Roof access ladder location

[Tlariviere]

Where can the ladder to the roof be located? Is it required to be in a stairwell? Can I locate it in a small room? I have a 3 story apartment building in Vermont. The roof will only have the HVAC units. In the stairwell the roof hatch would be right at the roof edge. I have an unused alcove of space that could be closed off where the ladder could be placed. This would move it away from the roof edge. I am unable to find in the IBC 2015 (current version in VT) a requirement or a prohibition for locations.

Thank you for any insight you may offer.

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

Roof access ladders are often located in janitors' closets.

 

[Tim Mailloux]

Roof access ladders are often located in janitors' closets.

janitors closets and storage rooms are my go to locations

 

[walker.t]

a requirement or a prohibition for locations.

It’s not a prohibition on the location, but 1015.5 and 1015.6 have requirements for guards around rooftop equipment and access hatches based on their location relative to the roof edge or 30” change in elevation of walking surfaces.

 

[Yikes]

I usually put them in janitor's closets.
I have occasionally put them in a stairwell, but they protrude 7"+ into the space, and I often need to put a lockable panel on them so that building occupants don't start messing around with the ladder. The swing of that panel cannot be located where it will interfere with the minimum exit width in the stairwell.
Buildings 4+ stories tall are required to have one of the stairs must go to the roof. There is an exception for 4:12+ sloped roofs, where you are allowed to have a hatch from the stairwell instead. See IBC 1011.12