to know the number of steps in the flight. Based on this indicator, you will calculate the size of the riser and can use the formula to determine the step. So, let's look at how to calculate the standard stair step. To do this, you need to take the width of the tread and the height of the step. The formula for calculating the step of the stairs is as follows:

In one step, a person can cover an average of 60-65 cm. This is a comfortable step size, on the basis of which you can calculate the width of the tread (a) and the height of the riser (c).

Measurements necessary for the correct calculation of the stairs to the second floor

These indicators can also be determined in a slightly different way. To do this, you need to take as a basis such parameters as the height of the rise, the length of the projection and the slope of the stairs. First you need to calculate the lift height:

In other words, you need to sum up the height of the room and the thickness of the ceiling. From here you can find out the number of steps:

Based on the number of steps and the height of the tread, you can calculate the projection length of the staircase, focusing on the opening. We calculate the projection length of the stairs:

If you know the height of the rise and the length of the stairs, you can find out the slope or steepness of a straight staircase:

Based on these data, you can calculate more accurate indicators for a straight staircase:

What do the guidelines say?

So, we are planning to build a staircase in a private house. If the owners, as they say, take this matter completely upon themselves, then quite naturally they have a series of questions regarding the regulatory parameters of this design.

In this regard, modern man is provided with all the “conveniences of civilization.” He opens a search engine in his browser and types in the query “height of steps for the stairs of his own house.” And he is bombarded with a whole list of articles under this heading - take your pick, I don’t want to.

But here’s the strange thing - almost all the authors refer to the same SNiP (however, some do not indicate document numbers at all), but the values ​​of the size of the steps from article to article “float” in a certain range. Perhaps in such a situation it would be most advisable to go directly to the source?

In most of these articles, the authors indicate SNiP 2.08.01-89* “Residential Buildings” as the fundamental document. And this is where things get interesting...

The fact is that this document does not say anything specifically about the height of degrees. The steepness of the flights of stairs is specified - but nothing more. Anyone can see this for themselves. So, colleagues, let's still respect the readers. And since you are referring to some document, then at least look into it yourself...

But this is not even the most important thing. The whole nonsense is that the mentioned document is currently no longer even valid. And referring to it is simply incorrect.

You cannot refer to SNiP 2.08.01-89* “Residential Buildings” - this document is no longer valid.

In the same way, SNiP 2.08.01-89* “Public buildings and structures”, which they also like to refer to, has also been taken out of use.

The current “primary source” for public buildings is now SP 118.13330.2012* (updated version of SNiP 06/31/2009 with amendments).

SNiP for public buildings stipulate the range of step sizes. But let us emphasize that the conversation is not yet about residential...

Yes, in this document the dimensions of the steps are still specified. But, note that this applies specifically to public tasks - here the framework is always stricter. However, let's get acquainted with these requirements - you can still focus on them when developing your own staircase projects.

• The number of steps in a march should be less than three and no more than sixteen. On marches within the first floor, this number can reach eighteen.
• The tread width is 300 mm with an acceptable range from 280 to 350 mm. The height of the step is 150 mm or in the range from 130 to 170 mm.
• It is prohibited to use steps of different heights and widths throughout one flight. As a permissible exception, changes in the configuration of the first three steps of the main staircase are possible.

Prices for wooden stairs

wooden staircase

However, we need data specifically about residential buildings. It must be assumed that since the old SNiPs were cancelled, others came to replace them. So it is - but instead of one document, two appeared: residential buildings are divided into multi-apartment and single-apartment buildings. By the way, both documents are very “fresh”, they came into force in April 2017.

First, let's look at multi-apartment residential buildings.

Current set of rules for multi-apartment residential buildings

What does this document say about the size of stairs?

The dimensions of the steps are not directly specified. The document only notes that their height and width of the treads, the width and slope of the flights, the height of the passages above the stairs must be such as to ensure safety and ease of movement along them and the movement of goods and objects both for the apartments themselves and for public premises, if they are available in the house.

True, there is regulation of the width of flights of stairs and the magnitude of their maximum steepness:

It is specifically stipulated that the width of the march is calculated between the fences installed on both sides, or between the fence and the wall.

The number of steps in a march is from three to eighteen. On interior stairs, it is allowed to use spiral or winder sections, so that the width of the treads in the center of these steps is at least 180 mm.

As in all other cases, the height and depth of the steps should not change along the entire length of the stairs.

But apartment buildings, again, are most often built according to some general standard designs. For the installation of stairs, as a rule, ready-made reinforced concrete structures are used, which are produced on the basis of special GOSTs.

But what about the owner of a one-apartment private house?

We are opening a special Code of Rules dedicated to just such buildings.

A document regulating the rules for single-family residential buildings. But there’s not much information in it about stairs.

And we see that there is no specific information at all regarding the equipment of staircase passages. All recommendations fit literally into two paragraphs of clauses 8.1 and 8.2. They are small, so it makes sense to quote them verbatim.

“...8.1 The house must be designed, constructed and equipped in such a way as to prevent the risk of injury to residents when moving in and around the house, when entering and leaving it, as well as when using indoor equipment.

8.2 The slope and width of flights of stairs and ramps, the height of steps, the width of treads, the width of landings, the height of passages along stairs, the basement, the attic in use, differences in floor level, as well as the dimensions of doorways should ensure convenience and safety of movement and the ability to move pieces of furniture and indoor equipment. The use of stairs with different step heights is not allowed..."

Prices for steps

steps

And that’s literally all.

It turns out that the sizes are not regulated at all and are completely “at the mercy” of the owner of the house? On the one hand, this is true. That is, he is free to do as he finds more convenient. We will talk in detail about this component, about convenience, later in this article.

But security issues still remain. And since almost any interfloor staircase in a private house becomes one of the escape routes in case of emergency, it would be reasonable to assume that there should also be some rules here.

The way it is. There are special regulatory documents on this matter. These are SNiP 21-01-97* “Fire safety of buildings and structures” and SP 1.13130.2009 “Fire protection systems. Evacuation routes and exits."

The issues of the size of stairs and the height of steps - in particular, are given due attention in the documents regulating the requirements for ensuring fire safety

Both documents are valid. The name and nomenclature numbers differ, but this is more because the standards were adopted by different departments - the Ministry of Construction and the Ministry of Emergency Situations. But in terms of information on the equipment of stairs, it coincides almost word for word.

So, these documents stipulate the requirements for stairs as escape routes. Moreover, in the general section, these standards are given uniformly for all buildings, regardless of their type and purpose. That is, they become mandatory for private single-apartment houses.

• The width of the flight of stairs, which is considered as an escape route for a private residential building, must be at least 900 mm. A flight width of 700 mm is allowed if the stairs lead to a single workplace.
• The slope of stairs, as a rule, should not exceed 1:1 (45°). For open internal stairs (not limited by a staircase) leading to a single workplace, it is allowed to set the slope to 2:1 (≈ 63°).
• The width of the stair tread, as a rule, should not be less than 250 mm, and the height of the rise of the step should not exceed 220 mm. True, on curved steps of main staircases it is permissible to reduce the tread to 220 mm, and on stairs leading to non-residential or work premises (no more than 15 workers) - even to 120 mm.
• The width of landings should not be less than the width of the flights themselves. The intermediate platform between straight flights is made at least 1000 mm long. If doors open onto the stairs, then when open they should not reduce the standard width of flights and landings.

In the section devoted to single-family houses, these parameters do not change in any way. Only a number of reservations are made in the sense that in such buildings it is allowed to consider internal open staircases, including spiral ones or with winder sections, as evacuation staircases. At the same time, neither the slope, nor the width, nor even the fire resistance limit and fire hazard class of the materials used to manufacture the staircase elements are regulated in any way.

So, the requirements for stairs prescribed in SNiP and Codes of Regulations were considered. It must be admitted that for single-apartment residential buildings these standards cannot be called overly “severe”. The owner, if he develops the project himself and is confident in his own knowledge and capabilities, has a wide field for creativity, not particularly limited by rigid boundaries. If he ensures compliance with the above safety requirements, then no claims can be made against him.

This refers to claims from regulatory organizations. But from the side of family members - how can it! After all, the staircase must not only meet established standards, but also be as comfortable as possible. This is already the “other side of the coin” to which we are now moving.

Prices for metal stairs

metal staircase

Convenience and safety

In addition to the dimensions of the structure itself for lifting to the second floor, there are several more criteria for assessing convenience and safety that must be taken into account. Therefore, it is not enough to simply correctly calculate the stairs using the specified formulas; it is necessary to determine the degree of compliance of the design parameters with the required standards. This can be done with your own hands using simple techniques.

Calculation of a safe and convenient step of stairs for private use

First of all, the formula is used to calculate the safety of the stairs:

This sum of the dimensions of the tread and riser indicates that the preliminary calculations were made correctly and comply with the standards.

There is also a special formula for determining the degree of convenience of the stairs:

If the difference between these two indicators is 12 units, it means that climbing such a staircase to the second floor will be very convenient for the average person. The opening must also meet the requirements of convenience and safety, provide free access and not impede access to the second floor.

You should not recalculate the entire project if there are minor deviations of a couple of centimeters, this is quite acceptable.

Convenience formula

BA=12 cm

The height of the riser = 12 cm is subtracted from the width of the tread (acceptable 12-14 cm). The formula was developed by the Institute of Labor Psychology named after. Max Planck. If this formula is followed, a slope is created that requires minimal effort when lifting.

Safety formula

B+A=46 cm

You can check the safety of the stairs using the formula: add the height of the riser to the width of the step = 45-47 cm.

Stair workers, even in country houses with a small stairwell, set the lower threshold of the tread width to be at least 25 cm, but a width of at least 30 cm is felt better and more comfortable.

Step size

The size of the steps is perhaps one of the main characteristics of the stairs. It depends on them how comfortable and safe household members will be able to go up to the second floor and down.

Recommended values

Master Novitsky Oleg Vadimovich in the book “Modern stairs. Design, manufacturing, installation.” (best wishes to the author and this amazing work) mentions the recommended and repeatedly practice-tested values ​​for the rise ( h ) and tread ( a ) of steps:

h×a = 150×300, 160×300, 170×290 mm.

These dimensions are good, but, unfortunately, cannot be used if the house has already been built and the total height of the staircase ( H ) is not a multiple of a single step ( h ). In this case, we can turn to calculation formulas.

Formulas of convenience and safety

The convenience formula is widely known :

According to this ratio, the stairs will be the most convenient.

A staircase is considered safe if the sum of the dimensions ( c ) of the tread width and riser height is 45 cm:

30+15; 27+18; 25+20.

Accordingly, this equation is called the safety formula :

The difficulty is that the formulas are applicable in a small range of sizes and it is not always possible to implement the required proportion in practice. In this case, you should “get” into the indicated proportions with minimal deviation or use the universal Blondel formula , which takes into account the average human step. More on this below.

Calculation of the dimensions of a wooden staircase with bowstrings

Indicate the required dimensions in millimeters X - the length of the staircase opening Y - the height of the staircase Z - the width of the staircase C - the number of steps W - the thickness of the steps F - the protrusion of the steps T - the thickness of the bowstring or stringer H - show risers LR - the direction of rise of the staircase SP - the position of the first step relative to the floor level of the second floor
Program capabilities. Calculation of a convenient design of a wooden staircase on bowstrings. Determining the required amount of materials. Exact dimensions of all parts. Detailed drawings and diagrams of all staircase elements. Recommendations for the convenience of stairs. Calculation of stair comfort is calculated using a formula based on step length. The length of a person's step is from 60 to 66 cm, on average - 63 cm. A comfortable staircase corresponds to the formula: 2 step heights + step depth = 63±3 cm. The most convenient inclination of the stairs is from 30° to 40°. The depth of the steps of the stairs should correspond to shoe size 45 - no less than 28-30 cm. The lack of depth can be compensated for by the protrusion of the step. The height of the step should be up to 20-25 cm.

We recommend: How to calculate how many cubes of concrete are needed for a foundation: calculator and calculation formulas

The importance of design

Depending on their purpose, stairs can have different lengths, angles of inclination and number of steps.

Note! In order for the structure to serve as long as possible, reliably and comfortably, you need to take its construction extremely responsibly. Therefore, the design and calculation of stairs is the most important stage of their construction.

Errors in area design.
It is necessary to calculate every detail - from the steps to the cage, when it is needed.

This element is not always needed.

1. So, in order to install a straight staircase of a standard type, it is not necessary to attach a platform to it.
2. On the contrary, during the construction of double-flight analogues or structures with a significant number of spans, these elements are usually necessary.
3. The exception is analogues that are not designed for many users to climb/lower or transport large items. Here two or three winder steps are enough to arrange a staircase turn.
4. There is a variation in the use of only steps of this type throughout the entire structure. Such structures are called screw ones. The steps in them have a trapezoidal shape. Their narrow part closes with the inner radius of the screw, while the wide part remains on the outer side.

Based on this, the instructions prohibit two people from climbing and descending at the same time on such stairs. Thus, moving around a structure with steps no more than 10 centimeters wide is not only inconvenient, but also risky.

Types of steps

• Frieze, located at the beginning and end of the march. The lower tread is called the invitation or entrance. Installed to increase the angle of approach to staircases. Quantity - 1-3. Invitations differ from ordinary treads in size or shape. You can not attach balusters to them and use them as a podium for placing flowers and other decorative items.
• Ordinary - located between frieze. The number in one march is from 3 to 15.
• Winders, with a wide outer part. Used in spiral staircases and corner structures. If space for a turning staircase is limited, installing 2-3 winder steps instead of a platform will save up to a meter of usable space. A type of winder steps is a “goose step” (with an asymmetrical arrangement of elements).

A staircase with risers is called closed, while a staircase without is called open. Open marches look easier than closed ones. The absence of a riser increases the tread area.

Straight steps are the standard shape in straight and turning staircases. Invitation elements are often made with rounded corners for ease of entry from different sides. Semicircular (radius) and trapezoidal treads look interesting on the porch.

Material for manufacturing - any, depending on the location of the staircase. The most popular option for private houses is wood, which is used to cover wooden and metal frames. For the manufacture of wooden elements, we recommend wear-resistant oak, beech wood or solid-lamella panels, characterized by resistance to deformation, abrasion, and high humidity.

The glass steps look original. Despite their external fragility, they can easily withstand the weight of 2-3 people and do not break from blows. Tempered glass or triplex is combined with metal and forging. It is better to entrust the production of glass elements to specialists who will make accurate calculations of loads and dimensions for the dimensions of the flight of stairs.

Types of structures

To determine how to design a staircase with access to the second floor with your own hands, you first need to decide on the type of future structure and the position of the staircase. The following models are distinguished:

• straight one-march;
• single-flight with winder steps;
• two-flight with an intermediate platform;
• rotatable 90 degrees (L-shaped);
• swivel 180 degrees (U-shaped);
• with an arbitrary degree of rotation.

Calculating the parameters of a staircase with your own hands may seem like a difficult task for a beginner. In order to avoid significant mistakes, you need to familiarize yourself with the basic indicators, established standards and formulas for calculations.

Options for staircase designs to the second floor

What are the angles?

First, let's look at how each type differs.

• Up to 30° flat surfaces and ramps;
• 30-45° are household;
• 45-75° attached.
• More than 75° for household needs, for evacuation, firefighters, which are fixed on the walls of buildings.

The number of steps in the flight of flights will depend on the slope and height of the interfloor ceiling. The optimal number value is 3-17. There is one peculiarity here. It is recommended to make an odd number. This is necessary in order to finish the lift with the same leg with which it started. For the majority of people, this feature is the most convenient.

Evacuation via stairwells

The main goal of developing and complying with standards, norms and rules for staircase structures is related to ensuring fire safety standards, which are aimed at ensuring, if necessary, the competent and quick evacuation of people in the building. Regarding evacuation and the role of stairs, the following should be noted.

In no case should the escape staircase have a flight width smaller than the width of the doorway. The slope must be maintained in a ratio of 1:1, and the height and width of the steps according to GOST are determined at 220 and 250 mm, respectively.

On staircases it is not allowed to place gas pipelines, built-in cabinets (except for electrical and switching ones), or install equipment that will protrude above the steps of the stairs at a distance of more than 220 cm . Elevator cabins can be located on the staircase (but no more than two).

Fire escape

Calculation of the optimal angle of inclination of the stairs

One of the first tasks when designing a rise to the second floor is determining the appropriate angle of inclination of the stairs. This indicator comprehensively affects the appearance, design and characteristics of the product as a whole and at the same time depends on them. How to calculate it for each specific case?

What indicators affect the slope of the march

Not only its appearance and dimensions, but also such characteristics as safety and ease of use depend on how correctly you determine the degree of slope of the staircase. However, these indicators are influenced not only by the angle of inclination of the flight of stairs itself, but also by other aspects.

The angle of inclination directly depends on the size of the steps

In order to calculate the best option for lift design, you should also pay attention to the following indicators:

• Step size is the distance a person covers in one step. On average, a value of 60 cm is taken as a basis. This is the distance between two steps, taking into account the riser.
• The height of the step is the size of the riser. The higher it is, the steeper the staircase will be.
• The width of the step is, in other words, the depth of the tread. These are the dimensions of the step itself. A person’s foot should be placed comfortably on it both when ascending to the second floor and when descending. If you make the tread small, the slope angle will increase and going down the stairs will be inconvenient and unsafe. Otherwise, the person’s step is lost or the descent is too shallow.

It is important to maintain optimal relationships between these indicators. Based on them, the number of steps and the angle of inclination are determined.

By changing this data you can influence the final version. This way, you can work through several projects and then choose the one that suits you best.

Optimal inclination angle for standard stairs

In residential buildings, it is customary to install stairs with the most convenient parameters so that all inhabitants of the home can move along them with maximum comfort. It is important to ensure safe movement, good visibility of steps and the ability to carry loads.

A large angle of inclination of the stairs requires the installation of handrails

Special design standards have been developed for a flight of stairs in residential premises. So, for standard structures of this type, a slope of 20-50 degrees is allowed. However, it is worth noting that too small a degree increases the area required for the construction of the structure, and a large degree reduces its safety.

According to GOST, the optimal inclination angle for stairs is 40 degrees. Depending on the available space, it can fluctuate between 30-45 degrees. This is the indicator that is considered ideal in most cases.

Features of calculating the angle of inclination of a flight of stairs

In order to calculate the optimal slope, it is necessary to determine the frequency of use of the structure and its required dimensions. For example, for an extension flight and a traditional staircase, these indicators will be different.

Things to consider when performing calculations:

• the number of steps that will make movement comfortable;
• operating features;
• structural strength;
• type of materials used;
• installation location.

For convenience, the age category of persons who will move along the span must be taken into account.

Two-flight staircase in a two-story house with an angle of 45 degrees

Walking line and middle marching line

The traverse line ( A ) is a horizontal projection of a person's imaginary movement along the steps. Passes at a distance of 300-500 mm from the inner edge of the stairs. This average size determines the comfort of using the handrail . Children will walk closer to the railing, adults - further .

Sometimes for a straight march this size is neglected, since the edges of the steps are parallel .

If the width of the stairs is up to 1000 mm, then the running line will coincide with the middle line of the flight. If more than 1000 mm, then the travel line shifts towards the handrail. The calculation algorithm is as follows:

Using chalk or a plumb line, mark the intended route line(s) on the floor. Record the size with a tape measure and correlate it with the height of the stairs. It’s great if the travel line 1.7 greater than the height , which means the slope will be 30 °.

Next, divide the line by ( n-1 ) for each proposed step rise option.

all obtained tread size indicators using the Blondel formula to determine the optimal one.

Ideal angle parameters

For the sake of convenience and correct use of space, it is recommended to leave the span angle at 20-50 degrees. A more accurate value must be determined depending on the shape of the landing. If for flat and screw structures the slope will be smaller, then for strict marching and attached structures it will be many times greater (for more details, see the section above).

If possible and for aesthetic reasons, it is recommended to adhere to 45 degrees when erecting the structure. This parameter complies with GOST and safety regulations during movement.

Marching staircase with an optimal climbing angle

On a note! The width of the step plays a role when descending. If it is equal to foot size 45, then it will be convenient to move down. The owner will not have to worry about slipping.

Norms

There are generally accepted standards that ensure a comfortable step and convenient movement along a lifting structure.

To ensure such conditions, the length of the step should be 300 mm and its height 150 mm. Such proportions have long been successfully tested in practice, and are based on the average length of a human step and many other parameters. Deviations from these standards, even by a centimeter, lead to a deterioration in the quality of operation of the device; you will constantly have to monitor your steps.

1. For example, the rise of steps is often increased in residential buildings or other buildings to save usable space, correspondingly reducing their number, which significantly reduces the area occupied by the staircase. However, increasing the standard size even to 160 mm will significantly affect performance characteristics. And if this parameter is increased to 200 mm, you will have to climb, applying considerable effort and maximizing the step.
2. If the rise of the steps is reduced, which is sometimes practiced in schools and other children's institutions, an adult will have to literally “mince” with his feet and constantly stumble.

Calculation of length and height

When constructing a staircase, it is allowed that its vertical surface hangs 0.03-0.05 m above the horizontal one; this will significantly increase the width of the steps and avoid increasing the length of the staircase.

General Design Guidelines

Design is an important process. It is the basis on which the staircase in a residential building will be built. In order to create a project yourself, you will need “graph paper” - a special paper on which there are markings in millimeters.

Now on the sheet you need to draw a right triangle, which will serve as the basis of the diagram, using a scale of 1:10. The first leg will be equal to the distance that the flight of stairs will occupy. It is written in centimeters. The second represents the distance taken between the floor on the first floor and the floor on the second floor. The hypotenuse is the side that characterizes the length of the structure.

When specifying the parameters of steps and stairs, take into account the fact: the steeper the structure, the narrower and higher the rise will be.

On a note! When designing a flight of stairs at home, you can slope slightly inward to prevent your foot from slipping when going up and down. Staircases for emergency situations are compiled with similar GOST standards.

Basic regulatory documents for various types of stairs

When designing, it is recommended to rely on the following SNiPs:

• II-23-81 – steel objects;
• II-25-80 – wooden objects;
• 35-01 2001 - objects with ramps for the disabled;
• 2.01.07-85 - describes the permissible loads on all staircase elements;
• 2.08.01-89 - design of residential buildings;
• 2.08.02-89 - design of public buildings.

Why it is so important to adhere to the recommended standards and rules when designing stair elements is described in the video below.

Making a staircase in a private house

Stairs in a house can lead not only to the second floor. In this case, there are constructions of the following types:

• external: for climbing to the roof, for accessing the attic, going down to the basement or garage, for climbing onto the porch;
• internal: moving between floors, descending to the ground floor.

We recommend: What color to choose for the kitchen - photos, tips for choosing kitchen colors

The optimal angle of inclination for each type of staircase should be as follows:

• up to 30° - external rises, it is more advisable to organize ramps;
• from 30° to 45° - stairs inside the house (to the second floor) or other household ascents;
• from 45° to 75° - attached structures;
• over 75° - evacuation marches.

For each specific case, its own angle of inclination is set, at the same time, the useful space that can be safely spent on organizing the stairs for the design of the house is taken into account.

Without resorting to complex calculations, using ordinary graph paper, knowing the height of the required rise and the length of the room that is allocated for the flight of stairs, you can experimentally determine the slope. So, on a scale of 1:10, on paper we plot horizontally the length of the room that is allocated for the march. Vertical - the height of the future rise (this is the distance from the floor of the first floor room to the horizontal ceiling of the second floor). The two lines must be strictly at right angles to each other. It turns out to be a right triangle. The length of its hypotenuse will be equal to the length of the flight of stairs. The angle between the hypotenuse and the horizontal leg indicates the slope of the march. If it lies within the “comfortable rise” angle for a given type of staircase, then the number of future steps can be calculated. If the climb is too steep, then you need to think about organizing the flights on the stairs.

The staircase must have the correct angle of inclination

March slope and step height

Having decided on the angle of inclination for the march, you need to determine the length and width of the step. To do this, use the formula: 2A+ B=60-64, where:

• A – riser height, cm;
• B – width of the step (tread), cm,
• 60-64 value in cm of the length of the average step of a woman and a man.

Regulatory documentation indicates the optimal step height A = 15 cm, but this value can vary between 14-17 cm. The angle of inclination of the structure will tell you which value to choose. Let's say A = 15 cm. Then using the above formula it is not difficult to calculate the value of B.

B = (60 – (15*2) – 64 – (15*2)) = 30 cm or 34 cm,

Next you need to calculate the required number of steps. To do this, we divide the height of the floor H (this is the distance between the floors of the first and second floors) by the height of one rise, that is, A. For example, the height of the floor H is 270 cm, then H/A = 270/15 = 18 steps. But what to do when the floor height is a number that is not a multiple of three, for example 260 cm, then the number of steps will not be an integer. In this case, there are two options:

• make the last step of non-standard size;
• change the angle of inclination of the structure.

Table of various staircase parameters

Here they also resort to experimental methods and plot on a scale of 1:10 on graph paper: in the form of a strictly vertical line, the height of floor H. From the top point of this segment, the required number of steps of standard sizes are lowered. This will be the hypotenuse of the right triangle. A line is drawn from the lower point of the hypotenuse to the base of the vertical leg. This will be the horizontal leg, that is, the length of the future flight of stairs, and the angle between the hypotenuse and the leg will be the inclination of the stairs. It is determined by a protractor.

Roof angle

Having dealt with the staircase to the top floor of the house, it is not difficult to calculate the slope of the roof. This indicator of the roof depends on its construction material and on the purposes for which the attic space will be used, for example, the organization of the roof is associated with the construction of an attic (as an additional floor of the house).

The roof slope is determined by the formula H ridge = L pr.* tg A, where:

• H of the ridge is the height of the future attic of the roof;
• L ave. - half the length of the span of the house;
• tg A is the tangent of the desired indicator, that is, the desired slope of the roof.

For example, the design documentation indicates that the additional floor of the house in the attic should have a height of 1.8 m. We measure the width of the gable using a tape measure, allowed 6 m. L pr = 3 m. Then, using the formula, we determine the tangent of the angle of inclination of the roof and use the table to find the value corner.

So, the article describes in detail how to experimentally establish the angle of inclination of a flight of stairs (photo), and provides an example of theoretical calculations of the angle of inclination of the roof of a house. The material was compiled by master builders and all formulas were confirmed by successful practice. If the reader has any questions, our experts will be happy to answer them. We are waiting for your comments and will be happy to help you sort out the construction.

Measurement procedure and design tools

If the staircase is being constructed during finishing work, then the following tools will be needed for measurements:

• roulette;
• level;
• long straight rail;
• extra pair of hands.

The order of measurements is carried out in the following sequence:

• The perpendicularity of the walls is checked using a square;
• The height of the ceiling and the thickness of the ceiling are measured;
• A plan is drawn up on graph paper with a section of the room (the plan must take into account measurement data not only of the floor and openings, but also of doors, windows, etc.);

Approximate sketch of a staircase

• When making a sketch, you should take into account the dimensions of standard products (this will avoid additional costs for individual production of structural elements).

Advice! You can save on the construction of stairs by using standard prefabricated elements. In Russia, various manufacturers of these elements adhere to certain standards, so when developing it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the standard sizes.

How to calculate stairs online?

To get a full design calculation, you need to know how much space the staircase takes up. This is one of the required parameters that must be entered. It is for this reason that many people wonder about the area. A calculator is a good opportunity to avoid the “puzzle”, but to get accurate calculations for any staircase design - marching or spiral, curved or combined.

For the results of the virtual instruments to be correct, you must enter:

1. Type of staircase planned.
2. The height and length of the opening.
3. The depth of the steps, their number.
4. The height of the ceiling, the area that the future staircase will occupy.
5. Number of marches. This indicator largely depends on the size of the room.
6. The place where the stairs are going to be installed: in the middle of the room or along the wall. This parameter is needed to determine how many handrails are required.

To guarantee the most correct result, it is recommended to carry out all measurements with one tape measure. In this case, if all the data is entered correctly (in the fields intended for them), the calculator will produce an accurate drawing - black and white or color. It should be noted that such programs already include all the norms and requirements specified in GOST.

The answer to the question of how much space a staircase takes up is quite simple, since the calculation will not take much time or require any excessive mental effort. However, it is important if there is a minimum of free space in the house, which you want to use as rationally as possible. Choosing the right type of design will allow even the largest staircase to look (and be) quite compact.

You can watch a video on the staircase topic here:

Standard elements

Every good owner knows how to count money. The construction of stairs is no exception. You can save a lot of money if the details of the staircase at the design stage can be adjusted to the standard of blanks accepted in the Russian .

Economic considerations can be the key argument that allows the owner to choose a single staircase location option from several possible ones.