Page 96 - 2018_IRC

BUILDING PLANNING

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R310.4 Bars, grilles, covers and screens. Where bars, exterior landings shall not exceed / unit vertical in 12 units
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grilles, covers, screens or similar devices are placed over horizontal (2 percent).
emergency escape and rescue openings, area wells, or win- Exception: Exterior balconies less than 60 square feet (5.6
dow wells, the minimum net clear opening size shall comply m ) and only accessed from a door are permitted to have a
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with Sections R310.2.1 through R310.2.3, and such devices landing that is less than 36 inches (914 mm) measured in
shall be releasable or removable from the inside without the the direction of travel.
use of a key, tool, special knowledge or force greater than
that required for the normal operation of the escape and res- R311.3.1 Floor elevations at the required egress doors.
cue opening. Landings or finished floors at the required egress door
shall be not more than 1 / inches (38 mm) lower than the
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R310.5 Dwelling additions. Where dwelling additions con- top of the threshold. 2
tain sleeping rooms, an emergency escape and rescue opening
shall be provided in each new sleeping room. Where dwelling Exception: The landing or floor on the exterior side
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additions have basements, an emergency escape and rescue shall be not more than 7 / inches (196 mm) below the
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opening shall be provided in the new basement. top of the threshold provided that the door does not
swing over the landing or floor.
Exceptions:
Where exterior landings or floors serving the required
1. An emergency escape and rescue opening is not egress door are not at grade, they shall be provided with
required in a new basement that contains a sleeping access to grade by means of a ramp in accordance with
room with an emergency escape and rescue opening. Section R311.8 or a stairway in accordance with Section
2. An emergency escape and rescue opening is not R311.7.
required in a new basement where there is an emer- R311.3.2 Floor elevations at other exterior doors.
gency escape and rescue opening in an existing Doors other than the required egress door shall be pro-
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basement that is accessed from the new basement. vided with landings or floors not more than 7 / inches
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R310.6 Alterations or repairs of existing basements. An (196 mm) below the top of the threshold.
emergency escape and rescue opening is not required where Exception: A top landing is not required where a stair-
existing basements undergo alterations or repairs. way of not more than two risers is located on the exte-
Exception: New sleeping rooms created in an existing rior side of the door, provided that the door does not
basement shall be provided with emergency escape and swing over the stairway.
rescue openings in accordance with Section R310.1. R311.3.3 Storm and screen doors. Storm and screen
doors shall be permitted to swing over exterior stairs and
landings.
SECTION R311 R311.4 Vertical egress. Egress from habitable levels includ-
MEANS OF EGRESS ing habitable attics and basements that are not provided with
R311.1 Means of egress. Dwellings shall be provided with a an egress door in accordance with Section R311.2 shall be by
means of egress in accordance with this section. The means a ramp in accordance with Section R311.8 or a stairway in
of egress shall provide a continuous and unobstructed path of accordance with Section R311.7.
vertical and horizontal egress travel from all portions of the R311.5 Landing, deck, balcony and stair construction and
dwelling to the required egress door without requiring travel attachment. Exterior landings, decks, balconies, stairs and
through a garage. The required egress door shall open directly similar facilities shall be positively anchored to the primary
into a public way or to a yard or court that opens to a public structure to resist both vertical and lateral forces or shall be
way. designed to be self-supporting. Attachment shall not be
R311.2 Egress door. Not less than one egress door shall be accomplished by use of toenails or nails subject to with-
provided for each dwelling unit. The egress door shall be drawal.
side-hinged, and shall provide a clear width of not less than R311.6 Hallways. The width of a hallway shall be not less
32 inches (813 mm) where measured between the face of the than 3 feet (914 mm).
door and the stop, with the door open 90 degrees (1.57 rad).
The clear height of the door opening shall be not less than 78 R311.7 Stairways.
inches (1981 mm) in height measured from the top of the R311.7.1 Width. Stairways shall be not less than 36
threshold to the bottom of the stop. Other doors shall not be inches (914 mm) in clear width at all points above the per-
required to comply with these minimum dimensions. Egress mitted handrail height and below the required headroom
doors shall be readily openable from inside the dwelling with- height. The clear width of stairways at and below the
out the use of a key or special knowledge or effort. handrail height, including treads and landings, shall be not
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R311.3 Floors and landings at exterior doors. There shall less than 31 / inches (787 mm) where a handrail is
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be a landing or floor on each side of each exterior door. The installed on one side and 27 inches (698 mm) where hand-
width of each landing shall be not less than the door served. rails are installed on both sides.
Landings shall have a dimension of not less than 36 inches Exception: The width of spiral stairways shall be in
(914 mm) measured in the direction of travel. The slope at accordance with Section R311.7.10.1.

2018 INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE ® 71
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