chrisprickett Posted July 15, 2004 Report Share Posted July 15, 2004 Here's the scenario: French door going from an bedroom to a walk deck. The door threshold is about 14" higher than the bedroom floor. The door swings into the bedroom. To accomodate for the 14" drop into the bedroom, the builder installed a 11" step, the full width of the door opening. My concern is that when you walk into the room, from the deck, there is not a 36" deep platform, as per 2003 IRC 311.4.3 Landings at doors: The width of each landing shall not be less than the door served. Every landing shall have a minimum dimension of 36 inches (914 mm) measured in the direction of travel. I'm not sure if this code reference applies, although it seems to me that it would. I do know that when I walked in from the deck, I nearly busted my a$$! Download Attachment: Shuman 7 15 04 015.jpg 140.9 KB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Baird Posted July 15, 2004 Report Share Posted July 15, 2004 I'd say the landing rule applies here. Write 'em up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crusty Posted July 15, 2004 Report Share Posted July 15, 2004 Yep, that's a fall down hazard for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurt Posted July 16, 2004 Report Share Posted July 16, 2004 Is a landing required? Since I work in Chicago, which has its OWN codes, I honestly don't know squat about IRC land. If this is considered a landing, it has to be 36". Why couldn't there be a step? Any way you cut it, it's dangerous & a hazard, but is a landing required by IRC in this situation? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crusty Posted July 16, 2004 Report Share Posted July 16, 2004 Originally posted by kurt Is a landing required? Since I work in Chicago, which has its OWN codes, I honestly don't know squat about IRC land. If this is considered a landing, it has to be 36". Why couldn't there be a step? Any way you cut it, it's dangerous & a hazard, but is a landing required by IRC in this situation? I can find no exceptions to allow this condition without a landing in the IRC. A landing is required anytime a door opens over a step. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisprickett Posted July 16, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 16, 2004 Kurt, The code I quoted seems to apply. In reality, a 36" landing inside a bedroom is pretty stupid, but so is the shortsightedness of the guy who designed a 6000 sq ft $2M house, and didn't figure for dealing with a 14" drop from a deck into a bedroom. The best fix would be to drop the threshold, but then there would be an issue with water backing into the house. I'm coming from a CYA position, when the buyer breaks his neck, and looks for a patsie! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian G Posted July 16, 2004 Report Share Posted July 16, 2004 Originally posted by chrisprickett The code I quoted seems to apply. In reality, a 36" landing inside a bedroom is pretty stupid, but so is the shortsightedness of the guy who designed a 6000 sq ft $2M house, and didn't figure for dealing with a 14" drop from a deck into a bedroom. I agree on both counts. I'm coming from a CYA position, when the buyer breaks his neck, and looks for a patsie! Prudent, no doubt. Brian G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Katen Posted July 16, 2004 Report Share Posted July 16, 2004 Originally posted by chrisprickett Kurt, The code I quoted seems to apply. In reality, a 36" landing inside a bedroom is pretty stupid, but so is the shortsightedness of the guy who designed a 6000 sq ft $2M house, and didn't figure for dealing with a 14" drop from a deck into a bedroom. The best fix would be to drop the threshold, but then there would be an issue with water backing into the house. I'm coming from a CYA position, when the buyer breaks his neck, and looks for a patsie! Why not install a doorset that swings outward? - Jim Katen, Oregon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisprickett Posted July 16, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 16, 2004 [Why not install a doorset that swings outward? - Jim Katen, Oregon Ahhhh, simplicity! Can't argue with that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monte Posted May 12, 2005 Report Share Posted May 12, 2005 I agree with all of the above positions. The UBC code has a exception to it's stairway and landing requirements if there is less than two or more risers. Does not IRC have the same exception? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ytek Posted January 30, 2007 Report Share Posted January 30, 2007 Why not install a doorset that swings outward? - Jim Katen, Oregon I'm curious, would a sliding door still have the same requirement?? Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Hockstein Posted January 30, 2007 Report Share Posted January 30, 2007 Originally posted by Ytek Why not install a doorset that swings outward? - Jim Katen, Oregon I'm curious, would a sliding door still have the same requirement?? Jim no Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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