You know what would be REALLY cool - using the electronically frosting glass which turns opaque, and have it activated anytime anyone steps on the stairs.
We installed these in a hospital's ER department for all the ER and ICU bays. So it was clear - but if there was a Code being called (i.e. someone crashing/going into arrest) they can flip all the glass opaque.
This worked REALLY well in a hospital in LA which had very small ER bays - and getting an entire crash team with intubation etc packed the tiny space with like 10 people. Having a curtain in there consumes people space...
One way is to have 2 or 3 stair treads ahead and behind of the foot placement (weight) turn opaque.
Another thing would also be good for LEDs to light up the frosted treads as they are walked on with a soft glow, but very strong edge defenition (such as a colored-glowing edge of a contrasting light.
Have the stairs light in a running sequence when an emergency/fire alarm is sounded. (but not so fast as to cause vertigo on fleeing tenants.
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With that said, I dislike glass stairwells in general.
Take SalesForce's 50 Fremont building in San francisco.
Up between like levels 39/40 - there used to be a lawfirm in that space prior to Salesforce buying the build which contained a completely 80's-Cocaine-Infused interior design with a spiral stair going between the floors.
They replaced the gaudy railings of the large spiral stair with curved glass panels. They weigh like 500 pounds each, are extremely expensive (due to the helix nature of the curve) -- but they proved to be really difficult to install without breaking.
I know we went through at least two of the very top panels breaking, but it may have been as many as three breaking during install)
The point is, I know how fragile they were during install - so I do not trust their seismic ratings.
I would say though that the glass stairs in the flagship SF Apple store are made with like ~7-poly-layered glass with the same tech used un windscreens... but these treads and rails in apple are thicker than anthing I had seen prior...
But still - the last place I want to be standing upon during any seismic event is made of glass.
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Seismic torsion/twisting on the panels will still statter/crack them -- but into smal little square diamonds that can still fuck you up quite easily if youre body is also being violently thrown against them whilst walking up/down in a skirt during an earthquake.
We installed these in a hospital's ER department for all the ER and ICU bays. So it was clear - but if there was a Code being called (i.e. someone crashing/going into arrest) they can flip all the glass opaque.
This worked REALLY well in a hospital in LA which had very small ER bays - and getting an entire crash team with intubation etc packed the tiny space with like 10 people. Having a curtain in there consumes people space...
One way is to have 2 or 3 stair treads ahead and behind of the foot placement (weight) turn opaque.
Another thing would also be good for LEDs to light up the frosted treads as they are walked on with a soft glow, but very strong edge defenition (such as a colored-glowing edge of a contrasting light.
Have the stairs light in a running sequence when an emergency/fire alarm is sounded. (but not so fast as to cause vertigo on fleeing tenants.
---
With that said, I dislike glass stairwells in general.
Take SalesForce's 50 Fremont building in San francisco.
Up between like levels 39/40 - there used to be a lawfirm in that space prior to Salesforce buying the build which contained a completely 80's-Cocaine-Infused interior design with a spiral stair going between the floors.
They replaced the gaudy railings of the large spiral stair with curved glass panels. They weigh like 500 pounds each, are extremely expensive (due to the helix nature of the curve) -- but they proved to be really difficult to install without breaking.
I know we went through at least two of the very top panels breaking, but it may have been as many as three breaking during install)
The point is, I know how fragile they were during install - so I do not trust their seismic ratings.
I would say though that the glass stairs in the flagship SF Apple store are made with like ~7-poly-layered glass with the same tech used un windscreens... but these treads and rails in apple are thicker than anthing I had seen prior...
But still - the last place I want to be standing upon during any seismic event is made of glass.
---
Seismic torsion/twisting on the panels will still statter/crack them -- but into smal little square diamonds that can still fuck you up quite easily if youre body is also being violently thrown against them whilst walking up/down in a skirt during an earthquake.