Stair Question: Area of Refuge and width of stairs

[blackdogbite]

I haven't seen this item discussed.

"Code"

When areas of refuge are required, the stairway width (adjacent to an area of refuge) shall have a minimum clear width of 48" between handrails.

Adjacent means what, in this case, closeby? On a landing attached to a flight of stairs?

Since you cannot reduce the width along the egress path, and you need an area of refuge at every landing, doesn't this mean that effectively 48" is the minimum clear inside rail dimension for all runs? (and not 44" as the code otherwise mandates)



Interested in your comments.

Thanks,

blackdog

[Skip-m]

blackdogbite wrote:

I haven't seen this item discussed. You haven't looked had enough.

"Code"

When areas of refuge are required, the stairway width (adjacent to an area of refuge) shall have a minimum clear width of 48" between handrails.

Adjacent means what, in this case, closeby? On a landing attached to a flight of stairs? Unless you have more than one stair connected to the landing "adjacent" really has no impact on the task or requirements.

Since you cannot reduce the width along the egress path, and you need an area of refuge at every landing, No you do not. Reread the program and code.

doesn't this mean that effectively 48" is the minimum clear inside rail dimension for all runs? (and not 44" as the code otherwise mandates) Perhaps, depends on the location of the AOR and you still need to check the required width based on occupant load.



Interested in your comments.

Thanks,

blackdog

[trueblujr]

on the NCARB 4.0 and 3.1 practice vignettes, the code for area of refuge states the following:

"When areas of refugeare required, stairway width shall have a minimum clear width of 48 inches between the handrails"

I interpret that to mean that the area of refuge requirement of 48" between handrails trumps the 44" minimum requirement.

Personally,I think that is thrown in there as a gotcha to see if people are reading the code.

[archigator]

trueblujr wrote:

on the NCARB 4.0 and 3.1 practice vignettes, the code for area of refuge states the following:

"When areas of refugeare required, stairway width shall have a minimum clear width of 48 inches between the handrails"

I interpret that to mean that the area of refuge requirement of 48" between handrails trumps the 44" minimum requirement.

Personally,I think that is thrown in there as a gotcha to see if people are reading the code.

AOR should be a clear 30" x 48". You are right about the test code, don't skim and assume it is like the sample vignettes, they can vary slightly and cause you to miss something!

[blackdogbite]

Skip-m: Please don't be so quick to slam me for not looking "had" enough. I DID search and did not find the exact info.

Even now, maybe I'm a bit slow, but I still don't fully understand this. (I am basing this on DORF's discussion ofthe NCARB practice vignette. I understand that the NCARB vignette itself indicates that ONLY the second floor is required to have an AOR. I don't know why, but Dorf states, in his summary of Code, that all floors are required. Let's assume, for these purposes or for future testing, that they are required at every floor)

Let's see where I might be wrong:

1 We know we need to provide at least one area of refugeat each level within the stair structure. You need one for each 200 occupants of stair load.

2 We assume "adjacent" means the stairs that run off a landing with an AOR.

3 There fore, ALL stairs by default fit the above criteria- and even if they don't, you cannot reduce width if you may otherwise be allowed a lesser width.


4 So effectively, I may do the calculations and they point to 44" for each of the stair widths...and that's total...ie; the railings mayproject into that space.

5. but I need to use 48" CLEAR due to AOR criteria.

If someone can point out how if I'm wrong, I'd appreciate it.



Even in this case, if I have an AOR at the second floor landing, then I am required to use at least 48" clear stair width for the entire stair assembly all the way down, and I cannot reduce that to 44" at any point.


Again, appreciate any comments.

If I seem obsessed, I am. I failed BT the first time and not having the slightest idea why, I am now obsessed by details.