Minimum 36 inch landing requirements

[Trent Tarter]

Wanting some clarification on minimum 36" landing requirements. This place is new construction and has single step/short landing at front entry (exterior side). Step is 7-3/4 inches below threshold.

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[Marc]

There are some exclusions that apply, but only if this door is not the 'required exit door'.

Is there another exit door that you don't question?

Marc

[Trent Tarter]

This is the front entry door, so it's a required exit door. Builder is trying to argue it, just wanting to make sure I am right, everything I can find in the code states that a minimum 36" landing would be required at this location.

[Jim Katen]

With things like this I just state the problem, cite the source of my opinion, and invite the builder to cite the source his opinion.

They rarely do, because the source of his opinion is usually, "that's how I've always done it."

[Marc]

This is the front entry door, so it's a required exit door. Builder is trying to argue it, just wanting to make sure I am right, everything I can find in the code states that a minimum 36" landing would be required at this location.

Sounds right. R311.4.3 (All I have is the 06" IRC)

What Jim said.

Marc

[Steven Hockstein]

R311.3 Floors and landings at exterior doors.

There shall be a landing or floor on each side of each exterior door. The width of each landing shall not be less than the door served. Every landing shall have a minimum dimension of 36 inches (914 mm) measured in the direction of travel. Exterior landings shall be permitted to have a slope not to exceed 1/4 unit vertical in 12 units horizontal (2-percent).

[Rob Amaral]

Get into what Jim said.. you'll get used to it...

[mjr6550]

As I read the code, that could meet code if it is not the required egress door. If there is more than one door, who decides which is the required egress door?

[Marc]

As I read the code, that could meet code if it is not the required egress door. If there is more than one door, who decides which is the required egress door?

No one decides. Any door that meets the egress requirements can fill in as the egress door.

Marc

[Jim Baird]

Most houses only have one 3'0" door anyway, and it is usually the one noone uses.

As I read the code, that could meet code if it is not the required egress door. If there is more than one door, who decides which is the required egress door?

No one decides. Any door that meets the egress requirements can fill in as the egress door.

Marc

[mjr6550]

As I read the code, that could meet code if it is not the required egress door. If there is more than one door, who decides which is the required egress door?

No one decides. Any door that meets the egress requirements can fill in as the egress door.

Marc

It may have seemed like a stupid question, but the code states that at least one egress door (min 32" width) shall be provided for each dwelling unit (R311.2) R311.3.2 states that doors other than the required egress door shall be provides with a landing... Then in an exception, the code states that a landing is not required where a stairway of two or fewer risers is located at the exterior side and the door does not swing out.

My point was that if that is not the required egress door, then could that landing be considered a step? I don't recall a code limit on the maximum width of a stair tread.

[Trent Tarter]

This was the front entry door. The home also has a side entry door and a garage-house door. I would consider front entry a required egress door, however I am not for sure if that's how the code views it for this type of situation.