Technical Terms in Stairs | Building Construction

Technical Terms in Stairs

 

The definitions of technical terms used in the connection with the stairs are as follows :

 

1) Tread :

• The horizontal upper portion of a step is known as a tread.
  

  

2) Rise :

• This is the vertical distance between two successive treads.
  

  

3) Riser :

• The vertical or front member of the step, which is connected to the treads, is known as a riser.
  

  

4) Step :

• A combination of tread & riser is known as a step.

 

 
• Following are the common types of step:

1. Bullnose Step
2. Commode Step
3. Dancing or Balancing Step
4. Flier
5. Round-ended Step
6. Splayed Step
7. Winder

5) String :

• The inclined member of a stair which supports the ends of steps is known as a string.

• There are two types of string:
  

  a)A cut or open string

  b)A closed or housed string.

  
  

6) Handrail :

• The inclined rail over the string is known as a handrail.
  

  

7) Baluster :

• This is the vertical member which is fixed between string & handrail to give support  to the handrail.
  

  
  

8) Balustrade or Barrister :

• The combined framework of handrail & balusters is known as the balustrade or barrister.
  

 9) Flight :

• This is defined as an unbroken series of steps between the landings.
  

  

  
  

10) Going :

• This is the horizontal distance between the faces of two consecutive risers.
  

  

11 ) Headroom :

• The vertical distance between the nosings of one flight & the bottom of flight immediately above is known as the headroom.
  

  

  
  

12) Landing :

• The horizontal platform between two flights of a stairs is known as the landing.
  

  

  
  

13) Newel Post :

• This is the vertical member which is placed at the ends of flights to connect the ends of strings & handrails.
  

  

  
  

14) Nosing :

• The projecting part of the tread beyond the face of riser is known as a nosing.

15) Pitch :

• The angle of inclination of the stair with the floor is known as a pitch.

16) Run :

• The total length of a stair in a horizontal plane is known as the run & it includes the lengths of landings also.

17) Scotia :

• This is an additional finish or moulding provided to the nosing or tread to improve the elevation of the step & to provide strength to the nosing.
  

  

  
  

  
  

18) Soffit :

• The under surface of a stair is known as the soffit.
  

  

  
  

19) Waist :

• The thickness of structural slab in case of an R.C.C. stair is known as a waist.

20) Walking Line :

• The approximate line of movement of people on a stair during ascending or descending is known as a walking line.
  

  

  
  

 

 

To know detailed information about technical terms in staircase click on the video given below :

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Technical Terms in Arches

 

Technical Terms in Arches

The definitions of technical terms used in connection with the archwork (i.e Arches) are as follows.

 

1) Intradose :

• This is the inner curve of arch.
  

  

  
  

2) Soffit :

• This is the inner surface of the arch.  
  

  

  
  

3) Extrados or Back :

• This is the external curve of an arch as shown in above image. 

4) Voussoirs :

• These are the wedge-shaped units forming the courses of an arch.
  

  

  
  

5) Crown :

• This is the highest point of the extrados.
  

  

  
  

6) Key :

• This is the wedge-shaped unit at the crown of an arch.
  

  

   
  

   

  
  

7) Arcade :

• This is a row of arches supporting a wall above & being supported by the piers.

8) Abutment :

• This is the end supports of an arcade.
  

  

  
  

9) Piers :

•  These are the intermediate supports of an arcade as shown in above image.

10) Springing Point :

• These are the points from which the curve of an arch springs.
  

  

  
  

11 ) Springing Line :

• This is the imaginary horizontal line joining the two springing points.
  

  

  
  

12) Skewback :

• This is the inclined or splayed surface on the abutment.
  

  

  
  

13) Springer :

• This is the first voussoir at springing level on either side of an arch & it is immediately adjacent to the skewback.
  

  

  
  

14) Span :

• This is the clear horizontal distance between the supports.
  

  

  
  

15) Rise :

• This is the clear vertical distance between the highest point on the intrados & the springing line.
  

  

  
  

16) Centre :

• This is the geometrical centre of the curve of an arch.
  

  

  
  

17) Ring :

• This is the circular course forming an arch. 

18) Depth or Height :

• This is the perpendicular distance between the intrados & extrados.

19) Spandrel :

• This is the irregular triangular space formed between the intrados & extrados.

  

  
  

20) Haunch :

• This is the lower half portion of the arch between the crown & the skewback.

  

  
  

21) Thickness or Breadth of Soffit :

• The horizontal distance measured perpendicular to the front & back faces of an arch is known as the thickness or breadth of soffit.

22) Impost :

The projecting course at the upper part of a pier or an abutment to stress the springing line is called the impost.

 

 

To know more information about Technical Terms in Arches click on video given below :

 

 

Technical Terms in Brick Masonry



The definitions of various technical terms in Brick Masonry are given below :

 

1) Stretcher :

• This is a brick laid with its length parallel to the face or front or direction of a wall.
• A course containing stretchers is called a stretcher course.
  

  

  
  

2) Header :

• This is a brick laid with its breadth or width parallel to the face or front or direction of a wall. Header is shown in above image.
• The course containing headers is called a header course.

3) Arrises :

• The edges formed by the intersection of plane surfaces of brick are called the arrises.
  

  

4) Bed :

• The lower surface of the brick when laid flat is known as the bed.
  

  

5) Bed Joint :

• The horizontal layer of mortar upon which the bricks are laid is known as a bed joint. Bed joint is shown in above image.

6) Perpends :

The vertical joints separating the bricks in either length or cross directions are known as the perpends.

7) Lap :

The horizontal distance between the vertical joints in successive courses is termed as a lap.

8) Closer :

A piece of brick which is used to close up the bond at the end of brick courses is known as a closer.

a) Queen Closer : This is obtained by cutting the brick longitudinally in two equal parts.

b)  King Closer : This is obtained by cutting a triangular portion of the brick such that half a header & half a stretcher are obtained on the adjoining cut faces.

c)  Bevelled Closer : This is obtained by cutting a triangular portion of half the width but of full length.

d)  Mitred Closer : This is obtained by cutting a triangular portion of the brick through its width & making an angle of 45º to 60º with the length of the brick.

9) Bat :

• This is a piece of brick, usually considered in relation to the length of a brick & accordingly known as half bat or three-quarter bat.
  

  
  

10) Bullnose :

•   A brick moulded with a rounded angle is termed as a bullnose & it is used for a rounded quoin.

11) Cownose :

• A brick moulded with a double bullnose on end is termed as cownose.
  

  

12) Squint Quoin :

• A brick which is cut or moulded such that an angle other than a right angle is formed in plan is known as a squint quoin.
  

  

  
  

13) Frog :

• A frog is a mark of depth about 10 mm to 20 mm which is placed on the face of a brick to form a key for holding the mortar.
  

  

  
  

14) Racking Back :

• The termination of a wall in a stepped fashion is known as the racking back.
  

  

  
  

15) Toothing :

• The termination of a wall in such a fashion that each alternate course at the end projects is known as the toothing .
  

  

  
  

 

To get more details about technical terms in Brick Masonry click on the video given below :