Steps, landings, & handrails

[waterspor]

I have 2 out swinging, exterior doors that lead to my patio on the back of my house. 1 is a 3' door that has a 34" wide landing and a 5" rise from the landing into the house. The 2nd is a 5' french door with a 38" landing with a 3.5" rise into the house. There are 4 total risers from patio to the the house. There are no hand rails on either. We live in a R1 San Diego neighborhood. Is this to code?

[Jerry Peck - Codeman]

[waterspor]

[Jerry Peck - Codeman]

[Jerry Peck - Codeman]

This is from my California codeman - he was unable to get to where he could post it himself:

[quote]2007 California Building Code – Chapter 10 Means of Egress
- 1008.1.4: Floor Elevation:
- - There shall be a floor or landing on each side of a door. Such floor or landing shall be at the same elevation on each side of the door. Landings shall be level except for exterior landings, which are permitted to have a slope not to exceed 0.25 unit vertical in 12 units horizontal. (2-percent slope)
- - - Exceptions:
- - - - 1. Doors serving individual units in Group R-2 and R-3 where the following apply:
- - - - - 1.1. A door is permitted to open at the top step of an interior flight of stairs, provided the door does not swing over the top step.
- - - - - 1.2. Screen doors and storm doors are permitted to swing over stairs or landings.
- - - - 2. Exterior doors as provided for in Section 1003.5, Exception 1, and Section 1018.2, which are not on an accessible route
- - - - 3. In Group R-3 occupancies not required to be adoptable or accessible, the landing at an exterior doorway shall be no mare than 7.75 inches below the top of the threshold, provided the door, other than an exterior storm door or screen door, does not swing over the landing.
- - - - 4. Variations in elevation due to differences in finish materials , but not more than 0.5 inch.
- 1008.1.5 Landings at Doors: Landings shall have a width not less than the width of the stairway or the door, whichever is greater. Doors in the fully open position shall not reduce a required dimension by more than 7 inches.
When a landing serves an occupant load of 50 or more, doors in any position shall not reduce the landing to less than half its required width. Landings shall have a length measured in the direction of travel of not less than 44 inches.
- - Exception: Landing length in the direction of travel in Group R-3 and U and within individual units of Group R-2 need not exceed 36 inches.

- 1009.3 Stair Treads and Risers:
- - 4. In Group R-3 occupancies, within dwelling units in Group R-2 occupancies, and in Group U occupancies that are accessory to Group R-3 occupancies or accessory to individual dwelling units in Group R-2 occupancies; the maximum riser height shall be 7.75 inches; the minimum tread depth shall be 10 inches; the minimum winder tread depth at a walk line shall be 10 inches ; and the minimum winder tread depth shall be 6 inches.

- 1009.10 Handrails: Note; In Group R-3 occupancies a continuous run of treads or flight of stairs with fewer than four risers does not require handrails.

[LStratton]

I have an outswing door to a deck that may have a code problem. The house is in MA, built in 1904, but deck/stairs are newer. The door is 2-6 and swings out to a landing that is 44in in the direction of travel, and is > 4ft wide. This is the 4th door to the first floor so does not need to count as and fire egress door. The problem is that there is a 6 1/2 in step down to the landing. Is this OK?

[Jerry Peck - Codeman]