Exterior Stairs
Exterior Stairs
(OP)
I have a project to design outside stairs for two-story apartments. I need to compare different options such as concrete, steel or a combination. The structural framing for the bldg is steel so even if I propose concrete staircase I would have to have metal in it for attachment to the steel framing of the bldg. I also have to be concerned with the snow, ice and salt which can cause corrosion.
Are there any references or guidelines that I should be looking into or follow?
Thanks in advace.
Are there any references or guidelines that I should be looking into or follow?
Thanks in advace.






RE: Exterior Stairs
RE: Exterior Stairs
RE: Exterior Stairs
Dik
RE: Exterior Stairs
If the stair fails, who to blame? The manuf. of course because you put it on your drawing PER MANUF.
RE: Exterior Stairs
Don't you still have some responsibility? Do they submit calcs and plans for your review? We always review performance specs to make sure it is not interacting with the overall structure in a way that we don't want as well as for coordination items.
RE: Exterior Stairs
This is a very complicated legal question that even our legal profession cannot agree upon. What usually happens is that everyone (even remotely involved) gets sued and it is up to the attorneys and insurance companies to sort it out.
If the stairs is of any significance, I recommend that your performance spec requires an insured, licensed engineer be hired by the fabricator to design the stairs, not just a detailer.
RE: Exterior Stairs
DaveAtkins
RE: Exterior Stairs
Doesn't the snow and ice increase the performance for evacuation? If there is a fire, and all residents are vacating, one person slips at the top, the whole kit and kaboodle come tumbling down. Isn't that why it's called a landing?
Chip
P.S. Is it Friday yet?
RE: Exterior Stairs
RE: Exterior Stairs
Thats okay, we are still on our weekend when you go back to work on Monday.
csd
RE: Exterior Stairs
I think we as engineers should be able to spec the materials and do the structural design. That was the intent of this posting. If we don’t know how something may perform how can we accept it? The manufacturer or the contractor may not be around a few years down the road.
I was looking for guidelines/publications that would help me come up with recommendations and perform the necessary designs/details. Is anybody aware of any resources?
Thanks,
RE: Exterior Stairs
Association of Architectural Metal Manufacturers. I don't know if it is still available. You might try your local library or eBay.
RE: Exterior Stairs
I didn't mean to imply that someone who is not an engineer be designing the stairs. I was just saying that given the complexity and amount of time and detail that must be put into the building design it is ususally not time well spent designing stairs. As the EOR we have too many other design tasks, and with short time frames for CD documents this is something that can be easily performanced spec'd.
Also, with the performance spec - the calcs still have to be signed and sealed by a Professional ENGINEER, not a detailer or anyone else.
Are you doing the building design and ALSO want to design the stairs, or are you thte guy that the stairs got sent to?