Stairs (somewhat) in the public realm & intermediate handrails

[Dinheru]

As part of a neightborhood recreational area we are upgrading the baseball field for Little league usage. The baseball home field is along the corner of a road intersection. Baseball field is a few feet below the road line, we'll bring an access to the space through the park.
At the intersection of the roads I'm constructing an announcer booth / press boxes. I am not more than 12 ft in Height , or accessible from bleachers so I will need to be accessible per chapter 11 IBC. The sidewalk mostly remains but will branch off with a small ramp up into the announcers booth.
Roads along 1st and 3rd base slope down away from the press and so does the sidewalk. Not significant, (less than 1:20) but more than 1:48
To accomodate the ADA portion we are constructing leveled platforms along the announcer booth on 1st and 3rd baseline. As we are on grade at the intersection access is provided with either a small ramp , sloped surface or flat, depending on the heights. No issue there.

My viewing area will receive some prefab 3 tier bleachers. The leveled platform is around 15x45 ft in length (and extends along 1st and 3rd baseline as described above)
At the edges, where the sidewalk sloped down I have 1-3 steps , depending on the heihgt i'm constructing the platform at.
Instead of retaining walls, edge protection or guards, or caging I want to extend the stairs for the entire 40-45 ft length along the sidewalk
IBC 1011.5.4.1 allows this with non-unformal riser height

My occupant load will likely be around 60, which should fit between a 30" handrail width, or even my ADA ramp

Looking at 1014.9:
Question: Does this qualify as a monumental stair? it sure has the dimensions, but providing steps to a viewing platform I would not consider monumental
Do I need to install intermediate railing every 5 ft?
Are such stairs in the public realm exempt from the building code requirements?

I am not opposed to install several intermediate railings, but every 5 ft seems excessive in this scenario. I dont think I have a valid case here based on the building code

The AJH does not rely much on plan review or allows much room for communication prior permit submission, and prefers the flag things down at final inspection.

 

[steveray]

The AJH does not rely much on plan review or allows much room for communication prior permit submission, and prefers the flag things down at final inspection.

I'd prefer to not do my job and get paid too....

I'm having a hard time envisioning what you describe, but it sounds like a monumental stair...

 

[Dinheru]

Is hasnt been build so I tried to find a reference: This scenario is entrance to a mall, which one could argue is monumental. accessing a concrete platform doesn't sound like it.

 

[walker.t]

I'm having a hard time envisioning what you describe

Yeah, me too, some kind of drawing would be helpful.

but it sounds like a monumental stair...

2021 IBC Commentary on 1014.9 Intermediate Handrails (partial quote)
The criteria for monumental egress stairways deal with the very wide stairway in relation to the required width.

With that commentary in mind, sounds like this is a monumental stairway. Therefore I would say that, per 1014.9, the handrails must be located along the most direct path of egress travel. But with the relatively great width I have in my mind, sounds like that may be open to interpretation.

Are such stairs in the public realm exempt from the building code requirements?

By “public” do you mean on property in the public right-of-way?

 

[Dinheru]

Yeah, me too, some kind of drawing would be helpful.



With that commentary in mind, sounds like this is a monumental stairway. Therefore I would say that, per 1014.9, the handrails must be located along the most direct path of egress travel. But with the relatively great width I have in my mind, sounds like that may be open to interpretation.


By “public” do you mean on property in the public right-of-way?

Just outside of the right of way in the building setback. Stairs start at or closeby the required setback line.

 

[walker.t]

Do I need to install intermediate railing every 5 ft?

No. 1014.9 says that only the part of the stairway minimum width or required capacity have to be within 30” of a handrail. With 60 occupants that’s 60 x 0.30”/occupant = 18”, therefore minimum width by component will apply, that’s 44” per 1011.2. Then you need to look at your plan, determine what you think is the “most direct path of egress travel,” and set your handrails there.

Just outside of the right of way in the building setback. Stairs start at or closeby the required setback line.

Thank you for the clarification that your stairs are on your private property. If “just outside of the right-of-way” means less than 12” then you need to set your bottom riser farther from the property line to prevent the handrail extension from encroaching into the public right-of-way.

Are such stairs in the public realm exempt from the building code requirements?

No, your stairs as I understand your description are not exempt. The people on the platform will be using the stairs as egress from the platform. That path of egress is part of the exit discharge leading them to a public way, therefore you need to provide a code-compliant route for the occupants.

 

[Paul Sweet]

One rail at each side plus one in the middle should satisfy IBC 1011.11 & 1014.9.

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

2021 IBC Commentary:

 

[bill1952]

2021 IBC Commentary:

View attachment 16128
View attachment 16129

By same logic if 60" is the required width, does a single center handrail comply?

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

By same logic if 60" is the required width, does a single center handrail comply?

No, because the IBC requires stairs to have handrails on both sides. IRC only requires a handrail on one side.

 

[bill1952]

No, because the IBC requires stairs to have handrails on both sides. IRC only requires a handrail on one side.

Thanks. Too used to assembly seating where middle rails are the norm.

I've done middle rails on stairs around my house. Does support people who have a disability or weakness in one arm or hand.