So I was hoping to see something from the MD contingent, guess no one from MD frequents this forum.
Bill, the norm by the fabricators that I work with, in MD is to just set the 2.25" offset, the issue becomes when that is not an option.
It seems that even though the State FD adopted the LSC with the 2.25" there are areas within the state were they don't do plan review nor inspections, thus a building can get permitted, built, issued a C/O and occupied and never checked for 2.25" compliance because the ones doing all the review and inspections only require the 1.5", IE building department.
Not so much an issue for stairs as they allow up to a 4.5" projection in to the stairway and seldom do they not catch the width concerns in plan review.
The issue comes up with ramps from time to time, because ramps require a minimum of 36" between handrails in conjunction with the maximum 4.5" project.
Scenario, Some in the design world who work in MD seem to like to detail their ramps between half height walls as 42" between not showing the full width number, but drawing them as:
- 1.5" from wall to handrail edge
- 1.5" diameter handrail
- 36" width between handrails
- 1.5" diameter 2nd handrail
- 1.5" from 2nd handrail to wall
- Which by my new age math Equals 42"
So when you have only exactly enough room to fit the option as drawn that passed plan review, being built and now in place how does one gain the additional 1.5" required for 2.25" wall clearance per the LSC, not ADA or IBC.
decreasing the handrail diameter to the 1.25" minimum gets you a 1/2", but still remain 1" shy.
Not sure how these keep getting by plan review, but they keep popping up from time to time built in the field.
So this happens a lot it seems on areas outside the M.O.E. E/E path, so the question came to mind since these secondary ramps are not part of the M.O.E. as designated on the plans does LSC apply to them?
Our position if in place needs to comply with the most restrictive when that does not put it in conflict with another code requirement.
So I ask wall clearance or width between handrails, which is the greater of the two violations????