topic Re: Staircase with C-channel beam stringers in Revit Structure Forum

Staircase with C-channel beam stringers

YujinXELPG — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 15:24:42 GMT

Hi all,

Is there any way I could model the stringers using C-channel profiles with beams? The current model I’ve attached is a staircase with model-in-place stringers, as the default stringers from the Stair tool didn’t work the way I envisioned. The reason I’m trying to model the stringers using C-channel beams is that I need to cope the diagonal brace which I used the structural member located under the treads to the stringers.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Re: Staircase with C-channel beam stringers

JeandreVDM — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 12:59:08 GMT

Hi @YujinXELPG

Options:

Do you want to model the C-channel stringers as framing elements?
OR
Do you just want to apply a specific C-channel stringer profile within your staircase?

Here is a video for the second option: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Y4AWuYUU_I

Re: Staircase with C-channel beam stringers

YujinXELPG — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 13:10:23 GMT

Hi @JeandreVDM

I'm trying to model the C-channel stringers as steel framing elements so I can properly cope the diagonal bracing to the stringers. However, modeling the C-channel stringers as steel framing elements is proving to be extremely difficult at this stage.

I’ve tried approach of using In-Place Mass, drawing lines using an In-Place Mass, turning those lines into forms, placing a wall, and then using the Beam tool by clicking on the lines of the mass wall—but this does not seem to generate the angled, circular stringers using C-channel framing.

If you have any suggestions or alternative approaches, I’d really appreciate your input.

Thank you for your time!

Re: Staircase with C-channel beam stringers

YujinXELPG — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 13:10:37 GMT

Hi @JeandreVDM

If you have any suggestions or alternative approaches, I’d really appreciate your input.

Thank you for your time!

Re: Staircase with C-channel beam stringers

jay_colc — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 14:30:39 GMT

What exact issue were you getting with the Stringer Type set a a C-Channel?

Re: Staircase with C-channel beam stringers

YujinXELPG — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 14:38:27 GMT

Hi @jay_colc

Thanks for the response! I was trying to model the stringer by using c-channel with a steel element, as I need to cope the diagonal bracing to the stringers.

Re: Staircase with C-channel beam stringers

YujinXELPG — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 12:45:29 GMT

Good morning!

If you need further information to solve this issue, please let me know.

Thank you!

Re: Staircase with C-channel beam stringers

hmunsell — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 15:01:20 GMT

Based on your illustration in the original post.... It sounds like you want to make a curved staircase and add Structural Framing to it.

Stairs are Architectural elements in Revit, and the stringer is not an actual "Structural framing" element. It's an extrusion based on a profile. I don't think you're going to be able to connect structural framing/bracing to a stair modeled using the Stair tool in Revit. You can probably "fake it" by just placing framing manually and lining it up, Or you'll need to model the structural stringer element as structural framing so Revit identifies it as such and will let you connect the bracing to it.

Re: Staircase with C-channel beam stringers

YujinXELPG — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 16:13:31 GMT

Yes, that was my initial question. How do I make the structural stringer as structural faming by using c-channel for this winder spiral staircase?

Re: Staircase with C-channel beam stringers

hmunsell — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 16:59:54 GMT

How do I make the structural stringer as structural framing....

That's the million-dollar question. Honestly, I have no idea 😂. I'm not a structural engineer, I just fix all the stuff my engineers break in the software.

It would be easy if it were a straight stair. But I don't know of any way to make a piece of steel framing spiral like that. I can draw them bent and splined, but now where one end is higher than the other and maintain it's orientation. maybe someone else can chime in on that one 😁.

Re: Staircase with C-channel beam stringers

jay_colc — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 17:04:41 GMT

The best way to do this is create a Helical Ramp and then use the edge of the ramp as the pick line for the beam!

I am not at my PC but there are a few videos on this

Re: Staircase with C-channel beam stringers

hmunsell — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 17:19:23 GMT

@jay_colc I had the same thought, but I couldn't get it to follow the elevated path. I'm sure it's a setting I'm missing. I'll have to see if I can find one of those videos.

Re: Staircase with C-channel beam stringers

hmunsell — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 17:49:18 GMT

i was able to find some videos on making a spiral extrusion, but I'm not sure these will act like framing and allow it to host steel bracing/connections. you will have to try and find out...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQ1M-O74-1M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_dm518CJ8o

Re: Staircase with C-channel beam stringers

YujinXELPG — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 18:07:12 GMT

I tried using the ramp, swept blend, and floor, and selected the edge lines of each. They all gave me results like the one shown in Image 1. After that, I adjusted a beam using the properties, but the result in Image 2 was the best I could achieve.

I'm a bit stuck at this point—feel free to reply if anyone has any new ideas!

Re: Staircase with C-channel beam stringers

YujinXELPG — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 18:07:29 GMT

Thank you for your help!