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Adjacent – A term used to describe two surfaces which are directly next to or touching each other
(Architectural Woodwork Institute, AWI®)
Aesthetic – The appearance and feel of those surfaces that will be exposed or semi-exposed following installation (Architectural Woodwork Institute, AWI®)
Angled Stairway – A stairway of successive flights that are at an angle other than 180º to each other with a landing between them
Apron – A horizontal trim member that extends vertically below a horizontal surface to support the projected edge of a table or countertop typically at an open area or to support a window stool or landing nosing, See FACIA
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Balanced Steps (Dancing Steps) – Winders that do not radiate from a common center but are distributed uniformly through equal segments of the walk line
Balcony – An elevated level area of floor or landing with a balustrade visible from below
Baluster – A vertical member used as in-fill to limit the size of openings within a balustrade and/or provide support to the top of a balustrade or guard system by transferring a portion of the load applied to the balustrade to the structure of a stair or floor system
- Baluster, Pin Top – A baluster with a round top that is fitted into holes drilled in the bottom of the rail
- Baluster, Square Top – A baluster with a square top end
- Balusters, Raked – Two or more balusters on a step with details in profile that are oriented to follow the rake or inclination of the stair
- Balusters, Stepped – Two or more balusters on a step with details in profile that are oriented parallel in height to the horizontal surface of the tread
- Baluster, Twist (Twist, Newel) – 1. A square metal baluster (newel) that is twisted to give the appearance of a spiral along its axis of length, 2. A baluster (newel) with a convex bead that twists in a spiral along its axis of length to appear as a rope, 3. A baluster (newel) with a concave flute that twists in a spiral along its axis of length
Balustrade – A system of rails, newels, balusters, panels, screen or other ornamental components used to separate two areas. Balustrades used to minimize falls from elevated walking surfaces and the sides of stairs are also guards
Stairbuilders and Manufacturers Association |
Banister – 1. A simple post-to-post balustrade typically with small diameter, square or rectangular section balusters used to provide a handrail and minimize falls from the side of stairs, 2. A corruption of the terms baluster/balustrade
Block – The solid piece of wood or face laminated pieces/blocks of wood from which sections of curved rail or other curved stair or balustrade components are cut or shaped
Boxed – Style of stair that has walls running on both sides
Blocking – Wood blocks or other elements attached to the building structure to provide for the transfer of loads and/or the secure fastening of objects at points between structural elements such as studs or joists where voids in the structure do not permit direct fastening to the structure
Bracket – 1. A triangular structural support element used to transfer loads from one element to another by changing the direction of the applied load, 2. A support used to attach a handrail to a wall, 3. An element connecting the tread and riser usually applied to the face stringer as a decoration, 4. An element attached to a stringer to support a tread
Bullnose – 1. A half circular shape applied to or machined on the edge of a component, 2. A type of starting step with half circular end(s) in plan view projecting beyond the width of the stairs above
Buttress (Curb) – A closed stringer system on the open side of a stair built up in thickness, sometimes with a core wall or blocking, with a finished opposing exposed side, and a cap to receive the balusters
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Cable (Wire Rope) – A rope of wire or fiber used in cable railing systems usually made of stainless steel or galvanized material
Cable Railing – A guard or balustrade with cable in-fill
Cap – 1. A moulded object or board used to finish the top of an object such as a wall, or closed stringer, 2. That part of a rail fitting that is attached to the top end of a newel or newel cap, 3. The applied top of a box newel, 4. A false end tread
Cap, Newel – See CAP and also see OPENING, QUARTER TURN, TANDEM below
Cap, Opening – 1. A horizontal rail fitting at the start of a level balustrade system at the top of a newel, See CAP, 2. A horizontal rail fitting used as a component of a starting easement at the top of a starting newel
Cap, Quarter Turn – A horizontal rail fitting used to connect two rails at an angle of 90degrees at the top of a newel
Cap, Tandem – A horizontal rail fitting used to connect two rails at an angle of 180-degrees at the top of a newel
Carriage – A system of rough stringers attached to the building structure providing for the support and or attachment of the treads, risers and face stringers of a stair and often the ceiling or soffit below
Cathedral (Grain) – A series of stacked and inverted “U” or “V” shaped patterns, most noticeable in species which exhibit a high amount of contrast between springwood and summerwood, common in plain sawn/sliced
Channel Glazing – A method of glazing which uses a ‘U’ shaped channel to hold the glass panels in place
Closed – Typically referring to condition of enclosure such as walls at the side of a stair or that portion of the side of a step that is enclosed by a stringer extending above the treads
Compatible – Consistent or similar in appearance to other components within an architectural
woodwork assembly, See COMPATIBLE FOR COLOR AND GRAIN, COMPATIBLE FOR COLOR,
COMPATIBLE SPECIES (Architectural Woodwork Institute, AWI®)
- Compatible for Color – Used to describe a material which is of similar color, hue, and tone to the adjacent components. Though color compatible does not imply an exact match, the differentiations between color compatible materials are inconspicuous (Architectural Woodwork
Institute, AWI®)
- Compatible for Color and Grain – Members shall be selected so that:
- Lighter-than-average color members will not be adjacent to darker-than-average color members and there will be no sharp contrast in color between the adjacent members, and
- The grain of adjacent members shall not vary widely or be dissimilar in grain, character, and figure (Architectural Woodwork Institute, AWI®)
- Compatible Species – Different species which are able to exist in a harmonious combination of color and grain (Architectural Woodwork Institute, AWI®)
Component – An individual piece of solid stock or plywood that forms an item of woodwork
(Architectural Woodwork Institute, AWI®)
Concealed Surfaces – Surfaces that are neither visible nor accessible to the building occupants and/or general public under normal circumstances (Architectural Woodwork Institute, AWI®)
Conspicuous – Detectable; readily visible with the naked eye when observed under normal lighting conditions. May have further restrictions involving distance related to aesthetic grade levels defined in the Architectural Woodwork Institute Standards (Architectural Woodwork Institute, AWI®)
Contract Document – The contract documents consist of the conditions of the contract (general, supplementary, and other conditions), drawings, specifications, addenda, other documents issued after execution of the agreement, all of which form the contract. The contract represents the entire and integrated agreement between the parties hereto and supersedes prior negotiations, representations or agreements, either written or oral (Architectural Woodwork Institute, AWI®)
Contractor – See GENERAL CONTRACTOR
Cove – A supporting moulding profile with a concave quarter round radius or arc on the face, See SCOTIA
Crown, End Grain – The arching of growth rings viewed from the end of solid lumber. When gluing multiple boards, crown direction is alternated
Crown, Face Grain – The peak of the arching pattern viewed on the face of natural or manufactured products, See CATHEDRAL
Curb – A shoe rail mounted directly on the floor or blocking attached to the floor with a cap to provide for the termination of the balusters above the adjoining walking surface
Curtail Step – See VOLUTE STEP
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Easing – 1. An arc that is tangent to two straight intersecting lines providing a smooth rounding instead of an angular intersection, 2. An easement in a rail or stringer, i.e., up easing, over easing,
- Sanding or shaping a radius on the corner of a board to yield an “eased edge”
Easement – A rail fitting that provides a vertically curved easing between two intersecting rails or a rail and cap as in a starting easement
Edge – Any surface of a board or panel other than its face and back
Edge Glued – Boards or staves glued together at the edges to increase width, typically glued with alternating end grain crown
Expansion Joint – A space or joint between two members of a fabrication, installation, or product that permits movement between two members due to shrinking and swelling without incurring
structural damage (Architectural Woodwork Institute, AWI®)
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False End Tread or Riser (False End Caps) – Decorative elements resembling the end of a tread or riser applied to the surface at the end of a structural sub-tread or riser with the remaining exposed sub-tread/riser to have a floor covering applied such as carpet
Face – 1. The higher grade side of any panel in which the outer plies are of different veneer grades, 2. Either side of a panel in which there is no difference in veneer grade of the outer plies, 3. The side of a component to be exposed or visible in the finished product
Face Mould – A template used in handrailing to describe the curved sides and ends of a wreath on the block to be carved
Fascia – 1. A board or panel applied as a vertical or near vertical surface, at or near the ceiling, 2. At stairs, a component applied as the vertical surface below a landing nosing, often with a moulding
Ferrule – A sleeve or ring that is compressed or swaged onto cable
Fillet – A thin strip or moulding that fills the exposed plow or groove between balusters in a rail, bottom rail, shoe rail, sub-rail or cap
Finial – An ornamental element used at the top end of a newel post
Fitting, Rail – A component or combination of components that are profiled to match rail patterns and used to connect rails in a continuous fashion at horizontal changes in direction, vertical transitions, or for ornamentation
- Fitting, Quarter Turn – A rail fitting that turns 90 degrees, See LEVEL QUARTER TURN and CAP, QUARTER TURN
Flier (Flyer) – A rectangular tread
Flight – An uninterrupted series of fliers or winders or any combination thereof from one landing to the next
Flitch – One log sliced into veneer leaves, kept in order, separated into bundles (Architectural Woodwork
Institute, AWI®)
Floor to Floor Height – See RISE, TOTAL
Flute – One of a series of parallel grooves referred to as fluting used as decorative details in vertical surfaces of such elements as columns, mouldings, balusters, newels, or furniture legs
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Gait Line – A line that follows the angle of the stair connecting the nosings of the treads also called nosing line
Gasket – A seal that fills the space between 2 or more adjoining surfaces, generally to prevent leakage from or into joined objects
General Contractor – A general contractor, responsible for executing the contract for a building project and coordinating the work between the subcontractors as well as the chain of communications between the owner, design professionals, and subcontractors (Architectural Woodwork
Institute, AWI®)
Glass, Annealed – A process designed to eliminate or limit the internal stresses of the cooling of glass. Under normal conditions, the surface of glass will cool more rapidly than the center causing internal stresses which may cause the glass sheet to crack, shatter, or even explode. By submitting the glass to controlled cooling in a special oven known as a “lehr”, the glass is allowed to cool to a temperature known as the “annealing point”. When the glass reaches this point, the temperature is stabilized for a specific length of time, to allow stresses in the glass to relax
Glass, Decorative – Glass that is frosted, colored, textured, or stained
Glass, Float – A process for the production of high-quality sheet glass whereby a ribbon of molten glass is fed across a bath of heated liquid, usually molten tin, in a carefully controlled atmosphere. This method gives the sheet uniform thickness and very flat surfaces
Glass, Laminated (Compound) – Consists of 2 or more sheets of glass with one or more viscous plastic layers between the glass panes. When this glass breaks, the pieces remain attached to the internal plastic layer and the glass remains transparent
Glass, Low Iron – The amount of iron is reduced to make the glass more transparent with edges that are clear or light blue
Glass, Tempered (Toughened) – A type of glass processed by controlled thermal or chemical treatments to increase its strength compared to normal glass. Tempering puts the outer surface into compression and the interior into tension. This treatment causes the glass, when broken, to crumble into small granular chunks instead of splintering into jagged shards
Glass Clamps – Used to connect glass panels to a post, structure or inline to another panel
Glass Edge Treatments
- Bevel: Glass that has its edges cut to a specific angle and size in order to produce a specific elegant look. A bevel edge can range in size depending on the angle of the bevel and thickness of the glass
- Polish: Glass that’s edges are ground smooth, finished with a shiny or gloss polish resulting in a sleek appearance
- Profiled: A glass edge having a more complex radius or multi angled shaped. This edging is more decorative that a simple beveled edge, e.g., ogee profile
Glass Panel (Pane or Sheet) – A flat or curved piece of glass
Glazing Compound – Used in wet glazing/anchoring methods of bedding, and setting the edges of glass panels in a frame and often to provide a seal between the exterior and interior sides
Glue Blocks – Blocks of wood attached to the underside of a stair at the joints between the risers, treads, and stringers to strengthen the joint and minimize movement that causes squeaks
Going – The horizontal distance between two successive nosings on a stair, See RUN (UNIT RUN) or TREAD DEPTH
Gooseneck – A combination of easing(s), rail segments and/or caps that provide for the continuous transition of a rake rail to a level rail at the top of a flight or from rake rail through a level turn to a rake rail at a turn in the stairway
Grain, End – The grain as seen on a cut made at a right angle to the direction of the fibers (grain), such as on a cross section of a tree, typically the surface at the end of a length of lumber (Architectural Woodwork Institute, AWI®)
Groove – A partial depth cut with two opposing sides, when machined in grained material the cut is parallel with the grain (Architectural Woodwork Institute, AWI®)
Guard – A component or system of components such as rails, newels, balusters, panels or other ornamentals used to minimize falls from elevated walking surfaces and the sides of stairs
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Hand (Stairs) – 1. The direction a stair or handrail turns in ascent, left or right, 2. The side of the stair as viewed in ascent, left or right, 3. The identification of a component for its intended use as referenced by the side of the stair in ascent, e.g. right hand returned tread to be used on a right hand open stair
Handrail – A sloped or horizontal rail intended for grasping by the hand as an assist for guidance, support, pulling, or arresting a fall
Handrailing – The craft of designing and constructing wreathed handrails for geometrical stairs
Hanger Bolt – A bolt that has course lag thread on one end instead of a head with finer machine thread on the opposite end to accept a nut
Header – 1. A floor-framing member at the edge of a floor opening that “heads off” the floor joists running up to a well opening, 2. The joist(s) at the edge of a floor opening, 3. The joists at the edge of a landing supporting the end of a flight
Headroom – 1. The clear vertical space allowed for the user of a stairway to prevent striking their head, 2. The vertical distance from the plane of the nosings of a flight, extended to the floor beyond the first riser, to any obstruction above the walking surface of the stair generally a minimum of 80 inches throughout the stairway including the landings
Horse – 1. The triangular point or “sawtooth” portion of a cut string or carriage to which the tread and riser are attached, 2. A rough string
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Inconspicuous – Not readily visible without careful inspection at a distance of 610 mm [24”] for
PREMIUM GRADE, 1219 mm [48”] for CUSTOM GRADE, and 1829 mm [72”] for ECONOMY
GRADE (Architectural Woodwork Institute, AWI®)
Infill – A term used in the ICC structural requirements to describe that portion of a guard system below the top rail
Installer – A person or organization that regularly engages in the practice of installing architectural woodwork (Architectural Woodwork Institute, AWI®)
Intermediate Rail – 1. A horizontal component that connects two stiles between the top and bottom rails, 2. A horizontal or sloped component of a balustrade that is located between the top rail and the bottom of the balustrade
Intermediate Post – A post that sits under the handrail halfway between your larger post. Used in horizontal stair railing systems.
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JACK – See HORSE
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Kerfing – A wood bending technique using a series of uniform, shallow cross cuts on the back of a board that do not penetrate the face allowing the back surface to compress to a smaller radius increasing the flexibility without reducing the thickness
Kite – A winder in a 90-degree corner that is shaped like a kite in plan view
Knee Wall – 1. A spandrel wall that extends above the gait line to form the core of a buttress or curb at the open side of a stair, 2. The spandrel wall supporting an open string
Knuckle – Decorative metal element(s) into which a metal baluster is inserted or band(s) that encircles the baluster used as an ornament in the middle portion of a baluster
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Lamb’s Tongue – An ornamental cyma curved rail termination often with carved details
Landing – 1. The walking surface at the top and bottom of a flight at a floor level to provide clear approach to the stair or to the floor level from the stair, 2. An intermediate level platform between flights used to change direction of the stair and/or provide a resting place typically with dimensions approximating the width of the flights served
Landing, Half Space – An intermediate landing at a stairway turn of 180 degrees
Landing, Quarter Space – An intermediate landing at a stairway turn of 90 degrees
Landing Nosing – A moulding used to finish the floor or landing edge at a level balustrade
Landing Tread – 1. The top tread in a flight supported by the top riser that is attached in alignment with the floor-surface with the same nosing projection as the treads in the flight below, 2. The moulding used as landing tread and landing nosing
Landing Tread, Bending – Thin, flexible, longitudinal-sections of a landing tread profile that are moulded individually such that bending and laminating the sections together will provide a curved landing tread of the composite profile
Lamination – A process to produce a product by assembling multiple layers or plys of materials using heat, pressure, welding, or gluing
Level Quarter Turn – A rail fitting that turns 90 degrees in the level or horizontal plane
Leaf – An individual piece of wood veneer from a bundle, flitch, or boule (Architectural Woodwork Institute,
AWI®)
Lumber – Pieces of wood thicker than 6.4 mm [.252”] no further manufactured than by sawing, planing, crosscutting to length, and perhaps edge machining (Architectural Woodwork Institute, AWI®)
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Manufacturer – A person or organization that regularly engages in the practice of manufacturing, prefinishing, and/or installing architectural woodwork (Architectural Woodwork Institute, AWI®)
Manufacturer/Supplier – Producer or supplier of architectural woodwork components (Architectural Woodwork Institute, AWI®)
Mechanical Fastener – The generic term for securing devices that are used in the fabrication and/or installation of architectural woodwork such as dowels, dowel screws, splines, biscuit splines, nails, screws, bolts, pins, etc. (Architectural Woodwork Institute, AWI®)
Metamerism – An apparent change in wood color caused by human perception when cells are exposed to differing angles of light a phenomenon causing an apparent change in color caused by varying lighting conditions (Architectural Woodwork Institute, AWI®)
Mineral Streak – An olive to greenish-black or brown discoloration of undetermined cause in hardwoods. (Architectural Woodwork Institute, AWI®)
Miter Joint – The joining of two members at an angle that bisects the angle of junction (Architectural Woodwork Institute, AWI®)
- Miter, Lock Joint – A miter joint employing a tongue and groove to further strengthen it (Architectural Woodwork Institute, AWI®)
- Miter, Shoulder Joint – Any type of miter joint that presents a shoulder, such as a lock miter or a splined miter (Architectural Woodwork Institute, AWI®)
Modulus of Elasticity (MOE) – A measure of stiffness; a physical parameter that reflects the mechanical behavior of any material in response to induced stress due to loading
Modulus of Rupture (MOR) – The maximum load-carrying capacity of a member under bending load. Modulus of rupture is an accepted criterion of strength (Architectural Woodwork Institute, AWI®)
Moisture Content – The weight of water in wood expressed as a percentage of the moisture free wood’s weight
Moulding* – A decorative strip of material, usually having a curved or profiled face or edge, though it may also be square. Some common mouldings used are listed below *Spelled differently from “mold” – a multicellular fungus.
- Moulding Profile (Rail Profile) – The shape as described by a section perpendicular to the length of the moulding (Architectural Woodwork Institute, AWI®)
- Moulding, Base Cap – A moulding applied to the top edge of a base moulding to add aesthetic affect or increase height (Architectural Woodwork Institute, AWI®)
- Moulding, Base or Baseboard – Mouldings used to trim the intersection of a wall or cabinet and the floor (Architectural Woodwork Institute, AWI®)
- Moulding, Base Shoe – 1. A moulding, used at the joint between base and floor and where the starting riser meets the floor, 2. A base made of wood or aluminum, sometimes recessed in the floor, used to secure the bottom of a glass panel (Architectural Woodwork Institute, AWI®)
- Moulding, Bead Moulding – A narrow, half-round moulding that is continuous or divided into bead-like segments (Architectural Woodwork Institute, AWI®)
- Moulding, Cove – A supporting moulding profile with a concave quarter round radius or arc on the face, See SCOTIA (Architectural Woodwork Institute, AWI®)
- Moulding, Handrail – A sloped or horizontal rail intended for grasping by the hand as an assist for; guidance, support, pulling, or arresting a fall (Architectural Woodwork Institute, AWI®)
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Newel (Newel Post) – 1. A vertical element or post used to connect balustrade components to the structure of a stair or floor system, 2. A vertical post to which carriages, stringers and balustrades can be attached at junctions and angular turns in the stairway to provide the main support for the stairs and balustrades
Newel, Box – A newel, usually square in section, often made as a “box” with a hollow center, from boards joined at the corners
Newel, Half – A newel cut in half longitudinally used against a wall to provide for the termination of a balustrade
Newel, Intermediate Landing – A newel located at a landing or platform between flights in a stairway or at a turn of winders
Newel, Landing – A newel located at a landing or balcony
Newel, Pin Top – An over-the-post newel that has a dowel pin turned on the top to fit into a hole in the bottom of a newel cap
Newel, Rake – A newel tapered at the top to attach to the bottom of a rail for additional support in the middle of a longer rake rail
Newel, Starting – The first newel used at the bottom or beginning of a stairway
Newel, Twist – See BALUSTER, TWIST
Newel Bolt – A long, large, diameter hanger bolt used to top mount a newel to the floor system
Newel Drop – An ornamental element used at the bottom end of a newel
Newel Plate – A metal plate, drilled to accept fasteners near the center for attachment to the bottom of a newel, and also drilled at the perimeter for top mounting a newel to the floor, typically the exposed fasteners are concealed by carpet or wood moulding
Nominal – The stated dimension by which a product is known and sold in the market, differs from the actual dimension and is subject to variation
Nosing – 1. The leading edge of a tread or landing, 2. A rounded convex edge
Nosing Line – See GAIT LINE
Nosing Projection or Overhang – The horizontal distance measured from the leading edge of the tread to the trailing edge of the tread below.
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Open – A stair that is absent of an enclosing wall and the components thereof, or the absence of a component such as the riser in an open riser stair
Open Riser Stair – A stair without risers such that the space between the treads is open
Over Easing – Typically used to describe an easing in a rail with the center of its arc below the top of the rail
Over-the-Post – A balustrade system that uses fittings to provide a continuous handrail over the top of the newel posts
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Performance Based – Refers to the lack of dictated or specifically required technical processes in lieu of a concept that allows innovation as long as the required outcomes are achieved
Picket – The vertical element in a fence, See BALUSTERS
Pitch – 1. An accumulation of resin that occurs in separations in the wood or in the wood cells themselves, 2. The slope or angle of a stair in reference to the horizontal plane, See RAKE
Pitch Block – A block of wood cut to a right triangle with the rise and run dimensions of a stair and used as an angle gauge in stairbuilding and handrailing
Plank – 1. A board, usually between 38.1 to 88.9 mm [1.500” to 3.500”] thick and 152 mm [6”] or more wide, laid with its wide dimension horizontal and used as a bearing surface, 2. In veneer matching, the assembly of dissimilar (in color, grain or width) leaves of the same species to resemble an edge glued panel made from lumber (Architectural Woodwork Institute, AWI®)
Plate – The bottom, flat part of a rail assembly attached directly to the floor or top of a knee wall, buttress or curb typically into which the balusters or other infill terminates, See CAP and RAIL,
SHOE
Platform – 1. An intermediate landing in a stairway, 2. The extension of the floor landing, which is often used as the top, tread of a spiral stairway
Plinth – The base of a baluster or newel
Plow (Plough) – A rectangular groove or slot with three surfaces, cut parallel to the grain of a wood member, See GROOVE
Plowed rail – A rail, which has had the bottom, grooved or plowed to accommodate insertion of a square baluster and fillet
Plug, Button – A machined piece of wood used to conceal a counterbored hole with a truncated dome of end grain that projects above the surrounding surface
Plug, Flush – A machined piece of wood used to conceal a counterbored hole, installed to be flush
Plumb – Vertical, perpendicular to level
Ply – One individual layer of veneer or core material which can be adhered together to form a panel.
Grain direction may be altered between layers
Post – See NEWEL
Post-to-Post – A balustrade system with rails that are interrupted by intersections with the side of the newels
Preassembled Stairs – Stair components that are assembled in a controlled environment for jobsite installation as modular components of a stairway
Profile – A shape cut into the face, edge or end of a component. Profiles can be illustrated by a section view perpendicular to the shape (Architectural Woodwork Institute, AWI®)
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Rail – 1. A horizontal component of a stile and rail door assembly or face frame. Also refers to the horizontal components of the core assembly of a wood flush door or panel, 2. A horizontal component of a balustrade also referred to as railing in a balustrade
Rail, Bending – Longitudinal sections of a profile that are moulded individually such that bending and laminating the sections together will provide a profiled curved rail
Rail, Blocked – A curved rail that is cut and shaped from blocks or segments that are joined end to end
Rail, Bottom – See RAIL, SHOE
Rail, Level – A horizontal balustrade assembly
Rail, Rake – A sloped rail or balustrade assembly
Rail, Shoe – 1. A rail that is used to receive the bottom end of balusters when they are not connected directly to the treads, 2. A cap on the top of a closed stringer, buttress or curb that is plowed to receive the bottom square end of balusters
Rail, Sub – The lower portion of a rail member that is an aggregate of more than one horizontal element, often ploughed on the bottom to receive square top balusters and fillet
Rail, Toe – See RAIL, SHOE
Rail Bolt – A hanger bolt used to join rail ends to fittings, newels or walls
Rail Fitting – See FITTING, RAIL
Rail Profile (Moulding Profile) – The shape as described by a section perpendicular to the length of a rail or moulding
Rail System – See BALUSTRADE
Rake – 1. Used to describe the particular angle of an object i.e., the slope or pitch of a stair 2. Used to describe an object as being inclined i.e., rake rail
Reeding – A series of parallel beads used as decorative detail in vertical surfaces of such elements as balusters or newels
Returned End – 1. The end of a moulding profile that has been mitered to extend the profile across the end and conceal the end grain, 2. The end of a handrail that is returned to a wall, post or floor to eliminate an open end that might catch the clothing of users or the objects they carry, 3. A handrail fitting with the moulding profile shaped on the end grain and used as a termination on the open end of a rail
Return – Continuation in a different direction of moulding or projections, usually at right angles
(Architectural Woodwork Institute, AWI®)
Return Nosing – See TREAD RETURN
Rise (Unit Rise) – The vertical distance between the leading edges of adjacent treads. Referred to in building codes as riser height
Rise, Total – The vertical distance of a stairway from finish-floor to finish-floor
Riser – The vertical component of a step in the space between the treads
- Riser, Bowed – A riser that is curved in plan view
- Riser, Mitered – A riser crosscut on the end at an angle to the face to join the complimentary vertical riser cut of a mitered cut string
- Riser, Open – Absence of a riser such that the space between adjacent treads or landings is open
- Riser, Starting – See STARTING STEP
Rosette – 1. A decorative and anchoring wall plate used at the termination of a rail into a wall, 2. A decorative component used at the intersection of window casing and casing at the top of a door
Rough Cut – Irregularly-shaped areas of generally uneven corrugation on the surface of veneer, differing from the surrounding smooth veneer and occurring as the veneer is cut by the lathe or slicer
(Architectural Woodwork Institute, AWI®)
Rout – A slot cut or groove cut into a board used to hold tread and riser material in place
Run (Unit Run) – The horizontal distance between two successive nosings on a stair, See GOING and TREAD DEPTH
Run, Total – The total horizontal distance of a flight of stairs from the top nosing of the flight to the bottom nosing of the flight 9
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Scotia – A cove moulding with elliptical concavity
Scroll – The terminal end of a volute
Scroll Step – A type of starting step, See VOLUTE STEP
Setting Blocks – Cushions used between the edges of glass panes or panel and the frames to allow for expansion and prevent the glass from cracking
Shim – A wedge type block that resides in the rout on the underside of the stair tread
Shoe, Base and Rake – Base shoe is a decorative element used to conceal the termination of the baluster at level/horizontal surfaces, rake shoe is a decorative element used to conceal the termination of the baluster at raked/sloped surfaces
Shoe Moulding – 1. A moulding, used at the joint between base and floor and where the starting riser meets the floor, 2. A base made of wood or aluminum, sometimes recessed in the floor, used to secure the bottom of a glass panel
Shop Drawings – Drawings prepared by the manufacturer/supplier or installer, serving as the primary visual communication submitted for review, comment and approval. Shop drawings may include illustrations, diagrams, schedules, material selections, product data, samples, methods of construction, joinery and attachment, finishes, and technical suggestions (Architectural Woodwork Institute, AWI®)
Skirt Board – A non-structural component used to trim the sides of stairs to which the treads and risers are fitted
Soffit – The visible ceiling attached to the bottom of a stair between the opposite stringers and/or opposing wall(s)
Spandrel – The triangular element in a staircase between the stringer and the baseboard, 2) The triangular space between the side of an arch, the horizontal drawn from the level of its apex and the
vertical of its springing (See Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture by John Fleming, Hugh Honour, and Nikolaus Pevsner)
Sphere Rule – Refers to the building code that limits openings in guards to the size of a certain sphere that shall not pass through the guard
Spindles – Symmetrical turnings often used in chair backs and spreaders between chair legs, See
BALUSTERS
Stair – 1. A step or change in elevation of one riser height. 2. A change of elevation consisting of one or more risers. (International Code Council, ICC®) **
Stairs – 1. A series of steps. 2. A change of elevation consisting of one or more risers. (International Code Council, ICC®)**
**The International Code Council, ICC® requires both singular and plural forms to have the same meaning
Stair, Box – 1. Stairs with closed stringers on each side that “box in” the treads and risers, 2. A prefabricated straight flight of stairs with closed stringers.
Stair, Circular – A curved stairway that is circular in plan view
Stair, Curved – A stair with some portion having an arc in plan view that is a radius, a combination of radii or an ellipse
Stair, Dextral – A stair that turns to the right during ascent
Stair, Dogleg – A stair with two flights separated by a half landing, and having no stairwell, (in elevation the angles of the flights form a dogleg shape)
Stair, Freestanding (Floating) – A stair that is unsupported by walls and attached only to the floor systems at the top and bottom of the stair
Stair, Geometrical – A stair of complex geometry in which the strings and rails are continuous from start to end with curved and straight segments of the stairway connected by wreaths, typically without newels, except the starting newel
Stair, Helical – A stair that ascends with identical winders within the space that can be defined between two cylinders of concentric circular plans, See SPIRAL STAIR
Stair, Open – A stair that is open on one or both sides that has no wall separating the stair from the adjoining space
Stair, Open Well – A stair having a stairwell
Stair, Partial Open – A stair that has an open side that becomes closed by a wall part way up the flight
Stair, L-Shape – A staircase that ascends to a landing, turns 90 degrees then ascends the remaining distance to the 2nd floor.
Stair, Scissor – Two interlocking stairways providing two separate paths of egress located within one stairwell enclosure
Stair, Sinistral – A stair that turns to the left in ascent
Stair, Slant Riser (Z Stair*) – A stair in which the risers are slanted under the tread above to minimize catching the toe of footwear at the nosing projection and/or provide for application of a runner in one continuous integral section *The slanted/sloped riser and horizontal tread results in a ‘Z’ profile.
Stair, Spiral* – A stairway having a closed circular form in plan view with uniform winders radiating from a minimum-diameter circle with or without a center supporting newel or column,** See HELICAL STAIR
*A geometric spiral diminishes to a point. The term is used here to describe the common visual perspective of the stairway not the geometric form.
** Spiral Stairs have different definitions in the International Building Code, IBC® and the International Residential Code, IRC®. The IBC® requires a minimum diameter supporting column to which the treads are attached.
Stair, Switchback – A staircase that ascends to a landing, turns 180 degrees then ascends the remaining distance to the 2nd floor.
Stair Gradient – The ratio between the rise and run of a stair used to relate the steepness in use, typically considered to be between 20 and 42-degrees when expressed as angle. Differing from ladders, which are steeper, and ramps, which are less steep
Stairbuilder – A person with skills specific to the craft of designing and constructing stairways and balustrades
Staircase – That part of the building set apart for the stairs and balustrade generally including the well opening and adjacent walls
Stairway – One or more flights of stairs, with the necessary landings and platforms connecting them, to form a continuous and uninterrupted passage from one level to another. (International Code Council, ICC®)
Stairway, ‘L’- Shaped – A stairway with two flights joined by a quarter space landing that is shaped in plan view like the letter ‘L’
Stairway, ‘U’ – Shaped – A stairway with flights joined by one or more landings that is shaped in plan view like the letter ‘U’
Stairwell – The inner clear opening formed by; turning flights within a well opening or between a flight and the edge of the well opening
Stairwork – Work specific to the craft of designing and constructing stairways and balustrades
Standoff – A component or part to an assembly that functions to offset one part of the assembly from another
Starting Easing – A rail fitting comprised of an up easing and opening cap used at the bottom of a stairway attached to a starting newel
Starting Fitting – A rail fitting comprised of an up easing or wreath with a cap, turnout, or volute/scroll used at the bottom or beginning of a stair attached to a starting newel
Starting Step – 1. The first tread and riser at the bottom of the stair, 2. A tread with curved end that is used at the start of the stairway at the bottom
Starting Step, Bullnose – A tread with half round end(s) in plan view projecting beyond the face string of the stair
Starting Step, Quarter Turn – A starting step that has quarter circle rounded end(s) at the leading edge
Stave – One of several boards edge glued to form a wider board or panel (Architectural Woodwork Institute, AWI®)
Stave Core – A core constructed of glued wood blocks (Architectural Woodwork Institute, AWI®)
Step – 1. A change in elevation of one riser height to a floor or landing without a tread, 2. A unit segment of a stair, consisting of a riser and the tread above
Stile and Rail Construction – A woodworking technique often used in the making of doors, wainscot, wall surfacing, underside of stairs, ceilings, and other decorative features for cabinets and furniture; generally consists of a center surface or panel such as wood, glass, or drywall two vertical members known as stiles, and two horizontal members known as rails. When assembled, the members create a framed panel (Architectural Woodwork Institute, AWI®)
Stringer (String) – The supporting inclined elements to which the treads are attached that serve to transfer both live and dead loads of the stair to the building structure
Stringer, Closed – A stringer that encloses the ends of the treads and risers typically with the top edge following the angle of the stair above the line of the nosings
Stringer, Curb – A closed stringer system on the open side of a stair built up in thickness, sometimes with a core wall or blocking, with a finished opposing exposed side, and a cap to receive the balusters, See BUTTRESS
Stringer, Cut – A stringer that is cut or notched on the upper edge for support and attachment of the treads
Stringer, Face – The exposed stringer on the open side of stairs. Called a skirt board or fascia when not supporting the treads and risers
Stringer, Housed – A closed stringer that “houses” the ends of the treads and risers projecting into routed recesses in the stringer
Stringer, Mitered Cut – A cut stringer with the riser cuts mitered to join a riser with a complimentary miter on the end to be joined
Stringer, Mortised – A closed stringer that has been machined so that the ends of the treads and risers project into routed recesses
Stringer, Open – A face stringer that is cut or notched on the upper edge for support and attachment of the treads such that the profile of the steps can be seen from the side
Stringer, Rough – A cut stringer to which the treads and risers are attached that is concealed and attached to the structure typically in the rough framing phase
Stringer, Routed – See STRINGER, MORTISED
Stringer, Wall – A stringer that is applied to the wall on the closed side of a stair
Stringer Margin (Stringer Reveal) – 1. The distance from the gait line to the top edge of a closed stringer, 2. The width from the bottom of a cut string to the depth of the cut notch
Structural Composite Lumber (SCP) – A man-made composite that utilizes stranded wood fibers from a variety of tree species, providing an alternative to dimension lumber. The material is engineered for strength and stability. While not really “lumber”, it is marketed as a lumber substitute to be used in place of stave lumber core materials (Architectural Woodwork Institute, AWI®)
Sub-Tread – A concealed rough tread used to support the visible finish tread
Suction Cups – A tool with vacuum actuated cups with heavy duty handles that allows for convenient grasp, maneuver, and release of heavy glass panels
Swage – 1. To compress or crimp a ferrule to cable, 2. A tool used for swaging
Swaging Stud – A stud with attached ferrule to swag on the end of a cable. The end may be threaded to attach to a terminal or turnbuckle
Swaging Tool – A tool used for swaging (compressing) a ferrule on to cable
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Tangent – A line that touches a curve at a single point
Tangent Point – 1. The point on a curve at which a tangent line touches, 2. The point on the curve of an easement at which perpendicular cut to the tangent line at the rake angle that will provide a matching cross section to a square cut on the intersecting rake moulding of the same profile and a smooth transition or easing at the intersection
Tangent System of Handrailing – A plane geometry method of determining the face moulds for the construction of wreathed handrails utilizing tangents to develop the intersection of the planes that include all the points along the centerline of the handrail.
Terminal – 1. Hardware used at the ends of cable, sometimes also incorporating a tensioning device, 2. A fitting used to terminate a rail
Tight – Set together so that there is no opening between members (Architectural Woodwork Institute, AWI®)
Tongue – A projection on the edge or end of a wood part that is inserted into the groove or plow of a similar size to form a joint (Architectural Woodwork Institute, AWI®)
Tongue and Groove Joint – A joint formed by the insertion of the “tongue” of one wood part into the “groove” of the other (Architectural Woodwork Institute, AWI®)
Tread – The horizontal walking surface of a stair
Tread, Bowed – A tread that is curved in plan view at the nosing edge
Tread Depth – The horizontal distance between two successive nosings on a stair, See GOING or RUN (UNIT RUN)
Tread, Engineered – A tread that is composed of a core material with balanced veneers applied to both faces to stabilize the product from warp and cup
Tread, Hybrid – A tread made with finish quality material finger joined on the end(s) where exposed and a lower grade material where it will be concealed, by floor covering
Tread, Mitered Returned – A tread used on open stringer stairs with a return nosing applied to the end(s) to project over the open face string(s) matching the projection of the tread nosing at the riser.
Tread Return – A moulding matching the nosing moulding profile of the tread nosing that is shoulder mitered to the tread nosing at the end of a tread to eliminate exposed end grain and provide a continuation of the nosing profile and projection identical to the tread nosing.
Turnbuckle – Hardware used to, couple or tension cable; utilizing sleeves, swivels, and/or internal screws
Turnout – A starting rail fitting or starting step that turns 90 degrees to the starting newel offset beyond the width of the stair above
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Up Easing – Used to describe an easing in a rail with the center of its arc above the top of the rail
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Veneer – A thin layer of wood, sliced from a log or flitch. Thickness may vary from, but not exceed, 0.3 mm [.012”] to 6.4 mm [.252”] thick. (Architectural Woodwork Institute, AWI®)
Volute – A starting rail fitting that is designed as a spiral in plan view by connecting a series of 90degree arcs diminishing in radius by a constant value or proportion. Typically, a volute consists of some portion that is flat in the horizontal plane, called a scroll, connected to a wreath or easing portion that makes the transition to the connection with the rake rail.
- Volute, Vertical – A starting rail fitting that is designed as a spiral in elevation by connecting a series of 90-degree arcs diminishing in radius by a constant value or proportion.
- Volute, Lateral – A metal railing termination that is a horizontal scroll, See VOLUTE
Volute Step (Scroll Step) – A type of bullnose starting step with a nosing designed concentric to the plan view of the volute or scroll through at least 180-degrees. Since the spiral of the nosing must be “curtailed” to maintain the integrity of the step these are sometimes called Curtail Steps.
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Walk Line – 1. The most common path of travel used in the design of winders determined by the distance from the handrail to the closest foot when the handrail is used in travel on a stairway, 2. A point at which winders are regulated for depth by building codes, measured 12 inches from the side of the stair where the treads are narrower, on that portion within the usable width, at the surface of the tread
Wall Rail – A handrail mounted to a wall.
Wash – The slight horizontal sloping of treads such that the leading edge is lowest to allow water to run off and to minimize wear at the nosing edge
Wedge – A piece of material tapering in thickness from end to end used to align or secure components
Well Hole or Well Opening – The opening in a floor through which a stairway ascends
Well Matched for Color and Grain – Members that make up the components of an assembly and components of an adjacent assembly are: Similar and nearly uniform in color, and have similar grain, figure, and character. Adjacent members must be of the same grain type whether flat grain (plain sliced), vertical grain (quarter cut), rift grain, or mixed grain. (Architectural Woodwork Institute, AWI®) Winder – A tread with nonparallel edges.
Winding Stair – A stair that turns with winders
Work Surface – A flat surface, typically horizontal, for supporting objects used in working; a surface for working on
Wreath – 1. A handrail that has a curve in plan view and elevation referred to as double curvature or a compound curve, 2. A handrail or string transition that twists between a rake and level or two rakes at a curve in the plan view of the stair(s) or handrail