stairs

Question 1

\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_ – 
overall height of the set of stairs
\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_ – 
overall horizontal distance
\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_ – 
vertical distance from one step to another
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ – 
finished material used to cover the unit rise distance
\_\_\_\_  \_\_\_\_\_ – 
horizontal distance between adjacent risers
\_\_\_\_\_ – 
finished material used to make the step

Answer 1

Total Rise – 
overall height of the set of stairs
Total Run – 
overall horizontal distance
Unit Rise – 
vertical distance from one step to another
Riser – 
finished material used to cover the unit rise distance
Unit Run – 
horizontal distance between adjacent risers
Tread – 
finished material used to make the step

Question 2

______ –
part of the tread which overhangs the riser
______ –
opening in a floor where stairs are constructed
____ –
may be made to also support stairs.
may be called carriage or stair horse.
______ – terminal or intermediate post used to support the railing
______ – sometimes called spindle

Answer 2

Nosing –
part of the tread which overhangs the riser
Stairwell –
opening in a floor where stairs are constructed
Stringer –
may be made to also support stairs.
may be called carriage or stair horse.
Newel – terminal or intermediate post used to support the railing
Baluster – sometimes called spindle

Question 3

______ ________ –
thickness of second floor framing and finished materials
________ –
vertical distance between parallels at the nosing line and the upper construction line. Minimum headroom _’-__” . (__’ is better)

Answer 3

Upper Construction –
thickness of second floor framing and finished materials
Headroom –
vertical distance between parallels at the nosing line and the upper construction line. Minimum headroom 6’-8” (80”). (7’ is better)

Question 4

Stairs of different rise/run combinations often will fit into the same ________.

To shorten the run, what to things can be done?

Must these changes fit the building codes?

Answer 4

Stairs of different rise/run combinations often will fit into the same stairwell.
To shorten the run, two things can be done
Vary the unit run (tread depth)
Vary the number of risers (make each step higher)
Caution – these must fit the building codes

Question 5

Although possible to build stairs with the top tread level with the landing, it is ____ _____. We will always consider there to be one more _____ than _____.

Answer 5

Although possible to build stairs with the top tread level with the landing, it is not typical. We will always consider there to be one more riser than treads.

Question 6

Total rise must be measured ______ from where the stairs ________ (the _______ of the _____ step), to where they _____ (_______/_____)

Answer 6

Total rise must be measured vertically from where the stairs start (the very bottom of the first step), to where they end (top step/landing)

Question 7

Typical Stair Calculations
Field measurements that are required:
Include:
\_\_\_\_\_\_  - most important!
\_\_\_\_\_\_ Length or \_\_\_\_\_\_\_
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ thickness (influences \_\_\_\_\_\_)
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ of stairwell

Answer 7

Field measurements that are required:
Include:
Total Rise  - most important!
Stairwell Length or Total Run
Upper construction thickness (influences headroom)
Width of stairwell

Question 8

What influences the length of treads and risers and the number of carriages needed?

Answer 8

Width of stairwell

Question 9

Maintaining adequate headroom (minimum of 6’-80”) is required by ___ ______.

Answer 9

Maintaining adequate headroom (minimum of 6’-80”) is required by building code.

Question 10

All rises must be the same even on ______ stairs

Answer 10

All rises must be the same even on platform stairs

Question 11

Changing the rise/run to the code ___/___, may not be in the best interest of the homeowner.

Answer 11

Changing the rise/run to the code min/max, may not be in the best interest of the homeowner.

Question 12

2015 IRC CODES
Greatest-to-smallest riser variation ___”
Greatest-to-smallest tread depth variation ___”
Nosing overhang range ___” - ___”
Baluster spacing – May not allow a ___ sphere to pass between

Stair Width – Minimum ___” (not including _____)
Headroom – Minimum ___”
Handrail projection maximum _____” per side.

Answer 12

2015 IRC CODES
Greatest-to-smallest riser variation 3/8”
Greatest-to-smallest tread depth variation 3/8”
Nosing overhang range 3/4” - 1 1/4”
Baluster spacing – May not allow a 4” sphere to pass between

Stair Width – Minimum 36” (not including railings)
Headroom – Minimum 80”
Handrail projection maximum 4.5” per side.

Question 13

2015 IRC CODES

1. Handrail height – ___ - ___”
   - Tread nosing to top of rail
2. Hand-railing projection - Between _____” - ______”
   - Distance from wall
3. Handrail width - _____” - _____”
   - Handrails required on stairs with two or more _____.
   - Handrails with a cross sectional perimeter greater than ______ inches must have a graspable ____ _____ ____ on both sides of the ______.

Answer 13

2015 IRC CODES

1. Handrail height – 34 - 38”
   - Tread nosing to top of rail
2. Hand-railing projection - Between 1 1/2” - 4 1/2”
   - Distance from wall
3. Handrail width - 1 1/4” - 2”
   - Handrails required on stairs with two or more risers.
   - Handrails with a cross sectional perimeter greater than 6 ¼ inches must have a graspable finger recess area on both sides of the profile.