Masinde Muliro University Kenya Btb 305 Building Staircase Notes

BCB 301 Building Construction :StairsStair case Stairs are sets of steps leading from one floor to another and are provided in a building to afford a means of communication between the various floors. Steps arranged in series and placed in an enclosure is called staircase. It is the hall of a building in which the stairs are located. Stairs should be designed properly to provide proper ventilation and lighting. In public building it should be located near the main entrance and in residential building it should be placed carefully so as to provide easy access for all rooms and to maintain privacy at the same time. Various materials such as bricks, stones, timber, steel, plain concrete, etc. are used for the construction of the stairs. Sometimes, marble, mosaic or checkered finish is provided. The selection of suitable materials for the stair construction is governed by the fund available, expected life of the building, availability of materials, external appearance and the expected fire resisting qualities. The stairs should be located such that they serve the purpose for which they are provided. It needs careful planning and consideration of all probable factors. In case of fire or any other emergency the stairs