ADA Stair to sidewalk transition

[HardscapeOps]

Hello all, I have scoured the web but cannot find the answer to my question. We have installed a flight of stairs and then sidewalk to existing curb. The curb was incorrectly installed low resulting in a slope from the stairs to the curb. What is the maximum allowed slope at the bottom of stairs? Cross slope is good as we are under 2%.

 

[walker.t]

What is the maximum allowed slope at the bottom of stairs? Cross slope is good as we are under 2%.

You posted your question in the Accessibility Codes forum, I was not able to find a specific statement in A117.1 regarding requirements for stair landings.

Per IBC 1011.7.1 the maximum slope of a stair landing is 1:48 in any direction. After the required landing depth you can slope to your curb, maximum slope of a non-ramp walking surface is 1:20 per A117.1 403.3.

 

[steveray]

You posted your question in the Accessibility Codes forum, I was not able to find a specific statement in A117.1 regarding requirements for stair landings.

Per IBC 1011.7.1 the maximum slope of a stair landing is 1:48 in any direction. After the required landing depth you can slope to your curb, maximum slope of a non-ramp walking surface is 1:20 per A117.1 403.3.

But the curb ramp can be 1:12....

 

[walker.t]

But the curb ramp can be 1:12....

For sure, once they pass the stair landing depth they can have the curb ramp or even a regular ramp as needed. If there are ramps they’ll have to provide flat landings, 60” for a regular (non-curb) ramp, 36” for the curb ramp, the landings can overlap. I always thought that was odd, that curb ramps were shorter but I’m glad they only asked for what they thought they needed. Not that my thoughts/opinions/feelings on the codes matter, it is what is it.

 

[HardscapeOps]

For clarification, here is the offending area. Is this considered sidewalk or landing? I believe we came in at slightly over 5% slope to the expansion joint.

 

[arwat23]

For clarification, here is the offending area. Is this considered sidewalk or landing? I believe we came in at slightly over 5% slope to the expansion joint.

I would consider that a "landing" per IBC 1011.6 (in the direction of travel from the stairs, either 48" or the width of the stairs, whichever is less).

If you're over a 2% slope in any direction where the red line is in the image (the landing), then that is a violation of IBC 1011.7.1. Even if that section didn't apply for whatever reason, having a slope of over 5% makes that walkway non-compliant with accessibility requirements unless you turn it into a "ramp" and comply with ramp requirements (assuming, of course, that this space needs to be accessible).

 

[walker.t]

Is this considered sidewalk or landing?

The area at the bottom of the stairs (with the red line you drew) is the bottom stair landing. The stair landing is allowed to overlap the sidewalk. Stair landings have to be flat but a 1:48 (1/48 = 2.08%) slope is allowed. You can use that to your advantage to make up the vertical distance down to the curb, plus it will shed water away from the stairs.

Per IBC 1011.6, the length of the landing (measured parallel to the direction of travel) is the width of the stair or 48”, whichever is smaller. Looks like your stair is wider than 48” so you’ll need a 48” landing. From the bottom riser, 48” of run at 1:48 is 1” of fall towards the curb, after that it can be 1:20 as a sloped walking surface.

 

[HardscapeOps]

Thanks everyone for the responses. It looks as though we installed this incorrectly. Live and learn!

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

For clarification, here is the offending area. Is this considered sidewalk or landing? I believe we came in at slightly over 5% slope to the expansion joint.

Landing.

It also looks like it creates a tripping hazard for the sidewalk.