How to Design Channel Stringers

A channel stringer is what gives stairs the structure to hold weight as you move up and down them. To make sure all staircases are properly made, the Occupational and Safety Health Administration (OSHA) has come up with specific guidelines of how to design stringers in regards to length, support, intermediate supports and the general slope of staircases.

Instructions

- 1
  Choose the vertical rise of the stairs. This is the distance from the top to the bottom.
- 2
  Cross-reference the vertical rise with the horizontal run of the stairs. This is the distance from the base of the stairs to the end of the top of the stairs, but measuring directly against the floor.
- 3
  Determine the slope of the staircase. To do this, divide the vertical rise by the horizontal run. This is how quickly the stairs will rise and over what distance. The slope of the staircase decides what chart you need to follow.
- 4
  Locate the stringer size from the intersecting points on the OSHA stringer chart. This clearly states what size stringer must be used and whether or not it needs a midsection support.
- 5
  Build your stringer grate per the instructions with the proper length, thickness and grate size. This ensures the stringer is strong enough to tolerate up to certain weight loads depending on the size.
- 6
  Plan for landings as per the OSHA requirements. This breaks up the pressure on the stairway and the stringers to improve the overall integrity of the structure.
- 7
  Research the grating size and the abutment requirements for your particular stringer and then layout a pattern that fits all requirements including the bolt and nut sizes for proper security.
- 8
  Match the grate stringer size to the shape of the stairs. You can use grates of varying curvature so to be flush with the bottom of the stair.

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