high threshold

[Mr. Inspector]

An existing 4 apartment building is being remolded. The new back sliding door is not the means of egress for this one unit and is not any kind of an accessible unit. This door goes out to a deck that is level with the floor inside. They want to have a very high threshold to keep the snow out. People will need to step over a 7-3/4 high threshold. Seems like a tripping hazard. Am I looking at the code correctly that an exception in 2018 1010.1.7 allows thresholds to be this high for R-2?

1010.1.7 Thresholds. Thresholds at doorways shall not
exceed 3/4 inch (19.1 mm) in height above the finished
floor or landing for sliding doors serving dwelling units or
1/2 inch (12.7 mm) above the finished floor or landing for
other doors. Raised thresholds and floor level changes
greater than 1/4 inch (6.4 mm) at doorways shall be beveled
with a slope not greater than one unit vertical in two units
horizontal (50-percent slope).
Exceptions:
1. In occupancy Group R-2 or R-3, threshold
heights for sliding and side-hinged exterior doors
shall be permitted to be up to 73/4 inches (197
mm) in height if all of the following apply:
1.1. The door is not part of the required means
of egress.
1.2. The door is not part of an accessible route
as required by Chapter 11.
1.3. The door is not part of an Accessible unit,
Type A unit or Type B unit.

 

[jar546]

Deja vu. Let me try to find the thread I started on this a while back. I have the same issue with a condo. Great subject Rick.

 

[jar546]

Here we go. Lots of information to review to see where we left off on this subject. I may even combine these threads.

Threshold for Condo Slider

Is this acceptable? When I say acceptable, I mean code compliant. This is a slider that goes out to a balcony on a high-rise.

www.thebuildingcodeforum.com

 

[bill1952]

I recall early A117.1 discussions of a lot of coastal high rise residential, block and concrete plank construction, and such thresholds being necessary for keeping storm water out. At a recent A117.1 meeting a home builder's rep said they now just lable them windows to get around the accessibility issues.

Just to be clear, I have no dog in this hunt - just reporting.

 

[Mr. Inspector]

So does this mean if you had a 5" riser at this same door (deck is 5" lower then inside floor) the threshold could be up to 2-3/4" high?

 

[steveray]

Call it a sliding window with a low sill.....

 

[Yikes]

You said the sliding door is not a means of egress for the unit.
Assuming the deck can be occupied, is this door a means of egress for the deck? Or is there another way off of this deck, without having to go through this door?

 

[Mr. Inspector]

You said the sliding door is not a means of egress for the unit.
Assuming the deck can be occupied, is this door a means of egress for the deck? Or is there another way off of this deck, without having to go through this door?

Not a means of egress

 

[bill1952]

You said the sliding door is not a means of egress for the unit.
Assuming the deck can be occupied, is this door a means of egress for the deck? Or is there another way off of this deck, without having to go through this door?

If it was labeled a roof, would you have to have a means of egress from it? Can a space be occupiable if you can only get to it through a window?