AC 021 - Stair ADA and IBC requirements

This video talks about the ADA and IBC requirements for stairs. This includes; stair treads and risers, nosings, handrails, handrail profiles, handrail extensions, landings, head clearances and stair widths. Enjoy!
If you would like to skip to a specific portion of the video, below is an index:
Chapters
0:00 - Intro.
0:51 - Types of stairs.
2:00 - How many steps make a “stair”.
3:00 - Stair terminology.
3:55 - Tread and riser dimensions.
4:15 - Space between risers.
4:27 - Nosing options/requirements.
5:59 - Handrail requirements.
7:38 - Handrail Extensions.
9:40 - Handrail section requirements.
10:24 - Handrail Profile options.
11:02 - Stair vertical clearance requirements.
12:01 - Stair width (Minimums).
13:11 - Stair width (Occupant loads).
14:33 - When intermediate landings are required.
14:53 - Landing requirements.
16:09 - Stair requirements at exterior/wet conditions.
16:20 - Stair best practices.
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#architecture #ADA #IBC #stairs

[@mdr245724]

Hey, I would like to thank you for basically tutoring me. I will be taking the IBC test to take to become a general contractor and these videos are helping me to understand work the code mean and why they were written as well as justified. I hope you did all 35 chapters because between me reading the 2015 codes books and the videos you have so I can understand what they want is a blessing for me. I know I will get my GC license now

[@20020406]

I've been drawings stairs for over 10 yrs. Great video!

[@archicorner]

Thank you for taking the time to comment! I hope you like the videos!

[@hakah2050]

Great video!

[@archicorner]

Sorry for the late reply. I have tried to reply to your question multiple times and in the end, it becomes a very very long, complicated answer. Sooooo...... In short I will simply say: I didn't ignore this question, but it's simply not a question that I can answer by this means without confusion. If in the future I have questions and answers video, I may tackle this in such platform.

[@marbedesigns]

Thank you so so much for hearing my request and doing this video! It was fantastic and very helpful! I kindky apriciated. I'd share it with all my test peers. BTW you pronounced my name perfect! : )

[@archicorner]

You are so welcome! Yes, please share! :)

[@jessicaxmm]

This amazing! It will take me a decade to figure all this out by myself and you just made it so easy like a breeze and with so much fun!

[@archicorner]

Nice! Glad you liked it.

[@nicholasjoscelyn6373]

Refreshingly clear! Thank you!

[@archicorner]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jitkablahakova3073]

The best IBC videos on KZbin. Thank you!

[@archicorner]

Wow, thanks! That means a lot to me!

[@jitkablahakova3073]

@@archicorner thank you for putting these incredible educational materials together. I have been binge-watching them repeatedly. People in the industry and every architectural and interior design program should take notice, I hope they do.

[@lauradaniels1842]

I love all your videos. They are so well done! There was one thing at 15:10 about landings that I went back to the code to verify. The code says that the minimum depth of the landing is equal to the width of the stairway or 48", whichever is LESS (1011.6). You said it was whichever is greater. I only know this after digging through the code for a commercial project and the landing min came up.

[@archicorner]

That is a good point. Thank you for bringing that up.

[@patriciamouramar]

Your videos are the best. Thank you!

[@archicorner]

Glad you like them!

[@katekrasnova5091]

Omg! It was my first time I watched your video ! This is just saw cool, clear and very interesting and kinda hypnotizing to watch how you are drawing and painting! 😂🎉😊 I am very happy to become your fan forever and that you so much for everything you are doing! I am sure that people and this universe with appreciate it a lot! 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@archicorner]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for your kind comments 😊.

[@jasonevans4483]

Your videos are the best. You make it so easy to follow and learn. Thank you!

[@archicorner]

You are so welcome!

[@mariaallgood1420]

Wow- fantastic video!

[@archicorner]

Thank you very much!

[@mostafamagdy7995]

That,s amazing, thank you for adding a metric system to your video. 12:28 / 17:24 check out the 44 inches conversion.

[@archicorner]

Thanks for that! Adding the metric system to the videos took a long time, but very worth it if you liked it! Sorry if there was a mistake :(

[@MLD.Ltd.]

Thanks for explaining this!!

[@archicorner]

You bet!

[@juanherrejon8528]

Great video, big fan, keep up the great work 🙌🏽

[@archicorner]

Appreciate it!

[@Designbuild828]

You are amazing! Thank you!

[@archicorner]

Thank you for watching the video!!! Hope you liked it, share with other :)

[@aliaaadelothman2021]

Thanks for your amazing video , I am from Canada but it helps me to understand the main concept

[@archicorner]

You are most welcome

[@johncano3972]

GREATE VIDEO 👍🏼 THANKS FOR THE INFO..!!

[@archicorner]

No problem 👍

[@R.Ch.Experiments]

Thanks for this videos, greatly helpfull in my thesis...Fantastic! 😊

[@archicorner]

You're very welcome!

[@arch.josee.rovira5959]

And thanks a lot for your videos!

[@archicorner]

Glad you like them!

[@dcastillogzz]

Thank you, thank you, and thank you.

[@archicorner]

You are very welcome!

[@akshaykorlekar]

Superb !

[@archicorner]

✌

[@tonyhddodge4282]

Thank You.

[@archicorner]

You are so welcome!

[@czna5906]

very helpful thank you

[@archicorner]

Thank you!!!

[@davidcooper5537]

Thank you for your videos. They are of great benefit. After viewing your Stair ADA and IBC requirements video. I wanted to point out that "nosing" is a defined term in both the IBC and IRC, "The leading edge of treads of stairs and of landings at the top of stairway flights". Every tread and landing at the top of a flight has a leading edge or NOSING regardless of the projection. Nosing projection is limited in both the IBC and ADA as you state however you cannot slope the riser even close to 30 degrees if it is in one plane as you illustrate because you will exceed the limit of the nosing projection. The face of the riser would have to consist of multiple planes for any of them to approach the 30 degree maximum allowed. Nosing is not defined in the 2010 ADA. As such the term would have the the meaning as defined in the referenced standard. The IBC is a standard referenced of the 2010 ADA Standard. The illustration of the sloped riser you show is similar to that in the 2010 ADA, the Access Boards Guideline, and the A117.1 Standard. It is my understanding that the illustrations in these documents are editorial in nature and not enforceable. In any case the drawing causes great confusion as it conflicts with the text of the each of the regulations noted above. It would be good to point out the issue in your video. Thanks again for the service you are providing.

[@archicorner]

It's refreshing to know there are other people out there nerding out over the code (hehe), but that is AWESOME. What you are mentioning is very interesting. You are correct, if a riser is 7" in height, having a 30-degree slope would exceed the projection allowance, but technically speaking, the 30 degrees is a maximum. Is this what you are trying to say? If so.... AGREED! Don't shoot the messenger, it is written in the code, but it could've been written a bit better, true. I wonder if anyone knows a scenario where 30-degrees is actually doable as per the illustrations provided in the standard codes. Probably one of the most interesting technical comments received here at archicorner! THANKS!

[@davidcooper5537]

@@archicornerI don't know of any stair with single plane risers sloped at 30-degrees angle, however I do know of conditions where the riser is actually sloped enough to exceed the allowed nosing projection which is the point I think worthy of inclusion in your video. In the meantime we are working on needed changes to the illustrations and text of the A117.1 standard in the current development cycle now underway.

[@mtnviewdon1]

I love this guy😊

[@archicorner]

And WE love YOU leaving a comment. THANK YOU!!!

[@happyme7011]

what a great job guys... totally love it .. hoping for more videos in the future...

[@archicorner]

Thank you so much 😀. We have a new video coming up this Friday. Keep an eye out for it!

[@danparker5021]

👍👍

[@michellelevine8667]

Love this - can you do a video on how to calculate stairs?

[@archicorner]

What do you mean exactly? Calculate the number of stairs needed? The width of stairs? Height?

[@jjgarcia9436]

Excellent video like the others you have. I would only add that you forgot to mention this about handrails extensions: Going up 12" Going Down 24"

[@archicorner]

Thank you for the reply JJ. In reply to your comment; Yes and No: Yes, the video does show the extension requirements. Starting at minute 7:38 you will see it. However, No, the video does not show 24 inch extension at the bottom. The 24 inch extension is a California requirement, not an ADA requirement. ADA 505.10.3 is different than CBC 505.10.3. What state are you in? If you are not in California, it would be of interest to find out what other state has this same requirement. Please reply if you could please. Thank you for leaving a comment!

[@yidelgrunberger605]

Thank you so much for your amazing clear videos. Question: is it allowed to have a stair on a landing, in other words to have the landing split in half with a stair? And if yes what are the requirements

[@archicorner]

Not sure what you are referring to. A flight of stairs can have an intermediate landing as shown in the video at around time frame 3:40. I am not sure if that is what you mean. In general obstructions are not allowed to impeded into landings, not even the stairs themselves. Sorry if this is not what you mean in your question.

[@mauroaparicio1855]

informative

[@archicorner]

Thank you.

[@presiskaindarmadi2662]

I looked up IBC 1011.6, it stated "...landing... equal width of stairway or 48 inches, whichever is less." I believe your video state whichever is greater. Is that any section that support this? Thank you for amazing video!

[@archicorner]

You are correct, this is a mistake in the video. Thank you for catching that.

[@JimmyRamirez-ic7gt]

Hi Josue, I have a commercial project where I provided 100% ADA compliance, from public walkway to the front of the building which is accessible to all three tenants entrances. Other than that, the CASP Inspector was saying that I have to also install detectable warnings in front of all the exit doors that lead onto the pavement but not onto the driveway and they are not along accessible path of traveI. I have no luck looking for code regarding this. Your reply would be much appreciated! Jim

[@OH_IO_777]

Hi my friend. I have a question please. You mentioned that we calculate the stair width based on the occupant load of one story.. but what if I have multistory building and each story has its own occupant load or occupant group ( like in mix-used building), which floor I shall consider to calculate my stairs width? Is it the one with the highest occupant load?

[@archicorner]

Yes and no. If you have multiple stories, you calculate the occupants of each story SEPARATELY. Thereafter, each story must have the width of the stairs provided ALL THE WAY DOWN. For example: if the 5th floor required 48" in width but the 4th floor required 60" in width, in theory, you could have 48" wide stairs from the 5th floor down to the 4th floor, but once you got the 4th floor, you would need to have 60" wide stairs from the 4th floor, all the way down. I hope that helps. Please consider being my patreon or buying me a coffee (no pressure at all)..... :). patreon.com/archicorner buymeacoffee.com/archicorner

[@garerialejandro4781]

Thanks for the video Question: Is the handrail allowed to encroach the pull side maneuvering clearance of the door? (18") ?

[@archicorner]

This has been acceptable to the jurisdictions I have worked with.

[@amirb948]

Please provide your references.

[@archisensedesigns4120]

very good presentation, thank you, but you didn't talk about the openings in the guardrail which may cause fall of children, also the edge protection on the stair, but still I see a great job here

[@archicorner]

Good point!

[@imamburque]

Can you please provide reffrence for this ? " if your building has a automatic sprinkler and emergency voice alarm system , you can calucate the start width requirement by occupants times 0.2"

[@archicorner]

IBC section 1005.3.1 "Stairways" Exception #1. (Based on 2021 IBC).

[@zenrook1]

6:13 The handrail at the bottom of the stairs should be level with the floor just like the top?

[@archicorner]

Various states have "additional" requirements for accessibility beyond the ADA. Here in california, we do have additional requirements that require an added level extension at the bottom. Therefore, the answer would be; it depends on your state/county/city and what they require.

[@chintubodepudi707]

What is the maximum stringer encroachment into a stairwell? please answer

[@tomramirez6960]

What about service stairs for roof access that is not a ships ladder? Are winders permitted?

[@archicorner]

Although "non accessible" stairs are allowed, they are limited to locations that person with disabilities is not required to access. Depending on where you live, yes, you may have winder stairs or roof access stairs. However, they may not be considered "accessible".

[@arch.josee.rovira5959]

Please add a video about firefighter truck turn radius, On the fire lanes and parking area, space around building for fire fighters. Thanks.

[@archicorner]

I will keep your suggestion in mind for future videos. Thank you for taking the time to comment on the video!

[@ega0117]

Risers… do all the risers required to be the same height????

[@arqmiryam]

In the section 1011.6 - 1/2 required clear width of the total dimension for the landing that means the landing never can be 48 inches bcs in that direction we have at least 32 for the door plus 32 clearance = 64 min for the landing ? Am I interpreted correctly? 😅 thankyou again for your amazing videos. Solve my life!!! 🤓

[@archicorner]

If there is a door in a stair landing, you are correct, the building code requires the stair landing + the door allowance per IBC 1011.6. and as you noted, this will likely need a landing that is more than 48 inches depending on the door layout. HOWEVER, not all stair landings have doors. For example, in most switchback stairs, the intermediate landing does not have a door.

[@Jo_Ro_Fulfil]

Can you do one on limitations of spiral staircases, and quick!

[@archicorner]

LOL. Maybe, but it won't be quick. sorry. If I get to this, it will be a long time from now.... sorry.

[@larrytinnin3357]

Can you do a video on horizontal exits?

[@archicorner]

That is actually a very good subject... It will be placed on the list

[@joshuavickers6054]

Any videos on seismic designs principles?

[@archicorner]

Oh man, that is a tough one, so much information into that. Nevertheless, we will keep it in mind.

[@arch.josee.rovira5959]

That’s the IBC ARTICLE 16.04

[@mj8695]

can you please have a video for ventilations

[@archicorner]

Please elaborate more on this. What do you mean by ventilation? There are so many different ventilation subjects. For example: crawl space ventilation, roof ventilation, attic ventilation, etc.

[@noorielaboab1032]

Good job 👏- I’m civil engineer; I will like to now about the fire stairs exit for industrial building (exit stairs for employees); if you have the video let me know. I now the building code in my country, but not here in USA - Thanks

[@archicorner]

Thank you for the comment. What country are you an engineer in? I am happy that you watched my videos. I am always looking for good subjects to cover. Thank you for providing a suggestion!

[@noorielaboab1032]

@@archicorner I’m civil engineer from Brazil, But I’m leaving in USA for more the 30 years

[@HoraceHingCheungPoon]

Any printable pages?

[@archicorner]

Many people are asking for this... Hopefully in the future, but not today, so sorry.

[@marcdowling7895]

48" OR WHATEVER IS GREATER IS WRONG

[@archicorner]

You are correct. Another user had mentioned the same thing. It is supposed to be "whichever is LESS" This is in the list of items to correct in a future update. THANKS!!

[@arescue]

Cry me a river. Ha ha ha.

[@archicorner]

At least I know I made one person laugh! Sweet, mission accomplished! Thanks for watching!