--- title: "Terminology used in stair construction" subject: "Building Technology" chapter: 5 key: "semester_6/building_technology:stair-terminology" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_6/building_technology/stair-terminology site: BCT Engineering --- # Terminology used in stair construction Building Technology · Chapter 5: Stair, lifts and escalators - Asked in: 2081 Chaitra, 4 marks - Video: [Technical Terms in Stairs | Stairs | Building Construction](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V25plrWEH1k) — SGK Online Education - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_6/building_technology/stair-terminology - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_6/building_technology/chapter-5 ## Question Define the different terminologies used in stair construction with suitable figure. ## Short answer Tread (horizontal surface 250–300 mm), riser (vertical face 150–175 mm), going (horizontal distance between risers), rise (vertical height), nosing (projecting edge), flight (unbroken steps), landing (level platform), winder (tapered step), soffit (underside), waist (slab thickness), baluster, handrail, newel post, stringer, headroom (min 2.0–2.2 m), pitch (25–40°), and stairwell. ## Answer A **stair** is a set of steps (a series of risers and treads) that connects floors at different levels, giving access from one storey to another, usually with landings and a balustrade. #### Terminology used in stair construction - **Tread:** the horizontal top surface of a step on which the foot is placed (usually 250-300 mm). - **Riser:** the vertical face between two consecutive treads (usually 150-175 mm). - **Going:** the horizontal distance between the faces of two consecutive risers; the total going is the horizontal length of the flight. - **Rise:** the vertical distance between two consecutive treads, or the total vertical height of a flight. - **Nosing:** the projecting edge of the tread beyond the riser (about 25 mm), usually rounded. - **Flight:** an unbroken series of steps between two landings. - **Landing:** a level platform between flights or at the start and end of a stair; a *half-space landing* turns the stair through 180 degrees, a *quarter-space landing* through 90 degrees. - **Winder:** a tapered (radiating) step used to change direction. - **Soffit:** the underside of a flight or landing. - **Waist:** the thickness of the inclined RCC slab, measured perpendicular to the slope. - **Baluster:** a vertical member (post) between the stair and the handrail. - **Balustrade:** the complete protective barrier of balusters, handrail and newel posts. - **Handrail:** the rail on top of the balusters, held by the hand (about 0.9 m high). - **Newel post:** the main post at the start, end or turn of a flight which supports the handrail. - **Stringer:** the inclined side beam that supports the steps. - **Headroom:** the clear vertical distance from the pitch line (line joining the nosings) to the soffit above (minimum about 2.0-2.2 m). - **Pitch (slope):** the angle between the pitch line and the horizontal, usually 25-40 degrees. - **Stairwell:** the space (room or opening) in which the stair is built. - **Scotia:** a moulding under the nosing. ```text newel post handrail ||============================== || | | | <- balusters || | | ___|_____ <- tread || | ___|___| <- riser || ___|___| <- nosing (edge of tread) ||__| going ______|| \ pitch line joins the nosings \__________________________ soffit (underside of waist slab) ``` ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. Which defines the going? A. Horizontal distance between faces of two consecutive risers B. Vertical distance between two treads C. Projecting edge of the tread D. Angle of the stair Answer: A. Going is horizontal; rise is vertical. (Key point: Going vs rise) 2. What is a balustrade? A. A single vertical post B. The complete protective barrier of balusters, handrail and newel posts C. The underside of the flight D. The tapered turning step Answer: B. A baluster is one post; the balustrade is the whole set. (Key point: Balustrade) 3. How is headroom measured? A. Width of the flight B. Height of the handrail C. Clear vertical distance from the pitch line to the soffit above D. Thickness of the waist slab Answer: C. Minimum about 2.0-2.2 m. (Key point: Headroom) 4. What does a half-space landing do? A. Turns it through 90 degrees B. Keeps it straight C. Turns it through 270 degrees D. Turns the stair through 180 degrees Answer: D. A quarter-space landing turns 90 degrees. 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