No residential building is complete without such a functional structure as a staircase. It doesn't matter if it is a porch step, an interfloor passage or the possibility of a fire exit. Stairs are structures that are practically mandatory in any building, used for vertical movement, as well as communication of multi-level rooms.

In our article, we will analyze what elements form the construct, what are the risers in the stairs, and whether they are mandatory for the device. We will learn how to design stairs with comfortable and safe dimensions, and find out exactly how the ratio is related: steps and risers.

Any staircase is subject to increased injury. This is due primarily to the fact that movement along them involves a constant change of the supporting surface.

In order to make the ascent and descent as comfortable and safe as possible, construction institutes have developed various GOSTs that are binding on in public places, and recommended for execution in private construction. The ladder can be made from any building material, which guarantees the stability and strength of the structure.

Most often, the steps are formed from:

concrete,
bricks or blocks.

GOSTs

Different regulations should be consulted depending on the material.

For reinforced concrete structures developed by:

GOST 9818-2015 describing the elements and their terms. At the same time, in this document you will read what a platform and a tread are, but you will not find a definition of a riser.
GOST 8717.0-84 clarifying technical conditions for the formation of concrete steps.
GOST 8717.1-84 giving the specific dimensions for the concrete tread and riser.

If you are building an iron interfloor passage or want to weld a metal porch, then you should study:

GOST 23120-78, regulating the technical conditions for the construction of stairs, platforms and steel fences.
SNiP II-V.3-72, common to all iron structures in terms of calculation and design.

Types of stair transitions

Before describing the elements of the step, consider the types of flights of stairs that form these very steps. There is a direct and obvious connection between these two concepts.

So, there are stairs:

Single-march. This design is the easiest to design and build - while this option is also the most economical.

Multi-march. Performed with support on one wall flight of stairs... Settled in a building with 2 or more floors. Marches are located at an angle of 90 or 1800 in relation to each other and are connected by sites.

... Such stairs are very economical in terms of the required space.

Constructions with winders... Such a staircase, in fact, combines the elements of a spiral and a multi-flight staircase. In this case, the turning angle does not matter, but the steps are not supported on central part, and on the walls around the perimeter.

The shape of the steps

Based on what kind of staircase you intend to build, you will have to arrange steps of various types.

Let's divide them into:

Standard or privates. These are the most common, most familiar to us steps in the shape of a rectangle. With their help, the first two types of stairs are formed - marching.

Curved. They differ from the previous ones complex shape... Can be used for any type of construction device.

Zabezhnye. They form a turn, therefore they have different tread widths on the same plane. Used in the construction of stairs of the same name.

In addition, in terms of the step elements themselves and the method of their fastening, stairs can be classified as follows:

Closed, that is, having a tread and a riser.
Open, formed only from a tread with support and 2 sides.

On a note! The classification is not rigid, you can find semi-closed steps with a part of the riser or treads on the bolts, mounted in load-bearing wall that have no other support.

The elements

Let's take a closer look at 2 important components of the step, namely the tread and the riser.

GOSTs define the step as part flight of stairs, used to move up or down. At the same time, it is clearly determined that this element has 2 planes: horizontal and vertical. The horizontal part of the step is called tread.

A riser or riser is the vertical part of a step that forms its height. Risers for stairs are not required for the device, but they are necessary for calculating the dimensions of the steps.

Size calculations

If you possess enough construction skills, but you have no desire to delve into regulatory documents, you can go the simpler way in the part with risers.

Experimentally, several mathematical formulas have been derived that will make it possible to accurately determine the depth and height of the step.
The first thing that is important to know is that the number of steps in the flight of stairs must be odd.
Most preferably, this parameter will be in the range from 3 to 17. This number of steps allows you to start and end the stairs with one leg, while there are not many of them, which means that the ascent will not be tiring.
So, you take the length of the span, namely: the distance from the lower point of anchorage of the march to the projected downward point of the end of the march at the top. If you look at the photo below, then you need to calculate the distance, which in the example is equal to 3.7 m.

After you have figured out the required distance, it must be divided by the desired number of steps. You now have tread depth. All further calculations are based on the fact that the average size the human step is 60 - 65 cm. Accordingly, all indicators can fluctuate in one direction or another by a couple of centimeters.

On a note! The step design instruction recommends a tread depth of approximately 28 - 33 cm.

Safety formula

To combine several formulas, take the following values:

A - the depth of the tread,
B - step height,
С - average step size equal to 63 ± 3 cm.

In order to move safely up the stairs, it is logical that one step should be greater than the sum of the tread and riser dimensions. Taking into account the different ages of possible tenants, for safety, the value of the sum of the tread and the riser is 45 - 47 cm.

So, a staircase on which A + B = 46 ± 1 cm is considered safe. The risers at the stairs in this case are equal to 47 -A, or 47 - 30 = 17 cm. As you can see, the calculation is quite simple.

Calculation of comfort

If it seems to you that comfort or convenience cannot be calculated, you are mistaken. Everything has been calculated before us, and we can only use ready-made formula facilities.

2B + A = C. And again, knowing the size of the tread, we deduce that B (step height) = (63-30) / 2 or 16.5 cm.

On a note! If you have correctly selected the size of the step depth, then the risers for the stairs with any calculation formula should be approximately the same size.

The easiest way to check the correctness of the ratio of the height and depth of a step is in the formula A-B = 12 cm, possibly with small errors.

Decor possibilities

Depending on what material is selected for the device basic design, steps require different cladding... The exception is wooden stairs since the tree is also quite attractive decorative trim... Below we will give a few photos, possible designs and demonstrate how to make the risers on the stairs.

Concrete

Being the most durable structurally, this material requires mandatory decoration. In this situation, the cladding performs additional function protection of the solution from moisture. In this case, the price, as a rule, does not affect the protective qualities.

Metal

This material is most often used for the device of open steps. Metal carcass is rigid and durable, and requires only the device of step platforms without risers, while making it possible to maintain the unity of the space.

Learn more about the device metal ladder with open steps, you can watch the video in this article.

Conclusion

We found out what a riser is, why it is needed, and whether this element is required for the device. Build stairs with or without risers - you can make this choice yourself. But it is imperative to take into account the height of the step, which means the size of the riser when arranging stair flights with your own hands.

To calculate, use the formulas, it will not be superfluous to get acquainted with regulatory documents... Considering the importance of stairs in the formation of the strength of the building as a whole, if you have any doubts, entrust the design to professionals.

The construction of private houses is often associated with the installation of a staircase. The abundance of materials and elements allows you to easily create a staircase for the most sophisticated taste. But when designing, all requirements and instructions should be applied. An important criterion in this process is the riser height.

Requirements for the dimensions of the risers

Any type of finishing and construction work is regulated by rules and regulations. The safety of users depends on compliance with these indicators, so you should not neglect them.

The staircase is a complex architectural structure. Therefore, the convenience for users must be laid down at the stage of building design. The established requirements can be adjusted for specific building layouts.The tilt angle is between 27 and 45 degrees.

Important!

The optimal standard for the width of the steps is in the range of 270-320 mm, which corresponds to the average size of a person's foot.

The flight of stairs should not be narrower than 700 mm. This width is the most optimal for unobstructed movement. The most common dimension is 1000 mm.

Too steep metal, concrete and wood stairwells can be equipped with overhanging steps. At the same time, the size of the overhang should not exceed thirty millimeters, and for metal structures- fifty. A similar technique allows you to slightly expand the tread.

Sanitary Norms and Rules (SNiP) stipulate quantitative indicators for calculating the construction of stairs. The height of the risers is calculated depending on the category of use of the building or structure:

The first category is residential (in-house). The risers are made with a height of 150-220 mm. The tread is 245-300 mm.
The second category is public buildings and structures. The height of the risers is 13-18 cm.The depth of the treads is 28-34 cm.
The third category includes other structures. The size of the riser is 15-19 cm. The depth of the steps is 25-32 cm.

Important!

When designing stairs for people with reduced mobility, some deviations from the above standards are permissible.

When lifting, a person spends 2 times more energy than when walking for a walk. Therefore, the formula for creating the ideal parameters of the staircase structure was derived experimentally.

Calculations

The most common formula looks like this:

c + h = 450 ± 20mm, where

c is the width of the tread;

h - riser height.

The maximum tread width of 300mm, despite the fact that not all feet fit on the step, is the most comfortable. Graphic image greatly simplifies the design of the entire building, therefore, the sketches of structures are initially considered, and then, the dimensions are transferred to the drawing plans.

The formula for designing a staircase structure and the calculation of steps, risers

Possible design errors

The dimensions of the steps must be precisely calibrated during production. Different size treads are the most common mistake in the construction of a staircase.

Violation standard sizes leads to inconvenience in operation. High steps are inconvenient for children and the elderly.

The second design mistake is the unequal dimensions of the risers. The muscular memory of a person lowers the leg to the next step, knowing the distance of the first tread. Different heights can cause a lot of inconvenience when moving on stairs.

Incline

SNiP regulates the angle of inclination up to 42 degrees. This parameter applies only to the intra-house stair category. When designing structures for other categories, the following dimensions should be adhered to:

33 degrees for public places;
38 degrees for other structures.

If the floor area is less than 100 square meters then the tread can be reduced to 250 mm. In this case, the tilt angle will change to 36 degrees.

Risers of stairs of all categories must comply with the design formula.

The tilt angle is not provided by the standards. Therefore, the suggested sizes of treads and risers should be respected.

Flight of stairs

SNiP regulates the use of 3 to 18 treads in one flight of stairs. But in practice it has been proven that the use of more than ten steps makes it difficult for a person to move. This march length is especially inconvenient for children and the elderly. The recommended maximum number of steps in the march is up to 15.

Advice!

It is better to make the number of steps in a flight of stairs odd. This technique allows a person to start and end up stairs with one foot.

When designing a staircase in your home, you need to carefully consider the design, slope, width and height of the staircase opening. These parameters are laid down even during the design of the building. Risers and treads must be calculated and ordered exact amount... The entire staircase structure should appear in a single space in the room, fit well into the interior design.

The importance of precision in building a structure

Precision in architecture and design plays a key role. Therefore, in order to avoid traumatic situations, one should adhere to following rules staircase design:

The width of the march should not be more than 1000mm.
Stairways must have the same number of steps.
Railing height 900mm.

In childcare facilities open stairs designed according to dimensions 120mm - riser height, the distance between balusters should not exceed 100mm.
The load on the ladder structure is 180 - 220 kg.
The risers must be of the same height.
The radius of curvature of winder structures must exceed 300mm.
The level of the last tread must match the level of the site.
The passage height must exceed 2000mm.
The passage to the stairs should have a width of 1 meter and around the clock lighting.

Applying in practice all the norms and rules for the design of structures, you can achieve safe, comfortable and functional architectural structures.

DIY installation of steps and risers

Which staircase is better: open (without risers) or closed (with risers)

Disputes between supporters and opponents of risers in the staircase do not subside for a minute. It is a matter of taste - whether the staircase is open or closed, and everyone has their own opinion on this. We will still try to figure out in which cases the risers are really needed and why, and in which cases it is better to do without them.

What are risers and why are they needed?

First of all, it is worth saying what the risers are. These are small wooden planks that are installed under the step, hence their name. The risers are classic element stairs. They have been used since ancient times as possible way hide the space under the stairs. Most often there was another room or storage room.

If your goal is to create a pantry, Personal Area, a library, or any other similar space, the riser option will work best for you. The staircase will turn out to be monolithic, solid, isolated from prying eyes. From the inside, you can conduct lighting and enjoy books in silence. The main thing is that the steps do not creak under the steps, otherwise it will be impossible to sleep in this room.

When are risers still used?

When artists come in and just creative people... The risers are turned into a real work of art, because there is no load on them, they practically do not wear out, and the paint on them does not rub off. Looking up the stairs gives the impression that you are reading a book or viewing an illustrated magazine.

Risers can serve as an additional decorative element when forming unusual premises... For example, glass stairs are often made with risers in order to additionally secure them without losing, at the same time, in aesthetics.

When will risers be redundant?

Exactly if you want to do spiral staircase from forged metal, the risers will only distract from the main idea of the project. They do not apply to bolt systems or staircases on one central stringer. In this case, the risers limit the lightness of the structure, which must be seen in each of its elements.

The risers have not been used in many avant-garde staircase designs, in bowstring staircases made with run-in steps and in several other types of unusual staircases.

Conclusions and summaries

If you adhere to the idea of a staircase classic and want to see a beautiful marching staircase then the risers will work well for you.

If you are looking for new, avant-garde and non-standard solutions, the risers will only get in your way.

As a result, the choice of one or another option depends on what you want to see in your home staircase.

The construction of any residential or public space always begins with a detailed consideration of each structure that will be included in the project. One of these structures is a staircase. It can be indoor, outdoor, attic, basement, etc. But its detailed component always remains unchanged, on the basis of which there are parameters in accordance with GOST and SNiP, which must comply with any erected staircase. At detailed analysis staircase construction, special attention should be paid to the march, which is a continuous series of steps, consisting of a tread (horizontal part) and a riser (vertical part).

Please note: presented in one of our previous articles.

What do GOST and SNiP prescribe to us?

The construction of such facilities has certain standards that should be relied upon when erecting a staircase:

One flight of stairs should consist of 3-18 steps;
In public and residential premises, the riser corresponds to a height of 14.8 cm, and a tread to a width of 30 cm;
In the attics and basements 17.1 cm and 26 cm respectively.

But practical experience shows that slightly different dimensions can provide safety and convenience.

It is better to make the number of steps in the march odd so that a person's movement along the stairs begins and ends with one leg. In addition, climbing 18 steps is a very energy-consuming activity, and 11 or 15 is the most the best option, after which the person will not suffer from shortness of breath. As for the height of the step, its value fluctuates between 15 - 18 cm, and the double value of the height folded with the width of the step gives as a result the approximate value of the length of a human step - 6064 cm.

Dimensions of the width of the flight of stairs

The width of the steps also has certain norms of the building standard (GOST), which requires mandatory compliance with the values of the maximum and minimum:

For street, apartment straight lines, basement and fire escapes, the width is 80 cm;
For the staircase leading to the attic 60 cm;
Spiral staircase in the apartment from 80 cm to 1 m.

Minimum and maximum step sizes

Referring to SNiP, you can see:

The tread corresponds to a width of 25 cm, if the staircase is attic or basement, then from 20 cm;
The riser corresponds to a height of 15 - 20 cm, however, errors of no more than 5 mm are allowed.

As mentioned above that convenient sizes steps are those that are in relation to the average value of a person's step. Therefore, it is advisable to present such calculations in the form of Blondel's formula:

2h + b = S (60-66 cm)

Optimal slope

Providing an angle of inclination when erecting a staircase, it is worth noting that the recommendations of the norms building standards in this question is not established. However, the slope of the stairs is determined by the ratio of the tread to the riser, and focusing on the maximum and minimum height and depth of the step, the angle of inclination ranges from 33 to 45 degrees. For gentle (internal) stairs, the optimal value is considered to be up to 38 degrees, and for steep stairs (utility, attic) - up to 45 degrees.

What is the essence of the accuracy of constructing a structure?

The parameters of each step used in the construction of the stairs must be extremely accurate and the same. This allows a person to use it while walking without special care, both during the day and at night, relying on the muscle memory of the legs. And in case of non-observance of this rule, a person experiences inconvenience when using the stairs, trying to feel each step with his foot. And descending such a ladder is quite traumatic.

The ladder is important element any home. She happens different types, can be located inside or outside the building. The main requirements for such a design are reliability and comfortable use. So that a person moving along this staircase does not feel discomfort, it is necessary to pay special attention to the size of the tread and the riser.

What are treads and risers?

These terms mean vertical and horizontal elements of the step. The riser is its height. To make the staircase as comfortable and safe as possible, the height of the riser should be in the range of 15-18 centimeters, while the double height of this parameter, which is folded with the size of the tread (the horizontal part of the step), should be equal to the average step of a person. According to statistics, this parameter should be within 60-64 centimeters.

SNiP provides for the following optimal sizes:

when it comes to residential and public spaces, the riser should be equal to 14.8 centimeters, and for basements and attics - 17.1 cm;
the tread should have a width of 30 and 26 centimeters, respectively.

Primary requirements

The staircase to be manufactured must meet the established GOST parameters regarding:

heights;
width;
angle of inclination;
the size of the steps and risers of the structure.

Consider the optimal dimensions of the staircase elements.

The marching platform must have a minimum width of 80 centimeters. It is measured from the wall surface, taking into account the thickness of the finish, to inside handrails.
The width of the march, which will be comfortable for a person, ranges from 90 to 100 centimeters. It is necessary to take into account that one march should not include more than 17 and not less than 3 steps.
As optimal height steps taken parameters of 17 cm, but not less than 12 cm.
The optimal step width is in the range of 25-32 cm.

The riser can be ready-made or do-it-yourself. Often used today ceramic products or MDF versions, light with dark or white stripes.

Common mistakes

Before starting the direct implementation of the construction of the stairs, you must definitely familiarize yourself with the most common mistakes that often arise when installing stairs yourself. In this case, it is worth highlighting a few.

Incorrect step heights. The standards existing today stipulate that it should not exceed 19 centimeters, otherwise the design will be inconvenient for use. Such steps will bring discomfort to young children and the elderly. When it comes to residential premises, the maximum step height is 19 cm, and for non-residential buildings 17 cm.It should be noted that if the planning feature does not allow compliance with these parameters, it is allowed to adjust the step height up to 20 cm.
Unequal step size. Differences in height and width can lead to accidents.

If they are different, then the optimal rhythm of a person's walking will be disrupted.

Instructions

Staircase construction experts advise novices to experiment with design work. It is recommended to use proven formulas, thanks to which you can determine the optimal and comfortable dimensions of the structure. It is believed that the total height and width of the steps should be 43-47 cm.

Determine the width of the steps and their number. This parameter is best seen with a specific example.

The stages of the calculation are as follows. The first step is to measure the distance from floor to ceiling. In our example, we will use 2.5 meters as a basis. Interfloor overlap in our case is 35 cm.

As a result, the height of our structure will be the sum of the two previous parameters, namely 2.85 meters. The height of the risers provided by the standard is 17 centimeters. We will stick to this parameter. It is necessary to determine the number of steps required by dividing the height of the stairs by 17 cm. In our case, the number of steps will be 17 when rounded.

It is necessary to determine the height of the tread, based on the area in which our structure will be used. There are several options.

Ladder construction for private houses, summer cottages and apartments. In this case, the height of the riser should be 15.5-22 cm, and the tread should be in the range of 24.5-26 cm.
For public buildings the stair risers should be slightly lower. They should be equal to 13.5-18 cm. In this case, the tread is wider than in residential buildings, that is, 28-34 cm.
In other rooms standard height the riser is 15-19 centimeters, and the width of the tread should be in the range from 25 to 32 cm.

Special attention also needs to be paid optimal slope stairs. Unfortunately, there are no building standards in this matter. The slope of the stairs is based on the ratio of the riser to the tread. Emphasis is placed on the maximum and minimum height and the depth of the step. Based on these parameters, based on the size of the tread and the riser, it can be noted that the angle of inclination ranges from 33 to 45 degrees. When it comes to indoor stairs, given value should be up to 38 degrees. When it comes about ancillary or attic stairs characterized by more steep descent, the optimum tilt angle is up to 45 degrees.

You should take into account that the wider the angle of inclination, the more space the staircase will occupy.

Why are accurate calculations needed?

It is important that the parameters of each step in the staircase are as accurate and the same as possible. This will allow the person to climb and descend stairs without great care, based on the muscle memory of the legs. If established rules will not be respected, the person will experience discomfort when using the stairs. This is especially acute when the steps have different heights.

V a similar situation injuries are common. If you exercise correct calculation risers, you can avoid various damage.

Compliance with existing building codes and regulations staircase structures will make it as safe and comfortable as possible.

Attaching the risers

This process can be implemented different ways... It depends on what material your staircase is made of, while taking into account whether it will be hemmed from below. The fastening parameter is also influenced by the device of the stringers.

There are three main methods of fastening. Let's consider each of them.

The classic installation, where the fastening is carried out in the groove.
Fastening to the end using self-tapping screws. The same method involves the installation of fittings using glue.
Installation of risers using a corner.

You should stop your choice on one method or another, based on your own preferences and the scope of use of the staircase.

When building a staircase, be sure to consider the most actionable tips specialists.

In order to replace the tread, it is recommended to remove the old flat elements of the steps located on top. Be careful not to move the wedge during use.
If the wedge has been lost, the element can be supported on the block. Flat elements of the staircase must be overlapped. Thus, they will partially overlap each other when viewed from above. Their width may not be the same in the places that serve to support the right and left legs. In order to install the fence, you need to drill holes along the edges of the steps.