(A) Steps and landings shall be designed for mobile homes or constructed in such a manner as to ensure the safety of persons entering or exiting the home and shall meet the requirements as defined in the Uniform Standards code. Steps and landings are required at all outside entrances, including patio doors, and must be in place before an inspection request is made.
(B) Landings. Code Section R311.3 and R311.3.1 International Residential Code (IRC). The width of each landing shall be not less than the door served. The landing shall have a dimension of not less than 36 inches measured in the direction of travel. The floor or landing shall not be more than one and one half (1-1/2) inches lower than the top of the threshold. The floor or landing can be up to seven and three- fourth (7-3/4) inches below the top of the threshold if the door, other than a screen or storm door, does not swing over the landing.
(C) Steps. Code Section R311.7.5.1 SC Modification IRC 2015 09 and R311.7.5.2. The maximum riser height shall be seven and three-fourth (7-3/4) inches. The maximum riser height for masonry stairs shall be eight (8) inches. Tread depth shall be a minimum of ten (10) inches. The greatest riser height within any flight of stairs shall not exceed the smallest by more than three-eighths (3/8) of an inch. Risers shall be vertical or sloped from the underside of the nosing of the tread above at an angle not more than 30 degrees from the vertical. Open risers are permitted provided that the opening between treads does not permit the passage of a four (4) inch diameter sphere. A nosing not less than three-fourth (3/4) inches and not more than one and one-fourth (1-1/4) inches shall be provided on all stairways with solid risers. The tread depth is measured horizontally from nosing to nosing. A nosing is not required when the tread depth is a minimum of 11 inches.
(D) For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
GUARDRAIL. A barrier that is intended to keep a person from falling off a landing, stairs or elevated location.
HANDRAILS. Installed to help while climbing stairs by providing a surface by which one can easily grasp and hold.
(E) Guardrails. Code Section R312.1.1 through R312.1.4. All porches and decks located more than 30 inches above the grade or floor below shall have guardrails not less than 36 inches in height. Steps attached to landings requiring guardrails shall also have guardrails not less than 34 inches measured from the nosing of the treads. Each side of stairs shall have guardrails installed unless the stairs are located beside a structure that would prevent a fall hazard. The stairs guardrail can double as a handrail if it is a minimum of 34 inches or a maximum of 38 inches above the nosing and has the proper gripping surface to meet the handrail requirements. All guardrails at porches, decks and stairs shall have pickets or ornamental closures that do not allow the passage of a sphere four (4) inches in diameter.
(F) Handrails. Code Section R311.7.8.1 through R311.7.8.4. Handrails having minimum and maximum heights of 34 inches and 38 inches, respectively, measured vertically from the nosing of the treads shall be provided on at least one (1) side of stairways of four (4) or more risers. All handrails shall be continuous of the full length of the stairs and have a grasping surface with a circular cross-sectional dimension of one and one-fourth (1-1/4) inches minimum to two (2) inches maximum.
(G) Wood. All wood components in contact with the ground shall be treated and approved for ground contact. Wood exposed to weather must be pressure treated for outdoor use.
(Ord. 2019-09, passed 12-10-2019)