Bldg Tech - Stair Design: Dorf ARE Graphic Workshop Summary of Notes

(Note: This is MY summary of the notes notes from the Norman Dorf ARE Graphic Workshop, for complete notes, visit the areforum.com ftp site.)
Building Technology Division
General
- Don't tweak your designs if you have extra time - you will run out of time, most likely in the middle of tweaking.
- computer does not grade on quality of design, only check against code/program data

Stair Design

- Provide one continuous stair, from 2nd level to intermediate, from intermediate to 1st level at grade

- Code problem
o Real exam will be mostly the same as practice problems
o Ability to calc stair load

- Curveball
o watch out for new code requirements
. usually in area of refuge (AOR)
. May call for one at 2nd floor
. or may call for one at EACH primary landing

- Do the calculations
o width by occupancy
. railings can extend into the stair width 4" on each side unless AOR is required
o minimum width by code
o AOR requirements
. 48" clear of rails
. add 4" ea. side to 48" = 56" wide stair, min.

- check maneuvering clearances at doors

- check door swing encroachment at stair landing
o cannot reduce required landing length more than half

- check headroom clearances under landings

- Railings
o use your zoom tool
o don't forget to connect and extend 12" at top and bottom
o ok to encroach into egress width 4" ea. side
o don't encroach on AOR 30"x 48" CLEAR!

- Stair Riser
o between 6-7", and equal
o keep all same, can be different from run to run but entire run MUST match
o multiply elev. change foot x 12 + inch remainder, divide by 7 and round up one

- Stair Run
o Use the stair tool, input number of risers, when drawing, stop when tread reads 11 inches

- Stair Cuts
o Use them and practice
o Draw at each level as if drawing solid stair
o don't forget to draw railings up to cut line

Personal Notes:
- Use sketch rectangles everywhere
- Check clearances at ALL 1st level doors and Path to exit
o Doors not part of stair: Do not encroach door landing clearances with stair/landing layout.