Penthouses & Roof Terraces

[brianhscott]

I have an R2, 2 story building which is split into 3 condos. We want to have private roof patios on top of each condo that are accessed, each from an interior staircase up through a large sliding glass hatch similar to these. https://surespancovers.us/product/sliding-glazed-hatch/ or https://i.ytimg.com/vi/h6h73QRqoko/maxresdefault.jpg I'm getting pushback that any stairs up to an occupied roof have to go through a Penthouse. per IBC 2018 1011.12.2.
Does anyone have experience navigating this? It seems like this would be a blanket ban of these types of products in any commercial project.
I know that in the 2021 IBC, they're updating the definition of a penthouses so that it would be any enclosed, unoccupied rooftop structure used for sheltering....stairways. Is the intention here that this kind of access hatch qualifies as a penthouse? Any help would be appreciated.

 

[ChrisCampbell]

If the building is permitted under the IBC and you have an occupied roof, your means of egress from the roof have to comply with IBC Chapter 10. Those covers appear to be for a ships ladder or alternating tread device, neither of which are allowable as a means of egress in a Group R occupancy.

 

[brianhscott]

If the building is permitted under the IBC and you have an occupied roof, your means of egress from the roof have to comply with IBC Chapter 10. Those covers appear to be for a ships ladder or alternating tread device, neither of which are allowable as a means of egress in a Group R occupancy.

Theyre designed to be used with stairs.

 

[cda]

I have an R2, 2 story building which is split into 3 condos. We want to have private roof patios on top of each condo that are accessed, each from an interior staircase up through a large sliding glass hatch similar to these. https://surespancovers.us/product/sliding-glazed-hatch/ or https://i.ytimg.com/vi/h6h73QRqoko/maxresdefault.jpg I'm getting pushback that any stairs up to an occupied roof have to go through a Penthouse. per IBC 2018 1011.12.2.
Does anyone have experience navigating this? It seems like this would be a blanket ban of these types of products in any commercial project.
I know that in the 2021 IBC, they're updating the definition of a penthouses so that it would be any enclosed, unoccupied rooftop structure used for sheltering....stairways. Is the intention here that this kind of access hatch qualifies as a penthouse? Any help would be appreciated.

I am thinking that section does not apply

Do not have the 2018, but look at 1011.12. I know you are not 4 or more, but that allows stairs.

I think your problem is the hatch itself.

 

[cda]

similar thread, with similar hatch

The ahj did not like the hatch

Roof door for rooftop deck not allowed means of egress

Hello All, Im working on a single family dwelling in Los Angeles. The structure is 2 stories with a rooftop deck. We proposed a roof door from Dayliter (see below) to access the rooftop deck and the department of building and safety rejected the door. They said its not an allowable means of...

www.thebuildingcodeforum.com

 

[ChrisCampbell]

The image you provided would not meet the IBC requirements for a stairway since you don't have a compliant landing at the top.

 

[brianhscott]

I am thinking that section does not apply

Do not have the 2018, but look at 1011.12. I know you are not 4 or more, but that allows stairs.

I think your problem is the hatch itself.

You're correct that a stair isn't required, but if we want to use the roof, we'll need to get up there somehow. The problem is 1011.12.2 ' Where a stairway is provided to a roof, access to the roof shall be provided through a penthouse complying with section 1510.2.

 

[cda]

I still think that section does not apply

if you provide code compliant stairs,,, You should be good to go

I think the hatch is the problem