Le scale (the stairs)

Materie:	Riassunto
Categoria:	Inglese
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Data:	05.06.2007
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Inglese
The Stairs

S
taircase play one of the most important part in a building of an house. It is used to connection two different floor.

The main components of a stair are: flight, step, riser, tread, landing and handrail.
Flight (rampa): Continuous series of steps between two landings.
Step (gradino): Part of stair that consists of a horizontal surface to support the foot during ascent or descent and vertical surface or space that results from the change in level.
Riser (alzata): Vertical component of a step.
Tread (pedata): Horizontal component of a step.
Landing (pianerottolo): Platform or part of a floor structure at the end of a flight.
Handrail (passamano): Component that provides guidance and support at hand level.

There are several ways of classifying stairs.
For example, stairs may be classified according to plan form or construction.

Classification based on plan form:
• STRAIGHT FLIGHT – This has no landing and is a usefull form of stair when the total rise is not too great.
• DOG-LEG – This is the most common in timber construction. In this type of stair there are two flights whic return on each other about a single newel. This type is useful when the space is restricted.
• OPEN WELL – In this form the stair has two flights returning on each other but with a space called the well between the two flights.

Classification based on the contruction adopted:
• NEWEL STAIR – Vertical posts, called newels, are used in timber stairs at the end of the flights. In concrete, steel or stone, a circular stair may have a central newel from which the treads radiate.
• GEOMETRICAL STAIR – The geometrical stair may be rectangular, circular or elliptical in plan, and may be constructed in timber, concrete, steel or stone. Most present-day stairs come within the categoy of geometrical stairs.