Total height (floor to floor): the vertically measured distance between the finished surfaces of two floor levels
Riser: height from step to step
Stairhead: vertical element situated at the top or bottom of the staircase or occasionally in the middle of the flight, onto which fixed banister and stringer (if present) are attached
Handrail: part of the banister to provide grip and support when walking on the staircase
Wall Handrail: handrail fixed to the wall
Stringer: inclined element, situated laterally to the staircase, supporting the end(s) of the steps
Spacer: vertical element used in the central support column in some winding staircases to increase the space between the steps.
Opening: space in a floor/ceiling reserved for a staircase
Top Step: the last step to walk. Can be a top plate (see “mounting”)
Staircase width: horizontal distance measured between the external sides of the stringers or, if no stringers are present, between the lateral extremities of the banister. The width of the staircase provides the real measurement of the width of the staircase
Free width (net of stair): horizontal distance measured on the stair between the internal sides of the stringers or, if no stringers are present, between the internal extremities of the banister. The free width provides a real measurement of the available space for the rise of the staircase.
Walking line: Conventional line showing the average walking path of the staircase users. N.B. an arrow on this line always shows the way up
Central column: vertical structural element of a winding staircase
Clearance: Minimum available vertical free space above the staircase gradient
Landing: Horizontal landing located at the extremity or between two flights of a staircase. It can be part of the staircase or of the floor.
Banister: safety element located at the open end of a staircase to prevent the user from falling down from the side
External Banister: a banister built around the larger side of a series of steps, or for a winding staircase, around the side of the steps furthest from the central column
Internal Banister: a banister built around the central column of a winding staircase, or in an open staircase, on the side furthest from the wall.
Tread: horizontal distance between the mountings of 2 consecutive steps, measured on the walking line
Plate: construction element of the central column (or of the central structure) fixed to the floor. It may come with a decorative covering element called “plate cover”
Stair depth: horizontal distance between the mounting and the rear of the stair
Curved connector: part of a banister or stringer horizontally/vertically curved
Flight: structure that forms a continuous gradient between levels
Winding staircase: circular staircase developing along a central column
Open staircase: staircase consisting of one or more flights connected by landings. It comes in different shapes: U-shaped, L-shaped, I-shaped, C-shaped or S-shaped.
Modular staircase: a staircase consisting of standard modular and interchangeable components
Spiral staircase: staircase describing a spiral/helix around a stairway. Spiral staircases have no central column.
Slab (thickness): vertical distance between the finished floor of the top level and its underlying finished ceiling. S (slab) = HT (total floor-to-floor height) – H (floor-ceiling height)
Mounting: front extremity of a stair or of a forward-projecting landing height from step to step
Balustrade: a safety banister which serves to protect the exposed parts of the opening.
