Straight flight
The straight flight is the simplest of stair designs but can only be used with a maximum of 18 treads
Different Stair Styles
There are different styles of stairs for commercial buildings. To choose one for a property, there are two important factors to consider: design and functionality.
At Active Metal, we have what you need to elevate your commercial property project. Our team values style as much as we do practicality, making sure the staircase is a perfect balance of both.
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Below is our range of stair styles, from curved stairs to splayed flight stairs. Talk to us and we’ll help you choose the which one is best for your construction.
Straight flight with mid landing
A mid landing must be introduced if the stair exceeds 18 treads which is a common occurrence. The mid landing needs to be at least 750mm long to meet current NCC requirements. This increases the overall stair length and length of slab penetration cut. Often a switchback design will be opted for due to space efficiency.
Splayed flight stair
This feature is often employed to create a broader flow zone for movement of people, or to simply make the stairs more inviting. It may also be used where there is a restriction of width at the top of the stair, so it is opened up where possible to look more accommodating. The feature may be integrated with any other style of stair.
Plinth based stair
While drawn here with a straight flight, the plinth can be incorporated with any stair deign. Often the plinth is incorporated with joinery items, raised floor areas and sometimes can be used creatively to provide casual meeting zones and so forth. Practically what this plinth is doing is providing a landing zone so that if a straight flight is used, then the stair can be straight from here. More often than not we will build the plinth as part of our works.
Curved stair
Not to be confused with a spiral or helical stair, a curved stair will generally be a large radius or sweeping curve. This may be purely as an independent design statement or to empathise with a building shape. 
Spiral or double helix stair
A true spiral stair generally will have a central column that the structure radiates from, whereas a double helix is free form and has a balustrade to both sides. Spiral is still the common term to this style of staircase. Often used as a space saving alternative, a helical or spiral stair design will require detailed design in reference to the NCC to ensure compliance. 
Switch back stair – cantilevered.
The switchback stair (also known as a scissor stair) is possibly one of the most common styles used in commercial buildings and fitouts due to their space efficiency. The cantilevered design has no supports under or over the landing and relies on the rigidity of the structure itself. The success of this design also depends upon the strength of the attachment zone on each floor.
Switch back stair – post supported.
This design has supports under the landing which maybe either a number of posts or it could even be just one central post.
Switch back stair – suspended.
This design has supports dropping down to the landing from the slab above. This will often be done to free the space under the landing from obstructions.
Switch back stair – splayed.
This is a common variation of the switchback or scissor design and may be cantilevered or post supported. With an irregular shape to the landing it often gives opportunity for creative expression with curved or semi-circular landings.
Right angle stair – also known as quarter turn or dog-leg stairs.
A design that is also frequently seen, it also however more likely to require supports under or over the landing. As a result we often see the underside of these stairs enclosed or used to house joinery and storage. Not as popular as switchback stairs, nevertheless they do sometimes lend themselves more to particular floor layouts and require a smaller slab penetration.
