Can an exterior staircase off a rooftop deck be a means of egress?

4 years ago

My plans have an interior spiral staircase to a 260 sq ft bedroom that leads to a 200 sq ft rooftop deck. Architect says spiral staircase can't be means of egress for spaces over 250 sq feet. Can an exterior staircase off the deck work for the egress? Thank you!

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User

4 years ago

last modified: 4 years ago

The answer depends entirely on the applicable building code and local amendments so it would help to reveal that information up front; that would help avoid such a wide range of opinions and guessing

If the code is the 2015 IRC, R311.7.10.1 describes how a spiral stair can serve as an egress inside and outside of the house. The clear width at and below the handrail must be a min. of 26" and the walk line radius should not be greater than 24.5". Min tread = 6.75"; max riser = 9.5". Min headrooms = 6-6.

I suspect the applicable code is different or amended because it apparently limits the area served by a spiral stair to 250 s.f. but in your case that doesn't seem to be a limtation.

Are you skeptical of your architect's judgement? He/she at least knows what the applicable code is and no one here does.

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Comments (22)

PRO
User
4 years ago
Nope.
dan1888
4 years ago
Make the bedroom 250.
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Djohnson Johnson
Original Author
4 years ago
Do the dimensions of the roof deck count towards the 250?
PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
4 years ago
Spiral staircases barley qualify as a stair.
Seabornman
4 years ago
I've designed exterior stairs that qualify as means of egress. Ask your architect.
Djohnson Johnson
Original Author
4 years ago
Thanks. I'm meeting with her on Monday.
cpartist
4 years ago
Why a spiral staircase? And who is using this bedroom
Djohnson Johnson
Original Author
4 years ago
The spiral staircase saves on space. The bedroom is for my partner and me.

I'm starting to come to the realization that not a lot of people are crazy about spiral staircases. Maybe it's better to go with a running staircase in case I want to sell the place in the future.

Who here is turned off by spiral staircases?
millworkman
4 years ago
As a secondary possibly more decorative set of spiral stairs, no not all all. As the primary set of stairs HELL NO!
Kristin S
4 years ago
Ditto what millworkman said.

And it’s not just resale - have you thought about how you’re going to get furniture into the room?
Djohnson Johnson
Original Author
4 years ago
I can get furniture into the room with an exterior staircase attached to the rooftop deck.
Lindsey_CA
4 years ago
No, the dimensions of the roof deck do not count towards the 250 sq. ft. limit for the bedroom.

And, no, I would never buy a home with a spiral staircase anywhere, much less one with a spiral staircase as the only means of accessing the master bedroom. It doesn’t matter that there will be a regular exterior staircase because I would not want to have to go outside every time I wanted to go to, or leave from, that bedroom.
cpartist
4 years ago
A spiral staircase is an accident waiting to happen.

I do hope that you'll have a bathroom up there!
Djohnson Johnson
Original Author
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
There's a bathroom upstairs. I think I've decided to nix the spiral staircase. I may put one on the outside for the deck.
worthy
4 years ago
not a lot of people are crazy about spiral staircases.

Especially when topped off by a skylight.
Djohnson Johnson
Original Author
4 years ago
I'm not skeptical of the architect's judgement at all. Just playing with the options.
PRO
Virgil Carter Fine Art
4 years ago
Djohnson Johnson
Original Author
4 years ago
lol
User
4 years ago
I would not solicit the advice of anyone who did not know the location of the project.
PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
"Who here is turned off by spiral staircases?"

But only if it is located on the Earth.
User
4 years ago
Sometimes you just have to go with what works.

If acceptable to the local code official, an alternating tread stair can be good solution for access to a small space but not 250 s.f.
Djohnson Johnson thanked User

Can an exterior staircase off a rooftop deck be a means of egress?

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