Vertical riser
A vertical riser is any component that extends vertically through a building, including for example stairs and lifts, but the term is most commonly used to refer to ductwork, pipes, conduits and cables.
Vertical ducts should be carefully positioned in order to try and keep pipe and cable run lengths to a minimum, and also, in the case of pipework, to avoid unnecessary bends.
Since vertical risers generally breach floors, they can present a hazard in terms of enabling the spread of fire and so must be appropriately fire protected.
Other types of vertical riser include:
- Dry riser: Used to supply water within buildings for fire-fighting purposes. Dry risers do not contain water when they are not being used but are charged with water by fire service pumping appliances when necessary. For more information see: Dry riser.
- Wet riser: Used to supply water within buildings for fire-fighting purposes. Wet risers are permanently charged with water. For more information see: Wet riser.
NB The term ‘riser’ can also be used in relation to the components of stairs. A stair riser is the vertical face between the back of the tread of one stair and the front of the tread of the stair above. For more information, see Stairs riser.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
The restoration of the novelist’s birthplace in Eastwood.
PAC report on the Remediation of Dangerous Cladding
Recommendations on workforce, transparency, support, insurance, funding, fraud and mismanagement.
New towns, expanded settlements and housing delivery
Modular inquiry asks if new towns and expanded settlements are an effective means of delivering housing.
Building Engineering Business Survey Q1 2025
Survey shows growth remains flat as skill shortages and volatile pricing persist.
Construction contract awards remain buoyant
Infrastructure up but residential struggles.
Home builders call for suspension of Building Safety Levy
HBF with over 100 home builders write to the Chancellor.
CIOB Apprentice of the Year 2024/2025
CIOB names James Monk a quantity surveyor from Cambridge as the winner.
Warm Homes Plan and existing energy bill support policies
Breaking down what existing policies are and what they do.
Treasury responds to sector submission on Warm Homes
Trade associations call on Government to make good on manifesto pledge for the upgrading of 5 million homes.
A tour through Robotic Installation Systems for Elevators, Innovation Labs, MetaCore and PORT tech.
A dynamic brand built for impact stitched into BSRIA’s building fabric.
BS 9991:2024 and the recently published CLC advisory note
Fire safety in the design, management and use of residential buildings. Code of practice.