How is the staircase indicated in the drawing? How to draw a staircase in AutoCAD, what should be its slope and the size of the steps? What are the correct names for the structural elements of a flight of stairs? We will try to find answers to these and some other questions in the article.
Typically, a staircase drawing is part of a building or floor plan. We will begin by introducing the concept of a plan.
It is worth clarifying: of course, when manufacturing any complex structures, a detailed sketch is also drawn up, indicating those dimensions that are usually absent on the building plan. However, the staircase is in any case indicated on the general plan.
So, a plan is a projection of a horizontal section of a floor or an entire house onto a plane. What information does it contain?
- The location of all rooms on the floor, indicating their sizes.
- Location of staircases and flights.
- The location of window and door openings also depends on their dimensions, of course.
- Building structure (including location of supports and floor spans).
- Thickness of load-bearing walls and columns.
Drawing up plans is subject to certain rules:
- The main facade is at the bottom of the plan.
- If there are plans of several floors on one sheet, they are arranged in ascending order of the floor number from left to right or from top to bottom.
- The plan indicates the direction in which the doors will open.
- The drawing of a flight of stairs is supplemented with an arrow indicating the slope from bottom to top: the beginning of the arrow is always at the bottom of the flight.
Terminology
What are the correct names for ready-made staircases of various types and their elements?
Types of stairs
- Spiral staircase twisted around the pillar. Its characteristic feature is triangular or trapezoidal steps. Typically used when space is at a premium; quite inconvenient for transporting large items.
- Marching– its complete opposite: rectangular feet and straight lines.
- Spiral staircase differs from a screw in that it describes a circle at a distance from the geometric center.
- The cantilever does not have a supporting frame– the steps are embedded in the wall on one side.
- Modular assembled from identical structural elements. The connections remain detachable.
- Boltsevaya instead of a supporting frame, it uses steel elements as support, connecting the steps to each other - bolts.
- Attic and basement stairs differ from others quite conditionally: they are characterized by a greater slope. The reason is high requirements for compactness and low requirements for convenience. However, they may not differ from interfloor ones: saving space is not required everywhere.
- Firefighters can be either marching or vertical. Vertical stairs with a height of more than six meters are equipped with railings.
In addition to appearance and purpose, stairs can differ in material. Popular materials for making them yourself are reinforced concrete, steel and wood; Along with them, more exotic ones can be used: glass, artificial or natural stone, ceramics and some plastics.
Please note: the exception is stationary fire escapes. They are made only from steel.
Elements
- The march we have already mentioned is just a straight section of the stairs.
- Tread is the horizontal surface of a step.
- A riser is a vertical structural element that supports a tread.
However: spiral, cantilever and some flight staircases often do without risers.
- Stringer is a support beam with steps on top of it. Most often there are two stringers, but some designs make do with one.
- If the steps do not rest on the beams, but are embedded between them, the beams are called bowstrings.
- A landing is a horizontal section between two flights.
- Winder stair steps are an alternative to the platform between two multidirectional flights. Unlike straight flight steps, they have a trapezoidal shape.
- The center line, contrary to its name, does not necessarily run through the center of the staircase. This is an imaginary line along which one person ascends or descends in the absence of factors limiting movement. Let's say, for a spiral staircase, the middle line will be slightly shifted towards the wider edge of the step.
- Clearance is, simply put, the distance from the surface of the step to what is above your head when you stand on it.
Designations on the drawings
How to correctly designate stairs in drawings?
Form
No exotic awaits us here: the image of the staircase in the drawing is its projection onto a plane. If we try to depict a floor in plan - on a horizontal one; in the case of a vertical section - accordingly, to the vertical one.
Usually the plan does not give a complete picture of the number of flights and vertical dimensions of the staircase, so the drawing of the staircase and flights is carried out at least in plan and one section.
As already mentioned, the designation of the stairs in the drawing is necessarily supplemented by an indication of the direction in which the stairs are climbed. The bottom of the stairs is marked with a circle, the top with an arrow.
Materials
Should, say, drawings for concrete stairs necessarily include a verbal or letter designation of the material from which they are made?
Not at all. In GOST 5401-50 contains instructions on the use of graphic symbols of different materials during construction.
Pessimist Comment: When drawing a house or staircase by hand, properly shading the relevant elements of the image is much more difficult than writing a few words in a footnote.
Here is a description of the graphic symbols for those materials that are used in the construction of stairs.
- The tree in the transverse end section is hatched with circular and radial lines, imitating annual rings and radial cracks. Longitudinal lines are depicted on the longitudinal section - imitation of texture. If the material of a wooden staircase does not fall within the cut line, it is not shaded.
- Concrete is represented by a combination of dots and irregularly shaped circles. If the concrete staircase is reinforced (in fact, otherwise self-supporting structures are not made from concrete), the circles are combined with diagonal shading.
- Steel and generally metal structural elements are hatched with frequent diagonal lines. In small-scale drawings or when the element thickness is less than 2 mm, they are marked with a solid fill.
General principles and dimensions
The project cost is typically 1 to 5 percent of construction. If we are talking about the manufacture of a staircase, its detailed sketch may well cost 1/10 of the total cost of the structure.
Of course, someone who hasn’t skipped school drawing lessons will have a reasonable desire to do the work themselves. However, this requires not only enthusiasm, but also certain basic knowledge.
Slope
- The most convenient slope is 1:2, or 30 degrees to the horizon. Comfort range – from 25 to 40 degrees; the maximum permissible slope for an interfloor staircase is 45 degrees (1:1).
However: drawings of attic stairs are made based on a slope of up to 75 degrees. The reasons have already been mentioned: for rarely visited rooms, the compactness of the staircase is more important than comfort.
- With a slope of less than 23 degrees, it is possible to construct a ramp - a straight or curved inclined platform.
- An angle to the horizon of more than 45-50 degrees means that you will have to go down the stairs backwards. A person descending such stairs will be hampered by the length of his own shins.
The photo shows a rather steep staircase Basic moments
- The march contains no less than three and no more than eighteen steps. The limitation is related to safety: the longer the ladder, the greater the likelihood of serious injury if falling from it.
- All steps within a straight flight must be strictly identical. The requirement again relates to safety, but this time to fire safety: you will have to descend in a smoky room from memory, placing your feet literally by touch.
- Staircase drawings are made taking into account one more safety requirement: the length and width of the platform separating flights lying on the same straight line should not be less than the width of the stairs. Everything is clear with the width of the site: otherwise it will become a bottleneck; but why regulate the length?
So that a person who has lost his balance has the opportunity to stop.
- If we are talking about an external staircase, then it is better to make the door leading to it open inward. Where this is not possible, the platform is made deliberately wider than the door leaf.
Dimensions
Well, what are the optimal and minimum sizes to adhere to when designing?
The width of the staircase is related to its functionality. If it is designed for one person, a reasonable minimum is 90 centimeters. Actually, according to SNiP 31-02, at least one interfloor staircase in a private house must have a width no less than this.
However: for apartment buildings the minimum is 1050 mm. If you plan to move two opposing streams of people up the stairs, it is worth expanding it to at least 1500 mm.
The minimum height of the fence for a private house is 90 cm; if the height of the stairs is more than six meters, the fence should not be lower than 100 cm.
The dimensions of the step must meet several requirements:
- Tread width – from 260 to 355 millimeters. The entire foot of a tall person must fit on it: otherwise, climbing the stairs will be accompanied by constant tension in the calf muscles.
- Step height – from 125 to 200 millimeters. In this case, the ratio of width and height should, recall, ensure the slope of the march in a comfortable range. From a convenience point of view, a step with a width of 300 and a height of 150 mm is ideal.
- The sum of the tread width and twice the step height should be equal to the average step (usually 60 - 64 centimeters).
For spiral, spiral staircases and for winder steps, there is an optimal turning radius. It is equal to the sum of twice the width of the tread and the width of the stairs. In this case, the tread is measured not along the edge, but along the center line.
So, with a staircase width of 100 cm and a tread width on the center line of 20 cm (this is the minimum prescribed by SNiP), the turning radius should not be less than 100+(20x2)=140 cm.
The clearance (remember, this is the distance from the step to the ceiling) is made no less than 2000 mm. In this case, a tall person will not have to bend down.
Conclusion
We have put at the disposal of the respected reader the general principles for constructing drawings of stairs; however, without drawing skills, the result is unlikely to be satisfactory. In the video posted in this article you will find interesting information on this topic (also learn about the main points of designing stairs).
Good luck in construction!
Even a novice builder knows that before constructing any object, it is first necessary to schematically depict it in a drawing. Staircase structures are no exception to this rule. In order to make a sketch of the staircase yourself or learn to navigate well in a ready-made image of the system, you need to know how its main elements are indicated on the diagram. This material, beautifully illustrated with high-quality photos and useful videos, is dedicated to a detailed study of this topic.
In order to build a staircase, it is not enough to draw it, you also need to know its main permissible dimensions, and also be able to understand the designations of its main elements in the drawing
Drawing a staircase is the first step in its creation
Even a person who does not have any special talent as an artist can draw the staircase of his dreams. However, it is unlikely that a professional builder will be able to understand such a drawing without accompanying explanations. Therefore, before you begin to implement the diagram, you should study at least the general rules for the design of the drawing.
However, you can draw the staircase of your dreams on paper, and then transfer this drawing to a professional designer, who will make a competent drawing from it As a rule, a sketch of the staircase is developed during the design of the house. Although the stepped structure can be erected indoors after construction is completed.
Such a staircase must be included in the design of the entire house What is a project
A project (plan) is a projection of a horizontal section of a floor, building or staircase structure, transferred to a plane.
When designing a multi-level building, pay due attention to the location of a convenient staircase structure in it What's on the plan:
Another detailed diagram of the stairs to the second floor, which you can use and apply for construction in your home Images and symbols
Before you begin creating a drawing of a staircase, you need to learn to understand the generally accepted terminology and designations relating to these structures.
Detailed drawing of a rotary straight staircase with already calculated dimensions This concept includes several points - this is terminology associated with:
- type of stairs;
- its main elements;
- designations on the drawings;
- dimensions of the structure;
- the material used.
Let's look at each of these definitions in more detail.
Another ready-made design drawing of a combined type staircase system that may also be useful to you Stair type
Before you start drawing a schematic representation of the staircase structure, decide what type it will belong to:
Essential elements
The main elements shown in the diagram are:
Ready-made drawing of a flight of stairs with a 180-degree turn and one landing (note to developers) Symbols on diagrams
In the drawing, the staircase system is depicted in the form of a diagram on which the designations are made in accordance with GOST 5401-50. Let's look at them in more detail using the example of the photo drawing below.
The photo shows the simplest drawing of a staircase, where a is the section, b is the design of the lower flight, c is the design of the transition flight, d is the diagram of the upper flight. So, we found out that the diagram of an ordinary staircase (see photo above) has the following symbols:
- A – section
- B - lower march project
- B - transitional march project
- B - project of the upper march.
In addition, the diagram contains special arrows indicating the direction of movement along the stairs.
Detailed diagram of a rotating staircase with calculation of the dimensions of each element Design dimensions
The main dimensions of the staircase system include the following parameters:
The photo shows a wooden system with a detailed description of the terminology of all its components
Materials
Guidance on the graphic representation of manufacturing materials is also contained in GOST 5401-50. Below is a detailed description of these notations:
This photo shows schematic images of cross sections of various materials Conclusion
Thus, in the article we examined the main elements of staircase systems and their symbols in diagrams and drawings. Now it won’t be difficult for you to make a sketch of any design with your own hands and correctly schematically depict all the components of the staircase on it.
A competent and correctly executed project will ultimately help you build a high-quality and beautiful staircase in your home. However, if you do not have drawing skills or you do not have enough free time to build a staircase, you can always order a ready-made, high-quality and properly designed staircase system in our popular online store “Super Staircase”
You can purchase an excellent modular design of a marching type with a 90-degree rotation even today in the unique online store "Super Staircase" Video on the topic
In the video below you will find interesting supporting material related to the topic of the article.
The section for buildings of two or more floors is made along the staircase, for which a preliminary calculation and graphic breakdown of the staircase is performed. Figure 15 shows flights of stairs on the plans and section of the building.
Figure 15 - Image of the staircase on the plan and section of the building
The main element of a flight of stairs is a step consisting of a tread (step width A) and riser (step height h) (Fig. 15). The steps rest on inclined beams, called stringers for stone or concrete stairs. For stringers, reinforced concrete beams 200x300 mm are used. It should be taken into account that in each flight there are one more risers than treads, since one of them (the frieze step) enters the platform (Fig. 16).
Figure 15 – Fragment of a flight of stairs
Calculation of a staircase means determining the number of steps (risers) P, and their heights h, width a, layout (length of march in plan) l and width B staircase (Fig. 11).
The calculation of the staircase and its subsequent graphic breakdown is based on the height of the floor, that is, the distance from the floor of the floor to the floor of the next floor, and the following recommendations: the height of the step should be no more than 170 mm, and the width should be no less than 260 mm; flight width d– not less than 1200mm, fire distance between flights 80...120mm, width of landings t must be no less than the width of the march. In one march no more than 16 and no less than 3 steps are allowed.
Let, for example, the height of the floor H=3400mm, flight width d=1200mm, fire distance e=100mm, and step height h=150mm. We determine the number of risers in two marches: n= H/ h=3400:150=22.66. Since the number of risers must be integer, and for two marches also even, we assume that n=22. We specify the height of the step: h= H/ n=154.5mm.
Tread size A selected depending on height h according to the schedule or calculated from the dependence a+ h=450mm. In both cases, A=295.5mm.
Since in each march the number of treads is one less than the risers, the length (lay) of the march in plan is determined by the formula l= a(n/2-1)= 295.5(22/2-1)=295.5x10=2955mm.
Staircase width B=2 d+ e=2x1200+100=2500mm, and its minimum length L=2 t+ l=2x1200+2955=5350mm (minimum length, since in the example it was assumed that t= d).
The graphic breakdown of the staircase is carried out using the results of its calculation, and at the same time the flight is divided into steps in plan and steps in height in section. To do the latter, a mesh is broken into the cut; the horizontal dimensions of the mesh rectangles are equal to the width of the step A, and vertically its height h (previously set aside from the walls of the staircase along the width t landings). The steps are entered into the grid and the stringer lines of the staircase are drawn, without showing its structure in the drawing (Fig. 16).
The platforms of concrete and stone stairs on stringers are made prefabricated from ribbed reinforced concrete slabs laid along the beams of the platforms. A 40...50mm layer of cinder concrete is placed on the slabs, and a clean floor is placed on it.
Flights of stairs and landings are enclosed by railings 800 mm high. In the section, the railings are drawn conventionally in thin lines. They can have a wide variety of designs. When drawing them, you should pay attention to how the railing posts on which the handrail is supported are sealed (Fig. 16).
Figure 16 – Graphic breakdown of a flight of stairs
Calculate the staircase. The dimensions of the staircase are determined as a result of the calculation. In residential premises
flat stairs with a slope of 1:2 and medium ones with a slope of 1:1.75 are used. The staircase consists of landings and flights - inclined parts connecting the landings and consisting of steps. The step consists of a horizontal section - the tread and a vertical section - the riser. The dimensions of the steps are determined from the average human step according to the ratio 2h + b = 600 mm. The riser height can be selected from 150 to 180 mm. Tread width is from 270 to 300 mm. With a staircase slope of 1:2, the ratio h: b = 150:300, with a slope of 1:1.75 - h: b = 165:290. The number of steps in each march is no less than 3 and no more than 16.
In order to correctly and accurately draw a staircase on a section of a building, it is necessary to prepare a grid (Fig. 3.10). The grid consists of vertical lines located from each other at a distance equal to the width of the tread, and horizontal lines - at a distance from the height of the riser.
Example. Floor height H = 3000 mm, staircase slope 1:2, flight width 1200 mm. The width of the staircase is equal to the width of two flights and the space between them. Size m is 100-200 mm. We choose a two-flight staircase. Therefore, the height of one flight H/2 = 1500 mm. With a staircase slope of 1:2, the ratio h:b = 150:300. Let's determine the number of steps of the march H/2: h = 1500:15, i.e. 10 risers.
The length of the staircase L is determined from the width of the two landings and the size of the flight. The width of the platform is usually taken to be equal to the width of the march or greater, but not less than 1200 mm.
March layout L = b(h-1). The plan shows one less step, because the upper step is combined with the landing L = 2x1200+9x300 = 5100 mm. The plan of the first floor shows the basement and lower flight (Fig. 3.11). The thickness of the landing is 30-40 mm. Flights of stairs are protected by railings 900 mm high.
Rice. 3.10. Construction of a staircase on a section
Rice. 3.11. Building a staircase on the plan
It should be borne in mind that the cutting plane along the stairs always passes along the flights closest to the observer. The nodes for supporting a flight of stairs on the landing and a metal fence are shown in Fig. 3.12.
Rice. 3.12. Nodes for supporting a flight of stairs on a landing:
a) top node; b) intermediate node
6. Apply dimensions. On the sections, the coordination axes are brought down, the corresponding marks are placed in circles, a dimension line is drawn and dimensions are applied above it. The position of the structural elements is determined
using elevation marks, which are placed on the level lines of the corresponding elements. Inside the section, the heights of floors and doorways, as well as elevations of floor levels and staircase landings are marked.
7. The names of sections indicate the designation of the corresponding cutting plane marked on the plan, for example: CUT 1-1.
Examples of the design of a task sheet are shown in Fig. 3.13, 3.14.
Stairs in houses are very different. An ordinary staircase from floor to floor is laid out from ready-made steps, cast from concrete or made with your own hands from boards laid on guide beams. Sometimes stairs are made in the form of prefabricated or finished elements.
Drawing with dimensions of a simple classical staircase
They are easier to assemble and install, since they are calculated for certain dimensions and are manufactured on site or with the help of an outsourced company specializing in such products. As an example, we can recall spiral staircases, which are usually supplied ready-made.
Steel is a very technologically advanced material that makes it possible to create any product. Working with steel requires qualifications and specialized equipment. If we talk about metal spiral staircases, they are a very complex structure.
Detailed drawing of a metal spiral staircase
Stair steps must withstand significant loads, which places increased demands on them. Using metal that is too thick will make the job very difficult. To create box-section elements of complex configuration, special equipment will be required. Only a true master can make it with his own hands.
Usually much easier. It can be freely installed on the upper floor, suspended or hinged. The manufacture of such a staircase should begin with a drawing that shows all the necessary dimensions. Metal structural elements will have to be cut and welded, so all dimensions should be calculated in advance.
Drawing and diagram of a metal staircase to the second floor
First you need to clarify the height that the floor of the building has from the top of the floor of the lower level to the top of the floor of the attic. The length of the ladder should be slightly greater than this figure.
The staircase is installed at an angle to the vertical and forms the hypotenuse of a right triangle. The load-bearing purlins of metal stairs must withstand the weight of a person without being deformed. The greater the slope of the stairs, the greater the bending load on them.
Read also
How to make a staircase from a house to a basement
Usually they try to install a staircase in a very small area. An extension or hanging ladder is used when there is practically no free space.
Example of a metal staircase to the second floor
However, some inclination should be provided when installing stairs on the floor. Having decided on the slope and height of the room, you can easily calculate the length of the staircase runs. Taking into account the slope, you should select a cross-section of the purlin that provides the necessary rigidity.
As a purlin, you can use blanks made of sheet metal or a rectangular profile. The pipe has the least rigidity, so it is not necessary to use it. The side elements made of sheet steel must be drawn in detail on paper or on a computer, in order to then be transferred to the material itself.
Side girder drawing
The lower supporting surfaces of the ladder must have a bevel that allows it to be securely installed on the floor at the required angle. Calculations of the angle and bevel can be easily done with your own hands by drawing a drawing of this part in a section or in a side view. The drawing indicates the distances between the steps and the places where the steps are secured to the base. A metal staircase is usually assembled using welded joints, which may not be indicated if the welding is done with your own hands.
When assembling a structure using bolts or screws, it is advisable to calculate the locations of the proposed holes and display them on the drawing.
If it is decided to make the sides of the staircase from a steel profile, the supporting edges must also be cut at the required angle. In the future, this drawing will be useful for designing steps. Determining the dimensions and direction of the steps relative to the side elements is a very important stage in creating a staircase. 
In addition to the aesthetic function and ease of use, the safety of people who will use the stairs depends on the placement of the steps. An improperly designed and manufactured product may cause injury due to inconvenience caused by the error.
Read also
Construction of a frame wooden house
Calculation of step width
Stair steps must be positioned strictly horizontally and parallel to the floor. This requirement does not apply to stepladder type stairs, but for all others it is mandatory. The width of the step should be sufficient for the foot to be firmly fixed on it. In ordinary flights of stairs, this distance is usually 27 centimeters.
If the staircase connects the upper floor and the attic, there is no need to strictly adhere to this size. But it is advisable to take this dimension into account. Reducing it to fifteen to twenty centimeters will slightly worsen performance characteristics.
Diagram and drawing with dimensions of staircase steps
It is very important to consider that the steps should not overlap each other in width. Otherwise, there will be a real threat that a person will trip over a step located above the one on which his foot stands. This is a real danger that cannot be ignored.
Step height
This term refers to the distance between the upper planes of the steps. It is also an important parameter that ensures the convenience and safety of using the product. The height of the steps can vary from 13 to 17 centimeters. The optimal height is considered to be 15 centimeters for stairs made of metal, wood and other materials.
The difficulty in designing stairs lies in the fact that reducing the height of steps leads to an increase in their number. More steps make the staircase longer, which is sometimes undesirable. 
When the staircase connects the upper and attic floors, conditions do not allow increasing its length. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the height of the steps or reduce their width. Usually the height of the steps is increased to about 20 centimeters. This reduces the comfort of use, but allows you to fit into a limited space.
