Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: staircase

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hummer59
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Joined: 5/26/10
Location: Canada
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Topic: staircase
Posted: 5/26/10 at 12:42am

Hi

I've been asked to build a unique staircase for an up coming production. I've searched the internet for suggestions but have come up empty. Any help would be appreciated.

The stair case is offset, not spiral. So looking straight on it has a pyramid effect. I thought of using a box approach but my concern is the load.

the vertical height would be 6 feet. So roughly 8-9 steps. I also thought using this idea...one single center string with a half string on the one side for the first 4 steps and a half string on the next 4 or five on the other side that starts halfway up....if that makes sense.

Any suggestions or websites for ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks

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vickifrank
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Posted: 5/26/10 at 12:02pm

Does the entire staircase get used or just the center portion? If only the center portion gets used, you could build a normal staircase with faux sides.

If the entire thing gets used, your half string concept ought to work .

_____________

http://www.studio-productions-inc.com
1-800-359-2964

The theater scrim people

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hummer59
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Posted: 5/26/10 at 2:23pm

Hi Vicki...i'm assuming....

the stairs will be used and will have a number of people on them at the same time, so there will have to be supports. I posted this in the hopes that someone else might have done this before.....

I'm sure it's been done.....or maybe going where no man has gone before....yikes...that was bad.....

thanks for your input.

rick

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David McCall
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Posted: 5/26/10 at 10:36pm

Undoubtedly it has been done many times. You are right to be concerned about the safety of several people being on it at the same time. You should be even more concerned if people are going to dance on it or even sway back and forth to the music. 6' is also high enough to want strong handrails or something a person can grab if they stumble.

I would think that this gets into an area where steel makes a lot of sense for the structure, but it could be built out of wood as well. If I were using conventional stringers I would want at least the 2 in the middle go all of the way to the top.

David M

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JoeMc
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Joined: 3/13/06
Location: Australia
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Posted: 5/26/10 at 11:55pm

This may help with;-
online stair calculations

Stair Calculator - Layout Stair Stringer Headroom Rise Run Baluster

The internationaly accepted stiar 'riser' height is 7 3/4", but this can vary with local standards & requirements.
However as David sugested handrails I feel would be required under your local H&S code, especialy for rostra of 6' & also the increased amplification of performers movement, should be a considered factor of the construction.
We have a rule of the 'black thumb nail', that anything over 3 treads in height, requires a handrail or some form of fall aresting/supression.

Edited by JoeMc - 5/27/10 at 6:57pm

[western] Gondawandaland
"Hear the light & see the sound!
TOI TOI CHOOKAS
{may you always play to a full house!}

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startingout
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Joined: 9/09/08
Location: United States
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Posts: 39

Posted: 12/23/10 at 2:02pm

I would make it like it would be in a house

4 stringers I made one for the school that I build sets for and we have used it every year since

make it strong and brace, brace, brace

hand rail to will help streghten it

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Set Design and Construction
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Set Design and Construction

Author	Message
hummer59 Walk-On Joined: 5/26/10 Location: Canada Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Topic: staircase Posted: 5/26/10 at 12:42am
	Hi I've been asked to build a unique staircase for an up coming production. I've searched the internet for suggestions but have come up empty. Any help would be appreciated. The stair case is offset, not spiral. So looking straight on it has a pyramid effect. I thought of using a box approach but my concern is the load. the vertical height would be 6 feet. So roughly 8-9 steps. I also thought using this idea...one single center string with a half string on the one side for the first 4 steps and a half string on the next 4 or five on the other side that starts halfway up....if that makes sense. Any suggestions or websites for ideas would be appreciated. Thanks

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vickifrank Celebrity Joined: 9/21/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 332	Posted: 5/26/10 at 12:02pm
	Does the entire staircase get used or just the center portion? If only the center portion gets used, you could build a normal staircase with faux sides. If the entire thing gets used, your half string concept ought to work .
	_____________ http://www.studio-productions-inc.com 1-800-359-2964 The theater scrim people
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hummer59 Walk-On Joined: 5/26/10 Location: Canada Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 5/26/10 at 2:23pm
	Hi Vicki...i'm assuming.... the stairs will be used and will have a number of people on them at the same time, so there will have to be supports. I posted this in the hopes that someone else might have done this before..... I'm sure it's been done.....or maybe going where no man has gone before....yikes...that was bad..... thanks for your input. rick
	IP Logged

David McCall Celebrity Joined: 1/28/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 299	Posted: 5/26/10 at 10:36pm
	Undoubtedly it has been done many times. You are right to be concerned about the safety of several people being on it at the same time. You should be even more concerned if people are going to dance on it or even sway back and forth to the music. 6' is also high enough to want strong handrails or something a person can grab if they stumble. I would think that this gets into an area where steel makes a lot of sense for the structure, but it could be built out of wood as well. If I were using conventional stringers I would want at least the 2 in the middle go all of the way to the top.
	David M
	IP Logged

JoeMc Celebrity Joined: 3/13/06 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 832	Posted: 5/26/10 at 11:55pm
	This may help with;- online stair calculations Stair Calculator - Layout Stair Stringer Headroom Rise Run Baluster The internationaly accepted stiar 'riser' height is 7 3/4", but this can vary with local standards & requirements. However as David sugested handrails I feel would be required under your local H&S code, especialy for rostra of 6' & also the increased amplification of performers movement, should be a considered factor of the construction. We have a rule of the 'black thumb nail', that anything over 3 treads in height, requires a handrail or some form of fall aresting/supression. Edited by JoeMc - 5/27/10 at 6:57pm
	[western] Gondawandaland "Hear the light & see the sound! TOI TOI CHOOKAS {may you always play to a full house!}
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startingout Lead Joined: 9/09/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 39	Posted: 12/23/10 at 2:02pm
	I would make it like it would be in a house 4 stringers I made one for the school that I build sets for and we have used it every year since make it strong and brace, brace, brace hand rail to will help streghten it
	IP Logged

Topic: staircase( Topic Closed)