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Exit Access Stairs - not really possible for more than 2 stories?

nealderidder

Sawhorse
Joined
Dec 7, 2010
Messages
431
Location
Sacramento, CA
I've posted a couple of times about exit access stairs. I really love the idea of opening up a stair. They're more attractive and people are more likely to use them. AHJs still seem to hate the idea but that's another story.

But there seems to be some contradictions in the code to this day regarding these stairs. If you read through 1019 (I'm reading the CBC) you might get the impression that it's possible to run an open stair through four stories. See 1019.3 #4 ...this provision is limited to openings that do not connect more than four stories.

Makes you think there is some circumstance where a 4 story open stair is possible, right? You're only limited by your imagination and the maximum exit access travel distance.

Then read 1006.3 ...the path of egress travel to an exit shall not pass through more than one adjacent story.

So then I can only have a two story exit access stair, right?

Help me out Ron, I know you've done a three story exit access stair. Is this a matter of specific trumps general? 1019 being the specific and 1006 being the general?

When were exit access stairs added to the code anyway?
 
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