Z pan (S74)

Z pan (S74) creates straight stairs with optional top and bottom landings. The stairs consist of stringers, possible landings, and the actual steps. The steps can be connected to stringers with horizontal brackets, vertical brackets, or with bent plate brackets.

Objects created

Stringers
Steps
Landings (optional)
Brackets
Bolts
Welds

Use for


Situation	Description
	Stairs with Z-pan steps. Horizontal top and bottom landings. Steps are connected to stringers with bolted horizontal brackets.
	Stairs with bent plate brackets. Steps are connected to stringers with bent plate brackets.
	Stairs with stringers notched to the supporting beam. Steps are connected to stringers with vertical and horizontal brackets.
	Stairs with 90 degree bends at the top and bottom of the treads. Steps are connected to stringers with vertical and horizontal brackets. Red nose profile at the front edge of the steps.

Before you start

If the stringers are notched to bear on the supporting beams, create the supporting beams before creating the stairs.

Selection order

Pick a point to indicate the nosing point of the first step.
Pick another point to indicate the nosing point of the last step.
Note that the order in which the points are picked has no effect.
Click the middle mouse button to create the stairs.
If you have selected the following notched options on the Picture tab, select the supporting beams and then click the middle mouse button.

Part identification key


	Part
1	Stringer
2	Step
3	Landings

Picture tab

Use the Picture tab to control the stringer geometry and the nosing points of the steps.

Top landing type


Option	Description
	Default
	Horizontal landing
	Notched The stringer top is on the supporting part. Vertical and horizontal plates are welded at the end of the stringer.

Bottom landing type


Option	Description
	Default
	Vertical Creates a vertical landing where the lower picked point is on the top plane of the last step.
	Horizontal Creates a horizontal landing where the lower picked point is on the top plane of the last step.
	Vertical lowered point The picked point is at the top of steel or finish floor.
	Horizontal lowered point The picked point is at top of steel or finish floor.
	Notched Creates a notch to the bottom of the stringer to bear on the supporting part. A vertical plate is welded at the end of the stringer.

Stair dimensions


	Description	Default
1	Define the distance between the upper point and the end of the left top landing. If you set the value to `0 mm`, the left top landing is not created. If you set the top landing type to notched, define the cut dimension of the horizontal plate from the stringer edge.	`0 mm`
2	Define the vertical distance from the upper point to the top of steel of the top landing. If the top landing is not created, the stringer top of steel is used. If you set the top landing type to notched, define the vertical distance from the upper point to the stringer top horizontal cut.	`200 mm`
3	Define the maximum distance allowed between two consecutive steps. The spacing between the steps is calculated using the step spacing type Exact or Equal, and the number of steps. For example, if the step height should be `200 mm`, the Exact setting creates steps of exactly this height (enter the number of steps as an integer). The Equal setting creates the required number of steps from the bottom to the top, with the height calculated as close to `200 mm` as possible.	`(Z*220)/(Z+220) mm`, where Z is the vertical distance between the 2 picked points.
4	Select the direction of the nosing dimension of the steps: Vertical Horizontal Perpendicular	Vertical
5	Define the nosing dimension of the steps. This dimension depends on the direction you have selected.	`0 mm`
6	Define this dimension based on the selected bottom landing type: Horizontal or horizontal lowered point bottom landing Define the vertical distance from the lower point to the top of steel of the bottom landing. Vertical or vertical lowered point bottom landing Define the horizontal distance from the lower picked point to the most distant face of the bottom landing. Notched bottom landing Define the horizontal distance from the lower point to the stringer vertical cut. By default, the cut is made at the supporting part edge.	`150 mm`
7	Define the vertical dimension from the lower point to the first step. You can define this dimension when the step spacing type is set to Equal and the bottom landing type is either vertical or horizontal lowered point.	Equal with vertical spacing between steps
8	Define the cut dimension of the vertical plate from the stringer edge. You can define this dimension when the bottom landing type is set to notched.	`0 mm`
9 12	Define this dimension based on the selected bottom landing type: Horizontal or horizontal lowered point bottom landing. Define the horizontal edge distance between the lower point and the bottom landing. Vertical or vertical lowered point bottom landing. Define the vertical edge distance between the lower point and the lowest point of the bottom landing.	`600 mm`
10	Define the vertical gap between the lower supporting part and the stringer cut. You can define this dimension when you have set the bottom landing type to notched.	`0 mm`
11	Define the horizontal gap between the lower supporting part and the stringer cut. You can define this dimension when you have set the bottom landing type to notched.	`0 mm`
13	Define the dimension to shorten the steps equally on both sides.	`0 mm`
14	Define the width of the steps.	`1000 mm`
15	Define the horizontal gap between the upper supporting part and the stringer cut. You can define this dimension when you have set the top landing type to notched.	`0 mm`
16	Define the vertical gap between the upper supporting part and the stringer cut. You can define this dimension when you have set the top landing type to notched.	`0 mm`
17	Define this dimension based on the selected top landing type: Horizontal top landing. Define the distance between the upper point and the end of the stringer. Notched top landing. Define the horizontal distance between the upper point and the stringer vertical cut. By default the cut is made at the supporting part edge. If you set this dimension to `0 mm`, the top landing is not created.	`0 mm`
18	Select the step spacing type: Exact creates the steps of exactly the defined height. Enter the number of steps as an integer. Equal creates the required number of steps from the bottom to the top, with the height calculated as close as possible to the defined step height. The spacing type controls how the vertical spacing between the steps is calculated. If you select Exact and set the bottom landing type to horizontal or vertical lower point, the steps are spaced from the upper point to the lower point. In all other cases the steps are spaced from the lower point to the upper point.	Equal
19	Enter the number of steps. This option depends on step spacing type and step spacing. If you set the step spacing type to Exact, or to Equal and the spacing distance is not defined, Z pan (S74) creates the number of steps you have defined.	Calculated from the vertical distance between the picked points and the spacing between the steps

Stair setup tab

Use the Stair setup tab to control the part properties, top and bottom steps, position of the stairs on the horizontal plane, and rotation of stringers and steps.

Stair part properties


	Part	Description	Default
1	Left stringer	Always created Select a profile from the profile catalog.	`BLU400*2` The default name is `STRINGER`.
1	Right stringer	Always created Select a profile from the profile catalog.	`BLU400*2` The default name is `STRINGER`.
2	Upper H plate	Created only if the top of the stringer is on the supporting beam.	`6 mm` The default name is `PLATE`.
3	Upper V plate	Created only if the top of the stringer in on the supporting beam.	`6 mm` The default name is `PLATE`.
4	Lower V plate	Created only if the bottom of the stringer in on the supporting beam.	`6 mm` The default name is `PLATE`.


Option	Description	Default
Pos_No	Prefix and start number for the part position number. Some components have a second row of fields where you can enter the assembly position number.	The default part start number is defined in the Components settings in File menu > Settings > Options.
Material	Material grade.	The default material is defined in the Part material box in the Components settings in File menu > Settings > Options.
Name	Name that is shown in drawings and reports.
Class	Part class number.

Stair setup settings


Option	Description
Create assembly	Define which parts of the stair component form an assembly. The default is stringers.
Stringer reference line	Above: The line positioned on the inside of the stairs on the top face is used as the reference line. Nosing: The nosing line of the steps is used as the reference line. The reference line is used for workshop drawings.
Position in plane	Position of the stairs. The middle line of steps is used as the reference line. The default is Right.
Offset	Offset of the stairs on the plane from the position that is set in the Position in plane option. The default offset is `0 mm`.
Stringer rotation	Rotation of the stringer around its axis. The default is top .
Create top step	Define whether the first step of the stairs (the highest step) is created. By default, the first step is created.
Create bottom step	Define whether the last step of the stairs (the lowest step) is created. By default, the last step is created.
Bracket	Select how the steps are connected to the stringers: Default Horizontal bracket Horizontal and vertical brackets Bent plate bracket

Z pan tab

Use the Z pan tab to control the size and shape of the Z pan steps.

Profiles


Profile	Description	Default
Step profile	Step profile is calculated from the thickness you enter for the Z pan plate when defining the Z pan dimensions. Select an appropriate material for the step profile. In the US imperial environment, Tekla Structures saves the selected material in the Gage material user-defined attribute of the step profile. You can use this information in reports and in the bill of material of drawings.
Nose profile	Created only if Nosing piece is set to Create nose. To create the nose profile, select the profile from the profile catalog.	`PL160*10`


Option	Description	Default
Pos_No	Prefix and start number for the part position number. Some components have a second row of fields where you can enter the assembly position number.	The default part start number is defined in the Components settings in File menu > Settings > Options.
Material	Material grade.	The default material is defined in the Part material box in the Components settings in File menu > Settings > Options.
Name	Name that is shown in drawings and reports.
Class	Part class number.

Z pan dimensions


	Description	Default
1 2	Define the chamfer dimensions for the front edge.	`15 mm`
3	Define the length of the front part of the step according to the selected front edge type.	`40 mm`
4	Define back wall slope width between the nosing point vertical line and the Z pan back wall (concrete level lip set-off point).	`100 mm`
5	Define the height of the inner step dimension where the concrete will be poured.	`100 mm`
6 7	Define the width and height of the bottom step.	`height = 200 mm` `width = 0 mm`
8	Define the horizontal dimension for the Z pans that have a skewed front edge.	`60 mm`
9	Define the thickness of the Z pan plate.	`10 mm`
10 11	Define the lip dimensions of the back wall of the step. You can define these dimensions if Back wall type is set to Lip.	`15 mm`
12	Define the horizontal length of the top step. This is the horizontal distance between the top nosing point and the end of the top step horizontal section.	`300 mm`
13	Define the height of the top step. This is the vertical distance between the top nosing point and the end of the top step horizontal end.	`100 mm`
14	Define the bottom line clearance for the steps that prevent the bottom portion of the Z pan from overlapping the bottom end of the stringer.	`20 mm`

Chamfer type

Select the shape of the step front edge.


Option	Description
	None
	Line
	Rounding
	Arc

Back wall type

Select the Z pan back wall type.


Option	Description
	Default
	Lip
	Straight

Front edge type

Select how a pan connects to the pan below.


Option	Description	Example
	Default Rectangular front edge. AutoDefaults can change this option.
	Skewed front edge. Pan overlaps the lower one and continues in the same angle as the back wall.
	Rectangular front edge. Pans do not overlap each other.
	Rectangular front edge. Pan overlaps the lower one and continues in the same angle as the back wall.
	Rectangular front edge. Pan overlaps the lower one and continues at a 30-degree angle.

Nosing piece

Select whether the nosing piece is created on top of the step.


Option	Description
	Default No nose. AutoDefaults can change this option.
	No nose.
	Create nose.

Horizontal part

Select whether the bottom pan has a horizontal part. Enter the vertical distance from the bottom of the pan to the top level of the Z pan (concrete slab thickness) in Z pan dimensions.


Option	Description
	Default Create horizontal part. AutoDefaults can change this option.
	Create horizontal part.
	No horizontal part.

Horizontal bracket tab

Use the Horizontal bracket tab to control the properties and attachment of the horizontal brackets. The horizontal brackets are angle profiles underneath the treads.

Preconditions

Before you can set the properties of the horizontal brackets, set the following option:

On the Stair set-up tab, set Bracket to Horizontal bracket or Horizontal and vertical brackets.

L profile


Part	Description	Default
L profile	Created only if brackets are created. Select the profile from the profile catalog.	`BLL808010`


Option	Description	Default
Pos_No	Prefix and start number for the part position number. Some components have a second row of fields where you can enter the assembly position number.	The default part start number is defined in the Components settings in File menu > Settings > Options.
Material	Material grade.	The default material is defined in the Part material box in the Components settings in File menu > Settings > Options.
Name	Name that is shown in drawings and reports.
Class	Part class number.

Bracket dimensions



1	Define the length of the bracket. The default length is calculated according to bracket-to-step or bracket-to-stringer bolt dimensions, depending on which one is bigger.
2	Define the dimension to offset the bracket from the center line of the thread. The default in `0` mm.

Bracket-to-step connection

Define the properties of the bolts that connect the brackets to the steps.

Bolt basic properties


Option	Description	Default
Bolt size	Bolt diameter.	Available sizes are defined in the bolt assembly catalog.
Bolt standard	Bolt standard to be used inside the component.	Available standards are defined in the bolt assembly catalog.
Tolerance	Gap between the bolt and the hole.
Thread in mat	Defines whether the thread may be within the bolted parts when bolts are used with a shaft. This has no effect when full-threaded bolts are used.	`Yes`
Site/Workshop	Location where the bolts should be attached.	`Site`

Slotted holes

You can define slotted, oversized, or tapped holes.


Option	Description	Default
1	Vertical dimension of slotted hole.	`0`, which results in a round hole.
2	Horizontal dimension of slotted hole, or allowance for oversized holes.	`0`, which results in a round hole.
Slotted holes no	Define the number of slotted holes.
Hole type	Slotted creates slotted holes. Oversized creates oversized or tapped holes.
Rotate Slots	When the hole type is Slotted, this option rotates the slotted holes.
Slots in	Part(s) in which slotted holes are created. The options depend on the component in question.

Bolt group dimensions


	Description	Default
1	Bolt edge distance.	`bolt diameter * 1.5`
2	Number of bolts.	`2`
3	Bolt spacing. Use a space to separate bolt spacing values. Enter a value for each space between bolts. For example, if there are 3 bolts, enter 2 values.	`100 mm`

Bracket-to-step connection type


Option	Description
	Default.
	Bolted.
	Welded.
	No connection.
	No bracket angle leg. The bracket is a plate instead of an angle.
	Holes only.

Bolting direction


Option	Description
	Default.
	Bolted from the bracket to the step.
	Bolted from the step to the bracket.

Bracket-to-stringer connection

Define the properties of the bolts that connect the brackets to the stringers.

Bolt basic properties


Option	Description	Default
Bolt size	Bolt diameter.	Available sizes are defined in the bolt assembly catalog.
Bolt standard	Bolt standard to be used inside the component.	Available standards are defined in the bolt assembly catalog.
Tolerance	Gap between the bolt and the hole.
Thread in mat	Defines whether the thread may be within the bolted parts when bolts are used with a shaft. This has no effect when full-threaded bolts are used.	`Yes`
Site/Workshop	Location where the bolts should be attached.	`Site`

Slotted holes

You can define slotted, oversized, or tapped holes.


Option	Description	Default
1	Vertical dimension of slotted hole.	`0`, which results in a round hole.
2	Horizontal dimension of slotted hole, or allowance for oversized holes.	`0`, which results in a round hole.
Slotted holes no	Define the number of slotted holes.
Hole type	Slotted creates slotted holes. Oversized creates oversized or tapped holes.
Rotate Slots	When the hole type is Slotted, this option rotates the slotted holes.
Slots in	Part(s) in which slotted holes are created. The options depend on the component in question.

Bolt group dimensions


	Description	Default
1	Bolt edge distance.	`bolt diameter * 1.5`
2	Number of bolts.	`2`
3	Bolt spacing. Use a space to separate bolt spacing values. Enter a value for each space between bolts. For example, if there are 3 bolts, enter 2 values.	`100 mm`

Bolt assembly

The selected check boxes define which component objects (bolt, washers, and nuts) are used in the bolt assembly.

If you want to create a hole only, clear all the check boxes.

To modify the bolt assembly in an existing component, select the Effect in modify check box and click Modify.

Bracket-to-stringer connection type


Option	Description
	Default. Bolted. AutoDefaults can change this option.
	Bolted.
	Welded.
	No connection.

Bolting direction


Option	Description
	Default. Bolted from the bracket to the stringer. AutoDefaults can change this option.
	Bolted from the bracket to the stringer.
	Bolted from the stringer to the bracket.

Bracket position

Define the position of the plate-type bracket. The bracket can be positioned below the step, or between the step and the stringer.

You can define the bracket position if the bracket is a created as a plate instead of an angle.


Option	Description
	Default Below the step. AutoDefaults can change this option.
	Below the step.
	Between the stringer and step.

Vertical bracket tab

Use the Vertical bracket tab to control the properties and attachment of the vertical brackets. The vertical brackets are angle profiles underneath the treads and they support the vertical portion of the stair treads.

Preconditions

Before you can set the properties of the vertical brackets, set the following options:

On the Stair set up tab, set Bracket to Horizontal and vertical brackets.
On the Z pan tab, set the Back wall type to Straight.

L profile


Part	Description	Default
L profile	Created only if brackets are created. Select the profile from the profile catalog.	`BLL808010`


Option	Description	Default
Pos_No	Prefix and start number for the part position number. Some components have a second row of fields where you can enter the assembly position number.	The default part start number is defined in the Components settings in File menu > Settings > Options.
Material	Material grade.	The default material is defined in the Part material box in the Components settings in File menu > Settings > Options.
Name	Name that is shown in drawings and reports.
Class	Part class number.

Bracket dimensions


	Description	Default
1	Define the height of the bracket.	Default height is calculated according to bracket-to-step or bracket-to-stringer bolt dimensions, depending on which one is bigger.
2	Define the dimension to offset the bracket from the Z pan edge.	`25` mm

Bracket-to-step connection

Define the properties of the bolts that connect the brackets to the steps.

Bolt basic properties


Option	Description	Default
Bolt size	Bolt diameter.	Available sizes are defined in the bolt assembly catalog.
Bolt standard	Bolt standard to be used inside the component.	Available standards are defined in the bolt assembly catalog.
Tolerance	Gap between the bolt and the hole.
Thread in mat	Defines whether the thread may be within the bolted parts when bolts are used with a shaft. This has no effect when full-threaded bolts are used.	`Yes`
Site/Workshop	Location where the bolts should be attached.	`Site`

Slotted holes

You can define slotted, oversized, or tapped holes.


Option	Description	Default
1	Vertical dimension of slotted hole.	`0`, which results in a round hole.
2	Horizontal dimension of slotted hole, or allowance for oversized holes.	`0`, which results in a round hole.
Slotted holes no	Define the number of slotted holes.
Hole type	Slotted creates slotted holes. Oversized creates oversized or tapped holes.
Rotate Slots	When the hole type is Slotted, this option rotates the slotted holes.
Slots in	Part(s) in which slotted holes are created. The options depend on the component in question.

Bolt group dimensions


	Description	Default
1	Bolt edge distance.	`bolt diameter * 1.5`
2	Number of bolts.	`2`
3	Bolt spacing. Use a space to separate bolt spacing values. Enter a value for each space between bolts. For example, if there are 3 bolts, enter 2 values.	`100 mm`

Bracket-to-step connection type


Option	Description
	Default.
	Bolted.
	Welded.
	No connection.
	No bracket angle leg. The bracket is a plate instead of an angle.
	Holes only.

Bolting direction


Option	Description
	Default.
	Bolted from the bracket to the step.
	Bolted from the step to the bracket.

Bracket-to-stringer connection

Define the properties of the bolts that connect the brackets to the stringers.

Bolt basic properties


Option	Description	Default
Bolt size	Bolt diameter.	Available sizes are defined in the bolt assembly catalog.
Bolt standard	Bolt standard to be used inside the component.	Available standards are defined in the bolt assembly catalog.
Tolerance	Gap between the bolt and the hole.
Thread in mat	Defines whether the thread may be within the bolted parts when bolts are used with a shaft. This has no effect when full-threaded bolts are used.	`Yes`
Site/Workshop	Location where the bolts should be attached.	`Site`

Slotted holes

You can define slotted, oversized, or tapped holes.


Option	Description	Default
1	Vertical dimension of slotted hole.	`0`, which results in a round hole.
2	Horizontal dimension of slotted hole, or allowance for oversized holes.	`0`, which results in a round hole.
Slotted holes no	Define the number of slotted holes.
Hole type	Slotted creates slotted holes. Oversized creates oversized or tapped holes.
Rotate Slots	When the hole type is Slotted, this option rotates the slotted holes.
Slots in	Part(s) in which slotted holes are created. The options depend on the component in question.

Bolt group dimensions


	Description	Default
1	Bolt edge distance.	`bolt diameter * 1.5`
2	Number of bolts.	`2`
3	Bolt spacing. Use a space to separate bolt spacing values. Enter a value for each space between bolts. For example, if there are 3 bolts, enter 2 values.	`100 mm`

Bracket-to-stringer connection type


Option	Description
	Default. Bolted. AutoDefaults can change this option.
	Bolted.
	Welded.
	No connection.

Bolting direction


Option	Description
	Default. Bolted from the bracket to the stringer. AutoDefaults can change this option.
	Bolted from the bracket to the stringer.
	Bolted from the stringer to the bracket.

Bracket position

Define the position of the plate-type bracket. The bracket can be positioned below the step, or between the step and the stringer.

You can define the bracket position if the bracket is a created as a plate instead of an angle.


Option	Description
	Default Below the step. AutoDefaults can change this option.
	Below the step.
	Between the stringer and step.

Bent plate bracket tab

Use the Bent plate bracket tab to control the dimensions and other properties of the bent plate bracket. You can use the bent plate bracket for connecting the Z pan steps to the stringers instead of horizontal or vertical brackets.

Preconditions

To create the bent plate bracket, set the following options:

On the Stair setup tab, set Bracket to Bent plate bracket.
On the Z pan tab, set Front edge type to the following option:

Bent plate profile


Part	Description	Default
Bent plate profile	Created if Bracket is set to Bent plate bracket on the Stair setup tab.	`BPL80*10`


Option	Description	Default
Pos_No	Prefix and start number for the part position number. Some components have a second row of fields where you can enter the assembly position number.	The default part start number is defined in the Components settings in File menu > Settings > Options.
Material	Material grade.	The default material is defined in the Part material box in the Components settings in File menu > Settings > Options.
Name	Name that is shown in drawings and reports.
Class	Part class number.

Create top step bent plate bracket

Select whether to create the bent bracket for the top step.


Option	Description
	Default Bent plate bracket is not created. AutoDefaults can change this option.
	Bent plate bracket is not created.
	Bent plate bracket is created.

Create bottom step bent plate bracket

Select whether to create the bent bracket for the bottom step.


Option	Description
	Default Bent plate bracket is not created. AutoDefaults can change this option.
	Bent plate bracket is not created.
	Bent plate bracket is created.

Bent bracket dimensions


	Description	Default
1	Define the horizontal distance from the step corner to the bent plate edge.	`200 mm`
2	Define the vertical distance from the step corner to the bent plate edge.	`100 mm`
3	Define the radius of the round bending.	`1 / 3 * vertical dimension`

Welds

Click the link below to find out more:

Create welds