Design SuiteStair settings: Railings tab

The settings on the tab can be saved as a set and then loaded, replacing the current tab parameters.

Click the Railings tab to set the stair’s handrail and guardrail parameters. The Railings tab is divided into three panes. On the left, the handrail and guardrail categories display, along with each current setting for the left, right, or both sides of the stair. Handrail and guardrail parameters are set separately. Click a disclosure arrow to reveal handrail or guardrail parameter categories. Select a category to edit its parameter settings in the middle pane. On the right, three previews display the railing cross-section, top/plan stair view, and isometric stair view.

Click to show/hide the parameters.Click to show/hide the parameters.

Parameter

Description

Railing Settings

Saves settings so they can quickly be applied again; see Using saved sets for stair settings

View

Determines the view to apply the parameters to the stair; depending on drawing settings like layer scale and the document preference Hide details, the detailed or schematic view status is displayed

Detailed

Applies the railing parameters to stairs in a detailed layer scale view

Schematic

Applies the railing parameters to stairs in a schematic scaled view

Accept for all views

Applies the railing parameters to stairs in all views (detailed and schematic)

Accept Settings for

Select the railing to which the current settings apply

Left/Right or Outside/Inside railing

Applies the parameters to the selected side only

Both sides

Applies the parameters to railings on both sides

Handrail

 

Show handrail

When selected, adds a handrail to the stair and enables the handrail parameters; Show displays for the handrail settings

Position

 

Height

Sets the vertical distance from the leading edge of the tread/nosing to the top of the handrail

Handrail Position

Select whether the railing is on the stair or next to the stair

Offset to Tread Edge

Indicates the distance between the edge of the stair (the solid structure or the stringers) and the handrail

Top Rail

 

Profile Type

Select the basic geometry of the top rail:

Line: A 3D polyline serves as the railing profile

Flat: A 3D polygon with width, but no height, serves as the railing profile

Round: The cross-section is round, controlled by width

Rectangular: The cross-section is rectangular, controlled by width and height

Width

Sets the width for flat, rough, and square top railing geometry

Height

Sets the height of rectangular top railing geometry

Bottom Extension

Specifies the distance the top rail extends past the leading edge of the first tread or start of the stair; select whether the bottom extension is horizontal to the bottom riser or slopes with the stair

Top Extension

Specifies the distance the top rail extends past the leading edge of the last/top tread/end of the stair; select whether the top extension is horizontal to the bottom riser or slopes with the stair

Guardrail

 

Show guardrail

When selected, adds a guardrail to the stair and enables the guardrail parameters; Show displays for the guardrail settings

Position

 

Height

Sets the vertical distance from the leading edge of the tread/nosing to the top of the guardrail

Guardrail Position

Select whether the railing is on the stair or next to the stair

Offset to Tread Edge

Indicates the distance between the edge of the stair (the solid structure or the stringers) and the guardrail

Top Rail

 

Create Top Rail

Select whether to create a top rail on the guardrail

Profile Type

Select the basic geometry of the top rail:

Line: A 3D polyline serves as the railing profile

Flat: A 3D polygon with width, but no height, serves as the railing profile

Round: The cross-section is round, controlled by width

Rectangular: The cross-section is rectangular, controlled by width and height

Width

Sets the width for flat, rough, and square top railing geometry

Height

Sets the height of rectangular top railing geometry

Start at Bottom

Defines where the top rail of the guardrail begins:

At Post: The top rail begins at the first post

At Tread: The top rail begins at the stair tread

Extend Tread by: Sets a specific distance the top rail extends past the leading edge of the first tread or start of the stair. Select whether the bottom extension is horizontal to the bottom riser or slopes with the stair.

End at Top

Defines where the top rail of the guardrail ends:

At Post: The top rail ends at the last post

At Tread: The top rail ends at the stair tread

Extend Tread by: Sets a specific distance the top rail extends past the leading edge of the last/top tread/end of the stair. Select whether the bottom extension is horizontal to the bottom riser or slopes with the stair.

Frame

 

Create Frame

Select whether to create a frame on the guardrail

Frame Type

Sets the geometry for the area below the top rail, and between posts:

Frame: Adds a frame to support the frame bars; the frame must include at least one of the top, bottom, or left-right vertical supports

Panel: Adds a solid panel below the top rail

Top/Bottom/Left-Right Verticals

Select options to include in the frame

Offset to Top Rail

Indicates the perpendicular distance between the bottom of the top railing, and the top of the frame or panel

Offset to Stair

Sets the perpendicular distance between the leading edge of the tread/nosing or the bottom of the frame or panel

Profile Type

For Frame types, sets the frame cross-section geometry:

Line: A 3D polyline serves as the railing profile

Flat: A 3D polygon with width, but no height, serves as the railing profile

Round: The cross-section is round, controlled by width

Rectangular: The cross-section is rectangular, controlled by width and height

Width

Sets the width of the frame or panel

Height

Sets the height of rectangular profiles

Frame Bars

 

Create horizontal bars

Select whether to create horizontal frame bars

Create vertical bars

Select whether to create vertical frame bars

Profile Type

Sets the cross-section geometry of the frame bars:

Line: A 3D polyline serves as the frame bar profile

Flat: A 3D polygon with width, but no height, serves as the frame bar profile

Round: The cross-section is round, controlled by thickness

Rectangular: The cross-section is rectangular, controlled by thickness and depth

Thickness

Sets the thickness of round and square frame bar profiles

Depth

Sets the depth of rectangular frame bar profiles

Maximum Distance

Specifies the maximum distance between centerlines of frame bar geometry, setting the spacing of the frame bars

Posts

 

Create Posts

Select whether to create vertical supports of the top rail and frames

Shape

Sets the geometry of the guardrail posts:

Line: A 3D polyline serves as the post profile

Flat: A 3D polygon with width, but no depth, serves as the post profile

Round: The cross-section is round, controlled by width

Rectangular: The cross-section is rectangular, controlled by width and depth

Width

Sets the width for flat, round, and rectangular posts

Depth

Sets the depth of rectangular posts

Arrangement

Determines how to place the posts

On each tread

Places one post at the midpoint of the tread depth for each tread

Distance (approx.)

Specifies the distance between each post

Placement

Links the post positions on the left and right sides of the stair based on one of these methods:

Each side individually: The post positions are calculated separately for each side of the stair based on the approximate Distance value

Left side has priority: The left side post distances are calculated based on the approximate Distance value; the posts on the right are placed symmetrically

Right side has priority: The right post distances are calculated based on the approximate Distance value; the posts on the left side are placed symmetrically

On each corner

Places a post at each landing corner, regardless of the distance set

Min. Distance

Specifies the minimum distance between a corner post and the next adjacent post on a landing

Previews

Three previews display:

The detailed plan and elevation view of a representative portion of the railing system

An overall top/plan view of the stair

An isometric view of the stair, when Component is set to 2D and 3D on the General tab

Stair settings: General tab

Stair settings: Geometry tab

Stair settings: 2D Graphics tab

Stair settings: Construction tab

Stair settings: Graphic Attributes tab

Saving a stair as a symbol

Setting minimum and maximum values for stair geometry

Stair properties

Transferring stair properties

Creating a stair

Reshaping stairs

 

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