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
- When fully sprinkled, sleeping rooms in basements are not required to have emergency egress if the basement has one of the following:
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:
- 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′.
- 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.
- Beams, girders, ducts or other obstructions in basements containing habitable space shall be permitted to project to within 6′ 4″ of the finished floor.
- 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:
- In one and two-family dwellings, beams or girders spaced ≥ 4′ OC shall be permitted to project not > 6″ below the required ceiling height.
- 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.
- The height of mezzanines and spaces below mezzanines shall be in accordance with CBC 505.2
- Corridors contained within a dwelling or sleeping unit in a Group R occupancy shall have a ceiling height ≥ 7′ above the finished floor.