Glass Stair

[ron9876]

I have a client that would like to use glass elements to build a stair in a high end house (I know it sounds crazy for several reasons). Has anyone ever seen or heard of such a thing.

 

[jike]

Yes! Sounds like a high end client!

http://www.glassstairs.com/images.html

 

[mrengineer]

I did a glass stair a couple of years ago. There was a HUGE number of details (many of them by the architect), because once they go that route, they are extremely picky about every little detail.

 

[csd72]

check the building code on glass I thnk there are span tables in there. It also needs to be of a type that is not prone to brittle failure - I think it is laminated annealed (but I am not sure).

csd

 

[mrengineer]

I don't think you need to concern yourself with design of the glass treads. Just check with the specialty tread manufacturer concerning allowable span and attachment details.

 

[drile007]

If I remember right the glass is very brittle material and you can't count on any yielding mechanism and consecutive any plastic redistribution (reserve). So, if you do the design, just be careful on max. stresses. Find exactly what kind of glass you have and design the "monster" in such way that you don't pass the max. allowed stress with the stresses you'll find on it. You can help yourself with FEM.


Drile007

 

[SkiisAndBikes]

I believe the recently constructed Four Seasons Centre For The Performing Arts (the new Opera House) in Toronto incorporated a full glass staircase for the main entry into the theatre.

http://www.fourseasonscentre.ca

Designed by a local engineering firm. I have not seen it myself but reports from friends are that it is spectacular.

 

[Ussuri]

The IStructE have a publication called structural use of glass in buildings. Might be worth a look.

http://www.istructe.org/publications/pubdetails.asp?pid=32

 

[Roshio]

Dear ron9876,

I desgined stainless steel ans glass staircases for the following projects:

- A car show room in Tokyo (Japan)
- Another car show room in Tokyo
- New offices in Washington DC (400 metrs from the white house)
- Private home in Kampala (Uganda)
- Glass structure in a Private home in Baku (Azerbaijan
- A glass curtain wall in Alicante (Spain)

I have done all the design process; from on site measurements to the assembly.

Kind Regards

Raffaele