How is a story measured in a building?

A story in a building is defined as a vertical distance from one floor or level to the next. This measurement typically refers to the height of the building from the finished floor of one level to the finished floor of the level directly above it. The vertical distance is critical as it affects various aspects of building design and regulations, including ceiling heights, accessibility, and compliance with building codes.

Measuring a story purely in horizontal distance, for instance, would not effectively account for the floor heights and vertical space that define how stories are structured and what they can accommodate. Similarly, diagonal distance does not directly relate to the conventional measurement of a story and can introduce confusion in terms of legal definitions and building calculations. Therefore, recognizing that a story is fundamentally a vertical measurement is essential for understanding building design and regulatory compliance.