Editing Staircase

{{Short description|Room where stairs are located}}
{{Redirect|Stairway||Staircase (disambiguation)|and|Stairway (disambiguation)}}
[[File:Skylight,_chandelier_and_stairs,_Ashmolean_Museum,_Oxford.jpg|right|thumb|Stairway with [[skylight]]]]

A '''stairwell''' or '''stair room''' is a room in a [[building]] where a [[stair]] is located, and is used to connect walkways between [[Storey|floors]] so that one can move in height.<ref>{{Cite web |title=oppgang |url=https://naob.no/ordbok/oppgang |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=Det Norske Akademis ordbok |language=no}}</ref> Collectively, a set of stairs and a stairwell is referred to as a '''staircase''' or '''stairway'''. In buildings with several housing units, a stairway can be a necessary [[common area]] for getting to and from [[apartment]]s.

Staircases provide vertical access to connected floors in a multi-story building, and are a functional part of it. Stairwells are often used to place several staircases vertically, one above the other.<ref>{{Cite web |first= |title=How not to mess up your loft conversion stairs |url=https://resi.co.uk/advice/loft-conversions/loft-conversion-stair-ideas |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=Resi |language=EN}}</ref> The entrance to [[elevator]]s is often located in the stairwell. Sometimes the stairwell goes around the [[lift shaft]], other times it is placed next to it.

A ''landing'' platform area is generally provided at both ends of a staircase, rather than having a long series of steps that directly leads to a doorway without a flat area between the steps and the door. Minimum requirements for landing platforms are typically established in building safety codes. The length of a landing platform is generally at least equal to the width of the stairway. If the number of steps is small, a landing area may not be required, but a door would ordinarily not open in the direction that causes it to swing out over a stairway.

An ''exterior stairway'' is a stair in a separate structure attached to the rest of the building body,<ref>{{Cite web |title=trappehus |url=https://naob.no/ordbok/trappehus |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=Det Norske Akademis ordbok |language=no}}</ref> and can either be enclosed or exposed to the elements. Such temporary exposed stairways are sometimes used in conjunction with [[scaffolding]] on construction sites, or permanently as an [[emergency exit]].

== History ==
[[File:VaticanMuseumStaircase.jpg|right|thumb|Spiral staircase (double [[helix]]) in the [[Vatican Museums]]]]

The concept of stairs is believed to be 8000 years old, and are one of the oldest buildings in architectural history. The oldest example of spiral stairs dates back to the [[5th century BC|400s BC]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2018-12-18 |title=The History of Stairs: From Fascinating Architecture to Access Barriers {{!}} Stannah |url=https://blog.stannah-stairlifts.com/society/history-of-stairs/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240228154825/https://blog.stannah-stairlifts.com/society/history-of-stairs/ |archive-date=2024-02-28 |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=Stannah Stairlifts |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Medieval]] architecture saw experimentation with many different shapes, and the [[Renaissance]] even more so with varied designs.<ref name=":1" />

== Lighting ==
Good lighting is important in a staircase so users see where they are going and to prevent falls.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Thomas |first1=Neil M. |last2=Skervin |first2=Timmion |last3=Foster |first3=Richard J. |last4=O'Brien |first4=Thomas D. |last5=Carpenter |first5=Mark G. |last6=Maganaris |first6=Constantinos N. |last7=Baltzopoulos |first7=Vasilios |last8=Lees |first8=Carolyn |last9=Hollands |first9=Mark A. |date=2020-04-01 |title=Optimal lighting levels for stair safety: Influence of lightbulb type and brightness on confidence, dynamic balance and stepping characteristics |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0531556519306321 |journal=Experimental Gerontology |volume=132 |pages=110839 |doi=10.1016/j.exger.2020.110839 |pmid=31958491 |s2cid=210703463 |issn=0531-5565}}</ref> There is often a [[window]] on the wall to let in [[daylight]]. In many cases, indoor stairs are placed far inside the building structure, and it is often not easy to get access to a wall on the outside where it would be natural to have a regular window for letting daylight in. For this reason, it is not unusual to find a [[skylight]] or [[roof window]]s above a stairwell.

A research article suggests that perceived safety increases when using [[Downlighting|downwards lighting]] towards the stairs, while upwards lighting resulted in a substantial decrease of perceived safety.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Van de Perre |first1=Laurens |last2=Danschutter |first2=Stefan |last3=Janssens |first3=Kim |last4=Hanselaer |first4=Peter |last5=Dujardin |first5=Marc |last6=Smet |first6=Kevin A. G. |last7=Ryckaert |first7=Wouter R. |date=2019-12-01 |title=Safety perception of stairs with integrated lighting |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360132319305992 |journal=Building and Environment |volume=166 |pages=106389 |doi=10.1016/j.buildenv.2019.106389 |bibcode=2019BuEnv.16606389V |s2cid=203123801 |issn=0360-1323|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

== Handrail ==
In new stairways, some jurisdictions require [[handrail]]s to be mounted on both sides.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Byggteknisk forskrift (TEK17) med veiledning, III Bygningsdeler, § 12-14. Trapp |url=https://www.dibk.no/contentassets/3c59a17aa7384395bf4107345b5368ba/-12-14.-trapp-01.10.2030.09.21.pdf |language=no}}</ref> Others may require a handrail only on a side that does not run along a wall.

== Emergency exit ==
[[File:102_University_Ave--Palo_Alto,_CA-Designed_by_Joseph_Bellomo_Architects_2014-05-20_21-12.jpg|right|thumb|Escape route via stairs with open steps]]
Often the stairs in a stairwell are an [[emergency exit]] in case of fire,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Types of Permissible Vertical Openings|first=Valerie|last=Ziavras|date=2021-08-06|url=https://www.nfpa.org/news-blogs-and-articles/blogs/2021/08/06/types-of-permissible-vertical-openings |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=[[National Fire Protection Association]]}}</ref> and the stairwell should then be a separate [[Compartmentalization (fire protection)|fire compartment]] separated from the rest of the building via [[fire door]]s.

For fire safety it can be advantageous that both the walls, ceiling and the stairs themselves in a stairwell are made of non-combustible materials, and be illuminated with daylight during the day and artificial lighting at darkness.

Storage of objects in shared stairwells is generally prohibited due to the fact that this is often an escape route.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Ofte stilte spørsmål |url=https://branntips.no/faq |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=Branntips |language=nb}}</ref> This applies to both flammable objects and other objects that may become an obstacle to the rescue work.<ref name=":0" /> Many [[housing cooperative]]s have general prohibitions against storage in common stairwells.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Frequently asked questions |url=https://branntips.no/en/faq |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=Branntips EN |language=en}}</ref>

== Utilization ==
Under stairs there is often a lot of area and volume that is not otherwise used. There are several examples of creative uses, such as [[wardrobe]]s, [[Remote work|home offices]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mushro |first=Amanda |date=2023-08-21 |title=11 Awesome Under-Stairs Storage And Design Ideas To Make The Most Of Your Space |website=[[Forbes]] |url=https://www.forbes.com/home-improvement/design/under-stairs-storage-ideas/ |access-date=2024-02-11 |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Recreation room|playrooms]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tyagi |first=Pooja Khann |date=2021-09-03 |title=How to turn the awkward space under the stairs into your favourite corner at home |url=https://www.architecturaldigest.in/story/how-use-the-space-under-the-stairs-in-your-home/ |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=Architectural Digest India |language=en-IN}}</ref> or general storage such as drawers, cupboards or shelves.

<gallery>
Duplex_stair_design.jpg|Closet under a staircase
Harry_Potter‘s_room_under_the_staircase,_Warner_Bros_Harry_Potter_Studios_02.jpg|Model of the cupboard under the staircase where the character [[Harry Potter (character)|Harry Potter]] grew up
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[Bicycle stairway]]
* [[Emergency exit]]
* [[Floor plan]]
* [[Stair lift]]
* [[Wheelchair ramp]]

== References ==
<references/>

{{Rooms}}

[[Category:Rooms]]
[[Category:Stairways]]