Staircases are an essential part of any building as it helps to connect lower rooms to the top rooms. The stairs are usually designed using different materials such as timber, concrete, metal, glass, or stones. Each of these materials depends on the purpose of the building where the staircase is placed.
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Other than the materials used, staircases can also be further divided by the designs used. These designs are also dependent on the purpose. For example, the design of industrial stairs will be different from the design of home stairs. This is because the industrial stairs will be built to sustain the heavy weight of equipment and activities, while the home ones will be built to serve small weights and aesthetics value.
Due to the difference in the required staircases across different buildings, there are factors to consider when designing the stairs.
Designing Industrial Stair
Industrial stairs are usually designed to serve heavy duties such as supporting equipment and a beehive of activities up and down the industry. It’ll also be exposed to elements that can easily damage the stairs.
For you to ensure the design is of good quality and serves the proper purpose, here are some of the considerations to take into account:
- Budget
Budget is usually one of the most crucial considerations when designing an industrial stair. You have to do the math on what cost you’re willing to spend on your stairs without affecting the other important parts of the building. Your budget will also determine the materials to be used on the stairs and the size of the stairs.
People with a bigger budget can go for an all-steel type of staircase, while concrete and stones can be used in cases of a tighter budget. As much as stairs are necessary, plan your budget well to fit perfectly on all essentials of your industry.
- Materials Of The Stairs
The material used when making staircases will significantly determine the overall design of a staircase. There are different materials such as concrete, wood, and steel that can be used to design industrial stairs—it even includes a classification of sustainable construction materials. Recently there has been the usage of glass in staircases as they allow maximum light to enter the room, which helps to cut lighting expenses. However, installing glass stairs can be expensive, and it’s prone to scratches.
On the other hand, using steel to design your stairs can prove to be very economical and beneficial in the long run. Steel requires little maintenance costs compared to other materials. In addition, steel is durable and can support so much weight when placed upon it without bending or crashing. This makes it more suitable for most industries.
- Nature Of Activities The Industry
The nature of your industry involves what activities go on inside the building. It’s also the number of people in the building and the materials that’ll be carried over the stairs. So, for example, in a building with heavy equipment carried over the stairs, the staircase needs to be strong, like steel or concrete reinforced with steel.
Also, the design of the staircase will be depended on the weight of the materials. For example, steep stairs can be used in industries with no heavy materials being carried between buildings. However, a more elongated design that reduces the slope in stairs can be used in industries where workers carry heavy materials between floors.
Finally, the design and material used also depend on the number of users. In an industry where there are many people, the stairs should be made from strong materials and have a bigger width to reduce congestion. Other materials such as timber can be used if the users are less than 10.
- Building Regulations
Many regulations will guide you on the design and size of the stairs to use in your buildings. For example, different counties and states have laws that regulate certain aspects such as the width, the gradient, and the height of stairs.
Before you set up any design in mind, you should first check with the building department to meet these guidelines. After that, you can cross-check with the design you have in mind to see if it meets the requirements. This will ensure that you don’t incur any fines and penalties for not observing the laws.
- Size Of The Building
A proper industrial stair should fit the size and the design of the building without requiring any extra space. If the size of the industrial building is big enough, then designs such as straight staircases can be used. However, in cases of small buildings, you can build spiral stairs to utilize the small spaces.
Also, the size of the building will determine the size of the stairs. Large rooms allow installation of broader staircases, while smaller rooms will narrow down the width of the staircase that can be used. You can measure the size of your room and search online about the best staircase design that fits the size of the room. You can also consult a construction expert to help the with the design.
- Safety Of The Building
Several factors determine the safety of the room. Such factors include the space available and the lighting of the house. These factors will significantly determine the design and the size of the stairs you’ll get for your industrial building. For example, spiral staircases need to be placed in well-lit areas of the building because of the harsh gradient.
In addition, staircases need to be placed at least one meter away from the door or any opening. This will ensure the safety of every person using the building. Moreover, if the building isn’t well lit, you need to use a straight staircase with less slope or even opt for ramps.
Bottom Line
As discussed, industrial stairs are essential in the movement of people and materials from one floor to the other. In addition, the stairs are used to support a lot of weight every day and therefore need to be made using the best materials available.
When designing these stairs, you need to consider these factors. They’ll help you come up with stairs that are safe to the users and also very effective. Be mindful of the regulation, the size of your room, and your budget. By putting this into consideration, you’ll get the best design.