Exterior Stair Design Software

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PowerSTAIRS is the ideal software solution for the parametric design of standard and custom-made staircases. With PowerSTAIRS the design and the production of staircases is within everybody’s reach: the user doesn’t need to draw any part, then he simply has to choose the staircase type and enter the required data (dimensions, thickness, etc.).

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Building stair stringers:

How should stair support stringers be constructed and connected, what alternative materials can be used & what are the stair stringer building code specifications for strength & load bearing requirements.

Codes & strength requirements for stair support systems; how to build safe stair stringers that don't sag, squeak, collapse, or lose their treads.

This article describes the construction and building code specifications for the support of residential stairways: how strong should the stringers be, and what are the load bearing requirements of stairs and their supporting stringer beams.

We also provide a MASTER INDEX to this topic, or you can try the page top or bottom SEARCH BOX as a quick way to find information you need.

Stair Stringer Codes & Specifications: required strength for stair supports

Stair Tread Support Choices & Relation to Stair Stringer Notching

  1. Stair treads can be placed directly on top of the horizontal surface of cutouts in the notched stair stringer.
    This approach is very secure provided that the stringer depth is great enough and the cutout depth shallow enough that the remaining stringer material is strong enough to carry the weight of the stairway and its users (1-? arrow in sketch at left).
    [Click to enlarge any image]
    Of course if the stairway is supported by securing the stringer to walls on both sides, this cutout depth weakness problem is mitigated or eliminated.
    More about too-deep stringer notching is in our stair stringer defects article at DECK STAIR STRINGER NOTCHING TOO DEEP.
  2. Stair treads can be placed between the stringers and supported by cleats or supported by grooves routed inside the un-notched stringer.
    If the stair treads are set into grooves routed into the stringer, in a 2x stringer the groove depth should be 1/2 the thickness of the stringer (typically 3/4') and additional support by cleats or by gluing and end-screwing through the stringer sides into the treads is good practice.
  3. Stair treads butted against an un-grooved stringer inner face and then nailed or screwed through the stringer into the stair tread.
    Watch out: We do not recommend this stair tread approach as too often we find the treads break away from the stringer causing catastrophic stair tread collapse and perhaps serious injuries. If you encounter a stair built this way you should add glued & screwed cleats to support the treads.
    Also see UNSAFE STAIR TREAD TO STRINGER CONNECTIONS

Reader Question: sagging stairway: is there a code I can check on stair stringer construction?

Rich O said:

So, used improper terminology below, believe I should have used 'stringer' versus 'riser', the entire 12' stringer (wood construction) is now deflecting as if a support has failed. Thanks again, Rich

My house in Westminster CO is just out of warranty and one of the staircase risers has started to visibly deflect (and squeak) when traversing the stairs. I've requested the builder take a look, in the meanwhile, is there a specific code I can refer to in order to ascertain if the stair was properly constructed? Thanks, Rich

Reply: Model building code specifications for stair support stringers

Yes a riser is the vertical board enclosing the space between horizontal walking surfaces, i.e. treads. The stringer is the support for the stairs - it functions as an angled beam and must support both the dead loads and live loads of the building stairway.

Let's be clear first that a significant concern with the strength of supporting stair stringers (effectively angle beams) arise because a typical 2x12' (or rarely 2x14') stringer is in some stair designed notched to carry the stair treads on the horizontal notch face and stair risers on the vertical notch face.

My deck stair photo at left shows very deep notching in a stair stringer (as well as multiple other safety hazards and code violations). Less than 2' of lumber was left in this stair stringer 2x after the builder cut his tread notches.

Notched stair stringers are widely used and are acceptable if sufficient supporting strength is provided. I prefer to avoid deflection or even collapse problems by using a solid stringer, connecting stair treads to cleats.

It's also worth emphasizing that in all cases the connections are as important as the beam strength. The connections of stair stringer to the risen-to platform, of treads to stringer, and of railings and posts are critical for safe stair construction.

Those worries out of the way for a moment and assuming your question pertains to a notched stair stringer system that is sagging or deflecting, if a stair stringer is deflecting, depending on the amount, it may be damaged or may have been inadequate to begin with.

For safety, investigate and determine what repair or additional support is needed.

Because stringer notch depth for designs that actually notch the 2x12 or 2x14 framing lumber typically used can vary depending on stair design, codes do not specify explicit lumber dimensions. Instead codes typically specify the strength required of the ending design. One may need to increase the number of stringers accordingly.

For example the IRC specifies that stairs shall be designed to withstand a live load of 40 pounds - as with a building floor.

Tool

Individual stair treads shall be designed for the uniformly distributed live load or a 300–pound concentrated load acting over an area of 4 square inches, whichever produces the greater stresses.

Before an inspection has been performed we don't know if the deflection of the stair stringer to which you refer is due to damage (rot for example) or a design inadequacy. But the initial focus must be on the detection of and response to any *immediate safety hazard* such as conditions that could permit a stair collapse, fall, or injury.

Here is a model building code citation for stair stringer support requirements for residential stairs
using the 2003 IRC.

R301.5 Live Load [Specifications for Stair Construction]

Minimum required live load for Stairs 40 psf. c.

c. Individual stair treads shall be designed for the uniformly distributed live load or a 300-pound concentrated load acting over an area of 4 square inches, whichever produces the greater stresses.

301.1.1 Alternative provisions [for supporting stair stringers]

As an alternative to the requirements in Section R301.1 the following standards are permitted subject to the limitations of this code and the limitations therein. Where engineered design is used in conjunction with these standards the design shall comply with the International Building Code.

1. American Forest and Paper Association (AF&PA) Wood Frame Construction Manual (WFCM).

2. American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), Standard for Cold-Formed Steel Framing—Prescriptive Method for One- and Two-family Dwellings (COFS/PM).

Stair Support Stringer Analysis & Strength Requirements Code & Study Citations

Rich: I wanted to add that in addition to the important Frank Lam (et als) study of stair support stringers, one of the most thoughtful articles I've found on stair stringer design addresses the lack of specificity of stair stringer design in the model codes and provides some helpful engineering analysis and assumptions. See the first stair stringer code and strength requirement citation just below.

  • Christopher R. Fournier, P.E., 'Wood Framed Stair Stringer Design & Construction', Structure Magazine, March 2013, p. 45-46. Mr. Fournier is a structural engineer in North Conway NH. His article is available online, retrieved 4/19/14 original source: www.structuremag.org/Archives/2013-3/C-StrucDesign-Fournier-March13.pdf
  • Aghayere, Abi, and Jason Vigil. 'Introduction: Wood Properties, Species, and Grades.' Structural Wood Design: A Practice-Oriented Approach Using the ASD Method: 1-24.
  • Aghayere, Abi, and Jason Vigil. 'Frontmatter.' Structural Wood Design: A Practice-Oriented Approach Using the ASD Method (2008): i-xii. [See Chapter 27, 'Combined Dead and Live Loads on Stair Stringers']
  • Berge, Greg Vanden. Simplified Stair Building. Greg Vanden Berge, 2012.
  • De Tennis, Danielle. 'Strength Testing and Analysis of a Stair Header Connection.' PhD diss., Milwaukee School of Engineering, 2010.
  • Higgins, Christopher. 'Prefabricated steel stair performance under combined seismic and gravity loads.' Journal of structural engineering 135, no. 2 (2009): 122-129.
  • Kourakis, Ioannis, and Shawn Li. 'Design of a Glass Stair.' In Structures Congress 2010, pp. 2650-2659. ASCE, 2010.
  • Lam, Frank, George Lee, Huijun Yan, Jianzhong Gu, and Ata A. Saravi. 'Structural performance of wood-based stair stringers.' Forest products journal 54, no. 4 (2004).

The preceding citations focus on the supporting stringer used in stair construction and on angled beams and strength requirements. For a complete list of stair building codes see the two live links immediately below.

  • BUILDING CODES for STAIRS - Model & actual building codes for stairs, railings, guardrails, landings, risers, treads, and steps
  • CODES for STAIRS & RAILINGS - Specifications for Stairs, railings, guardrails, landings, treads, & steps based on model & actual building codes

...


Continue reading at STAIR STRINGER DEFECTS for exact procedures for laying out and cutting a stair stringer. or select a topic from closely-related articles below, or see our complete INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES below.

Or see DECK STAIR BUILDING DETAILS

Suggested citation for this web page

STAIR STRINGER SPECIFICATIONS at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to STAIRS RAILINGS LANDINGS RAMPS

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Technical Reviewers & References

  • [3] 'The Elimination of Unsafe Guardrails, a Progress Report,' Elliott O. Stephenson, Building Standards, March-April 1993
  • [4] 'Are Functional Handrails Within Our Grasp' Jake Pauls, Building Standards, January-February 1991
  • [5] Access Ramp building codes:
    • UBC 1003.3.4.3
    • BOCA 1016.3
    • ADA 4.8.2
    • IBC 1010.2
  • [6] Access Ramp Standards:
    • ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), Public Law 101-336. 7/26/90 is very often cited by other sources for good design of stairs and ramps etc. even where disabled individuals are not the design target.
    • ANSI A117.4 Accessible and Usable buildings and Facilities (earlier version was incorporated into the ADA)
    • ASTM F 1637, Standard Practice for Safe Walking Surfaces, (Similar to the above standard
  • [7] The Circular Staircase, Mary Roberts Rinehart
  • [8] Construction Drawings and Details, Rosemary Kilmer
  • [9] Falls and Related Injuries: Slips, Trips, Missteps, and Their Consequences, Lawyers & Judges Publishing, (June 2002), ISBN-10: 0913875430 ISBN-13: 978-0913875438
    'Falls in the home and public places are the second leading cause of unintentional injury deaths in the United States, but are overlooked in most literature. This book is unique in that it is entirely devoted to falls. Of use to primary care physicians, nurses, insurance adjusters, architects, writers of building codes, attorneys, or anyone who cares for the elderly, this book will tell you how, why, and when people will likely fall, what most likely will be injured, and how such injuries come about. '
  • [10] Mobile Home Inspections common defects unique to factory built housing, inspection methods
  • [11] The National Institute of Standards and Technology, NIST (nee National Bureau of Standards NBS) is a US government agency - see www.nist.gov
    • 'A Parametric Study of Wall Moisture Contents Using a Revised Variable Indoor Relative Humidity Version of the 'Moist' Transient Heat and Moisture Transfer Model [copy on file as/interiors/MOIST_Model_NIST_b95074.pdf ] - ', George Tsongas, Doug Burch, Carolyn Roos, Malcom Cunningham; this paper describes software and the prediction of wall moisture contents. - PDF Document from NI
  • [12] Slips, Trips, Missteps and Their Consequences, Second Edition, Gary M. Bakken, H. Harvey Cohen,A. S. Hyde, Jon R. Abele, ISBN-13: 978-1-933264-01-1 or ISBN 10: 1-933264-01-2, available from the publisher, Lawyers ^ Judges Publishing Company,Inc., www.lawyersandjudges.com sales@lawyersandjudges.com and also from the InspectAPedia Bookstore (Amazon.com)
  • [13] Slips, Trips, Missteps and Their Consequences, Gary M. Bakken, H. Harvey Cohen, Jon R. Abele, Alvin S. Hyde, Cindy A. LaRue, Lawyers and Judges Publishing; ISBN-10: 1933264012 ISBN-13: 978-1933264011
  • [14] The Stairway Manufacturers' Association, (877) 500-5759, provides a pictorial guide to the stair and railing portion of the International Residential Code. [copy on file as http://www.stairways.org/pdf/2006%20Stair%20IRC%20SCREEN.pdf ] -
  • [14a] 'Visual Interpretation Of The International Residential Code (IRC) 2006 Stair Building Code', The Stairway Manufacturers Association, [Portions of this document reproduce sections from the 2006 International Residential Code, International Code Council, Falls Church, Virginia.},
    The Stairway Manufacturers Association website stairways.org provides free downloads of stairway handrailing profiles and dimensions
  • [15] How to Clean Moldy Wood Framing & Sheathing How to clean/seal mold from/on exposed lumber or plywood subfloor or roof sheathing indoors - some suggestions based on our field and laboratory research
  • [16] Mold-Resistant Building Practices, advice from an expert on how to prevent mold after a building flood and how to prevent mold growth in buildings by selection of building materials and by anti-mold construction details.
  • [17] Steps and Stairways, Cleo Baldon & Ib Melchior, Rizzoli, 1989.
  • [18] The Staircase, Ann Rinaldi
  • [19] Common Sense Stairbuilding and Handrailing, Fred T. Hodgson
  • [20] The Art of Staircases, Pilar Chueca
  • [21] Building Stairs, by pros for pros, Andy Engel
  • [22] A Simplified Guide to Custom Stairbuilding, George R. Christina
  • [23] Basic Stairbuilding, Scott Schuttner
  • [24] The Staircase (two volumes), John Templar, Cambridge: the MIT Press, 1992
  • [25] The Staircase: History and Theories, John Templar, MIT Press 1995
  • [26] Steps and Stairways, Cleo Baldon & Ib Melchior, Rizzoli, 1989.
  • [27] 'The Dimensions of Stairs', J. M. Fitch et al., Scientific American, October 1974.
  • [28] Stair & Walkway Standards for Slipperiness or Coefficient of Friction (COF) or Static Coefficient of Friction (SCOF)
    • ANSI A1264.2
    • ANSI B101
    • ASTM D-21, and ASTM D2047
    • UL-410 (similar to ASTM D-21)
    • NSFI 101-B (National Floor Safety Institute)
    • NSFI Walkway Auditing Guideline (WAG) Ref. 101-A& 101-B (may appear as ANSI B101.0) sets rules for measuring walkway slip resist
    • OSHA - (Dept of Labor CFR 1910.22 does not specify COF and pertains to workplaces) but recognizes the need for a 'qualified person' to evaluate walkway slipperiness
    • ADA (relies on the ANSI and ASTM standards)
  • [29] A. Sacher, International Symposium on Slip Resistance: The Interface of Man, Footwear, and Walking Surfaces, Journal of Testing and Evaluation (JTE), ISSN: 1945-7553, January 1997 [more focused on slipperiness of polished surfaces
  • [30] Algae is widely recognized as a slippery surface - a Google web search for 'how slippery is algae on steps' produced more than 15,000 results on 8/29/12)
  • [31] Slipperiness of algae on walking surfaces, warning, Royal Horticultural Society, retrieved 8/29/2012, original source: http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/profile.aspx?pid=418
  • [32] Slipperiness of algae: 'Watch your step, wet rocks and algae are slippery' Oregon State University warning 1977 retrieved 8/29/2012, original source: http://www.worldcat.org/title/watch-your-step-wet-rocks-and-algae-are-slippery/oclc/663683915
  • [33] Coefficient of friction of algae on surfaces [like stair treads]: Delphine Gourdon, Qi Lin, Emin Oroudjev, Helen Hansma, Yuval Golan, Shoshana Arad, and Jacob Israelachvili, 'Adhesion and Stable Low Friction Provided by a Subnanometer-Thick Monolayer of a Natural Polysaccharide', Langmuir, 2008 pp 1534-1540, American Chemical Society, retrieved 8/29/2012,
    Abstract: Using a surface forces apparatus, we have investigated the adhesive and lubrication forces of mica surfaces separated by a molecularly thin, subnanometer film of a high-molecular-weight (2.3 MDa) anionic polysaccharide from the algae Porphyridium sp. adsorbed from aqueous solution. The adhesion and friction forces of the confined biopolymer were monitored as a function of time, shearing distance, and driving velocity under a large range of compressive loads (pressures). Although the thickness of the dilute polysaccharide was <1 nm, the friction was low (coefficient of friction = 0.015), and no wear was ever observed even at a pressure of 110 atm over 3 decades of velocity, so long as the shearing distances were less than twice the contact diameter. Atomic force microscopy in solution shows that the biopolymer is able to adsorb to the mica surface but remains mobile and easily dragged upon shearing. The adhesion (adsorption) of this polysaccharide even to negatively charged surfaces, its stable low friction, its robustness (high-load carrying capacity and good wear protection), and the weak (logarithmic) dependence of the friction force on the sliding velocity make this class of polyelectrolytes excellent candidates for use in water-based lubricant fluids and as potential additives to synovial fluid in joints and other biolubricating fluids. The physical reasons for the remarkable tribological properties of the ultrathin polysaccharide monolayer are discussed and appear to be quite different from those of other polyelectrolytes and proteins that act as thick “polymer brush” layers.
  • [34] Jinjin Li, Yuhong Liu, Jianbin Luo, Pengxiao Liu, and Chenhui Zhang, 'Excellent Lubricating Behavior of Brasenia schreberi Mucilage' Langmuir 2012 28 (20), 7797-7802
  • [35] Jason R. Stokes, Lubica Macakova, Agnieszka Chojnicka-Paszun, Cornelis G. de Kruif, and Harmen H. J. de Jongh, 'Lubrication, Adsorption, and Rheology of Aqueous Polysaccharide Solutions, Langmuir 2011 27 (7), 3474-3484
  • [36] 'Coefficients of Friction for Ice', The Physics Factbook™, Glenn Elert, Ed., retrieved 8/29/12, original source: http://hypertextbook.com/facts/2004/GennaAbleman.shtml
  • [37] 'Coefficients of Friction for Ice', The University of the State of New York Reference Tables for Physical Setting/Physics. New York: The State Education Department, 2002. Op. Cit.
  • [38] Serway Physics for Scientists and Engineers 4th edition (p. 126.)
  • [39] 'How Slippery Is It', retrieved 8/29/12, original source http://www.icebike.org/Articles/howslippery.htm
  • [40] John E. Hunter, 'Friction Values', The Source, Society of Accident Reconstructionists, Winter 1998. Study of frictional values of car tires involved in collisions on snow or ice covered roadways.
  • [41] Frictional Coefficients of some Common Materials and Materials Combinations, The Engineering Toolbox, retrieved 8/29/2012, original source: http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/friction-coefficients-d_778.html [copy on file as Friction and Coefficients of Friction.pdf ]
  • [42] Stairways and Ladders, A Guide to OSHA Rules, OSHA, U.S. Department of Labor, 3124-12R 2003 - Web Search 05/28/2010 original source: http://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3124.pdf. OSHA regulations govern standards in the construction industry and in the workforce Quoting from OSHA whose focus is on workplace safety and so excludes discussion of falls and stair-falls in private homes:

    OSHA estimates that there are 24,882 injuries and as many as 36 fatalities per year due to falls from stairways and ladders used in construction. Nearly half of these injuries are serious enough to require time off the job--11,570 lost workday injuries and 13,312 non-lost workday injuries occur annually due to falls from stairways and ladders used in construction. These data demonstrate that work on and around ladders and stairways is hazardous. More importantly, they show that compliance with OSHA's requirements for the safe use of ladders and stairways could have prevented many of these injuries. -osha.gov/doc/outreachtraining/htmlfiles/stairlad.html

  • [43] International Building Code, Stairway Provisions, Section 1009: Stairways and Handrails, retrieved 8/29/12, original source: http://www.amezz.com/ibc-stairs-code.htm [copy on file as IBC Stairs Code.pdf]
  • [44] Model Building Code, Chapter 10, Means of Egress, retrieved 8/29/12, original source: http://www2.iccsafe.org/states/newjersey/NJ_Building/PDFs/NJ_Bldg_Chapter10.pdf, [copy on file as NJ_Bldg_Chapter10.pdf] adopted, for example by New Jersey. International Code Council, 500 New Jersey Avenue, NW, 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20001, Tel: 800-786-4452
  • Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, by Steven Bliss. John Wiley & Sons, 2006. ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, Hardcover: 320 pages, available from Amazon.com and also Wiley.com. See our book review of this publication.
  • Decks and Porches, the JLC Guide to, Best Practices for Outdoor Spaces, Steve Bliss (Editor), The Journal of Light Construction, Williston VT, 2010 ISBN 10: 1-928580-42-4, ISBN 13: 978-1-928580-42-3, available from Amazon.com

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  • POST a QUESTION or READ FAQs about Exterior Stair Code Specifications & Construction

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Exterior stairway construction details & suggestions for safe stairways:

This document provides building photographs, and examples of defects found in inspecting indoor or outdoor stairs, railings, landings, treads, and related conditions for safety and proper construction. We include references to articles cataloging the causes of stair slips, trips, and falls and to building code specification details for proper stair, landing, balcony and railing construction.

We also provide a MASTER INDEX to this topic, or you can try the page top or bottom SEARCH BOX as a quick way to find information you need.

Exterior Stair Code Specifications & Construction Recommendations

A stair inspection checklist provided in this document outlines information to collect during a field investigation of the condition of an interior or exterior stairway for safety defects.

While in general the building code specifications for exterior stairs, landings, and railings are the same as for indoor star is, we often see special trip hazards at exterior stairs and walks, conditions that do not occur indoors, and details which may escape some building inspectors.

When we encounter steps and a deck such as the version shown in our photo (above left) we are confident that the construction was done without the benefit of building permits and code approvals, is unsafe, and may harbor other hidden structural or safety hazards.

And some stair design requirements, such as stair treads that will not hold water, naturally pertain principally to outdoor stairways. We add some more subtle warnings about outdoor stairs and stair construction, and tips or tricks of carpentry and masonry to avoid problems with stairs.

Construction Requirements for Safe Outdoor Steps, Stairs, Railings, Newel Posts

  • Proper structural support for the stair assembly is critical to avoid catastrophic failures and serious injuries.
    Our two stair photos just above and below show a large, complex exterior stair built along a rocky hillside - more of a cliff. The lack of connection of supporting posts to piers below this stair was appalling.

See details at NEWEL POST CONSTRUCTION

  • Proper exterior stair tread drainage: Outdoor stairs should be designed so as not to accumulate water on the tread surface Wet stair tread surfaces become slippery from water, ice, or algae and fungal growth.
    Watch out: as we detail at EXTERIOR STAIR FALLS, algae, ice, snow and water make outdoor stairs very slippery and dangerous.
  • Wooden stair treads should be installed with the end grain curve 'down' vs 'up': which way?
    Notice the end-grain of boards to be used as stair treads, and make sure that when building a wooden outdoor stair tread you place the tread boards with the 'bark side' down - the wood grain visible at the end of stair tread boards should arc down.
    The image shown at left, courtesy S. Bliss, Best Practices in Residential Construction, depicts the end grain of wooden deck boards stair treads as they would appear if you had placed the bark side down.
    The bark side of lumber determines the natural curvature of the tread board as the wood dries, and it makes for the best stair tread drainage and the minimum cupping or or holding of water on the stair tread. But which way is right: bark side up or bark side down.
  • Not all carpenters don't agree with this sketch as shown here and would have flipped these boards (or stair treads over).
    Details about this construction safety tip are at BARK SIDE UP on DECKS & STEPS. There we include this additional warning:
    Watch out: On wooden decks and stair treads a defect shelling can occur with the bark side down method. Shelling is a term used by some builders to refer to the loss of portions of a board surface as late wood growth (the outer surface of the tree and thus the 'bark side' of the board) separates from early wood growth (the inner portion of the tree or the tree-center side of the board).
  • If after construction a deck or stair tread board misbehaves and cures with a concave cup that will tend to hold water (and form algae, ice and slip hazards such as discussed at Slippery Stairs, Walks), drill small drainage holes in the center of the cupped board.
    Make sure the drain holes won't catch a high-heeled shoe by making them small or locating them out of the walking path.

Exterior Stairs - Incomplete, Unsafe, Missing Guardrails

The exterior stair shown above appears to have been installed as a fire-exit way, but lacks a guardrail around the stair top balcony. It is exactly during an emergency that a frightened user is more likely to fall at this location.

Safety & design questions for sloped, pitched, & narrow exterior masonry steps

Reader Question:

My mother is elderly and is moving from her home to a co-op building. Her unit is on the first floor and her patio is served by an outdoor staircase made of flagstone steps.

There is a steep incline to the steps, and they seem to be too narrow for the incline. We have asked the board of the co-op if we can widen each step from their current width of 23 1/2 inches to 30 inches.

The board is opposing our request to widen the steps on aesthetic grounds, and not considering my mother's safety. They are allowing us to rebuild the staircase, as it was poorly built to begin with.

Is there a way to determine what the proper width of each flagstone should be (side to side) based on the incline of the staircase?

What I would like to do if possible is to show the board from a mathematical standpoint what the proper width of the steps (from side to side) should be in relation to the steepness of the incline.

If I can't appeal to them on ethical or moral grounds, maybe I can convince them that it's the proper thing to do based on the incline to create a safe staircase for my mother.

I have attached some photos below for reference, however they really don't show how steep the steps actually are when you try to climb them especially when they're wet or icy or have snow on them.

A wider step from side to side would definitely make one feel more confident negotiating the steps up and down. I appreciate any technical input or knowledge you can provide that would help me with my request to the board. Thank you. P.O. 11/10/2012

Recommended stairway width for an exterior stair

P.O.

From your photos, two of which we include above, I see a trip hazard where someone routes a garden hose across a stair tread - the hose can easily wind up in the walking path and is a serious trip hazard for anyone, young or elderly.

Design

In a companion article STAIR DIMENSIONS, WIDTH, HEIGHT you can read standard stair measurements. There you'll find that the stairs you describe are more narrow in width than recommended.

You will want to involve the local building code officials in the jurisdiction where your mom's stairs are located. But we point out that in general, the minimum recommended stair width is between 34' and 36' Across the width of the tread.

Private stairways shall be a minimum of thirty-six inches wide. Trim and handrails may not encroach into this
minimum width by more than 3 1/2 inches.

The maximum rise of each step is eight inches; the minimum rise is four inches.

The minimum run is nine inches. The largest tread width or riser height in any flight of stairs
shall not exceed the smallest by more than 3/8 inch. - stair codes vary; this quote is from he CBC 1003.3.3 Stairways and Landings model code

The stairs you describe are a less than the minimum recommended width, and in my OPINION we should do all feasible to make stairs safe and navigable particularly where their users are known to include people at extra risk of falling injuries.

Recommended pitch for drainage on exterior stairs

In a second companion article STEP TREAD DIMENSIONS you will see that although it makes perfect sense to provide a slight slope to exterior stair treads so that they will drain, the slope must be very slight, not more than 1 inch of rise in 48' of run.

The 'incline' of the stairway - a consideration in your original question - does not determine the recommended stairway width. But indeed if the steps are too pitched (say for aggressive drainage) that excessive pitch is itself a trip and fall hazard.

Stair tread slope (out of level on walking surface) - (slope or 'rise' must be <= 1 in 48) -- Source: IRC

Other things to check for exterior stair & walkway safety

  • Is the riser height uniform and in the recommended height range - (<= 7.75' high and with no variation > 3/8') ?
  • The minimum recommended stair landing length is 36' (or a length and width sufficiently greater than the swing of the door if a wider door is present. So the ending of the stairs (not shown in your photos) may also need improvement.
  • Even if the total rise of the stairs is small enough (3 ft. or less total change in elevation from ground level at first step to topmost step height in many jurisdictions), I'd recommend a handrailing. My own mother, also elderly, has tripped on a dead flat surface, and easily falls on even a single step.
  • Check that the exterior stair walking surfaces are level when measured side-to-side - in your photos the stairs look to as if they might be out of level in two directions.

Reader Question: Do we need to install a handrailing along these exterior stairs?

We just paid alot of money for the retaining wall and steps and the contractor did not include a handrail. When we go for final inspection from the township, is there any way we can say we DON't need a handrail since there are walls on the sides? Thanks! - Anonymous [by private email] 2016/05/04

Reply:

In my opinion your stairs need a handrail.

A person who is falling won't get meaningful help in trying to arrest the fall by attempting to hold on to the wall. It's not that a properly-installed handrailing absolutely prevents falls, but it reduces them by giving the stairway user a chance to stop a fall by grabbing a secure rail. In sum, I prefer to consider safety first and code compliance second, even if the locsl inspector OKs the stairs.

Please see HANDRAILS & HANDRAILINGS for details.

Also see RAILING CODES & SPECIFICATIONS but keep in mind that your local building inspector is the final legal authority on building code requirements where you live.

Reader follow-up:

Okay. Thanks! We will do a handrail

Full Text of IRC & Other Stair Building Codes 2006, 2012

  • International Residential Code® For One- and Two- Family Dwellings, 2006, [PDF] [51MB] Retrieved 2016/09/17 original source: online ref for ICC_IRC (2006) https://law.resource.org/pub/us/code/ibr/icc.irc.2006.pdf (appendix E)
  • International Residential Code® for One- and Two- Family Dwellings, 2012 [PDF] [17 MB] Retrieved 2016/09/17 original source: online ref for IRC 2012 version https://learnframing.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/IRC.pdf (the 2012 version)

The ICC has free, limited, live, online access to some of the latest codes, but I couldn't find the free link for IRC immediately.

  • Also see Subtitle B - REGULATIONS Relating to Housing and Urban Development (Continued) [PDF] - original source www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2001-title24-vol5/pdf/CFR-2001-title24-vol5-subtitleB.pdf.
  • IRELAND (Northern Ireland) STAIR GUARD LANDING RAMP CODE [PDF] ret. 2018/11/23, original source: http://www.buildingcontrol-ni.com/assets/pdf/H2006.pdf

...


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Or see BUILDING CODE DOWNLOADS - free downloadable PDF files of building codes & standards

EXTERIOR STAIR CODE FAQs - questions and answers posted originally at this page

Or see

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EXTERIOR STAIR CONSTRUCTION & CODES at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

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Technical Reviewers & References

  • Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, by Steven Bliss. John Wiley & Sons, 2006. ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, Hardcover: 320 pages, available from Amazon.com and also Wiley.com. See our book review of this publication.
  • Eric Galow, Galow Homes, Lagrangeville, NY. Mr. Galow can be reached by email: ericgalow@gmail.com or by telephone: 914-474-6613. Mr. Galow specializes in residential construction including both new homes and repairs, renovations, and additions.
  • [3] 'The Elimination of Unsafe Guardrails, a Progress Report,' Elliott O. Stephenson, Building Standards, March-April 1993
  • [4] 'Are Functional Handrails Within Our Grasp' Jake Pauls, Building Standards, January-February 1991
  • [5] Access Ramp building codes:
    • UBC 1003.3.4.3
    • BOCA 1016.3
    • ADA 4.8.2
    • IBC 1010.2
  • [6] Access Ramp Standards:
    • ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), Public Law 101-336. 7/26/90 is very often cited by other sources for good design of stairs and ramps etc. even where disabled individuals are not the design target.
    • ANSI A117.4 Accessible and Usable buildings and Facilities (earlier version was incorporated into the ADA)
    • ASTM F 1637, Standard Practice for Safe Walking Surfaces, (Similar to the above standard
  • [7] The Circular Staircase, Mary Roberts Rinehart
  • [8] Construction Drawings and Details, Rosemary Kilmer
  • [9] Falls and Related Injuries: Slips, Trips, Missteps, and Their Consequences, Lawyers & Judges Publishing, (June 2002), ISBN-10: 0913875430 ISBN-13: 978-0913875438
    'Falls in the home and public places are the second leading cause of unintentional injury deaths in the United States, but are overlooked in most literature. This book is unique in that it is entirely devoted to falls. Of use to primary care physicians, nurses, insurance adjusters, architects, writers of building codes, attorneys, or anyone who cares for the elderly, this book will tell you how, why, and when people will likely fall, what most likely will be injured, and how such injuries come about. '
  • ...

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

  • Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, by Steven Bliss. John Wiley & Sons, 2006. ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, Hardcover: 320 pages, available from Amazon.com and also Wiley.com. See our book review of this publication.
  • Eric Galow, Galow Homes, Lagrangeville, NY. Mr. Galow can be reached by email: ericgalow@gmail.com or by telephone: 914-474-6613. Mr. Galow specializes in residential construction including both new homes and repairs, renovations, and additions.
  • [3] 'The Elimination of Unsafe Guardrails, a Progress Report,' Elliott O. Stephenson, Building Standards, March-April 1993
  • [4] 'Are Functional Handrails Within Our Grasp' Jake Pauls, Building Standards, January-February 1991
  • [5] Access Ramp building codes:
    • UBC 1003.3.4.3
    • BOCA 1016.3
    • ADA 4.8.2
    • IBC 1010.2
  • [6] Access Ramp Standards:
    • ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), Public Law 101-336. 7/26/90 is very often cited by other sources for good design of stairs and ramps etc. even where disabled individuals are not the design target.
    • ANSI A117.4 Accessible and Usable buildings and Facilities (earlier version was incorporated into the ADA)
    • ASTM F 1637, Standard Practice for Safe Walking Surfaces, (Similar to the above standard
  • [7] The Circular Staircase, Mary Roberts Rinehart
  • [8] Construction Drawings and Details, Rosemary Kilmer
  • [9] Falls and Related Injuries: Slips, Trips, Missteps, and Their Consequences, Lawyers & Judges Publishing, (June 2002), ISBN-10: 0913875430 ISBN-13: 978-0913875438
    'Falls in the home and public places are the second leading cause of unintentional injury deaths in the United States, but are overlooked in most literature. This book is unique in that it is entirely devoted to falls. Of use to primary care physicians, nurses, insurance adjusters, architects, writers of building codes, attorneys, or anyone who cares for the elderly, this book will tell you how, why, and when people will likely fall, what most likely will be injured, and how such injuries come about. '
  • [10] Mobile Home Inspections common defects unique to factory built housing, inspection methods
  • [11] The National Institute of Standards and Technology, NIST (nee National Bureau of Standards NBS) is a US government agency - see www.nist.gov
    • 'A Parametric Study of Wall Moisture Contents Using a Revised Variable Indoor Relative Humidity Version of the 'Moist' Transient Heat and Moisture Transfer Model [copy on file as/interiors/MOIST_Model_NIST_b95074.pdf ] - ', George Tsongas, Doug Burch, Carolyn Roos, Malcom Cunningham; this paper describes software and the prediction of wall moisture contents. - PDF Document from NIS
  • [12] Slips, Trips, Missteps and Their Consequences, Second Edition, Gary M. Bakken, H. Harvey Cohen,A. S. Hyde, Jon R. Abele, ISBN-13: 978-1-933264-01-1 or ISBN 10: 1-933264-01-2, available from the publisher, Lawyers ^ Judges Publishing Company,Inc., www.lawyersandjudges.com sales@lawyersandjudges.com and also from the InspectAPedia Bookstore (Amazon.com)
  • [13] Slips, Trips, Missteps and Their Consequences, Gary M. Bakken, H. Harvey Cohen, Jon R. Abele, Alvin S. Hyde, Cindy A. LaRue, Lawyers and Judges Publishing; ISBN-10: 1933264012 ISBN-13: 978-1933264011
  • [14] The Stairway Manufacturers' Association, (877) 500-5759, provides a pictorial guide to the stair and railing portion of the International Residential Code. [copy on file as http://www.stairways.org/pdf/2006%20Stair%20IRC%20SCREEN.pdf ] -
  • [15] How to Clean Moldy Wood Framing & Sheathing How to clean/seal mold from/on exposed lumber or plywood subfloor or roof sheathing indoors - some suggestions based on our field and laboratory research
  • [16] Mold-Resistant Building Practices, advice from an expert on how to prevent mold after a building flood and how to prevent mold growth in buildings by selection of building materials and by anti-mold construction details.
  • [17] Steps and Stairways, Cleo Baldon & Ib Melchior, Rizzoli, 1989.
  • [18] The Staircase, Ann Rinaldi
  • [19] Common Sense Stairbuilding and Handrailing, Fred T. Hodgson
  • [20] The Art of Staircases, Pilar Chueca
  • [21] Building Stairs, by pros for pros, Andy Engel
  • [22] A Simplified Guide to Custom Stairbuilding, George R. Christina
  • [23] Basic Stairbuilding, Scott Schuttner
  • [24] The Staircase (two volumes), John Templar, Cambridge: the MIT Press, 1992
  • [25] The Staircase: History and Theories, John Templar, MIT Press 1995
  • [26] Steps and Stairways, Cleo Baldon & Ib Melchior, Rizzoli, 1989.
  • [27] 'The Dimensions of Stairs', J. M. Fitch et al., Scientific American, October 1974.
  • [28] Stair & Walkway Standards for Slipperiness or Coefficient of Friction (COF) or Static Coefficient of Friction (SCOF)
    • ANSI A1264.2
    • ANSI B101
    • ASTM D-21, and ASTM D2047
    • UL-410 (similar to ASTM D-21)
    • NSFI 101-B (National Floor Safety Institute)
    • NSFI Walkway Auditing Guideline (WAG) Ref. 101-A& 101-B (may appear as ANSI B101.0) sets rules for measuring walkway slip resist
    • OSHA - (Dept of Labor CFR 1910.22 does not specify COF and pertains to workplaces) but recognizes the need for a 'qualified person' to evaluate walkway slipperiness
    • ADA (relies on the ANSI and ASTM standards)
  • [29] A. Sacher, International Symposium on Slip Resistance: The Interface of Man, Footwear, and Walking Surfaces, Journal of Testing and Evaluation (JTE), ISSN: 1945-7553, January 1997 [more focused on slipperiness of polished surfaces
  • [30] Algae is widely recognized as a slippery surface - a Google web search for 'how slippery is algae on steps' produced more than 15,000 results on 8/29/12)
  • [31] Slipperiness of algae on walking surfaces, warning, Royal Horticultural Society, retrieved 8/29/2012, original source: http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/profile.aspx?pid=418
  • [32] Slipperiness of algae: 'Watch your step, wet rocks and algae are slippery' Oregon State University warning 1977 retrieved 8/29/2012, original source: http://www.worldcat.org/title/watch-your-step-wet-rocks-and-algae-are-slippery/oclc/663683915
  • [33] Coefficient of friction of algae on surfaces [like stair treads]: Delphine Gourdon, Qi Lin, Emin Oroudjev, Helen Hansma, Yuval Golan, Shoshana Arad, and Jacob Israelachvili, 'Adhesion and Stable Low Friction Provided by a Subnanometer-Thick Monolayer of a Natural Polysaccharide', Langmuir, 2008 pp 1534-1540, American Chemical Society, retrieved 8/29/2012,
    Abstract: Using a surface forces apparatus, we have investigated the adhesive and lubrication forces of mica surfaces separated by a molecularly thin, subnanometer film of a high-molecular-weight (2.3 MDa) anionic polysaccharide from the algae Porphyridium sp. adsorbed from aqueous solution. The adhesion and friction forces of the confined biopolymer were monitored as a function of time, shearing distance, and driving velocity under a large range of compressive loads (pressures). Although the thickness of the dilute polysaccharide was <1 nm, the friction was low (coefficient of friction = 0.015), and no wear was ever observed even at a pressure of 110 atm over 3 decades of velocity, so long as the shearing distances were less than twice the contact diameter. Atomic force microscopy in solution shows that the biopolymer is able to adsorb to the mica surface but remains mobile and easily dragged upon shearing. The adhesion (adsorption) of this polysaccharide even to negatively charged surfaces, its stable low friction, its robustness (high-load carrying capacity and good wear protection), and the weak (logarithmic) dependence of the friction force on the sliding velocity make this class of polyelectrolytes excellent candidates for use in water-based lubricant fluids and as potential additives to synovial fluid in joints and other biolubricating fluids. The physical reasons for the remarkable tribological properties of the ultrathin polysaccharide monolayer are discussed and appear to be quite different from those of other polyelectrolytes and proteins that act as thick “polymer brush” layers.
  • [34] Jinjin Li, Yuhong Liu, Jianbin Luo, Pengxiao Liu, and Chenhui Zhang, 'Excellent Lubricating Behavior of Brasenia schreberi Mucilage' Langmuir 2012 28 (20), 7797-7802
  • [35] Jason R. Stokes, Lubica Macakova, Agnieszka Chojnicka-Paszun, Cornelis G. de Kruif, and Harmen H. J. de Jongh, 'Lubrication, Adsorption, and Rheology of Aqueous Polysaccharide Solutions, Langmuir 2011 27 (7), 3474-3484
  • [36] 'Coefficients of Friction for Ice', The Physics Factbook™, Glenn Elert, Ed., retrieved 8/29/12, original source: http://hypertextbook.com/facts/2004/GennaAbleman.shtml
  • [37] 'Coefficients of Friction for Ice', The University of the State of New York Reference Tables for Physical Setting/Physics. New York: The State Education Department, 2002. Op. Cit.
  • [38] Serway Physics for Scientists and Engineers 4th edition (p. 126.)
  • [39] 'How Slippery Is It', retrieved 8/29/12, original source http://www.icebike.org/Articles/howslippery.htm
  • [40] John E. Hunter, 'Friction Values', The Source, Society of Accident Reconstructionists, Winter 1998. Study of frictional values of car tires involved in collisions on snow or ice covered roadways.
  • [41] Frictional Coefficients of some Common Materials and Materials Combinations, The Engineering Toolbox, retrieved 8/29/2012, original source: http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/friction-coefficients-d_778.html [copy on file as Friction and Coefficients of Friction.pdf ]
  • [42] Stairways and Ladders, A Guide to OSHA Rules, OSHA, U.S. Department of Labor, 3124-12R 2003 - Web Search 05/28/2010 original source: http://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3124.pdf. OSHA regulations govern standards in the construction industry and in the workforce Quoting from OSHA whose focus is on workplace safety and so excludes discussion of falls and stair-falls in private homes:

    OSHA estimates that there are 24,882 injuries and as many as 36 fatalities per year due to falls from stairways and ladders used in construction. Nearly half of these injuries are serious enough to require time off the job--11,570 lost workday injuries and 13,312 non-lost workday injuries occur annually due to falls from stairways and ladders used in construction. These data demonstrate that work on and around ladders and stairways is hazardous. More importantly, they show that compliance with OSHA's requirements for the safe use of ladders and stairways could have prevented many of these injuries. - osha.gov/doc/outreachtraining/htmlfiles/stairlad.html

  • [43] International Building Code, Stairway Provisions, Section 1009: Stairways and Handrails, retrieved 8/29/12, original source: http://www.amezz.com/ibc-stairs-code.htm [copy on file as IBC Stairs Code.pdf]
  • [44] Model Building Code, Chapter 10, Means of Egress, retrieved 8/29/12, original source: http://www2.iccsafe.org/states/newjersey/NJ_Building/PDFs/NJ_Bldg_Chapter10.pdf, [copy on file as NJ_Bldg_Chapter10.pdf] adopted, for example by New Jersey. International Code Council, 500 New Jersey Avenue, NW, 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20001, Tel: 800-786-4452
Exterior

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  • Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, by Steven Bliss. John Wiley & Sons, 2006. ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, Hardcover: 320 pages, available from Amazon.com and also Wiley.com. See our book review of this publication.
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