Public v Private stair

[kiwijbob]

A stair within a single hotel suite.... public or private??? my head says private but the code infers that it is certainly public as the only private stairs are in or associated with dwellings.

 

[e hilton]

So it’s a stair for a 2-floor hotel room?

 

[Sifu]

A stair within a single hotel suite.... public or private??? my head says private but the code infers that it is certainly public as the only private stairs are in or associated with dwellings.

Can't answer for how the Canadian code handles it, but the IBC would regulate the stairs in an R1 occupancy (hotel). There are no exceptions for an R1, so all the IBC codes would apply. No distinction between public and private, but my guess is the "public" would apply.

 

[tmurray]

Private stairs only serve dwelling units. The question is if the local AHJ would class a hotel suite as a dwelling unit. It is certainly a suite, but I would have a hard time agreeing that it is a dwelling unit. Most do not seem to meet the definition under the code. Additionally, the relaxations associated with dwelling units are primarily because the occupant is familiar with the environment. I'm not sure that I could agree that an occupant of a hotel room would develop the same level of familiarity as with their home.

 

[Paul Sweet]

The IBC has exceptions for stairs within dwelling units or sleeping units in R-2 (dormitories & apartments) and R-3 (dwelling units in buildings with other occupancies), but not for R-1 (hotel rooms). As tmurray pointed out this is because hotel rooms are for transient occupants who aren't familiar with the space, so they need a higher level of safety.

 

[Inspector Gadget]

Public, for reasons already explained. Private is for one's personal home, only.

 

[Mac Moonfire]

we'd treat them as public too.