Page 204 - 2018_IFC

MEANS OF EGRESS

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landings shall have a solid surface. Finish floor surfaces not be more than 9 / inches (241 mm). The minimum stair-
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shall be securely attached. way clear width at and below the handrail shall be 26 inches
Exceptions: (660 mm).
1. Openings in stair walking surfaces shall be a size [BE] 1011.11 Handrails. Flights of stairways shall have
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that does not permit the passage of / -inch-diam- handrails on each side and shall comply with Section 1014.
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eter (12.7 mm) sphere. Elongated openings shall Where glass is used to provide the handrail, the handrail
be placed so that the long dimension is perpen- shall comply with Section 2407 of the International Building
dicular to the direction of travel. Code.
2. In Group F, H and S occupancies, other than Exceptions:
areas of parking structures accessible to the pub- 1. Flights of stairways within dwelling units, and
lic, openings in treads and landings shall not be flights of spiral stairways are permitted to have a
prohibited provided that a sphere with a diameter handrail on one side only.
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of 1 / inches (29 mm) cannot pass through the 2. Decks, patios and walkways that have a single
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opening. change in elevation where the landing depth on each
[BE] 1011.7.2 Outdoor conditions. Outdoor stairways side of the change of elevation is greater than what
and outdoor approaches to stairways shall be designed so is required for a landing do not require handrails.
that water will not accumulate on walking surfaces. 3. In Group R-3 occupancies, a change in elevation
[BE] 1011.7.3 Enclosures under interior stairways. The consisting of a single riser at an entrance or egress
walls and soffits within enclosed usable spaces under door does not require handrails.
enclosed and unenclosed stairways shall be protected by 4. Changes in room elevations of three or fewer risers
1-hour fire-resistance- rated construction or the fire-resis- within dwelling units and sleeping units in Group R-
tance rating of the stairway enclosure, whichever is 2 and R-3 do not require handrails.
greater. Access to the enclosed space shall not be directly
from within the stairway enclosure. [BE] 1011.12 Stairway to roof. In buildings four or more
stories above grade plane, one stairway shall extend to the
Exception: Spaces under stairways serving and con- roof surface, unless the roof has a slope steeper than four
tained within a single residential dwelling unit in Group units vertical in 12 units horizontal (33-percent slope).
R-2 or R-3 shall be permitted to be protected on the
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enclosed side with / -inch (12.7 mm) gypsum board. Exception: Other than where required by Section
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1011.12.1, in buildings without an occupied roof, access to
[BE] 1011.7.4 Enclosures under exterior stairways. the roof from the top story shall be permitted to be by an
There shall not be enclosed usable space under exterior alternating tread device, a ships ladder or a permanent
exit stairways unless the space is completely enclosed in ladder.
1-hour fire-resistance-rated construction. The open space
under exterior stairways shall not be used for any purpose. [BE] 1011.12.1 Stairway to elevator equipment. Roofs
and penthouses containing elevator equipment that must
[BE] 1011.8 Vertical rise. A flight of stairs shall not have a be accessed for maintenance are required to be accessed
vertical rise greater than 12 feet (3658 mm) between floor by a stairway.
levels or landings.
[BE] 1011.12.2 Roof access. Where a stairway is pro-
Exception: Spiral stairways used as a means of egress vided to a roof, access to the roof shall be provided
from technical production areas. through a penthouse complying with Section 1510.2 of the
[BE] 1011.9 Curved stairways. Curved stairways with International Building Code.
winder treads shall have treads and risers in accordance with Exception: In buildings without an occupied roof,
Section 1011.5 and the smallest radius shall be not less than access to the roof shall be permitted to be a roof hatch
twice the minimum width or required capacity of the stair- or trap door not less than 16 square feet (1.5 m ) in area
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way. and having a minimum dimension of 2 feet (610 mm).
Exception: The radius restriction shall not apply to curved [BE] 1011.13 Guards. Guards shall be provided along stair-
stairways in Group R-3 and within individual dwelling ways and landings where required by Section 1015 and shall
units in Group R-2. be constructed in accordance with Section 1015. Where the
[BE] 1011.10 Spiral stairways. Spiral stairways are permit- roof hatch opening providing the required access is located
ted to be used as a component in the means of egress only within 10 feet (3049 mm) of the roof edge, such roof access
within dwelling units or from a space not more than 250 or roof edge shall be protected by guards installed in accor-
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square feet (23 m ) in area and serving not more than five dance with Section 1015.
occupants, or from technical production areas in accordance [BE] 1011.14 Alternating tread devices. Alternating tread
with Section 410.5 of the International Building Code. devices are limited to an element of a means of egress in
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A spiral stairway shall have a 6 / -inch (171 mm) mini- buildings of Groups F, H and S from a mezzanine not more
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mum clear tread depth at a point 12 inches (305 mm) from the than 250 square feet (23 m ) in area and that serves not more
narrow edge. The risers shall be sufficient to provide a head- than five occupants; in buildings of Group I-3 from a guard
room of 78 inches (1981 mm) minimum, but riser height shall tower, observation station or control room not more than 250

2018 INTERNATIONAL FIRE CODE ® 171
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