Roof Access Stair Requirements

Free egress from the roof to the stairwell is required for occupied roofs but is not mandated by the ibc or nfpa 101 for unoccupied roofs.

Roof access stair requirements.

In summary free access to the roof from the stairwell is not required by the ibc or nfpa 101 but may be required or preferred by the local code official. Individual rung step ladders must extend at least 42 inches 1 1 m above an access level or landing platform either by. Each step or rung of a fixed ladder must be able to. When unavoidable obstructions are encountered the minimum clearance at the obstruction may be reduced to 24 inches 61 cm provided deflector plates are installed see figure d 5 of this section.

Interior stairs shall terminate at the under side of the roof at a hatch or scuttle of at least 8 square feet 0 74 m 2 with a minimum dimension of 20 inches 508 mm. In buildings four or more stories or more than 40 feet 12 192 mm in height above grade one stairway shall extend to the roof surface through a stairway bulkhead complying with section 1509 2 unless the roof has a slope steeper than 20 degrees 0 35 rad. Access to setback roof areas may be through a door or window opening to the roof. Spiral stairs must meet the vertical clearance requirements in paragraph d 3 of this section.

A minimum perpendicular distance of 30 inches 76 cm from the centerline of the steps or rungs to the nearest object on the climbing side. When a roof access hatch or scuttle is located within 10 feet 3 0 m of a roof edge a guard shall be installed in accordance with imc section 304 11.