Glossary of Terminology

A rough substance commonly utilized for refining or honing. Abrasives offer better grip when embedded in metal.

A tool employed to securely attach one component to another structure or support unit.

(1) A stair with sequential flights at a non-traditional angle. (2) A stair with angled flights and platforms between them.

The result of anodizing, creating a coated finish.

A method of fusing metal parts using heat from an electric arc between electrodes or an electrode and metal.

A vertical support that helps hold up a handrail. Typically made from wood, metal, or stone and spaced evenly along a staircase or walkway.

A section of metal formed by rolling, stretching, or extrusion.

The lower rail of a balustrade, supporting the balusters or spindles.

The point where a structure's direction changes.

Voids, pores, or holes in castings.

Lower railing unit supporting panels or balusters.

Mechanical bending, folding, or forming of sheet material using a brake like a press brake.

(1) Polishing. (2) Luminous finish using abrasive wax tools.

(1) Polishing metal by rubbing. (2) Smoothing metal surface by rubbing with abrasive pads.

Projecting beam attached at one point extending beyond support structure.

The upper rail of a balustrade, supporting the balusters or spindles.

Hardening metal surface by heating in carbon-rich environment. Also called "Case Hardening".

Flat bar supporting stair treads or risers, similar to carrier angles.

(1) Iron-carbon alloy. (2) Strong, brittle, non-malleable metal used decoratively and functionally.

Submerging metal in caustic solution for cleaning.

Fast-drying cement for securing railing pillars into sleeves or holes.

Stair with circular form.

Flat metal bar sealing gaps between stringer and wall.

Steel cold-drawn or cold-rolled for improved surface finish.

Discontinuity in concrete structure.

Process of metal decay.

Enlarging edge of hole for flush fastener installation.

Stair with two or more curved centers.

The bending or sagging deformation of a structural component due to applied forces.

A metalworking process involving pulling metal through dies to modify properties and finish.

A tapered pin used to shape, enlarge, or align holes in metal pieces.

An Aluminum Company of America trade name for hard anodic coatings on aluminum.

The radiused edge where two members meet at an angle, often used on stair stringers, handrails, or newel posts.

The maximum stress a material can undergo without experiencing permanent deformation.

To encase or fix within concrete.

A protective or decorative metal piece, often around the base of a post or where a rail ends against a wall.

A process creating long metal pieces by forcing heated metal through a die opening.

A visible stringer supporting treads and riser ends on one side.

A type of mounting, often referred to as side mount.

Metal primarily composed of iron.

A connection created during installation, typically made through welding or mechanical connectors.

An ornamental element used to decorate a balustrade, typically at the top of the balustrade where the handrail meets the newel post.

A rectangular bar with greater width than thickness.

A horizontal member supporting stringers at platform or floor level.

The horizontal spacing between the first and last risers in a flight of stairs.

A bolt or rod flush-mounted in a door to lock it in place.

Shaping metal using heat and force, often involving hammering.

Corrosion caused by an electrochemical reaction between dissimilar metals.

(1) A measure of metal thickness or wire diameter. (2) Distance between adjacent fasteners or holes.

A geometrical stair, whether straight or curved, lacks intermediate landings. It's a continuous staircase design that can span multiple levels without breaks.

A rail placed for safety and convenience.

An abrasive substance used for grinding, sanding, or creating a non-slip texture on surfaces.

A railing protecting pedestrians on stair landings or accessible roofs.

A smaller newel typically used at the termination of a balustrade at a wall.

Using force to create artistic dents in metal surfaces.

A horizontal railing on one or both sides of a staircase, providing support for ascending and descending. Made from various materials like wood, metal, or stone.

A tension member supporting stair framing.

A horizontal member supporting stringers at platform or floor level.

Enlarging a metal piece's end through an upsetting process.

Steel with enhanced mechanical properties due to chemical composition.

Shaping metal by passing a heated billet through rollers.

Iron Pipe Size, indicating pipe inside diameter.

Protective or ornamental plate at the bottom of a door or platform.

Curved fitting at end of handrail for ornamental purposes.

Curved fitting at end of handrail for ornamental purposes.

A joint created when two metal sheets overlap.

To create a scale configuration of a structure.

Iron cast in sand and annealed, flexible even when cold.

Connections in railings apart from adhesive bonds or welding.

Adding a metal coating to another material.

The appearance of a product after rolling, extruding, or drawing, before additional finishing.

A scaled or full-size assembly for testing construction details and techniques.

A staircase with a single 'beam-like' stringer supporting treads from below, creating a floating appearance.

An ornamental, downward projection of a Newel Post.

The projecting edge of a step that extends beyond the body of the step itself, aiding safe descent.

A handrail with a curve extending beyond a 90-degree angle.

Stairs that lead from one platform to another, running parallel to the initial flight.

Creating holes in metal, singularly or in a pattern, for decoration or utility.

Not temporary.

Immersing metal in phosphoric acid solution to create a protective coating.

Vertical members supporting a handrail, also known as balusters.

Railing made up of posts, pickets, and a top rail.

Railing constructed from pipes.

Measurement of the steepness of a slope in degrees or percent.

Small corrosion-induced depressions on metal surfaces.

Landing at the top of a flight or between flights, wider than the tread, parallel to the stringer.

An opening in a stair structure for attaching components.

Staircase assembled before shipping.

Coating applied to a surface before painting or finishing.

Forcing a die through metal to create a hole.

Rapid cooling of heated metal to temper or harden it.

A safety installation consisting of handrails, support bases, interconnected rails, panels, or other elements. These elements can be vertical, horizontal, inclined, or a combination, and are placed at the edge of platforms or structures to prevent falls.

Also known as "nose to nose dimension," it's the distance between the bases of top and bottom risers in a set of stairs. Measured parallel to the slope of the stairs.

The deformation that remains in a metal structure even after a load has been removed. It refers to the lasting distortion caused by a load.

The vertical distance between two floors or platforms connected by a set of stairs.

The vertical distance between the tops of two consecutive treads in a staircase.

A decorative element finishing the end of a handrail or newel post, sometimes adding strength to joints.

A raised member beneath a door, also known as a threshold.

A type of stair tread featuring an abrasive material covering the entire top surface for improved friction and slip resistance.

A projection in the interior corner of a stair between the riser and tread, designed for easier cleaning.

A panel made from wire mesh or perforated sheet metal that allows light and air to pass through while restricting visibility.

A thin, flat piece of metal, typically less than .229" thick, with milled or cut edges.

A method for attaching a railing to a vertical surface like a wall, stringer, or fascia.

A type of joint that allows movement between conjoined parts, rather than keeping them fixed in place.

The underside of a staircase or any exposed area beneath a structure.

A slender, vertical member forming part of a balustrade. Spaced at regular intervals along the handrail.

A spiral staircase with a lower limit on occupant load and smaller area, typically under 600 square feet.

A metal plate used to join and reinforce two or more members together.

Metal bars with square cross-sections, often with rounded or sharp corners.

A mechanical device used to transport people up and down stairs, often for those with mobility issues.

A system of railings designed to provide safety and support along stairs and landings.

A type of staircase that is typically used to access an upper level of a building, such as a second floor or attic. Stairways typically have a handrail on one side to help people ascend and descend safely.

The first step up from a floor or landing, wider for stability when starting the descent.

The vertical height of a single riser in a staircase, typically consistent across the entire flight.

The vertical distance between two adjacent floors in a finished building.

A Straight Stair is a common staircase design that ascends or descends in a linear fashion, without curves or angles. It's a practical and straightforward choice for many applications.

A stringer with a hollow cross-section, often square or rectangular.

A stringer positioned at the edge of a staircase, supporting treads and risers and exposed on one side.

A single flat plate used as a stringer.

A stringer with a tubular or circular cross-section.

A decorative element or board covering the face of a stringer.

A vertical structural member supporting the frame of a stair or railing, resisting axial forces.

The metal floor of a platform used to support a fill, creating the actual platform surface.

A textured metal surface achieved through hammering, known for its artistic appearance.

A railing cap placed over two posts when space is limited, sometimes used for decorative purposes.

A pattern used as a guide for cutting, welding, or fabricating components accurately.

The piece of a door frame resting on the floor, connecting the jambs of the door frame.

The acceptable range of variance in dimensions or specifications during fabrication.

A railing system designed to control the movement of people in specific areas.

The portion of a stair most frequently used in regular operation.

The horizontal part of a step that people walk on. Treads are often made from a non-slip material to prevent slipping.

The width of a tread measured perpendicular to the direction of travel.

The horizontal distance between two risers or nosings in a stair.

A stair tread made from metal grating.

A hollow metal section with various cross-sectional shapes, used for structural applications.

A forging process thickening a metal bar's cross section in a small area.

An opening in a structure's walls for draining fluids or relieving built-up pressure.

A spiral-shaped ornament supporting the handrail of a staircase, often located at the bottom where the handrail meets the newel post.

An imaginary line running vertically up the center of the staircase, aiding in navigation.

A railing attached to a wall, often providing support and safety for stair users.

The curved portion of a handrail at the end, turning it back toward the wall.

A small hole allowing drainage of fluids from masonry construction.

A metal rod used as filler material in welding processes.

A staircase with stringers (supports) on the outside of the treads and risers.

A winder is a specially shaped tread with one end sloped, typically at a 30 to 35-degree angle. The width of the sloped end is about half the width of the straight edge. Winders are used to create turns in a staircase, demanding meticulous installation due to their unique design.