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.

 

[waytsh]

DBronson, sorry i don't have a sketch yet. What you are saying about it standing proud of the wall 4"-6" is kind of what I was joking about doing with building a short "balcony" so that the 31" square landing would then technically work.

It all might be a moot point for me now. I found someone who is willing to make the 5'-0" spiral but put a 6'-0" platform (37" x 37")on it. This is going to be the most cost effective. Still a little more expensive but not as much as making the whole staircase 6'-0".

 

[Ron]

Take a look at this provision.....

R311.7.6 Landings for Stairways
There shall be a floor or landing at the top and bottom of each stairway. The width perpendicular to the direction of travel shall be not less than the width of the flight served. Landings of shapes other than square or rectangular shall be permitted provided that the depth at the walk line and the total area is not less than that of a quarter circle with a radius equal to the required landing width. [highlight #FCE94F]Where the stairway has a straight run, the depth in the direction of travel shall be not less than 36 inches (914 mm).[/highlight]

Since your stair is spiral, it does not have a straight run.[highlight #FCE94F][/highlight]

 

[r13]

Interesting find.

"Landings of shapes other than square or rectangular shall be permitted provided that the depth at the walk line and the total area is not less than that of a quarter circle with a radius equal to the required landing width."

 

[waytsh]

Yeah, I think it is hard to get away from the required width being at least as wide as the door served. The depth is where I thought there might be some wiggle room.

 

[r13]

Not to get away with the width, but it indicates the landing depth is acceptable if it is equal to the door width, which can be smaller than 36".