Help your clients ensure their property’s stairways are code compliant – and safe

In this post, Novita examines stair and rail system safety. Property owners are responsible for maintaining a relatively safe environment – premises liability – as a guest or employee can sue for injuries if there is a slip and fall on stairs due to unsecured or weak railings, improperly positioned risers and treads, poorly maintained treads, improper gaps in stairs or railing systems, etc.

Staircase and stairway accidents were found to be the second leading cause of accidental injury, next to motor vehicle accidents. In the US, there are 12,000 stairway accidental deaths annually. In those 65 and older, falls are the leading cause of accidental death.

Every year, an average of over one million injuries occur as a result of falling down stairs.

The American Journal of Emergency Medicine, 2017

Building codes and regulations are working to address conditions and lessen or mitigate contributing factors in stairway accidents.

ICC/OSHA, IRC and IBC

Communities across the US have sets of rules for builders and other building trade professionals governing construction practices. The intent is to ensure the safety of all aspects of building construction. Local codes often vary from location to location, but most are based on model codes created on a national or international level by committees or councils consisting of recognized trade professionals.

The International Code Council (ICC), an organization responsible for both the International Building Code (IBC) and the International Residential Code (IRC), govern commercial and residential building and remodeling practices, respectively, and are the basis for most local code regulations. The International Code Council (ICC), in conjunction with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) create and set guidelines and requirements to ensure the safety of any premise, whether commercial or residential.

The International Building Code (IBC) regulates any set of stairs used by the public, including any stairway that connects a building to a public space. These regulations must account for the safety of every type of person — including children and the elderly. Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Fixed Industrial Stair regulations (1910.24) govern the design, construction and use of both interior and exterior stairs used to access equipment, machinery, tanks, elevated platforms, other floors, or pits.

IBC/OSHA

The insurance industry relies on compliance with these codes when evaluating the insurability of both commercial and residential properties. Insurance companies follow the minimum requirements set by OSHA as well as local and state laws. They may also require additional safety measures necessary to reduce risks and potential danger that may result in a liability claim against a specific property.

The International Residential Code (IRC) is responsible for minimum requirements for building stairs to assure a level of safety to the public. Many aspects are looked at including the height, width, and length of each area.

IRC

These requirements often vary by state, county, and local ordinances but most conform to standards issued by the ICC and OSHA. Not following these standards can put people at risk. It can also cause a property owner a significant amount of money due to fines and higher insurance premiums.

Many believe it’s only older individuals that primarily fall down the stairs. Although a high portion of those in the study were older adults, the highest statistic (67.2%) underscores it was a combination of older adults, along with younger children.

The American Journal of Emergency Medicine, 2017

When working with your insurance clients, it’s important to have them take a critical look at a property to ensure it is in compliance with current codes and additional, enhanced safety measures. Not doing so may impact not only overall coverage cost, but even their ability to obtain coverage.

Common Stairway Terms

Stringer: The stringer is the entire sawtooth-shaped member or support upon which risers and tread rest. Typically there are least two stringers per staircase. Alternatively, solid side stringers with no sawtooth anchor the treads using metal connectors and no risers, creating an open appearance. Another design – growing in popularity – is the “floating” staircase, using a single center beam to support treads and having no riser, or designs that anchor treads to a structural element (i.e., a wall) on one side.

Riser: A riser is the vertical measurement of each stair. Risers can either be enclosed or left open, as in deck or basement stairs. The board that encloses the back of the step is also called a riser.

Tread: The tread is the horizontal section of each stair, sometimes called the run. This is the surface the user steps on.

Landing: A landing is a platform between two flights of stairs. It is also the approach space at the top and bottom of the stairs.

Nosing: The section of the tread that overhangs the riser below.

Staircase width: Width refers to the length of risers and treads from side to side. For code requirements, the minimum staircase width is the horizontal dimension between the sidewalls of a staircase, measured above the handrail(s).

Headroom: Headroom is the vertical dimension from the stair treads to the ceiling directly above. It is measured from a sloping imaginary line that connects all of the stair nosings

Baluster: The vertical guards that support the handrails along staircase and guardrails on landings.

Railings: Guardrails and handrails are critical safety feature on outdoor and indoor stairs, and ramps:

• A guardrail is located near the open sides of elevated walking surfaces to minimize the possibility of a fall from the walking surface (landings, platforms, decks, porches, and similar structures) to a lower level.
• A handrail is a horizontal or sloping rail intended for grasping by the hand for guidance or support. Handrails may be installed along stairways, balconies or walkways.

For an in-depth look at current ICC/OSHA and IRC (CA adaptation) requirements and regulations regarding the maximum/minimum heights of stair risers (currently maximum is 7 3/4”); tread run depth (currently 10-11” minimum); headroom (6’8” minimum); staircase landing width (minimum 36” in direction of travel); staircase/stairwell lighting requirements; railings (both handrail and guardrail minimum and maximum heights, widths, loads, clearances, and spacing); and balusters (space between them must be 4” or less). For more in-depth information, check the embedded links.

Some cities and states add in their own additional rules, so be sure to have clients check with their local building department for current guidelines in a specific area. While not every municipality adopts every part of every code, the insurance industry does use ICC as the foundation for its best practices and underwriting guidelines.

For assistance with Commercial LRO, contact Novita’s team. Your clients count on you; you can count on us.