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ships ladders in IRC - New York

B

bill1952

SAWHORSE
Joined
Aug 12, 2021
Messages
2,674
Location
Clayton NY
I turned an attached garage into a studio for my wife. It has lots of doors to exterior - 6 - 3 in each previous overhead door opening. House first floor is approx 36" above finished studio floor and has ample means of egress. My wife asked for a ship's ladder. Door at house level swings into house. I understand the rise and run and nosing and railing requirements in R 317.7.12.

Is this permitted by code? I think it is but was surprised to find that.

Secondly, do the same 4" sphere rules apply? The min 5" tread + nosing projection = 8 1/2" don't readily suggest a solid riser. I'm thinking a bar or rod at half of 9" rise for top step - 27" to 36".

Would you require similar for rail?

Thanks.
 
Someone asked me what was there now. See photo.

There was an 18" wide landing and "stair" when we bought house. I suspect poor planning and garage was intended to be at same elevation or one step down, at the top of the ICF foundation. I'm guessing no one looked at elevations to see the driveway and apron would have been a 1:4 or so slope, so they sawcut foundation to lower it 30" or so.
 

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Canadian here, so not authorized to interpret US codes.

However, in Canada, I've looked at it this way: if the space is occupiable, then a Code-compliant stair is required. Occupiable is determined by whether the room height meets the minimum requirements.
 
Request a code modification and show that there are adequate means of egress from both levels without using this door.
 
Paul Sweet said:
Request a code modification and show that there are adequate means of egress from both levels without using this door.
Click to expand...
That is what the IRC says.

R311.7.12​

Ship's ladders shall not be used as an element of a means of egress. Ship's ladders shall be permitted provided that a required means of egress stairway or ramp serves the same space at each adjoining level or where a means of egress is not required. The clear width at and below the handrails shall be not less than 20 inches (508 mm).


But it doesn't reference back to 4" sphere rule and in the cases of risers and handrails, it refers to stairs, not ships ladders.
 
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