Techniques of Staircase Construction : Technical and Design Instructions for Stairs Made of Wood, Steel, Concrete, and Natural Stone

"Staircases, which today are equally the responsibility of joiners and carpenters, have had a varied history over the last thirty years. Until 1945 nearly all staircases, even those in large resi­dential blocks, were made of wood. Because of the amount of destruction that took place during the war, new building regu­lations frequently stipulated nonflammable materials for almost all stairs."This resulted in a decline in the quality of stair construction; what is more, fewer and fewer craftsmen were trained for this rewarding and varied branch of woodworking craftsmanship. This is a regrettable development, since good stair builders must combine the design capabilities and three-dimensional approach of the carpenter with the exact and neat craftsmanship of the join­er. Techniques of Staircase Construction therefore provides welcome guidelines and instructions to those concerned with practical building throughout the construction sequence, from the measuring and the drawing of plans and elevations to the use of materials and the actual construction."Design engineers and architects will find this book equally useful, since stair construction now consists of two main areas: one comprises ready-made stairs and their varied possibilities, the other, stairs made by craftsmen in a variety of types and styles. In the hope that this second area, the craft-based group, will regain lost ground and that we can speak in the near future not only of a renaissance of wooden structures but also of stairs, I express my good wishes for a wide distribution of this excellent and instructive book." [Donat Muller, Foreword] Staircases, which today are equally the responsibility of joiners The increasing demand for textbooks on the techniques of stair and carpenters, have had a varied history over the last thirty construction is due to two main factors: . years. Until 1945 nearly all staircases, even those in large resi­ dential blocks, were made of wood. Because of the amount of 1. The relatively small dwellings that were built twenty to thirty destruction that took place during the war, new building regu­ years ago are no longer regarded as acceptable. New regu­ lations frequently stipulated nonflammable materials for almost lations concerning noise and heat insulation as well as gov­ all stairs. ernment aid available to finance such projects have, in ad­ This resulted in a decline in the quality of stair construction; dition, stimulated the rebuilding and thus the design of more what is more, fewer and fewer craftsmen were trained for this generously proportioned dwellings, including, of course, rewarding and varied branch of woodworking craftsmanship. staircases. This is a regrettable development, since good stair builders must combine the design capabilities and three-dimensional approach 2. The style of living has changed. The time when sober inte­ of the carpenter with the exact and neat craftsmanship of the join­ riors were the order of the day has gone. Excessive nostalgic er. Techniques of Staircase Construction therefore provides welcome reversal to previous styles has also passed. 1. General theory of stair construction.- 1.1. Concepts, terminology, and dimensions of stairs.- 1.1.1. Plan shapes, including area and space requirements for stairs and staircases.- 1.1.2. Dimensional terms relating to stairs.- 1.2. Design types of stairs and stair railings.- 1.2.1. Stairs made from wood.- 1.2.2. Stairs made predominantly from steel.- 1.2.3. Stairs made predominantly from stone and concrete.- 1.3. Design types of stair railings.- 1.3.1. Railings made from various materials.- 1.3.2. Railings with load-bearing handrails (stairs with suspended treads).- 1.3.3. Handrail profiles Front Matter....Pages 1-4 Introduction....Pages 5-5 General Theory of Stair Construction....Pages 6-19 Regulations and Recommendations....Pages 20-21 Calculation and Design of Elevations for Stairs and Stair Parts....Pages 22-106 Back Matter....Pages 107-112