| A | B |
|---|
| Balusters | Vertical members that support the handrail on open stairs |
| Circular Stairs | Stairs that have trapezoidal steps that rise along an irregular curve or arc |
| Double L Stairs | Stairs that have two 90° turns and two landings along the flight, but are not U shaped |
| Enclosed stairs | Stairs that have a wall on both sides; also known as closed, housed, or box stairs |
| Guardrail | A horizontal protective railing used around stairwells, balconies, and changes of floor elevation greater than 30 degrees. This is formed by the vertical baluster beneath the handrail. |
| Handrail | This items helps people steady themselves as they traverse areas like stairs and ramps where a person might slip, trip, or fall. Railing used to slide your hand along as you walk down stairs. |
| Headroom | The vertical distance measured from the tread nosing to the ceiling above the stairs. Building codes will specify a minimum distance. |
| Housed stringer | A stringer that has been routed or grooved to receive the treads and risers |
| Kick Block | Used to keep the bottom of the stringer from sliding on the floor when downward pressure is applied to the stringer |
| L Shaped Stairs | A set of stairs that have one landing and turn at some point along the flight of stairs |
| Landing | The floor area at either end of the stairs usually occurs at a direction change or elevation change in the stairs |
| Newel | The main post of the handrail at the top, bottom, and points where the stairs change direction |
| Nosing | The rounded projection of the tread that extends past the face of the riser |
| Open stairs | Stairs that have no wall on one or both sides |
| Rise | The vertical distance from top of one tread to the same position on the next tread |
| Riser | The vertical face of the step |
| Run | The horizontal distance from the face of one riser to the face of the next |
| Spiral Stairs | are steps that rise in a circle about a center. Used where space is limited |
| Stairwell opening | The opening on the next floor that allows access by the stairs. |
| Stringer | The inclined support member of a stair that supports the risers and treads. A notched stringer is used for enclosed stairs. |
| Total Rise | The total floor-to-floor height of the stairs |
| Straight Run Stairs | These are stairs used most in home construction. |
| Total Run | The total horizontal length of the stairs |
| Tread | The horizontal member of each step on which a person steps |
| U Stair | Two flights of steps parallel to each other with a landing between |
| Winder Stairs | Pie-shaped steps that are substituted for a landing. This type of stair is used when space is limited. |
| Stair Jack | The inclined support member of a stair that supports the risers and treads. A notched stringer is used for enclosed stairs. |
| Kicker | Used to keep the bottom of the stringer from sliding on the floor when downward pressure is applied to the stringer |
