FredK
Gold Member
All good questions.Papio Bldg Dept said:Is there a distance away from the house where you would no longer regulate those stairs (i.e., front stoop stairs versus stairs at the end of a large patio or long sidewalk more than ten feet from residence)? Where does the means of egress system for the IRC end? As far as I can tell, it ends at the exterior door/egress window/window well. There is no provision for a hard surface access to a public right of way in the IRC. Definitions are lacking, and insufficient to determine the limitations of the IRC Chapter 3 sections. Decks and balconies aren't required to have stairs. Bulkhead stairs serving basements do not have to comply (only one of two types of stairs that are specifically exempted). Stairs between curb and sidewalk do not have to comply. Sidewalks and front stoops at the edge of a split level retaining wall do not have to comply. When 'they' clarify the means of egress section will more than likely be a long time from now. Are the I-codes a minimum safety standard, or minimum economic threshold of what would be expecting to much? In some cases I am not so sure, in others I am sure, and others, only 'they' know.
Here's how I get to my answer of one door.
Here's where I can see other code books for definitions.
R201.3 Terms defined in other codes.
Where terms are not defined in this code such terms shall have meanings ascribed to them as in other code publications of the International Code Council.
R201.4 Terms not defined.
Where terms are not defined through the methods authorized by this section, such terms shall have ordinarily accepted meanings such as the context implies.
Then under SECTION R311 MEANS OF EGRESS I see there's no definition under IRC so under the UBC there is.
Under SECTION 1002 DEFINITIONS there is:
MEANS OF EGRESS. A continuous and unobstructed path of vertical and horizontal egress travel from any occupied portion of a building or structure to a public way. A means of egress consists of three separate and distinct parts: the exit access, the exit and the exit discharge.
And Public Way is also defined.
PUBLIC WAY. A street, alley or other parcel of land open to the outside air leading to a street, that has been deeded, dedicated or otherwise permanently appropriated to the public for public use and which has a clear width and height of not less than 10 feet (3048 mm).
So now I got to be sure one can get to a street, alley, etc.....
Looking under SECTION R311 MEANS OF EGRESS the code is laid out to follow the first things first.
R311.1 General.
R311.2 Construction.
R311.3 Hallways.
R311.4 Doors.
R311.5 Stairways.
Etc.....
So I got to regulate hallways before doors and doors before stairways.
Looking under doors I see
R311.4.1 Exit door required.
R311.4.2 Door type and size.
R311.4.3 Landings at doors.
R311.4.4 Type of lock or latch.
Ok so an exit door is required. How many???
R311.4.1 Exit door required.
Not less than one exit door conforming to this section shall be provided for each dwelling unit. The required exit door shall provide for direct access from the habitable portions of the dwelling to the exterior without requiring travel through a garage. Access to habitable levels not having an exit in accordance with this section shall be by a ramp in accordance with Section R311.6 or a stairway in accordance with Section R311.5.
Not less than one and the next sentence says it is the required exit door. So I get to regulate that to a public way.
Not all doors but only one.
Which one? What ever one the person as labeled on the set of plans. Does it need a ramp, stairs, guard etc.... I wouldn't know until I'm out in the field on what it may need or not.
As for the public way thing across the grass, down the driveway all a legit ways to get there since there's no requirement(ADA) to pave any of it.
Now when you read R311.1 General. Stairways, ramps, exterior egress balconies, hallways and doors shall comply with this section. It would make one believe all stairways have to comply but reading the next section unless those stairways attach to an egress balcony IMHO they don't have to. We make them but a stair off a deck doesn't have to comply neither would stairs from the yard to a lower level unless it's on the means of egress path to the public way.
A rewrite of the whole section is needed IMHO. Hope this helps.