IRC Minimum Exterior Landing Requirement

[waytsh]

I have a situation where I would like to use a landing smaller than 36" for a spiral stair case to a second floor room in a residential home (mine). This is not the egress door for the home and the room is accessible from the interior of the home. The spiral staircase would go right up to the second floor door (in-swing) and there would be no balcony or deck.

The way I am reading the exception in R311.3 in the IRC code this would be permitted since my balcony is technically less than 60 square feet, it is 0. My code officer disagrees. The buck stops with him so I will need to comply but curious if I am off base on this. We have a good relationship so if I can make a good argument I may be able to convince him. There will be a substantial cost savings on the stairs which is the reason I am considering the smaller landing.

 

[r13]

I think you are correct. Also note that the width of the landing shall not be less than the door width.

 

[Ron247]

I stand corrected, it appears you are talking about an exterior door. With that, I think the Code office will prevail. Even though it is not specified as an egress door, it will probably be used as one in an emergency since it goes directly outside. That is what the Officer will probably hang their hat on.

Also, your 0 square foot balcony is not only accessible from the door. The exception they note is for a balcony, not a stairway.

 

[r13]

I would discuss with the code officer, not arguing, to understand his/her concern. I guess he/she would say, in case of an emergency, people tend to use whichever is the closest escape rout, since this stair is leading to outdoor, so it is considered a potential egress stair.

 

[waytsh]

The funny thing about this is that if that door opening was a window with a sufficient opening area it would be OK. This is actually a much better situation than that condition but is not acceptable, lol.

 

[dauwerda]

Based on R311.3.2 (

https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/I...ding-planning#IRC2018P3_Pt03_Ch03_SecR311.3),

I would say the intent of the code is that any exterior door (even if not required for egress) must be equipped with a landing on each side of the door.

 

[waytsh]

yea, there would be a landing. The question is if it can be less than 36" in the travel direction. Thanks.

 

[r13]

I interpret "must be equipped with a landing on each side of the door" as - a landing on the indoor side and out door side. Correct me if wrong. Thanks.

 

[dauwerda]

As R311.3.2 specifically includes all doors (not just doors required for egress) and it is a subsection of R311.3 which states landings shall have a dimension of not less than 36" in the direction of travel, I would interpret the intent of the code to require a landing with a minimum dimension of 36" in the direction of travel for all exterior doors.
So, I would agree with your local AHJ's interpretation.

I agree that your proposal is "better" than a window for escape purposes, but I suspect the requirement is there for all doors to prevent someone from falling as they anticipate a landing when they open the door and walk/run out. If using a window for escape, one would not have the same expectations that they have when using a door and will therefor plan accordingly.

 

[r13]

What is the exception about?

 

[Ron247]

The exception is for a "Juliet" balcony versus a true balcony that is not used for egress.

 

[r13]

The OP only has a landing by the door. Itself can be seen as a small balcony does not exceeds 60 sf, isn't it? Maybe the OP should provide a 12" or higher door sill to clear the impression of an "egress"

 

[dauwerda]

The OP only has a landing by the door. Itself can be seen as a small balcony does not exceeds 60 sf, isn't it?

Yes, but the issue is that it is accessible from both the door and the stair, so it does not meet the requirements of the exception.

 

[Ron247]

I think the balcony the code references has no columns under it and is supported by the wall or a floor cantilever. You do not use it for egress at all.

 

[r13]

dauwerda,

It is still confuse me as the exception says, "..the exterior balconies only accessible from a door are permitted to have a landing..", what is the landing if it is not for a stair?

 

[waytsh]

I had considered being cute and putting a very very short cantilevered "balcony" off my ledger board so I can put in the smaller landing. Somehow I don't think they would be amused.

 

[dauwerda]

As Ron247 stated above, I believe the exception is written for this situation:

The requirement states, "there should be a floor or landing..." then goes on to discuss size requirements for a landing, I believe they are using the term landing as a catch all and that if it a "floor" on the side of the door it still needs to meet the requirements of the "landing" that are given.

"Landing" is not included in the IRC definitions so it is a bit ambiguous.

 

[r13]

I accept the above explanation, but to blame the poor wording by the code author/editor. Note that the code has both words "floor" and "landing" in the same article, and I consider the picture above shows a "floor of the balcony", rather than "landing of the balcony", by standard English usage.

Definition of landing
1: an act or process of one that lands
especially : a going or bringing to a surface (such as land or shore) after a voyage or flight
2: a place for discharging and taking on passengers and cargo
3: a level part of a staircase (as at the end of a flight of stairs)
4landings plural : the amount of fish or shellfish landed annually in a particular area

 

[DBronson]

waytsh:

I think the code is pretty clear on a situation like this if the door is part of an egress pathway. Unfortunately, the code is silent on non-egress doorways and stairs. The contradiction is obvious though, since the code doesn't allow spiral staircases to be used as a means of egress. However, I'm confused: how wide is your stair? If it's a standard 36" wide spiral stair (6' in diameter) then the center post is already 36" from the outside wall plane. The top step then runs 36" back to the door - problem solved. Even if the stair is narrower it just needs to stand proud of the wall an additional 4-6 inches to create the 36 inch landing. A sketch plan would help.

Regards,

DB

 

[dauwerda]

Unfortunately, the code is silent on non-egress doorways and stairs.

This is not entirely true, R311.3.2 specifically includes doors other than the required egress door.

R311.3.2 Floor elevations at other exterior doors.
Doors other than the required egress door shall be provided with landings or floors not more than 7-3/4 inches below the top of the threshold
Exception: A top landing is not required where a stairway of not more than two risers is located on the exterior side of the door, provided that the door does not swing over the stairway.