Monday, December 02, 2024
Residential Stair Code Basics
Fine Homebuilding: Stairs are essentially the obstacle course of buildings, and along with bathrooms, they are one of the most hazardous features in a house. Unlike with water heaters, electrical service, or fire-protection safety features, the safety of stairs is directly related to how the occupant uses them. If we all got on our knees and slowly crawled up and down every set of stairs, fall-related injuries would cease.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Staircases are not a topic I often think about, but after a semester of learning about production and building sets, I have a new appreciation for the regulation of staircase dimensions. The information in this article made me think about the stairs in my own home, which was built in the 1920s, and how some flights of stairs are near impossible to navigate in a practical manner. The article says that these regulations have been in place for several generations, so I am not sure whether the 1920s is too long ago to be included within that range. However, at least two flights of stairs in my house are definitely not to regulation. The basement stairs are taller than is practical, and the bottom step is at least 2 inches higher than the rest of the steps. In addition, the three steps leading from the back door up to the first floor are too steep to be safe, and the rise is angle so that your foot can easily catch on it as you lift your foot to the next step.
Post a Comment