Steps and stairways are one of the common structures that are seen in most of the residential and commercial buildings. The stairs are mainly created for the movement of the people from one place to another inside the building. They sometimes serve as egress in times of emergency like fire inside the buildings. They are strongly maintained by the engineers and the codes and standard are regulated to the utmost level. From the safety point of view, they are the most common areas where maximum accidents occur.
The architects should never neglect the importance of designing safe staircases as they are blamed only when people face accidents. Among the safety measures taken, the stair treads and stair nosing techniques are most popular. These security measures are applied in most of the stairs in the industries and homes too.
Stair Treads Design Parameters:
The steps and staircases are made by various raw materials like wood, steel, aluminum and even fibreglass. Among all the products, the FRP stair treads are quite common in the industrial stairs. The fibreglass treads are light in weight yet strong at the same time. They are long-lasting and non-corrosive in nature. The other alternatives have associated disadvantages and they do not last long and become susceptible to chemicals and water.
In the late 1800’s, the architects used cast metals over the surface of the stairs that acted as protective shield. In the 1900’s, the importance of the stair treads have increased commercially. The architects now used fibreglass stair treads on the steps to protect the life of the climbers and protect the underlying surface of the stairs.
Types of Commercial Stair Tread
If the stairs are constructed in the right manner, they become the point the attraction inside the buildings. When choosing the right type of stair tread for your building considering safety, utility and style is very important. The selection of the right color, strength and length of the stair treads should be considered when purchasing them. Here are some of the types of stair treads that are used nowadays.
- Traditional Solid Wood Treads:
They are made by natural wood and they are long-lasting. They are most common types. These stairtreads are customized according to the interior design of the house. But generally, the wooden stair treads expand and contract with weather changes. They are expensive and they require skilled technicians for installing them.
- Engineered Solid Wood Treads:
Unlike the traditional wooden stair treads, the fabricated engineered building stair treads are susceptible to the changing weather conditions and they are cost-effective at the same time. They are engineered in a unique fashion to suit the interior décor. They look like the hardwood variety, but they work in a different way.
- The Customized Stair Treads:
For those, who are looking for ways to save money yet want to decorate the stairs in a unique way, they can use the fibreglass stair treads. These access systems are cost-effective yet good to look. They are available in various colors and lengths. They are strong yet light in weight.
The above are few types of commercial stair treads that are used in the residential and commercial buildings. Installing the safety measures can protect the employees in the workplace and reduce the chances of accidents too. The anti-slip stairtreads are becoming popular and they are available online, as well.