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Attic access

R

Rio

Silver Member
Joined
Mar 31, 2010
Messages
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We are doing an addition that will have a 4:12 roof. It ends up having about 24" clear vertical height from the top of the ceiling joists to the bottom of the roof rafters. Per R807.1 we don't need to have an attic access as the vertical height in the attic is less than 30" however we want to have one anyway. The addition is a master bedroom with a 2' wide x 10' long closet and a master bathroom. We don't want to have the access in the bedroom for esthetic reasons and are thinking of putting it in the closet. I don't think this will comply with being readily accessible but since we don't even need one would think it wouldn't matter. Any opinions on this would be appreciated. Also any opinions on whether an attic access generally in a closet (not a walk in as there's plenty of room in a typical walk in closet) would be allowed for future reference as this issue comes up repeatedly.

R807.1 Buildings with combustible ceiling or

roof construction shall have an attic access opening to attic

areas that exceed 30 square feet (2.8 m2) and have a vertical

height of 30 inches (762 mm) or greater. The vertical height

shall be measured from the top of the ceiling framing members

to the underside of the roof framing members.

The rough-framed opening shall not be less than 22 inches

by 30 inches (559 mm by 762 mm) and shall be located in a

hallway or other readily accessible location. When located in a

wall, the opening shall be a minimum of 22 inches wide by 30

inches high. When the access is located in a ceiling, minimum

unobstructed headroom in the attic space shall be 30 inches

(762 mm) at some point above the access measured vertically

from the bottom of ceiling framing members. See the California

Mechanical Code for access requirements where mechanical

equipment is located in attics.
 
I think you can put a non-required access to a non-attic anywhere. Fine with me....
 
Rio,

Do you want the access to the non-attic actually in the "new" Master Bedroom

/ closet area or do you want it for use to the rest of the house as well?

.
 
Mac said:
I think you can put a non-required access to a non-attic anywhere. Fine with me....
Click to expand...
Closet would be fine for me. I have a garage conversion going right now. They are using front 3/4 of the single car garage to enlarge the living room. Plans show attic access in the middle of the new LR ceiling. Homeowner asked if they could put it in the storeroom (back of garage) and I said fine.

Sue
 
Not 30" clear in this particular attic space? Access not required, do whatever you want.
 
Ok I'm going to nibble on the bait. It is not a required attic access, however it is access to the attic so how many would require a switched light for storage?
 
Kevin Turner said:
Ok I'm going to nibble on the bait. It is not a required attic access, however it is access to the attic so how many would require a switched light for storage?
Click to expand...
Depends on what the ceiling joist were designed for.......
 
I'm just posting 'cause I want to say I was part of the attic access thread.

:)

Well, maybe I'll contribute a little. I don't care where the access is, provided there is no equipment in the attic. If there is equipment, I would require the access such that the largest piece of equipment can be removed. That doesn't preclude closets, but that would be my only concern.
 
No attic stairs on this on, there's attic access in the existing house and thanks for all the input everyone.
 
I have always been of the undersdtanding that attic access in a clothes closet is not acceptable, because in a fire situation a couple of scenarios occur which hamper a fire fighters access. first, it is not in a readilyt accessible location, it has to be "sought out" in smoke with tanks on ones back, not good. Secondly, getting into ther scuttle hole in a closet with tanks on your back, you might not make it past the door opening. Guages are going to bind you up. Alot of the stuff in the code really has to do with "what if situations". I was trained and always ionspected not to allow access to attics in closets. I was on an inspection the other day and saw on in a walk in closet, it didin't dawn on me 'till later it was wrong, (this will be pull down stairs, still, it's in a closet, is it as big deal) I'm new in the field again after working as an electrician for years, I'm hoping we can get this corrected. Any thoughts on this one? Thanks in advance
 
If the access meets the requirements of the code, doesn't matter where it is, from a code perspective. Might not be good........ but........
 
TimNY said:
I'm just posting 'cause I want to say I was part of the attic access thread. :)

Well, maybe I'll contribute a little. I don't care where the access is, provided there is no equipment in the attic. If there is equipment, I would require the access such that the largest piece of equipment can be removed. That doesn't preclude closets, but that would be my only concern.
Click to expand...
If there is a furnace in the attic, we don't allow the access to originate in a bedroom or it's closet unless it is a listed assembly for that purpose.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
ICE said:
If there is a furnace in the attic, we don't allow the access to originate in a bedroom or it's closet unless it is a listed assembly for that purpose.
Click to expand...
Please clarify a furnace that's listed for the purpose of an attic access through the bedroom or closet?
 
Well I guess what I meant to say was that if there is a furnace in the attic, the attic access can't be located in a bedroom or bedroom closet unless that access is a listed assembly. I don't have the code book here so all I can say is that it's in the code.
 
If the appliance is in the attic would this not be considered a separate floor? Would there be a difference if in a craw space or basement? What is the real intent of the code on this one?
 
MtnArch said:
I was under the impression that ceiling joists are only designed/prescripted for ceiling loads - NOT floor loads (which is what attic storage would be)?
Click to expand...
Table R802.4(2).

TABLE R802.4(2), CEILING JOIST SPANS FOR COMMON LUMBER SPECIES, (Uninhabitable attics with limited storage, live load = 20 psf, L/Δ = 240)
Click to expand...
 
I'm not too concerned about the location of the attic access if it isn't even required. Section 1209.2. Attics without storage are those attics where the maximum clear height between the joists and the rafter is less than 42". Table 1601.1, footnote i.

Access not required. No storage (per code definition). Where's the problem?
 
Table 1607.1 IBC or Table R301.5 is for ceiling uniform load with and without required storage dimensions not for when attic access is required;

R807.1 Attic access. Buildings with combustible ceiling or

roof construction shall have an attic access opening to attic

areas that exceed 30 square feet (2.8 m2) and have a vertical

height of 30 inches (762 mm) or greater. The vertical height

shall be measured from the top of the ceiling framing members

to the underside of the roof framing members.

1209.2 Attic spaces. An opening not less than 20 inches by 30

inches (559 mmby 762 mm) shall be provided to any attic area

having a clear height of over 30 inches (762 mm). A 30-inch

(762 mm) minimum clear headroom in the attic space shall be

provided at or above the access opening.
 
1. R807.1 Attic access. Buildings with combustible ceiling or

roof construction shall have an attic access opening to attic

areas that exceed 30 square feet (2.8 m2) and have a vertical

height of 30 inches (762 mm) or greater. The vertical height

shall be measured from the top of the ceiling framing members

to the underside of the roof framing members.

1209.2 Attic spaces. An opening not less than 20 inches by 30

inches (559 mmby 762 mm) shall be provided to any attic area

having a clear height of over 30 inches (762 mm). A 30-inch

(762 mm) minimum clear headroom in the attic space shall be

provided at or above the access opening.

The whole point is (according to the original posting)it doesn't have a height of more than 30". I tried to bold and underline the appropriate phrases, but when I then cut and pated it into this forum, I lost both the bold and the underlines.
 
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