# Imperial designers already at work **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 20, 2017, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imperial-designers-already-at-work/782646 "2017-03-20T20:59:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2017, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imperial-designers-already-at-work/782646/1 "2017-03-20T20:59:13Z")
So an old thread popped up that got me looking at self-supporting glass staircases, which are freaky enough on their own. Then I found these: [floating stairs by Faraone](http://www.trendir.com/selfsupporting-glass-staircase/) [floating stairs](http://www.archilovers.com/projects/45811/gallery?303786&303786=) go to image 7 of 16 [Polymer Technic riserless stairs](http://www.archiexpo.com/prod/polimer-tecnic/product-52251-1676000.html) That’s right - no risers, no handrails or safety rails of any kind. Just steps sticking out from the wall. One step closer to The Death Star. (Now we know why it’s called that - that’s the nickname the construction crew came up with once they saw the design - all those bridges and walkways are a death trap.) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2017, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imperial-designers-already-at-work/782646/2 "2017-03-20T21:14:40Z")
The next step will be designing them with some motion sensor so they can be receded into the wall and only slide out as you walk up or down them. ---
**Author:** ![Mnemnosyne](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mnemnosyne/32/3347_2.png) [@Mnemnosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mnemnosyne)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2017, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imperial-designers-already-at-work/782646/3 "2017-03-20T21:45:12Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > The next step will be designing them with some motion sensor so they can be receded into the wall and only slide out as you walk up or down them. Ooh, imagine if it’s so reliable and fast that you can just step out into empty air, but by the time you put your foot down, there’s a step. It’d be scary, but I’d force myself to get used to it because awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2017, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imperial-designers-already-at-work/782646/4 "2017-03-20T21:58:17Z")
The first link talks about the banister being unobtrusive, but it doesn’t appear in the pictures at all. Maybe they just haven’t installed it yet? ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2017, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imperial-designers-already-at-work/782646/5 "2017-03-20T22:59:34Z")
You would have to install those with the railing in order for it to pass code and then remove the railing after your inspection is complete. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imperial-designers-already-at-work/782646/6 "2017-03-21T23:52:56Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > The first link talks about the banister being unobtrusive, but it doesn’t appear in the pictures at all. Maybe they just haven’t installed it yet? I checked the [Faraone website](http://faraone.it/en/products/stairs/), and all installations show either a variety of metal framework banisters, or else glass panels with a metal handrail. So apparently those images are just focusing on the panels themselves, and not showing the requisite safety materials. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imperial-designers-already-at-work/782646/7 "2017-03-22T05:02:01Z")
As a disabled person, I can assure that there are plenty of fixtures and structures that pass code, and are still a menace. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imperial-designers-already-at-work/782646/8 "2017-03-22T13:26:30Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > The first link talks about the banister being unobtrusive, but it doesn’t appear in the pictures at all. Maybe they just haven’t installed it yet? That’s just how unobtrusive they are!