Stair

Question 1

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

Answer 1

Stair

Question 2

A support for the foot in ascending or descending.

Answer 2

Step

Question 3

The vertical face of a stair step. Building codes required a height between 4” and 7”; residential and utility stairs may have a rise height of 7 3/4”(197mm).

Answer 3

Riser

Question 4

The horizontal upper surface of a step in a stair, on which the foot is placed. Building codes require a minimum depth of 11inches; residential and utility stairs may have a minimum thread depth of 10in (254mm)

Answer 4

Thread

Question 5

The usually rounded edge of a stair tread that extends over the riser.

Answer 5

Nosing

Question 6

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

Answer 6

Handrail

Question 7

The clear vertical space from the nosing of a stair tread to any overhead obstruction, usually required by building codes to be at least 78in (2m).

Answer 7

Headroom

Question 8

The top or top landing of a stairway.

Answer 8

Stairhead

Question 9

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

Answer 9

Raking Riser

Question 10

The measured height of a stair step or a flight of steps.

Answer 10

Rise

Question 11

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

Answer 11

Stairway

Question 12

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

Answer 12

Flight

Question 13

A vertical shaft or opening containing a stairway.

Answer 13

Stairwell

Question 14

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

Answer 14

Run

Question 15

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.

Answer 15

Ladder

Question 16

One of the crosspieces, usually rounded, forming the steps of a ladder.

Answer 16

Rung

Question 17

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

Answer 17

Ship’s ladder

Question 18

The angle of pitch above which a stair is considered to be unconfortable or unsafe, usually 45d.

Answer 18

Critical Angle

Question 19

Thre preferred ratio between the riser and tread of a stairstep, specified by either of two formulas: 2R + T = 24 to 25; R x T = 72 to 75.

Answer 19

Riser : Tread Ratio

Question 20

For a light of stairs, any angle of pitch btween 28d and 36d, or for a ramp, an angle of pitch less than 5d.

Answer 20

Preferred angle

Question 21

A sloping floor, walk, or roadway connecting two levels. Building codes require the maximum slope of accessible ramps to be 1:12 with a maximum run of 30inches (762mm) between landings.

Answer 21

Ramp

Question 22

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

Answer 22

Ship’s ladder

Question 23

A series of ramps connected by steps.

Answer 23

Stepped ramp

Question 24

A curved ramp.

Answer 24

Helicline

Question 25

A stair extending from one level to another without turns or winders.

Answer 25

Straight-run stair

Question 26

One of the steps in a straight flight of stairs.

Answer 26

Flier

Question 27

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

Answer 27

Landing

Question 28

A flight of stairs having no turns or winders.

Answer 28

Straight Flight

Question 29

A more or less wedge-shaped stair step for changing direction.

Answer 29

Winder

Question 30

The central of three stair winders making a 90 degree turn.

Answer 30

Kite Winder

Question 31

A stair making a right a right-angled turn, consisting of two straight flights connected by an intervening landing or a series of winders.

Answer 31

Quarter-turn stair, L Stair

Question 32

A square landing connecting two flights of a stair.

Answer 32

Quarterspace landing, quarterpace landing

Question 33

A line 18in (457mm) in from the centerline of a handrail, along which the run of a winder is the same as a flier.

Answer 33

Walking line, Line of Travel

Question 34

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

Answer 34

Pace, Footpace

Question 35

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

Answer 35

Half-turn stair

Question 36

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

Answer 36

Dog-leg stair

Question 37

A landing connecting two flights of a half-turn stair.

Answer 37

Halfspace landing, halfpace landing

Question 38

Any of a series of winders so arranged that they are nearly as wide at the inside of the stair as the adjacent fliers.

Answer 38

Balanced Step, Dancing Step, Dancing Winder

Question 39

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

Answer 39

Double-L stair

Question 40

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

Answer 40

Three-quarter-turn stair

Question 41

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.

Answer 41

Double-return stair

Question 42

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

Answer 42

Winding Stair

Question 43

A winding stair having a circular plan.

Answer 43

Circular Stair

Question 44

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

Answer 44

Spiral Stair

Question 45

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

Answer 45

Newel

Question 46

A winding stair having an elliptically shaped well.

Answer 46

Elliptical Stair

Question 47

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

Answer 47

Geometrical Stair

Question 48

A curved section of handrail.

Answer 48

Wreathe

Question 49

A curved section of a staircase string.

Answer 49

Wreathe Piece

Question 50

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

Answer 50

String, Stringboard, Stringer

Question 51

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

Answer 51

Wall String

Question 52

An inclined beam for supporting the steps of a stair.

Answer 52

Carriage, Horse, Rough Stringer

Question 53

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.

Answer 53

Box Stair

Question 54

A Stair string receiving the ends of risers and treads in a series of housings.

Answer 54

Housed String, Closed String

Question 55

A header receiving the ends of stair carriages, strings, and the joists of landings.

Answer 55

Apron Piece, Pitching Piece

Question 56

A plate for anchoring and absorbing the thrust of an inclined member, such as a stair carriage.

Answer 56

Kick Plate

Question 57

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

Answer 57

Landing Tread

Question 58

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

Answer 58

Staircase

Question 59

A stair having an open string on one or both sides.

Answer 59

Open-string stair

Question 60

A staircase string having its upper edge cut to the profile of the treads and risers.

Answer 60

Open String. Cut String

Question 61

The outer string of a staircase, usually of better material or finish than the carriage which it covers

Answer 61

Face String, Finish String

Question 62

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

Answer 62

Stair Rod

Question 63

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

Answer 63

Bracket

Question 64

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

Answer 64

Tread Return

Question 65

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

Answer 65

Cut-and-mitered string

Question 66

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

Answer 66

Ramp

Question 67

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

Answer 67

Railing

Question 68

An upright post or support, as in a window or railing.

Answer 68

Stanchion

Question 69

A railing with supporting balusters.

Answer 69

Balustrade

Question 70

Any of a number of closely spaced supports for a railing.

Answer 70

Baluster, Banister

Question 71

An ornamental, downward projection of a newel post, often through a soffit.

Answer 71

Newel Drop

Question 72

A horizontal, spiral termination to the lower end of a stair rail.

Answer 72

Curtail, Volute

Question 73

A starting step having a scroll termination to one or both ends of the tread.

Answer 73

Curtail Step

Question 74

The terminal feature of a newel post, often molded or turned in a decorative manner.

Answer 74

Newel Cap

Question 75

A post supporting one end of a handrail at the top or bottom of a flight of stairs.

Answer 75

Newel, Newel Post

Question 76

A nosing having an abrasive, nonslip surface flush with the tread surface.

Answer 76

Safety Nosing

Question 77

A tread having a roughened surface to prevent slipping.

Answer 77

Safety Tread

Question 78

The least thickness of a reinforced-concrete stair slab.

Answer 78

Waist

Question 79

A step projecting from a wall with no real or apparent support at its outer end.

Answer 79

Hanging Step, Cantilevered Step

Question 80

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

Answer 80

Open-riser Stair

Question 81

An open space between two successive treads; building codes limit the size of the opening.

Answer 81

Open Riser

Question 82

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

Answer 82

Pan Tread

Question 83

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

Answer 83

Plate Tread