Egress/Stairs/Guards/Handrails/Ceiling Heights

Emergency Escape and Rescue Openings (see windows) R310

  • Constructed < 1964 egress: ≥ 3.3⎅ – 18” x 18” – 48” to sill
  • 1964-1969 egress: ≥ 5⎅ – 24” min width/height – 48” to sill
  • 1970-1975 egress: ≥ 5⎅ – 22” min width/height – 48” to sill
  • 1976-present egress: ≥ 5.7⎅ – 20×24” min width/height – 44” to sill CRC R310.2.1

  • Area Well: 9⎅ – 36” horizontal projection or > – depth > 44” req ladder 12” wide, ≥ 3” from the wall, ≤ 18” riser
    • When fully sprinkled, sleeping rooms in basements are not required to have emergency egress if the basement has one of the following:
      • 1 means of egress and 1 emergency escape/rescue opening
      • 2 means of egress 

Doors

  • Min Size: ≥ 32”x78” – no door between bedroom and garage CRC R311.1
  • Exterior landing: CRC R311.3
    • Width of the door and 36” deep in the direction of travel, ≤ 2% slope
    • ≥ 1.5” step down for outswing
    • 7.75” for inswing 
  • Egress ramp: 1:12 (8.3%) slope
    • Non-Egress ramp: 1:8 (12.5%) slope 
    • Ramp handrail: ≥ 1:12 (8.3%)

Stairs, Guardrails and Handrails

  • Stairs: CRC R311-7
    • The exterior stairs’ first step must be concrete or PT
    • Stair width: 3’ min above the handrail.
      • Residential: below rail 1 rail = 31-1/2“  2 rails = 27“ 
    • Stair riser: 7.75” max
    • Solid risers unless opening between treads doesn’t permit passage of a 4” sphere. (spiral stairways or < 30” in height are exempt)
    • Tread depth: 10” min – sloped ≤ 2% 
    • The triangle opening at the tread/riser junction must be ≤ 6”
    • Nosing projection: .75-1.25” – 11” min without nosing – nosing radius or curvature ≤ 9/16
    • Rise and run must be within 3/8” of the least and the greatest rise and run within the flight    
    • Headroom: 6’ 8”    
    • Stair vertical rise ≤ 12’ 7” without landing
    • Alternating tread/ship ladders: ≤ 200 sq ft for lofts

  • Handrails: CRC R 311.7.8
    • Must terminate into the newel posts, volute, or return to the wall
    • 34-38” above the nosing of the tread & continuous from above the top riser to the bottom riser
    • ≥ 1.5” from the wall 
    • ≤ 4.5” projection
    • Circular: grip 1.25-2”
    • Not circular: perimeter dimension 4-6.5” with max cross-section dimension of 2.25” – edges with a radius of ≥ 0.01”
    • Required with ≥ 4 risers  

Guardrails: CRC R312.1

  • Height: 42” – 34-38” if it serves as handrails on the open sides of stairs
  • Openings: < 4” (walking surface – stairways – 36” out from deck with slope)
  • Baluster openings on walk-ways: 4”
  • Baluster openings on stairs: 4 3/8”
  • Glass guardrails: Non-laminated glass guardrail requires a top rail R308.4.4.1 and CBC 2407.1
  • Loft guardrail: ½ height to lid or 36”

Winders R311.7.4

  • 6” tread at the narrow end of the walk line & 10” at wide
  • Nosing projection: .75-1.25” with solid risers      
  • The rise and run must be within 3/8” of the least and the greatest rise and run within the flight    

Spiral Stairs R311.7.10.1

  • Width: 26”   
  • Depth: 6.75” at walk-line
  • The rise and run must be identical within the flight

Area Wells R310.2.3

  • Min window size: 5⎅
  • Projection: Min 9⎅ Min 3’ projection
  • > 44” in depth requires a ladder
  • Ladder: min 3” – max 6” projecting off the well wall – rungs at ≤ 18” oc vertically
  • Drainage: tied into foundation drain to comply with R405.1

Minimum Ceiling Heights CRC R305.1 and CBC 1208.2

R-3: Habitable space, hallways, and portions of basements containing these spaces shall have a ceiling height ≥ 7′. Bathrooms, toilet rooms, and laundry rooms shall have a ceiling height of ≥ 6′ 8″.

Exceptions:

  1. For rooms with sloped ceilings, the required floor area of the room shall have a ceiling height of not less than 5′ and ≥ 50% of the required floor area shall have a ceiling height of ≥ 7′.
  2. The ceiling height above bathroom and toilet room fixtures shall be such that the fixture is capable of being used for its intended purpose. A shower or tub equipped with a showerhead shall have a ceiling height of ≥ 6′ 8″ above an area of ≥ 30″ X 30″ at the showerhead.
  3. Beams, girders, ducts or other obstructions in basements containing habitable space shall be permitted to project to within 6′ 4″ of the finished floor.
  4. Beams and girders spaced apart ≥ 36″ in clear finished width shall project not > 78″ from the finished floor.

R-2: Occupiable spaces, habitable spaces and corridors shall have a ceiling height ≥ 7′ 6″ above the finished floor. Bathrooms, toilet rooms, kitchens, storage rooms and laundry rooms shall have a ceiling height ≥ 7′ above the finished floor.

Exceptions:

  1. In one and two-family dwellings, beams or girders spaced ≥ 4′ OC shall be permitted to project not > 6″ below the required ceiling height.
  2. If any room in a building has a sloped ceiling, the prescribed ceiling height for the room is required in 1/2 the area thereof. Any portion of the room measuring < 5′ from the finished floor to the ceiling shall not be included in any computation of the minimum area thereof.
  3. The height of mezzanines and spaces below mezzanines shall be in accordance with CBC 505.2 
  4. Corridors contained within a dwelling or sleeping unit in a Group R occupancy shall have a ceiling height ≥ 7′ above the finished floor.