HomeMy WebLinkAboutRailing Code Requirments12/29/2016
Single Family Residential Uncovered Decks and Porches
New or existing -1
light required Y Open guardrails on decks more than 30 inches above grade or a floor below shall
have members spaced so that a 4 inch diameter sphere cannot pass through.
Guardrail
Guardrailrequired if
more than 30"
Openings for required
guards on the sides
of stair treads shall
notallow a4318"
diameter sphere to
pass through.
Stairway Notes:
1. Stairways shall be not less than 36" in width.
2. Stairuvay rises shall be not greater lhanT 314".
3. Stairuvay treads shall have a minimum run of 10".
4. The length of Run and the height of Riser shall not
vary more than 3/8" in the entire run of the stair.
5. Stairs are required to be illuminated.
6. Open risers permitted if opening is less than 4".
7. A nosing not less than 3/4" but not more than 'l 1/4"
shall be provided on stairways with solid risers, and
less than 11".
8. Composite materials (example:Trex) may require 4
or more stringers
Handrail (see details below)
same
stairs
ng
as
Landi
width
Finished grade
36" min
height
Deck
Less than
dia
34-38" above
nosings
7 3i4" max. rise
10" min. run
from nosing
to nosing
Open risers
less than 4"
Stair & Handrail Specifications
HandrailNotes:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Handrails shall be continuous on at least one side of stairs with 4 or more risers.
stair nosings.
cross section for non circular handrails.
This handout was developed by the Colorado Chapter of the
lnternational Code Council as a basic plan submittal under
the 2015 lnternational Residential Code. lt is not intended
to cover all circumstances. Check with your Deparlmenl
of Building Safety for additional requirements.
Unacceptable Handrails
Type ll
1 1/t" - 23/t" max.
T"lo"
1 1lq" - 2o Gripable
Wallor other surface
11/2" min
1
t/r,I
Type I
1-112" min.
Acceptable Handrail Details
5
R310.5 Dwetling additions. Where dwelling additions occur
that contain sleeping rooms, an emergency escape and rescue
opening shall be provided in each new sleeping room. Where
dwelling additions occur that have basements, an emergency
escape and rescue opening shall be provided inthenew base-
ment.
Exceptions:
1. An emergency escape and rescue opening is not
required in a new basement that contains a sleeping
room with an emergency escape and rescue opening.
2. An emergency escape and rescue opening is not
required in a new basement where there is an emer-
gency escape and rescue opening in an existing
basement that is accessible from the new basement.
R310.6 Alterations or repairs of existing basements. An
emergency escape and rescue opening is not required where
existing basements undergo alterations or repairs.
Exception: New sleeping rooms created in an existing
basement shall be provided with emergency escape and
rescue openings in accordance with Section R310.1.
SECTION R311
MEANS OF EGRESS
R311.1 Means of egress. Dwellings shall be provided with a
means of egress in accordance with this section. The means
of egress shall provide a continuous and unobstructed path of
vertical and horizontal egress travel from all portions of the
dwelling to the required egress door without requiring travel
through a garuge. The required egress door shall open directly
into a public way or to a yard or court that opens to a public
way.
R311.2 Egress door. Not less than one egress door shall be
provided for each dwelling unit. The egress door shall be
side-hinged, and shall provide a clear width of not less than
32 inches (813 mm) where measured between the face of the
door and the stop, with the door open 90 degrees (1.57 rad).
The clear height of the door opening shall be not less than 78
inches (1981 mm) in height measured from the top of the
threshold to the bottom of the stop. Other doors shall not be
required to comply with these minimum dimensions. Egress
doors shall be readily openable from inside the dwelling with-
out the use of a key or special knowledge or effort.
R311".3 Floors and landings at exterior doors. There shall
be a landing or floor on each side of each exterior door. The
width of each landing shall be not less than the door served.
Every landing shall have a dimension of not less than 36
inches (914 mm) measured in the direction of travel. The
slope at exterior landings shall not exceed r/o unit vertical in
12 units horizontal (2 percent).
Exception: Exterior balconies less than 60 square feet (5.6
m2) and only accessible from a door are permitted to have
a landing less than 36 inches (914 mm) measured in the
direction of travel.
BUILDING PLANNING
R311.3.1 Floor elevations at the requiryd egress doors.
Landings or finished floors at the required egress door
shall be not more than Illrinches (38 mm) lower than the
top of the threshold.
Exception: The landing or floor on the exterior side
shall be not more thanT3lo inches (196 mm) below the
top of the threshold provided the door does not swing
over the landing or floor.
Where exterior landings or floors serving the required
egress door are not at grade, they shall be provided with
access to grade by means of a ramp in accordance with
Section R311.8 or a stairway in accordance with Section
R311.7.
R3L1.3.2 Floor elevations for other exterior doors.
Doors other than the required egress door shall be pro-
vided with landings or floors not more than 73lo inches
(196 mm) below the top of the threshold.
Exception: A top landing is not required where a stair- |
way of not more than two risers is located on the exte-
rior side of the door, provided that the door does not
swing over the stairway.
R311.3.3 Storm and screen doors. Storm and screen
doors shall be permitted to swing over exterior stairs and
landings.
R311.4 Vertical egress. Egress from habitable levels includ-
ing habitable attics and basemenls not provided with an
egress door in accordance with Section R311.2 shall be by a
ramp in accordance with Section R311.8 or a stairway in
accordance with Section R3 I 1.7.
R311.5 Construction.
R311.5.1 Attachment. Exterior landings, decks, balco-
nies, stairs and similar facilities shall be positively
anchored to the primary structure to resist both vertical
and lateral forces or shall be designed to be self-supporl-
ing. Attachment shall not be accomplished by use of toe-
nails or nails subject to u,ithdralval.
R311.6 Hallways. The width of a hallway shall be not less
than 3 feet (914 mm).
R311.7 Stairways.
R311.7.1 Width. Stairways shall be not less than 36
inches (914 mm) in clear width at all points above the per-
mitted handrail height and below the required headroom
height. Handrails shall not froject more than 4t/rinches
(114 mm) on either side of the stairway and the clear
width of the stairway at and below the handrail height,
including treads and landings, shall be not less than 31t1,
inches (787 mm) where a handrail is installed on one side
and 27 inches (698 mm) where handrails are provided on
both sides.
Exception: The width of spiral stairways shall be in
accordance with Section R3 11.7.10.1.
R311.7.2 Headroom. The headroom in stairways shall be
not less than 6 feet 8 inches (2032 mm) measured vefti-
cally from the sloped line adjoining the tread nosing or
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2015 INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE@ 63