23.1. Technical terms of a stair

a) Stringer: - The inclined sides of the stair carrying the steps.

b) Riser: - The vertical timber which closes the space between two steps.

c) Rise: - It is the vertical distance between the top of the one tread and the top of the tread immediately above it. Usually 175 mm.

d) Tread: - The board forming the top-surface upon which the foot is placed.

e) Go or Going: - The horizontal distance between the face of one riser and the face of the next. Usually 250 mm.

f) Nosing: - The rounded edge of the tread projecting over the riser. Usually 20 mm.

g) Landing: - The floor at the beginning or the end of a stair flight and the intermediate floor between two flights.

h) Well or Well-hole: - The space in the centre of a staircase between the outer stringers of the flight.

i) Flight: - A complete set of stairs reaching from floor to floor or from floor to a landing.

j) Newel: - An upright post at each end of a flight of stairs to carry the handrails and sometimes also the stringers.

k) Handrail: - The support for the hands at the sides of the stair.