IFSTA ACTUAL EXAM SOLVED QUESTIONS
COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE
●● Stairs
Answer: Enable access to multiple levels of a structure and serve as a
basic component of building egress during an emergency
●● Convenience stairs
Answer: Stairs that usually connects two floors in a multistory building
●● Tread
Answer: Horizontal face of a step, flat portion
●● Riser
Answer: Vertical part of a stair step
●● Run
Answer: Horizontal measurement of a stair tread or distance of the entire
stair length
●● Rise
,Answer: Vertical distance between the treads of a stairway or height of
entire stairwell
●● 6 common types of stairs
Answer: Straight run, landing, return, scissor, circular, spiral, folding
●● Straight run stairs
Answer: Extend in one direction for their entire length, may have a
landing between sections
●● Landing stairs
Answer: Horizontal platform where a flight of stairs begins or ends
●● Return stairs
Answer: Intermediate landing between floors where stairs reverse
direction of travel, common in modern construction
●● Scissor stairs
Answer: 2 separate sets of stairs constructed in a common shaft, helix
pattern, more space-efficient and cheaper, often used in airport
terminals, convention centers, malls, and cinema complexes
●● Circular stairs
, Answer: Often found as grand stairs or convenience stairs only serving
two floors, minimum width of the run is usually 10 inches, special
requirement that a small radius of the full circle is greater than or equal
to twice the widest part of the stair tread
●● Spiral stairs
Answer: Series of steps spiraling around a single column to fit in a very
small space, each tread connects to center column called the baluster
●● Baluster
Answer: Center column in a spiral staircase
●● Folding stairs
Answer: Ladders used to provide access to an attic space that does not
have a permanent access stair, made up of 3 sections that unfold as the
stair is lowered
●● Gas springs
Answer: Aka struts, increasingly used with the hinge in folding stairs to
replace coil springs, are cheap and function more efficiently and quietly,
**Sudden exposure to fire temperatures or compression leads to
explosive failure
●● Stairs for egress
COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE
●● Stairs
Answer: Enable access to multiple levels of a structure and serve as a
basic component of building egress during an emergency
●● Convenience stairs
Answer: Stairs that usually connects two floors in a multistory building
●● Tread
Answer: Horizontal face of a step, flat portion
●● Riser
Answer: Vertical part of a stair step
●● Run
Answer: Horizontal measurement of a stair tread or distance of the entire
stair length
●● Rise
,Answer: Vertical distance between the treads of a stairway or height of
entire stairwell
●● 6 common types of stairs
Answer: Straight run, landing, return, scissor, circular, spiral, folding
●● Straight run stairs
Answer: Extend in one direction for their entire length, may have a
landing between sections
●● Landing stairs
Answer: Horizontal platform where a flight of stairs begins or ends
●● Return stairs
Answer: Intermediate landing between floors where stairs reverse
direction of travel, common in modern construction
●● Scissor stairs
Answer: 2 separate sets of stairs constructed in a common shaft, helix
pattern, more space-efficient and cheaper, often used in airport
terminals, convention centers, malls, and cinema complexes
●● Circular stairs
, Answer: Often found as grand stairs or convenience stairs only serving
two floors, minimum width of the run is usually 10 inches, special
requirement that a small radius of the full circle is greater than or equal
to twice the widest part of the stair tread
●● Spiral stairs
Answer: Series of steps spiraling around a single column to fit in a very
small space, each tread connects to center column called the baluster
●● Baluster
Answer: Center column in a spiral staircase
●● Folding stairs
Answer: Ladders used to provide access to an attic space that does not
have a permanent access stair, made up of 3 sections that unfold as the
stair is lowered
●● Gas springs
Answer: Aka struts, increasingly used with the hinge in folding stairs to
replace coil springs, are cheap and function more efficiently and quietly,
**Sudden exposure to fire temperatures or compression leads to
explosive failure
●● Stairs for egress
