Reading stairs on a floor plan involves understanding the symbols and conventions used to represent their layout, direction, and visible extent. Here's how:
Understanding the Basic Representation
Stairs are typically depicted as a series of rectangles representing the individual steps (treads and risers). These rectangles are usually arranged sequentially to show the path of the staircase.
Key Elements to Look For:
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Rectangles (Steps): Each rectangle represents a single step. The number of rectangles indicates the total number of visible steps on that part of the drawing.
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Direction Arrow: A crucial element is the arrow indicating the direction of travel, i.e., whether the stairs are going up to the next floor or down to a lower level. This arrow is usually placed alongside the steps.
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Cut Line: This diagonal line signifies where the stairs are "cut" visually on the plan, usually around 3-4 feet above the floor level. Everything above the cut line is drawn with dashed or hidden lines.
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Dashed Lines: Steps above the cut line are shown with dashed lines because they are not visible from the floor level of that particular plan.
Interpreting the Symbols:
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Direction: The arrow will clearly show if the stairs go up (towards the next floor) or down (towards the floor below). The direction the arrow points is the direction of ascent/descent.
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Visible vs. Hidden: Solid lines represent the portion of the staircase visible from the current floor plan's level. Dashed lines indicate the part of the staircase that is above the "cut line" and therefore not visible on that floor plan.
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Stair Layout: The arrangement of rectangles reveals the shape and layout of the staircase - whether it is a straight run, has landings, turns, or is a spiral staircase.
Example Interpretation:
Imagine a floor plan showing stairs with eight rectangular steps drawn in solid lines, followed by an upward-pointing arrow. Above the fourth step, a diagonal "cut line" is drawn. From the cut line upwards, four more steps are drawn using dashed lines. This indicates:
- The stairs are going up to the next floor.
- You can see the first four steps clearly on this floor.
- The remaining four steps are above the cut line and are therefore represented with dashed lines.
Additional Considerations:
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Landings: Landings, which are larger flat areas between flights of stairs, are shown as larger rectangular areas connecting the flights.
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Handrails: Sometimes handrails are also shown on the floor plan, usually as thin lines running parallel to the steps.
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Dimensions: Pay attention to dimensions provided near the staircase to understand the overall size and dimensions of the steps, landings, and stairwell.
In summary, reading stairs on a floor plan involves identifying the rectangles representing steps, noting the direction arrow to determine the direction of travel, and understanding the meaning of the cut line and dashed lines to distinguish between visible and hidden parts of the staircase.
