Household stairs can mainly be of the following types:
01 – Straight Flight Staircase– These types of stairs are continuous along ascending or descending flights and direction of the stairs do not change at any flight between successive floors. The straight flight staircase comprises either a single flight or more than one flight with landings in between individual flights. These types of stairs are used in houses which do not have enough width to change the direction of stairs but has enough length to accommodate the prescribed slope of the flight of stairs, and because it is straight, the ascending person may feel uneasiness while facing the risers monotonously. When more than one flight of stairs is required, intermediary landings have to be included which increase the length even more further that may be disadvantageous.
02 – Quarter Turn Staircase– As the name hints at the idea of quarters, the design of this type of staircase includes change in direction of the flight of stairs to the left or right. This change in direction can be achieved by either using winders at the junction of two flights of stairs or constructing a quarter space landing. If the direction of the flight of stairs is reversed or turned through 180o which is achieved by using half-space landing or winders, then this particular type of staircase is called a Half Turn Staircase. Half turn staircases are generally used in residential and public buildings, and are mainly of two types, Dog-legged Staircase and Open Newel/Well Staircase.
03 – Dog-legged Staircase– This type of staircase has been named accordingly due to its appearance like dog legs when seen from its sectional elevation. This type of staircase is abruptly bent or twisted around in an imaginary resemblance to a dog’s hind leg. Two flights of steps are included in a dog-legged staircase that runs in opposite directions with no space between the flights in the plan. Between the two flights of steps, a half-space landing is usually provided where the flight changes its directions. This type of staircase is provided in buildings, where there is enough width to accommodate two flights.
04 – Open Newel/Well Staircase– It is quite similar to the dog-legged staircase, the only difference being that there is a well opening between the flights of steps which can be used to provide a lift. Due to this arrangement, the width of the staircase will be twice the width of the stair plus the width of the well opening and thus an open well staircase requires more width space than the dog-legged staircase. Lastly, newel posts have to be placed at the head and foot of each flight of the stair, which forms a striking architectural feature for the staircase.
05 – Three Quarter Turn Staircase– As it is evident from the name itself, this type of staircase changes direction three times, i.e., 270o from its initial direction of the initial bottom flight. As the turn is larger, a bigger open well is formed in between the flight of stairs.
06 – Circular Staircase- The steps in a circular staircase emanate from an imaginary central point of a semicircle, marked on the plan in the form of winders. Circular staircases are usually provided at building entrances to enhance the architectural appearance and are constructed using R.C.C and bricks.
07 – Spiral Staircase– Spiral staircase consists of equally sized winders that have been placed at a constant deflection angle in order to allow a continuous change in direction with the change in elevation. The staircase emanates from a central newel post and takes the least spaces of all. The width of the stairs or winders used in spiral staircase usually range from 1 metre- 2.5 metres. Spiral staircases are constructed using cast iron or R.C.C when the available space is quite less and even the users are few in number. These types of staircases are not at all comfortable because they are full of winders and continuously change directions.
08 – Bifurcated Staircases– These types of staircases are quite common in modern imperial public buildings with a symmetrical structure at their entrance which is striking in its appearance. A bifurcated staircase has a wide flight of steps at the bottom that bifurcates or divides into two flights of decreased width, one turning to the left and the other turning to the right from the common landing. It can be considered to be a combination of two quarter-turned stairs arranged symmetrically.
Key Takeaways –
Nowadays the most common type of staircase used in residential buildings is the dog-legged type of staircase while open well type and bifurcated type staircases are used in public buildings.
Straight flight stairs are mostly used in residential buildings and geometrical type stairs enhance the appearance of the staircase and building.
Three-quarter stairs are used in posh buildings such as hotels with quite wide staircases allowing the reception to be constructed in the between. They can also be used in places where extra headroom is required to give a spacious and majestic look.
Spiral Staircases must be provided when there is a dearth of space lengthwise as well as widthwise. Usually, they can be seen built at the back of buildings in western countries to allow sweepers and servants for cleaning bathrooms.