Advantages of Metal Stairs

In designing most types of buildings, the architect has a choice of several materials for use in stair construction. Except in wood frame structures, he frequently chooses metal, because metal stairs offer certain advantages over those built with other materials. Among the more important of these advantages are the following:

Design Versatility

Metal is one of the most versatile building materials. It can be formed in many different ways, accepts an infinite variety of finishes, can provide almost any esthetic effect desired, and is compatible in appearance with all other architectural materials. Metal is appropriate for stairs of all kinds, from the purely functional service types to the most elaborate architectural types. It serves equally well for a simple straight-run stair or for the most complex and graceful curved stair. Whatever the architect's design calls for, it can be faithfully reproduced in metal, with a virtually unlimited latitude in the design of all major elements.

High Strength-to-Mass and Strength-to-Weight Ratios

Although the density of metal is higher than that of other stair materials, its strength is greater by a much larger ratio. Hence the sectional areas of metal stair members are much smaller than those needed if other materials are used. This high strength-to-mass ratio of metal is a valuable asset in situations where headroom or floor space is limited, because the structural members are of minimal size. In high-rise buildings especially, the saving of weight provided by metal stairs because of the high strength-to-weight ratio may also be an important consideration inasmuch as it reduces the amount of foundation work and framing required.

Accurate Dimensional and Quality Control

The safety of the user is always of paramount concern in any type of stair, and to a large degree safety depends upon the uniformity of riser and tread dimensions and the construction of railings. Metal stairs are shop fabricated under careful supervision, using the most modern tools and equipment. Their dimensions are carefully controlled, in accordance with the architect's design, and are held within close tolerances to provide true and uniform lines and faithful reproduction of design. This degree of accuracy cannot be economically achieved by the field construction methods used in building stairs of other materials.

Integral Railing Construction

One of the most important attributes of metal stair construction is the dependable stability of its railings. With other types of stair construction, field measurements are usually required, separate railing shop drawings must be made, and after fabrication the railing is delivered and installed as a separate entity. In the meantime temporary railings are often required. This is not the case with metal stairs. Railings are accurately fitted to metal stairs in the shop and, whenever feasible, are firmly secured in place and the stair is delivered as a complete unit. The more elaborate types of railing are also shop fitted, but may be shipped separately to be installed in the field as an integral part of the stair. Thus metal stairs offer the advantage of unified construction under a single responsibility, as opposed to the more complex and costly process of dealing with, and correlating the work of several different trades.

Early Availability

Because metal stairs are completely fabricated offsite, their manufacture is independent of construction progress at a building site. They are ready for installation whenever they are needed and building construction permits, and may be installed complete with railings as required. After installation the stair may be used immediately by workmen, eliminating the cost and safety hazards of temporary ladders, stairs and railings. Additional safety is realized because the toe plate forms a curbing at all open ends and open back edges of treads and prevents small tools and miscellaneous items from rolling off and causing possible injury to workmen below.

Metal stairs of the types commonly used in multi-storied buildings may also be pre-assembled in the shop and delivered to the building site as prefabricated units. Such units may then be installed and ready for use even before the surrounding building frame is erected, providing even greater economies of time and cost.

Economy

A true comparison of costs must take into account not only the price of the product in question, but also all of the costs affected by, or resulting from, the use of this product. Not only are metal stairs, per se, highly competitive in cost with stairs of other materials, but their use results in contingent economies which are often substantial. Metal stairs, though custom built, are usually constructed of sections that are readily available from stock or local warehouse. In most cases a minimum of detailing by the architect is required. This results in a saving of time and cost to both architect and client. Because of the early availability and rapid installation of metal stairs, the cost of temporary stairs and railings in the building during construction is eliminated. And the time required for supervising, correlating and expediting the stair construction work is reduced by having the stair and railing both installed under a single responsibility.

Rapid Installation

Regardless of what type a metal stair may be, its installation usually requires much less time than that required for stairs of other materials. Under normal circumstances installation is simply a process of assembling pre-fitted parts wholly fabricated in the shop, and a minimum of field labor is required.

Salvage Value

In some situations the salvage value of stairs may be a consideration. Metal stairs of the more common types can be dismantled, moved to another location and re-installed when building alterations are required. And finally, when they have served their purpose, and the building is demolished, metal stairs have scrap value.