4: Stairs, Railings and Ramps

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Continue working on the same project file from the previous chapters.

4.1 TYPES OF STAIRS

Assembled

Assembled stairs show each riser, tread, and stringer as separate elements like assembled wooden stairs.

Figure 4.1 Assembled Stair

Monolithic

Monolithic stairs use the same material for treads, risers, and stringers.

Figure 4.2 Monolithic Stair

Precast

Precast stairs use structural rebar in concrete like a cast-in-place stair would be built on-site.

Figure 4.3 Precast Stair

4.2 CREATE STAIRS

Create a straight run stair by component

Click the Architecture tab
In the Level 1 view, click the Stair icon
Use the Type Selector to choose the Assembled Stair
On the Options Bar, change the Location Line to Exterior Support: Left
Click to begin the stair as shown in Figure 4.4
Drag the cursor till it shows 10 risers will be created and 9 risers are remaining
Click to place the first 10 risers
Drag the cursor up and place the remaining stairs 9-foot away
Select the Railing icon on the Ribbon
Choose the Handrail – Rectangular option and click OK
Use the Move tool if needed to place the stairs in the bottom left corner of the shaft opening
In Elevation or 3D view, select the stair and choose the Connect Levels icon from the Modify tab
Select the level lines 3 and 4 to connect to each other
Click the green checkmark to complete the stair

Figure 4.4 Assembly stair in plan view and in 3D view
(One wall in the 3D view is hidden to show the stairs connecting to multiple levels)

Create a custom stair by sketching

Open the Level 1 view from the Project Browser
In the Properties Palette, in the Underlay section, change the Range: Base Level to Level 2
Click the Architecture tab
Click the Stair icon on the ribbon, under the Circulation panel
In the Properties Palette, select the Edit Type icon
In the Type Properties window click the Duplicate button
Change the name to “7in max riser 1ft tread”
Change the following parameters
- Maximum Riser Height: 0’ 6.9”
- Minimum Tread Depth: 1’ 0”
In the Components panel, click the Sketch tool
Click the Boundary icon
Following Figure 4.5, use the Line tool to draw green boundary lines in the Level 1 floorplan
Click the Riser icon
Following Figure 4.5, use the Line tool and the Start-End-Radius tool to draw risers 1 foot apart.
Click the Stair Path
Click to place a connected line from the top riser to the bottom riser
Click the green checkmark to complete the stair
Look at the 3D view, if the stair direction is wrong, on the ribbon click the Flip icon
On the ribbon, select the Railing icon
The Railing window will open. Change the following parameters
- Choose the Glass Panel – Bottom Fill
- Choose the Stringer option
- Click OK
Click the green checkmark to complete the stair

Figure 4.5 Stair sketch in plan view and finished stair in 3D view
(Two walls in the 3D view are hidden to show the custom stair)

TIP

The Offset tool is handy for creating repetitive lines

Create a Full-Step spiral stair

Open the Level 3 floor plan view
Click the Architecture tab
Click the Stair icon on the Ribbon, under the Circulation panel
On the Options Bar change the Actual Run Width to 5’ 0”
Use the Type Selector to choose the Assembled Stair 7” max riser 11” tread
In the Properties Palette change the following parameters
- Base Level: Level 3
- Top Level: Level 4
In the Components panel, click the spiral tool
In the Level 3 view, click once on the canvas at the center of the 15-foot square opening and drag the cursor out as shown in Figure 4.6 to create a radius of 6’0″
Type 10” and press the Enter key
Click the Landing icon
Use the Line tool to draw a landing to connect the stair to the floor plate as shown in Figure 4.6
Click the green checkmark to complete the Landing
On the ribbon, select the Railing icon
The Railing window will open, change the following parameters
- Click the Glass Panel – Bottom Fill
- Click the Stringer option
Click the green checkmark to complete the Stair

Figure 4.6 Spiral stair in plan view and in 3D view
(The 3D view shown uses a section box to better view the added element. A section box can be added through the Properties Palette)

Create a Center-Ends spiral stair

In the Level 2 view, click the Architecture tab
Select the Stair icon from the ribbon, under the Circulation panel
On the Option Bar change the Actual Run Width to 4’ 0”
In the Components panel, click the Center-Ends Spiral tool
Hover the cursor over the center edge of the mezzanine. When the midpoint snap appears (magenta triangle), click to start placing the stair
Drag the cursor down the mezzanine edge to create a 6-foot radius. Click to begin placing the stair treads
Drag the cursor up and around until 10 risers are created and 11 risers remain
Click to finish placing the stairs
Select the Center-Ends Spiral Tool again
Select the center radius
Drag the cursor out from the first 10 steps to create a 6-foot radius and an automatic curved landing is created
In Elevation or 3D view, select the stair and choose the Connect Levels icon from the Modify tab
Select the level line 3
Click the Railing icon
Select Glass Panel – Bottom Fill
Click OK
Click the green checkmark to complete this step

Figure 4.7 Spiral stair in plan view and in 3D view
(Two walls in the 3D view are hidden to better show the custom spiral stair)

4.3 TYPES OF RAILINGS

Glass Panel

Metal Railing with glass panels filling in the bottom area

Figure 4.8 Railing Glass Panel in 3D view

Guardrail – Pipe

The typical railing of several horizontal members that have no applied materials.

Figure 4.9 Railing Guardrail – Pipe in 3D view

Guardrail – Rectangular

The typical railing of several vertical members that have no applied materials.

Figure 4.10 Railing Guardrail – Rectangular

Handrail – Pipe

The typical railing of several horizontal members that have no applied materials.

Figure 4.11 Railing Handrail – Pipe

Handrail – Rectangular

The typical railing of several vertical members that have no applied materials.

Figure 4.12 Railing Handrail – Rectangular

4.4 CREATE RAILINGS

Create railings using the Line Tool

In the Level 2 view, click the Architecture tab
Click the Railing icon drop-down menu from the Circulation Panel
Use the Type Selector to choose the Glass Panel – Bottom Fill
Select the Line tool
Follow Figure 4.13 to draw the first railing in magenta 0’4″ from the edge of the mezzanine
Click the green checkmark to complete the railing

Figure 4.13 Level 2 sketched railings shown in plan view
Each railing must be continuous therefore follow the same steps to complete rails 2 and 3 highlighted in yellow in Figure 4.13
Click the green checkmark to complete the railing
Continue to draw the railings for Levels 3 and 4 shown in Figure 4.14

Figure 4.14 Mezzanine railing completed for Levels 2, 3, and 4
(Two walls in the 3D view are hidden to show the railings)

Modify a railing

In the 3D view, click the View Cube on the top corner between the Left and Front face
Select the two connecting walls in this view
Right-click and click Hide in View
In the sub-menu click Element
Hold down the Control key and select all of the railings in the Shaft Opening
Use the Type Selector to choose Handrail – Rectangular
Click the Edit Type button
Click the Duplicate button
Accept the default name change
Under the Top Rail section, by Type, select the words “Rectangular 2X2” then click the 3 dots button
Under the Extension Beginning/Bottom set the following parameters
- Extension Style: Wall
- Length: 1’ 0”
- Click OK
Under the Handrail 1 section, by Type, select the word “<none>” then click the 3 dots button that appears
Under the Extension Beginning/Bottom change the following parameters
- Extension Style: Post
- Length: 1’ 0”
- Check the box next to Plus Tread Depth
- Click OK
Under Handrail 1, change the position to Left
Click OK

Figure 4.15 Handrail added to the inside of the existing railing
(One wall in the 3D view is hidden to show the stairs and handrailing)

4.5 RAMPS

Create a ramp using the Line Tool

In the Level 2 view, click the Architecture tab
Click the Ramp icon on the ribbon
In the Properties palette, click the Edit Type button
Duplicate the type and change the name to “My Ramp”
Change the Maximum Incline Length to 33’ ¼”
Click OK to accept the changes
Use the Line tool to begin drawing the first incline of the ramp as shown in Figure 4.16
Pull the cursor away from the first incline to provide a landing as shown in Figure 4.16
Complete until there is 0” remaining of the ramp to place
Click the green checkmark to complete the ramp
After the ramp is created select the Level 2 floor plate and edit the boundary to include an opening for the ramp to reach level 3

Figure 4.16 Ramp shown in plan view and in 3D view
(One wall in the 3D view is hidden to show the inner railing)

Modify a ramp

In the Level 2 view, select the ramp
Click the Edit profile icon
Working from right to left, select a line
Use the witness lines to change dimensions as shown in Figure 4.17

Figure 4.17 Ramp dimensions modified and shown in plan view
Use the Pin tool to lock the lines in place once the dimensions are corrected
Click the green checkmark to complete the ramp
Select the ramp
Click the Edit Type button
Under construction, next to Shape, click the drop-down menu
Choose Solid
Use the Move tool to move the ramp into the corner as shown in Figure 4.18
Select the railings
Use the type selector to choose Handrail – Pipe
Select and modify the Level 3 floor around the ramp

Figure 4.18 Completed ram shown in 3D view with 2 walls hidden

TIP

Select the perpendicular line to the left of the line you want to adjust

Stairs, Railings and Ramps Video Tutorial