Step Terminology
Step Terminology
(OP)
I'm having a project done at my house. If you are standing on the porch, you step down to an intermediate height, and then step down to the patio. I say that we have added one "step" (noun). The contractor says that we have two "steps" (verb I think). We are having the devil's own time communicating. He says in construction the number of "steps" is the number of times that a person takes a step. I say it is the number of stair treads that are added between starting height and finish height. Does anyone have a feel for the "right" answer?
David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering
"Belief" is the acceptance of an hypotheses in the absence of data.
"Prejudice" is having an opinion not supported by the preponderance of the data.
"Knowledge" is only found through the accumulation and analysis of data.
The plural of anecdote is not "data"





RE: Step Terminology
A stair with no risers is just a floor.
RE: Step Terminology
RE: Step Terminology
RE: Step Terminology
David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering
"Belief" is the acceptance of an hypotheses in the absence of data.
"Prejudice" is having an opinion not supported by the preponderance of the data.
"Knowledge" is only found through the accumulation and analysis of data.
The plural of anecdote is not "data"
RE: Step Terminology
RE: Step Terminology
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RE: Step Terminology
This seems trivial, but I drew up the project, we talked about it, spend a couple of weeks on the initial construction, then a half hour before I had to leave for the airport for a month in Oz he said "The main walkway is 4 steps" I had drawn the main walkway as 3 steps (by my definition). I was stressed and yelled for him to do it the way I drew it and left for the airport. While I've been gone, the progress all looks right, but I just keep being curious about how we could have better communicated. We were obviously saying the same thing because it got built the way I drew it.
To make this all worse my wife finds his definition perfectly reasonable and mine kind of silly.
David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering
"Belief" is the acceptance of an hypotheses in the absence of data.
"Prejudice" is having an opinion not supported by the preponderance of the data.
"Knowledge" is only found through the accumulation and analysis of data.
The plural of anecdote is not "data"
RE: Step Terminology
They used a ladder. We can presume to avoid these kinds of problems. Rungs are easy to count. NASA is clever like that.
RE: Step Terminology
RE: Step Terminology
I'm least unhappy with the approach your contractor took. Going straight from your patio to the porch would be a step up by itself. Putting stuff in the way adds an extra step (making two).
A.
RE: Step Terminology
RE: Step Terminology
That is the way I see it too. He uses something called a "step kit" to make a step. Step kits cost about the same as the regular caps, but have to be ordered (they are caps without a lip on the back and it is slightly less expensive to buy them than to pay a worker to chip the lip off a regular cap). From the porch to the patio he used one step kit. From the patio to the walk he used zero step kits. For the main stairway he used 3 step kits. He calls that 2, 1, and 4 steps respectively.
David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering
"Belief" is the acceptance of an hypotheses in the absence of data.
"Prejudice" is having an opinion not supported by the preponderance of the data.
"Knowledge" is only found through the accumulation and analysis of data.
The plural of anecdote is not "data"
RE: Step Terminology
John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:
To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
RE: Step Terminology
- Steve
RE: Step Terminology
David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering
"Belief" is the acceptance of an hypotheses in the absence of data.
"Prejudice" is having an opinion not supported by the preponderance of the data.
"Knowledge" is only found through the accumulation and analysis of data.
The plural of anecdote is not "data"
RE: Step Terminology
John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:
To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
RE: Step Terminology
David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering
"Belief" is the acceptance of an hypotheses in the absence of data.
"Prejudice" is having an opinion not supported by the preponderance of the data.
"Knowledge" is only found through the accumulation and analysis of data.
The plural of anecdote is not "data"
RE: Step Terminology
The plural of anecdote is not 'data' indeed;- is twoecdotes.
RE: Step Terminology
RE: Step Terminology
In my opinion, of course.
RE: Step Terminology
You said:
*we have added one "step"
*it is the number of stair treads that are added between starting height and finish height.
Both refer to the change in steps associated with the project
He said:
*we have two "steps"
* in construction the number of "steps" is the number of times that a person takes a step.
Both refer to the final state after completion of the project
It is possible the difference described in the initial post is whether we're talking about a change or a final state? Just a thought. I may have totally missed the point (I didn't read the entire thread closely, and I agree there are a lot of subtleties in the term step itself).
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(2B)+(2B)' ?
RE: Step Terminology
I read these as the same thing. You started with one, added one, and ended with two. Of course that relies on my interpretation that you started with one step, not a curb...I can see there is room for interpretation either way
=====================================
(2B)+(2B)' ?
RE: Step Terminology
David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering
"Belief" is the acceptance of an hypotheses in the absence of data.
"Prejudice" is having an opinion not supported by the preponderance of the data.
"Knowledge" is only found through the accumulation and analysis of data.
The plural of anecdote is not "data"
RE: Step Terminology
If you are offended by the things I say, imagine the stuff I hold back.
RE: Step Terminology
A.
RE: Step Terminology
By that terminology would you say that the case where you step from the patio to the walkway without an intermediate tread has a riser or not? That seems to be the essence of the communication difficulty.
David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering
"Belief" is the acceptance of an hypotheses in the absence of data.
"Prejudice" is having an opinion not supported by the preponderance of the data.
"Knowledge" is only found through the accumulation and analysis of data.
The plural of anecdote is not "data"
RE: Step Terminology
Also, the higher 'platform', I guess the patio in your case, would also still have to have a nosing as if it were a stair tread.
If you are offended by the things I say, imagine the stuff I hold back.
RE: Step Terminology
David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering
"Belief" is the acceptance of an hypotheses in the absence of data.
"Prejudice" is having an opinion not supported by the preponderance of the data.
"Knowledge" is only found through the accumulation and analysis of data.
The plural of anecdote is not "data"
RE: Step Terminology
For some reason, I now have the song Stairway to Heaven stuck in my head. Thanks, all. It's a great song, but I'm going to be humming it all the way until bed time and I'm going to be mighty sick of it.
Best to you,
Goober Dave
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RE: Step Terminology
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
RE: Step Terminology
If you are offended by the things I say, imagine the stuff I hold back.
RE: Step Terminology
Design for RELIABILITY, manufacturability, and maintainability