9.8.6.2. Required Landings

This Article indicates where landings are required. In general, landings must be used to provide occupants with a level area at the top and bottom of ramps and flights of stairs, where a doorway opens onto a stair or ramp, where a ramp opens onto a stair, and where a stair opens onto a ramp. They can also be used to make changes in direction or to break a long stair or ramp into shorter runs. Excessively long stairs and ramps are psychologically intimidating and physically tiring, and can be a cause of serious falls.

Where a door at the top of a stair within a dwelling unit swings away from the stair, no landing is required between the doorway and stair. A landing may be omitted at the top of an exterior stair serving a secondary entrance to a single dwelling unit or a house with a secondary suite, provided the stair contains no more than three risers and the principal door to the entrance is a sliding door or swings away from the stair (Figure 9.8.-9).

Quoted from Illustrated User's Guide - NBC2015

Ramps in a barrier-free path of travel

Ramps in a barrier-free path of travel must conform to the requirements in NBC Article 3.8.3.5., as shown in Figure 9.8.-7

Quoted from Illustrated User's Guide - NBC2015

#ramps #barrierfree

9.8.8.6. Design of Guards to Not Facilitate Climbing

This Article requires that guards that protect a level located more than 4.2 m (13 ft. 9 3/8 in.) above the adjacent level, except for those in industrial occupancies, be designed so that no member, attachment or opening located between 140 and 900 mm (5 1/2 and 36 in.) above the level protected by the guard facilitates climbing. Such guards must not be constructed with decorative features that young children could use as a foothold.

Some configurations of members, attachments or openings may be part of a guard design and still comply with NBC Sentence 9.8.8.6.(1). Figures 9.8.-21 to 9.8.-23 present a few examples of designs that are considered to not facilitate climbing.

Quoted from Illustrated User's Guide - NBC2015

#openings #guards #climbing

Dimensions for Rectangular Treads

The limits on the run, together with those on the rise, control the steepness of stairs, which is also a factor in accidents. The minimum run, which is equal to the minimum tread depth, is intended to provide sufficient room to accommodate the length of a foot. Insufficient tread depth causes users to walk sideways to get sufficient foot support, increasing the risk of missteps. The maximum run, on the other hand, is intended to prevent users from having to take more than a single stride between steps, which would decrease the speed of travel. The maximum tread depth is intended to prevent excessive nosing projection. 

The dimensional requirements for steps with rectangular treads in private and public stairs are summarized in Figure 9.8.-2. 

Height over Stairs

These clear heights are intended to provide sufficient headroom clearance to prevent a reasonably tall adult from making accidental head contact with the ceiling or other objects at that height (e.g., light fixtures, sprinklers heads, or piping). The lower minimum clear height for stairs in dwelling units is rationalized on the basis of greater occupant familiarity. 

The clear height requirements for stairs are illustrated in Figure 9.8.-1.

Quoted from Illustrated User's Guide - NBC2015