A dog-legged staircase is a type of staircase design commonly used in residential and commercial buildings. It is named “dog-legged” because of its appearance, resembling a dog’s hind leg when viewed from the side. This design is practical and efficient for connecting two separate floors.
Dog Legged Staircase
A dog-legged staircase is a type of staircase commonly found in residential and commercial buildings. It consists of two flights of stairs connected by a landing, forming a right angle or “dog-leg” shape when viewed from above.
The first flight of stairs goes up to the landing, where it changes direction by 180 degrees before continuing with the second flight. The landing provides a resting place for people climbing the stairs and allows the staircase to change direction without taking up too much space.
Dog-legged staircases are popular because they are easy to construct and require less space than other types of staircases, such as straight or spiral stairs.
They can also be more comfortable to use than other types of stairs because the change in direction can help to reduce fatigue and make the ascent easier.
Components of Dog-Legged Staircase
The components of a dog-legged staircase are as follows:
- Tread: The portion of the staircase on which the foot is stepped is called the tread.
- Riser: The part of the staircase between two treads is called a riser.
- Newel post: The vertical post at the start and end of the flight is called a newel post.
- Baluster: The vertical support installed throughout the length of a flight on which a handrail is supported to prevent the fall is called a baluster.
- Handrail: An inclined rail provided at an optimum height so that it can support the person while ascent or descent is called a handrail.
- Landing: A platform provided to break the continuity of flight for providing rest to the user is called landing.
- Pitch: The angle the line of nosing makes with horizontal is called pitch.
- Line of nosing: An imaginary line parallel to the slope of the staircase that joins the nosing of the staircase is called the line of going.
dog-legged staircase design
Some of the criteria to be kept in mind while designing a dog-legged staircase are discussed below
Designing a dog-legged staircase involves considering several factors such as the available space, the intended usage, the building’s overall design, and the material to be used. Here are some steps that are typically involved in designing a dog-legged staircase:
Determine the available space: The first step in designing a dog-legged staircase is to determine the available space. The width and height of the staircase should be based on the expected traffic flow and the space available. A minimum of 36 inches is recommended for the width of the stairs.
Calculate the rise and run of each step: The rise and run of each step must be calculated to ensure that the staircase is comfortable to use. The rise is the vertical distance between two consecutive treads, while the run is the horizontal distance. Typically, the rise of each step is between 7 and 8 inches, while the run is between 9 and 11 inches.
Determine the number of steps: Once the rise and run of each step are determined, the number of steps required can be calculated. The total height of the staircase divided by the rise of each step gives the number of steps required.
Determine the landing size: The landing is the area where the staircase changes direction. The size of the landing should be at least as wide as the staircase and should provide enough space for people to rest.
Choose the material and finish: Dog-legged staircases can be made from a variety of materials, including wood, concrete, steel, and glass. The choice of material will depend on the building’s overall design, the expected traffic flow, and the budget. The finish of the staircase should also be considered to match the overall aesthetic of the building.
Seek professional advice: It is always advisable to seek professional advice when designing a dog-legged staircase. An experienced architect or engineer can help ensure that the staircase meets building codes and safety regulations.
Read More: Design of Staircase Calculation – Riser & Tread
design of dog-legged staircase Example
Design a dog-legged staircase for a residential building. The space available for the stairwell is 2.5 * 4 m. The floor-to-floor height is provided at 3.1 m.
- For residential a building, normally the riser height is taken from 150-190 mm.
- So, let us provide the riser of a height of 160 mm.
- Also, tread depth is taken as 225 mm.
- Stairwell dimensions = 2500 * 4000 mm
- Floor height = 3100 mm
- Total number of flights to be provided = 2
Therefore, height of 1 flight = 3100/2 = 1550 mm
- Rise = 160 mm
Therefore, Number of risers in a flight = 1550/160 = 9.6 Say 10 risers
- Number of treads = Number of riser – 1 = 10 – 1 = 9
- Let Tread width = 1.2 m
- Length for 9 treads = 9 * 0.0225 = 0.2025 mm = 2.025 m.
- Width of landing = (4 – 2.025)/2 = 0.9875 m which is approximately 1.0 m
The following is the dog-legged staircase plan,
Thus,
The number of risers in a flight = 10
Landing width = 1 metre
dog-legged staircase dimensions
| Type of stair | Dog legged | |
| Assumed height of the riser | 160 mm | |
| Assumed depth of tread | 225 mm | |
| Number of flight | 2 | |
| Height of floor | 3100 | |
| Number of risers | (3100/2) /160 = 10 Riser | |
| Number of treads | R-1 =9 | |
| Width of Landing | No. of tread * depth of tread = 9 * 225 = 1000 |
Advantages
- The design of the staircase is quite simple.
- Drafting the staircase is also easy and faster too.
- Space is efficiently utilized reducing space wastage and more carpet area is available for usage.
- The privacy of the floors is maintained in this type of stairs as the top floor is not visible from below nor the bottom floor is visible from the top.
- Architectural effects can be easily infused in this type of staircase.
- The landing provides a resting space so that commuting becomes easier.
Disadvantages
- The construction of the dog-legged staircase is quite difficult.
- The provision of handrails is to be planned carefully as it is quite difficult to install.
- Handrails are an important part of a staircase that supports the ascent and descent.
- The movement of heavy items through the staircase is a bit difficult.
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