Spiral Staircases are always challenging due to their nature of helical geometry, configuring the step placement to achieve landing points, whilst all the time ensuring the building regulations are maintained, but I enjoy a challenge.
With Advance Steel a good starting point is always the Spiral Stair Macro, but before that dropping in 2D setting out lines to get some base points to work off can save a lot of time. I mentioned that the macro is a good starting point and this is because it will nearly always need to be exploded to start working on customising the Balustrades and Handrails, sometimes the treads as well but very really.
Considerations for Spiral Stairs need to include the following:
Size of the central column, Connection Type e.g. a full collar or a curved plate and then are these to be welded or bolted using Hollo-Bolts. The Treads, what style and material. Handrails, profile and preferred end terminations. Balustrades, again Style and Material and / or Infill panels and finally how are the Ground and Landing points to be anchored in place. This might not be a complete list but a very good starting point.
Surprisingly, after all of the above have been thought through I will get requests for stair designs where the FFLs are yet to be confirmed and also the Structural Ground Level, that may be lower than the FFL and without this critical information it kind of puts the whole job on hold, especially when cost is an important factor, and lets face it, when isn't it!
When it comes to stairs, I will 'Rise' to the occasion and take the necessary 'Steps' to reach your 'Levels' of expectation and 'Going' that extra mile.
