Stairs and OSHA and IBC Compliance

Industrial Metal Stairs and Work Platforms Components

IBC Compliance 

IBC Compliant Commercial Staircase illustration

International Building Code Guidelines overview for commercial buildings and common stairs in buildings. It is much more complex, but these are the general rules.

Stairways have to be at least 44″ if occupant load is over 50 and 36″ width if under 50 occupants you can go to. Stairs must have at least 80″ of head height measured off the tread nosings and it needs to be maintained for one additional riser depth at the bottom of the stairs. The riser height must be between 4″ and 7″ and the treads must be at least 11″ deep.

Stairs with winders need to be at least 11″ deep and when 12″ in from the narrow edge and the minimum depth must be 10″. ErectaStep commercial stairs with winders will be custom orders. 

Stair landings a required for 12′ vertical stairs inclines and must be at least as deep as the stairs are wide (up to 4′-0″). Where a door opens into the landing it can’t project more than 7″ into the required depth of the landing.

Handrails in IBC buildings need to return to a wall, a guard or the walking surface or continue to another handrail. The IBC requires that your handrail extend 12″ past the top riser and one tread depth past the bottom riser. It important to note that the ADA will require you to go one tread depth plus 12″ past the bottom riser so it generally overrides the IBC.

Stair handrails need to be on both sides of the stair and can’t project more than 4.5″ into the stair width on each side. On a very wide stair you need to space intermediate handrails no more than 60″ apart. They are required to be mounted between 34″ and 38″ above the tread nosings and landings and mounted a minimum of 1.5″ off the wall. ErectaStep uses Round metal handrails and it’s required they need to 1.25″ to 2″ in diameter. While not applicable to ErectaStep’s commercial handrails, square handrails is required to have a perimeter between 4″ – 6.25″ with a maximum cross section of 2.25″. 

 

OSHA Compliance 

1910.25(a)

Application. This section covers all stairways (including standard, spiral, ship, and alternating tread-type stairs), except for stairs serving floating roof tanks, stairs on scaffolds, stairs designed into machines or equipment, and stairs on self-propelled motorized equipment.

1910.25(b)

General requirements. The employer must ensure:

1910.25(b)(1)

Handrails, stair rail systems, and guardrail systems are provided in accordance with § 1910.28;

1910.25(b)(2)

Vertical clearance above any stair tread to any overhead obstruction is at least 6 feet, 8 inches (203 cm), as measured from the leading edge of the tread. Spiral stairs must meet the vertical clearance requirements in paragraph (d)(3) of this section.

1910.25(b)(3)

Stairs have uniform riser heights and tread depths between landings;

1910.25(b)(4)

Stairway landings and platforms are at least the width of the stair and at least 30 inches (76 cm) in depth, as measured in the direction of travel;

1910.25(b)(5)

When a door or a gate opens directly on a stairway, a platform is provided, and the swing of the door or gate does not reduce the platform’s effective usable depth to:

1910.25(b)(5)(i)

Less than 20 inches (51 cm) for platforms installed before January 17, 2017; and

1910.25(b)(5)(ii)

Less than 22 inches (56 cm) for platforms installed on or after January 17, 2017 (see Figure D-7 of this section);

1910.25(b)(6)

Each stair can support at least five times the normal anticipated live load, but never less than a concentrated load of 1,000 pounds (454 kg) applied at any point;

1910.25(b)(7)

Standard stairs are used to provide access from one walking-working surface to another when operations necessitate regular and routine travel between levels, including access to operating platforms for equipment. Winding stairways may be used on tanks and similar round structures when the diameter of the tank or structure is at least 5 feet (1.5 m).

1910.25(b)(8)

Spiral, ship, or alternating tread-type stairs are used only when the employer can demonstrate that it is not feasible to provide standard stairs.

1910.25(b)(8)

Spiral, ship, or alternating tread-type stairs are used only when the employer can demonstrate that it is not feasible to provide standard stairs.

1910.25(b)(9)

When paragraph (b)(8) of this section allows the use of spiral, ship, or alternating tread-type stairs, they are installed, used, and maintained in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions.

Figure D-6 -- Door or Gate Opening on Stairway.

Figure D-7 — Door or Gate Opening on Stairway.

1910.25(c)

Standard stairs. In addition to paragraph (b) of this section, the employer must ensure standard stairs:

1910.25(c)(1)

Are installed at angles between 30 to 50 degrees from the horizontal;

1910.25(c)(2)

Have a maximum riser height of 9.5 inches (24 cm);

1910.25(c)(3)

Have a minimum tread depth of 9.5 inches (24 cm); and

1910.25(c)(4)

Have a minimum width of 22 inches (56 cm) between vertical barriers (see Figure D-8 of this section).

1910.25(c)(5)

Exception to paragraphs (c)(2) and (3) of this section. The requirements of paragraphs (c)(2) and (3) do not apply to standard stairs installed prior to January 17, 2017. OSHA will deem those stairs in compliance if they meet the dimension requirements specified in Table D-1 of this section or they use a combination that achieves the angle requirements of paragraph (c)(1) of this section.

Table D-1 — Stairway Rise and Tread Dimensions

Angle to horizontalRise (in inches)Tread run (in inches)
30 deg. 35′6 1/211
32 deg. 08′6 3/410 3/4
33 deg. 41′710 1/2
35 deg. 16′7 1/410 1/4
36 deg. 52′7 1/210
38 deg. 29′7 3/49 3/4
40 deg. 08′89 1/2
41 deg. 44′8 1/49 1/4
43 deg. 22′8 1/29
45 deg. 00′8 3/48 3/4
46 deg. 38′98 1/2
48 deg. 16′9 1/48 1/4
49 deg. 54′9 1/28

Figure depicts Minimum tread width 22 IN (56 CM), Minimum Tread Depth 9.5 IN (24 CM), Maximum Riser Height 9.5 IN (24 CM).

Minimum tread width 22 IN (56 CM), Minimum Tread Depth 9.5 IN (24 CM), Maximum Riser Height 9.5 IN (24 CM).

1910.25(d)

Spiral stairs. In addition to paragraph (b) of this section, the employer must ensure spiral stairs:

1910.25(d)(1)

Have a minimum clear width of 26 inches (66 cm);

1910.25(d)(2)

Have a maximum riser height of 9.5 inches (24 cm);

1910.25(d)(3)

Have a minimum headroom above spiral stair treads of at least 6 feet, 6 inches (2 m), measured from the leading edge of the tread;

1910.25(d)(4)

Have a minimum tread depth of 7.5 inches (19 cm), measured at a point 12 inches (30 cm) from the narrower edge;

1910.25(d)(5)

Have a uniform tread size;

1910.25(e)

Ship stairs. In addition to paragraph (b) of this section, the employer must ensure ship stairs (see Figure D-9 of this section):

1910.25(e)(1)

Are installed at a slope of 50 to 70 degrees from the horizontal;

1910.25(e)(2)

Have open risers with a vertical rise between tread surfaces of 6.5 to 12 inches (17 to 30 cm);

1910.25(e)(3)

Have minimum tread depth of 4 inches (10 cm); and

1910.25(e)(4)

Have a minimum tread width of 18 inches (46 cm).

Figure D-9 -- Ship Stairs.

Figure D-9 — Ship Stairs.

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1910.25(f)

Alternating tread-type stairs. In addition to paragraph (b) of this section, the employer must ensure alternating tread-type stairs:

1910.25(f)(1)

Have a series of treads installed at a slope of 50 to 70 degrees from the horizontal;

1910.25(f)(2)

Have a distance between handrails of 17 to 24 inches (51 to 61 cm);

1910.25(f)(3)

Have a minimum tread depth of 8.5 inches (22 cm); and

1910.25(f)(4)

Have open risers if the tread depth is less than 9.5 inches (24 cm);

1910.25(f)(5)

Have a minimum tread width of 7 inches (18 cm), measured at the leading edge of the tread (i.e., nosing).

Figure D-10 -- Angles for Stairs, Ramps, and Ladders. Two figures showing angles for stairs, ramps, and ladders. The first shows from 90 degress to 60 degrees show for ladders. From 70 degrees to 50 degrees show for Alternating Tread-Type Stairs. From 70 degrees to 50 degrees show for Ship Stairs. From 50 degrees to 30 degrees show for Standard Stairs. From 30 degrees to 0 degree show for Ramps. The second is a table showing angle and type. For angles less than or equal to 30 degrees for Ramps. For angles 30 to 50 degrees for Standard Stairs. For angles 50 to 70 degress for Ship Stairs. For angles 50 to 70 degrees for Alternating Tread-Type Stairs. For angles 60 to 90 degrees for Ladders.

Figure D-10 — Angles for Stairs, Ramps, and Ladders.

 

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