Galvanized Steel Staircases

Most exterior access staircases are galvanized finish to last the test of time but with a range of different designs available, do you know what type of staircase you need?

Basic types of external metal staircases

1) Straight stairs

These are the most simple design of metal staircase with no change of direction and used to simply get between two floor levels without any complicated engineered design. A straight staircase can often have a landing at the top or a half landing in the middle when accessing higher floor levels.

2) Quarter-Turn or Half-Turn staircases

Quite simple really - a quarter-turn stair is one that accommodates a change in direction, usually exactly 90degrees and thus forms a landing area at the point of directional change. A half-turn staircase is similar in principle but includes and additional 90degree turn, effectively coming back on itself usually with a larger half landing. Half turn staircases are the most common when  the requirement is to access higher levels and multi-story buildings in order to compact the area required for the staircase.

3) Spiral Stairs

Neat and compact, spiral staircases are designed for use in areas that do not have enough room for a large projecting straight stair design. Spirals are also known as helical or curved stairs that follow a specific radius, usually around a central spine column that supports the whole structure.

There are of course many variations of each type of staircase but the general principle remains the same in terms of staircase construction and support structures. Most commonly the main variation with any staircase design is the actual balustrade (handrail) system used which can vary greatly dependent on the building application, aesethic requirement and of course budget.