Stair, railing, guardrail, handrail, landing & platform building code & specification FAQs set 4:

More Q&A on stair and railing code & design specifications & relations to model building codes.

Our page to

This article series lists all major building code specifications for stairs, railings, landings, and guardrails - information useful for constructing or inspecting indoor or outdoor stairs, railings, landings, & treads, and for evaluating stairways and railings for safety and proper construction.

We compare stair and railing code requirements for various model, national, state and local building codes and we include explicit text & specifications from those building codes. Page top sketch of stair dimensions courtesy of Carson Dunlop Associates, a Toronto home inspection, education & report writing tool company [ carsondunlop.com ].

Q&A on Building Codes for Stairs & Railings, Landings & Guardrails

Set #2 of frequently-asked questions and answers about stair & railing codes & build specifications. These questions and replies were posted originally

at STAIR CODES & STANDARDS the home page for this topic.

[Click to enlarge any image]

On 2019-07-31 by (mod) - minimum requirement for width of a exterior steel fire escape staircase?

Joe,

If you are in the United States, since 1914 the recommended exterior exit / fire stair minimum width is 44-in for exit stairs (unobstructed width except that handrails would be permitted to intrude not more than 3 ½ in on each side).

Keep in mind that the type of stair permitted and its width will vary depending on

- the type of building and stair class (A B C)

- the building occupancy (including number of people) typically referred to as "occupant load per floor"

Class A 44 in stair width

Class B same width as A but different riser height rules

Class C in existing buildings: stairs at least 36" wide, with no less than 32" between handrails

Detail:

Clearly, the current 44 in (1100 mm) minimum exit stair width is intended to support two,22 in queues of occupants either standing still (capacity method) or moving down thestair (or a single queue of occupants moving down and being passed by firefightersmoving up, known as counterflow). - readers interested in a superb and thoughtful exposition on stairway design, human flow up and down stairs, design concepts should see this paper:

Bukowski, Richard. Emergency egress from buildings. US Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 2009. Retrieved 2019/07/31 original source NBS NIST nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/Legacy/TN/nbstechnicalnote1623.pdff

Available at InspectApedia.com at

EMERGENCY EGRESS FROM BUILDINGS [PDF] inspectapedia.com/Stairs/Emergency-Egress-Bukowski.pdf

See details about fire escape stair widths for the U.S. and U.K. at

FIRE ESCAPES & FIRE STAIRS

You may need to clear your browser cache to see the updated page

On 2019-07-31 by Joe Caruana

What is the minimum requirement for width of a exterior steel fire escape staircase?

On 2019-07-02 by (mod) -

Regrets, Daniel - I don't see any photo. But this article series will give you a catalog of stair safety features for steps, risers, railings, guardrails, handrails.

On 2019-07-01 by Daniel Brewer

We are attaching photos of a stairway and room that we will not meet the thread depth requirements. Please give us any information that may hep in making the room safer.

On 2019-06-22 by (mod) - stair with inadequate headroom

Kevin, I can see but a fraction of the situation but I am GUESSING that you're asking about a headroom issue along a public walking surface and whether or not that's code compliant.

"Legal" is the final word of your local building code compliance officer.

But in general, headroom is required along normal walking surfaces including stairways. If the man in the photo is standing on the step under the floor overhead and if he is less than 7' 6" tall I suspect this is a stair without adequate headroom.

See STAIR HEADROOM at https://inspectapedia.com/Stairs/Stair_Headroom.php for details, read that material, and then let me know what questions remain.

On 2019-06-22 09:32:33.830794 by Kevin moore

Is this legal ?

On 2019-04-03 14:17:09.560475 by (mod) -

Tom

Your photo of auditorium steps open along the side where people step into the aisles of seats raises a question about possible trip hazards, though some details are not clear.

There is a helpful color change between the stair walking surface (gray with yellow stripes marking step edges) and the walking surface in the seating area, light green.

The seat lighting also helps mark the step areas and the edges of light-green carpeted steps. In my OPINION it'd have been visually ugly but helpful as further trip hazard reduction if the step edges on the green carpet were also taped as are the stairs.

What I cannot see from the photo is whether or not the lower longer-run gray step walking surface is on the same actual level as the green carpeted walking surface into the seat space. It it's not, there's at trip hazard.

I can't say that your assumed solution of making the steps wider so as to abut the first seat in each row would be required by a building code official - whose opinion is the last legal word in such questions.

I agree that auditorium and theatre steps are a particular safety concern as often people are moving along these walking areas in low or poor lighting, and in some cases users in some auditoria include elderly and those of limited movement.

On 2019-04-02 21:12:39.788023 by Tom Lininger

These are stairs at an auditorium. They do have handrails on the other side of these steps that you cannot see in the photos but should the seats not abut up to the stairs so as to not leave a gap?

On 2019-04-01 23:52:59.755044 by (mod) -

Teri,

The local building code compliance officer is in every U.S. & most other jurisdictions, the FINAL legal authority.

Furthermore, just consider

1. you don't want a bar patron to fall down the stairs if it can be avoided

2. adding a handrail on both sides of the stair improves safety AND depending on the width of the steps, might also be required by stair codes

ask our local inspector what is the local code on the maximum allowable stair width between rails. Typically it's 36"

3. in my OPINION, still worse, your own liability is increased if after being told you should do so, you don't implement a safety feature and heaven-forbid, someone is injured.

See details at HANDRAILS & HANDRAILINGS - https://inspectapedia.com/Stairs/Handrails.php where you'll also find "code" citations.

Stair width details are STAIR DIMENSIONS, WIDTH, HEIGHT https://inspectapedia.com/Stairs/Stair_Dimension_Specifications.php

Here's an example of a stair so wide that it gets handrailings on both sides AND a center railing (Grand Central Terminal NYC)

On 2019-04-01 23:33:02.270759 by Teri

Some family friends are having steps replaced at a bar. So far everything is to code. But the inspector is saying they need a railing against the building and not just on the outside of the stairs. I am wondering what code says this, so we can understand why it’s necessary.

On 2019-03-14 00:50:01.284557 by Alan

Do you need a railing on each side of a 33-36 inch wide stairway when the stairway is enclosed between two walls? The stairway goes from a small foyer entrance to a second level apt. and is only there for the use of the occupants of the unit and their quest and not for the use of the apt. on the first level.

On 2018-11-11 04:57:40.879461 by (mod) -

I'm not sure I understand the question, but if you mean is it illegal to nail mineral granule coated asphalt shingles onto stairs as a tread surface you won't find something that specific prohibited in the building codes. However if the stairs are unsecured or are a slip or trip Hazard they would be improper. For example if someone mailed the material down that wasn't secure.

On 2018-11-11 04:06:54.345119 by Penny

Is roofing materials legal to be on outdoor stairs?

On 2018-11-11 by (mod) - use roofing materials on stair treads?

I'm not sure I understand the question, but if you mean is it illegal to nail mineral granule coated asphalt shingles onto stairs as a tread surface you won't find something that specific prohibited in the building codes.

However if the stairs are unsecured or are a slip or trip Hazard they would be improper.

For example if someone mailed the material down that wasn't secure.

On 2018-11-11 by Penny

Is roofing materials legal to be on outdoor stairs?

On 2018-06-26 by (mod) - Is a 6 inch step too small for New Jersey code

re-posting

AUTHOR:Dom (no email)

COMMENT:Is a 6 inch step too small for New Jersey code

Reply:

If this is not a trick question, and excluding all of the other details that could make a step or stairway unsafe or improper, yes, a 6" step riser should be acceptable - remember that the final legal authority is your local building code compliance inspector.

See STAIR RISER SPECIFICATIONS

If you mean the tread depth is just 6" - that's too narrow for any normal-use stairway and is a hazard.

see STAIR TREAD DIMENSIONS

On 2018-02-09 by (mod) - A 13" tall step anywhere is a trip and fall hazard

Carlotta

A 13" tall step anywhere is a trip and fall hazard, and is particularly dangerous when it's at a stairway itended for normal use such as at a building or home entry or exit door.

"Legal" is a term that can be applied by your local building code compliance inspector, but I'd be both surprised and disappointed in any code inspector who said your step was fine.

On 2018-04-17 1 by Carlotta - 13" step from apartment in Arkansas

I live in a apartment in Arkansas and there is a 13 inch drop from my back door to patio with no step or handrail. I'm disabled and want to know if this legal.

On 2018-02-09 by (mod) - A door closing off the bottom of stairs and without a landing platform

Door

A door closing off the bottom of stairs and without a landing platform to stand on when opening or closing the door would be pretty uncomfortable for anyone descending the stairs and I expect by most code officials, not compliant.

On 2018-02-07 by Door

Install a door at bottom of stairs

On 2018-01-01 by (mod) -

Agreed.

On 2018-01-01 by Janice Johnson

Water pools on landings of exterior stairwells and freezes making entrance and exits to my 3rd floor apartment dangerously unsafe

On 2017-07-28 by (mod) -

Alex,

Yes the heights, obstruction concerns, continuity, etc. are the same for both inside and outside handrails and guardrails.

Your local building department is the final authority, but you can read the model codes as well as a number of state and local codes on handrail specifications starting at

RAILING CODES & STANDARDS https://inspectapedia.com/Stairs/Railing_Codes_Specifications.php
and for safe handrail construction you may want to review

HANDRAILS & HANDRAILINGS at https://inspectapedia.com/Stairs/Handrails.php

Here's an except from the first article
On required minimum railing height - none of them would accept 23" and neither should you as you certainly don't want someone to be injured on your stairway

Railings: U.S. handrails for stairs with one side against a wall: 30-38"

Railings: U.S. handrails at open stairs: 34-38" above the stairs

Railings: Canadian stair handrails: 32-36" above the stairs

OSHA offers this smart advice
When the top edge of a stair rail system also serves as a handrail, the height of the top edge must be no more than 37 inches (94 cm) nor less than 36 inches (91.5 cm) from the upper surface of the stair rail to the surface of the tread.

On 2017-07-28 y Alex

what are the specifications for exterior hand railings... currently at 23". The contractor and welding have stated 36" new railings are needed to meet city codes and pass inspections.

On 2017-12-14 by (mod) -

Tim

I'm not clear on the question. Are you asking about consistency in the dimensions of the handrailing itself or its distance from the floor or wall?

This article may be helpful: HANDRAIL DIMENSIONS & SHAPE https://inspectapedia.com/Stairs/Stair-Code-Details.php#Handrails

On 2017-12-14 by Tim

Does the difference between the top and bottom of a stair handrail have to be within a 1/2”

On 2017-09-30 by Anonymous

Is there a code for tread deflection? For instance if you have steps that are 4' wide with no center stringers they will deflect and eventually pull the nails from the act of deflection with no center stringers. Any help would be appreciated.

On 2017-09-30 by (mod) -

certainly if we consider that there are open stairs with no wall on either side it has to be possible for a treat end to be open near a wall.

Just be sure that there is no trip hazard such as an opening into which a little foot could get stuck, and be sure that your handrails are located properly with respect to the edge of the stair treads, projecting properly into the walking path way.

On 2017-09-27 by Lisa Landon

Hi!
When installing stairs, does each step need to span the width of the walls or can they be cut shorter? For instance, what if there is a 1-2in gap between the sides of each step and the wall?
Could this be problematic?

Thanks for your help!

On 2017-09-18 by Logan Morton

hey can some one help me i am trying to find the blinding codes for Stairs

On 2017-09-18 by Kay Rhode

Hello, I work with people who have visual impairments. I can't find information on requirements or recommendations for providing contrast on stairs? We know this helps our population but I'd like to cite a resource. Thanks for your help! Kay

On 2017-09-07 by Leo

when installing a aluminum stair nosing on wet concrete does the inbed have to be the entire length of the step

On 2017-07-14 by (mod) -

sorry, what's "trend"

On 2017-07-14 by Craig

What is the height from trend to ceiling height

On 2017-07-12 by (mod) -

Don

18" is too tall for a single step-up - you want at least two steps, since even a 9" rise would be too high.
You also want a landing at the lower step, at least the width of the stairs and at least 36" in the direction of travel - typically a concrete pad, though your local building department might accept something else.

If it were my deck I'd want guardrails too. It's not a high deck but it's quite easy for a visitor, facing the house and chatting away, to step backwards, fall, and be injured.

On 2017-07-11 by Don Johnson

We just bought a house in up-state New York which has a back porch which is at least 18 inches above the back yard. The builder did not install any stairs. This is the only rear entry/exit to the house (other than windows). From what I'm able to interpret from the code document, there should be at least two steps. Can you enlighten me?

On 2017-06-02 by (mod) - An inspector is telling me I must install a guard or railing across the door

Victor:

A building inspector is likely to worry that someone will fall off of your deck/porch and be injured. It is in my view reasonable and safe to require a building owner to disable a "sliding door" so that no one steps out of it and falls to break a leg or neck. I'm not sure what is meant by "guard" - there are products sold to prevent a door from being opened, including horizontal bars and locks.

At a slider installation where my code inspector too pointed out that I might inadvertently kill a visiting stranger by allowing them to walk out onto a roof over which we had a sliding glass door, I was able to satisfy the inspector by simply drilling a couple of suitable holes through which I sent screws securing the slider in place so that it cannot be opened without actually removing screws.

Height of a door jamb of 6" above the finish floor doesn't eliminate the falling hazard.

On 2017-06-02 by Victor C

I have a porch that is enclosed with a roof and sliding glass doors across the side openings. The sliding glass doors (one fixed side, one operational) are installed 6 inches above the finished floor surface.

An inspector is telling me I must install a guard or railing across the door because this porch is 8 feet off the ground. These doors are not being used as doors, but are like large operable windows. They are not flush with the floor, but 6 inches above the floor. Are guards needed?

On 2017-05-04 by (mod) -

Alicia

I don't quite understand your stair layout nor what is meant by "small section of floor" - in general if someone could fall off of a stair into even a small space, particularly in a commercial environment, it would make sense to have a guardrail and handrails along the sides of the stair - not on a wall that is some distance away from the stair and separated by an open space.

Randy

It's reasonable to be concerned about people not noticing even a single step down - in particular if the two surfaces look alike. Usually we address this - when there's a single step and thus no handrails as keys - by marking a color change on the two different surfaces. A yellow edge is a good indicator in my OPINION. Be sure it's highly visible from both directions of travel.

On 2017-05-04 by Alicia

I have an interior three step staircase in a commercial space that leads to the ground floor. The staircase has two small section of floor on either side of the staircase that is 33" of the entrance from where the stairs begin. Do I legally need to put a railing on the sides of the walls where it drops down to the floor?

On 2017-05-02 by Randy Young

What is required for a safe egrees and agrees from a sidewalk to a patio that leads into a commercial building (a place of worship). It now has a large patio from the entrance, exit door which is path level and extends about 15 feet by 30 feet. Then their is a drop off that is not marked in anyway which goes down to the sidewalk.

The riser from the patio to the sidewalk goes from 8.5 inches and decreases to zero at the end towards the parking lot. I'm concerned about someone coming out of building and not noticing that their is a step sown to the sidewalk. Thank You.

I was thinking about painting the edge yellow to warn of a change or installing benches to direct the people to the area where their is no step. What does the code say for a commercial setting. Thanks. Randy

On 2012-07-03 by D Zoric

Hello! is there a maximum spacing requirement for exterior steps - at a plaza for instance? The grade differential is 3'. A handrail is required, but every how may feet (the steps are 60' wide). What code governs this? I could not find it in the IBC. Thanks!

On 2012-06-25 by Michael Powers

Auditorium Balcony side aisle. 30 degree slope, 38" wide, steps alternate 28" tread depth, 11.5" tread depth. Wall on one side, seat backs on the other. Which cod applies? Does this meet code?

On 2012-06-10 by (mod) -

Anthony, having one 4-inch rise step following a number of 7-inch rise steps is a trip and fall hazard - I agree completely with your inspector - who, by the way, is the final authority. When the problem step is the bottom one you can often fix the trouble by converting that step to a platform.

On 2012-06-10 by (mod) -

Catherine: a ships ladder is not by any means a stairway. Ladder type access/egress is used and accepted for limited-access areas to be entered by service personnel, such as giving access to an attic or crawl area mechanical system component, but not for normal daily use by building occupants.

On 2012-06-10 by (mod) -

Anon:

To secure an iron railing to brick one needs to drill a few holes, sink lead or epoxy anchors, and bolt the rail to those.

On 2012-06-08 by Anthony

i have my stairs leading to a porch all of the riser are 7 inches in height expect the one before you get to the platform is 4inches in height is that against code? inspector is saying i cant have that

On 2012-05-09 by catherine

Are ship ladders allowed in residential construction. I see that they are limited to means of egress in Group I-3. I also see that alternating tread devices are limited to an element of a means of egress in Groups F, H, and S. Does that mean that they are not allowed in residential construction?

On 2012-05-05 by Annonymous

For close to 40 years I've lived at my residence, having bought this house with a porch whose steps are surrounded by brick bannisters, and now my insurance company is threatening to drop my policy if I don't put a handrail of wrought iron on one side or the other within thirty days.

Without damaging or breaking the brick structure, how can I put a handrail over the brick? Your expedient response and attention in this matter are appreciated. Thank you.

On 2012-04-22 by norm

what are the California requirements for a window facing stairs at bottom landing?

On 2012-03-19 by Robert Carr

I need to know if there are states where it would be against code to put a step in the middle of a "straight-away" sidewalk? A step in the middle of a sidewalk in residential work is unexpected. We're trying to determine how many or any states where this is "against code". (?)

We have found it a hazard particularly at night. Also, the placement of a hand rail in such locations would also assist one in finding the step.

On 2012-02-19 by kevin

I have a set of basement stairs in an older home all the treads are 7 inches but the contractor instaled the whole stair case to deep so when you walk down the stairs the top stair only has a 4 inches of tread exposed which i have sliped on many times i want to rent the house out do i need to correct this or is it grandsfarthered in

On 2012-01-12 by Leni

My contractor put the porch railing down the side of the steps instead of running them down the steps. There is a space between steps and railing. Is this against code?

On 2011-12-25 by (mod) -

Les,

Using the OSHA stair rules as a guide, it's evident that at least in some jurisdictions, stair design requirements vary depending on the anticipated use of the stairway.

For example, stairs that access utility areas, intended not for public use but just for use by trained building maintenance personnel, may be designed at a steeper pitch.

Indeed some accessways to attic and crawl spaces are made only by ladder and are only used for inspection and maintenance.

On 2011-12-25 by (mod) - the basement floor obviates the need for a landing platform at the bottom of a basement stair,

Guy, the final authority for building code interpretation and application rests with your local code official. T

hat said, my interpretation is that the basement floor obviates the need for a landing platform at the bottom of a basement stair, just as we see at a building interior (occupied space) stair.

My OPINION is that if the basement floor is dirt, gravel, uneven, then a concrete (or maybe solid masonry block) landing platform would be very desirable for stair safety and stability.

In my OPINION, stair design issues should turn on safety. Certainly the cost savings of avoiding placing a landing at the bottom of stairs ending on an unstable, wet, or otherwise trippy surface would be much less in value than the value (and propriety) of avoiding an injury.

On 2011-12-25 by guy aull

must a basement stairwell have a landing at the bottom of the steps. I read a non-habitable area such as a basement, is not required to have a bottom landing. the basement has no heat or kitchen, and the boiler & water heater are down there.

On 2011-12-09 by Les Wilner

Are the staircase codes for risers and angles the same for crawl space basements which will have a hatch covering the opening at all times? We are having a difficult time designing a stairway following the codes, because we cannot get enough headroom at the bottom of the stairs.

...

Continue reading at STAIR CODES & STANDARDS or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

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• BUILDING CODE DOWNLOADS - free downloadable PDF files of building codes & standards
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• STAIR TREAD DIMENSIONS
• MODEL & SPECIFIC BUILDING CODE CITATIONS FOR STAIRS & RAILINGS

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