This page is where you will enter your reading reflections. The reading and reflections are to be entered prior to class discussions. Class discussions are in part based on your reflections on the reading.
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Reading # 2 Stair + Egress.
This reading helped me to understand the building codes. It was very interesting to read and have knowledge about the parameters that should be taken when building a building. The Egress are evacuation doors for the public to safe places in cases of emergency. These are divided into 3: Exit Access, which is the access to the nearest emergency exits. Exits are located in the stands of the buildings and are the step out. Exit Discharge is the exit that gives way for people out. The codes and parameters that are taken when constructing these stairs must be followed due to a fire these escape points are safe and accessible to the occupants of the building. Its about the design of the stairs and the parameters that must be followed to build because there are many things that cannot be done because there is a public code. unless it is a private sector where you don’t have to follow these parameters but I learned that you have to follow these codes because, for example: the stairs of a building must be of a certain size; or so you can connect with the egress and form a safe place in a building. There are different types of stairs such as: Straight-Run Stair, Quarter Stair or L-shaped, Half turn stair, most of the time they turn 180 degrees, Winding Stair, Circular Stair and Spiral stair. It is important for a builder to know the codes and parameters that must be followed when constructing a building to avoid tragedies and be prevented in case of fires so that people can evacuate easily.
The following reading gave me a brief understanding of building plans and the reasons behind certain structures. after reading this book I started looking at the things around me with a different perspective. certain ways that the doors open into, certain length and width of any buildings or openings are the way they are for a reason. as I learned more things about planning and functions, I started paying attention to everything I see. Public safety is something very essential and is something that comes first before the looks. it’s very difficult for an architect to give up his ideas for any purpose. we can’t avoid all risk but it isn’t wise to act without taking precautions. The best approach is to assess the risks involved with the activity and be in a place with high quality that conforms to standards.
This reading was about getting to understand the building codes but all have a common on why they have codes and that’s for the occupant’s safety. From the number of emergency exits, a building should have, to have a staircase that has to have a handrail. So far based on the readings there are many things to consider like having the appropriate materials that can withstand the weather, and also making a building a accessible like ramps too also making it efficient to exit with the emergency exits and materials on the interior that can hold off a fire and give enough time to exit.
This reading explains the regulations, minimum and maximum dimensions for stair components, and stair egress safety regulations.
The reading also mentions building code, which include fire resistance, passageways and paths for egress in buildings. A huge factor to think about when designing stairs in a building is ADA accessibility, which means you have to put yourself in the shoes of disabled people. So, when designing stairs, for example, handrails must extend straight for at least a foot on the platform in order for a blind person to know they’re standing on a platform.
The reading talks about the different types of stairs which include winding stairs, circular stairs, spiral stairs, etc.
Overall, stairs must be designed under building code in order to maintain a good level of safety in case of emergencies and overall usage of stairs.
After completing this reading, my views on stair design and construction has completely changed. As I walk down stairs I take in account the safety of stairs and if they follow building codes an example being configuration of the hand-railing to ADA standards. The number of ways of egress also depends on the occupancy load according to the building codes. If there is only one set of stairs per floor and a large number of people occupying that floor it becomes a hazard. Stairs should also have a certain width to accommodate people going down and people going up at the same time with landings at least every 15 steps.
Reading about stairs I can say that I learn more then stairs are mainly used for going up or down. Stairs is also used for emergency purposes when there is a event of a fire the stair case are built to with stand the fire just enough till everyone has egressed from a building . The material is mainly put into play because certain material can hold down fire very longer then others. Exits are above every door that leads to the stairs. The stair riser has to be less longer then it’s tread because then it would be harder for people to pick up their legs or they won’t have enough feet room to put on the tread. The rail guard gives the stairs more safety, without people would have fallen out the stairs from the sides. Now I know that the spiral stairs is different from circular stairs.
After finishing this reading, the idea I had about stairs completely changed. I can no longer see stairs as I used to see them before, a simple object to going up and down, now I see stairs and I immediately think about all the factors behind building and designing stairs, before reading this I had no idea that there were different specifications behind designing and building stairs. There are so much more factors to consider behind stairs building than I could have ever imagined, safety, the size of the risers and trades, specific railings, materials used, safety codes, etc.
Overall, I think that learning about stairs was completely necessary in order to understand why are certain things built the way they are.
The second reading is mostly about stairs and how they work. So in any case if people have an emergency to escape they can take the stairs. So what if they’re handicap? Then they need to get to a place of refuge and wait for someone to help them out get down. I’ve noticed that these stairs have to follow a certain set of rules just like the rest of us when we’re in public. They need to have certain dimensions for it to work properly. If the stairs are too tall? Then people will have more of a reason to not go to work. Of course nobody wants this, so certain things need to be adjusted to the comfort of the people, and well of course for safety.
Reading #2 gave me a clear understanding of stairways and the requirements and purposes they serve. Every set of stairs should be proportioned to accommodate our body movement. Riser and tread dimensions are determined by dividing the total rise, or floor to floor height by the desired riser height. Every set of stairs must have a landing that is as wide as the stairway and a minimum length equal to the stair width. Doors leading to exits must swing in the direction of the exit and should NOT reduce the landing to less than one-half of its required width. Stairways should also have hand and guard rails. A path leading to an exit must be direct as possible and every exit is required to discharge people to a safe place outside of the building.
After reading Reading #2 I realized that there are a lot of building codes and regulations that go into stairs and exits. I also use to look as stairs as just being stairs. However stairs need to have a required tread, riser, width, and nose. Stairs must have handrails that adults and kids can use and can be no longer than 4 1/2 inches. The width of the stairway can be up to 44 inches so people may move up and down the stairs without pushing through to go in the opposite direction. Buildings must have noticeable exits encase of a fire and a clear pathway to them. Stairways should built with fire resistant and smoke proof walls so the occupants can evacuate safely. It is important for doors to swing outwards towards the hallway instead of the room. The exits can lead to a safety court, public area, or street.
When I read the strict of stairs, the stairs in my grandmother’s apartment. because it break all the requirement that said on the book. That stair was build by concrete, it has no handrails, guardrails,and nosing. The only thing is right about is it’s width, I think if they miss that, it might not eligible to call stairs.
Reading #2, was very interesting to me because it supplied me with a lot of importation on a object that I use in everyday life. In Reading #2 it talks about, stair design and how in a stairway the proportions of the risers and treads will be proportioned to suit our body movement. Their angle, if steep, will render them physically tiring as well as mentally prohibitive ascension, which can make dangerous descents. When It comes to stair requirements there are many, and it seems to take the majority of the populations physical abilities. The regulations for egress differ depending on the type of building it is.
Reading #2 has given me more insight into how a stair is supposed to build built. Before I hadn’t really payed attention and i didn’t really care if it had railing but after reading this it has widen my understanding of why the stairs are built the way they are and why we should follow the regulations because if not in case of an emergency it could have catastrophic consequences.
This reading gave me a full understanding of how a staircase is designed and all the maximum and minimum dimensions that should be on its rise and tread, a few year back in my home country we build a staircase on a sloped hill and it seemed very simple with a 4/4 on both sides and then dividing it into equal sections in the middle to create our treads. At this time it seemed very simple since I didn’t realize how complex it was to design them till this reading gave me the understanding of the different codes it takes to have a symmetrical staircase.