stairs and building codes

[WendyW]

Since we won't be building a dream home any time in this century, this is purely a curiosity question. How to people build stairways like these and get them by all the building codes that require railings and specific sizes of treads?

[Gitel in nj]

Since I deal with building departments ALL the time including stair, rail and egress issues, I would imagine that those stairs are built WITHOUT a building permit. Either they never take a permit out--or they install them AFTER the CO has been issued.

And after looking even more closely--you will notice that at least the first two are built in Europe where I am guessing they do not have as strict building codes. You will notice that the one that says it is in NYC does have railings and I am betting the rise and the run meet building code.

[Trudy]

I'm sure Gitel is right but I was also thinking maybe they were able to get a building code variance.

[Colleen OH]

I like the one with the drawer in every step.

[Gitel in nj]

I'm sure Gitel is right but I was also thinking maybe they were able to get a building code variance.

Variances are for land use/bulk issues, not "life safety".

This is a total "life safety" issue and NO Building Department is going to sign off on a "life safety" issue--it would open them up (individually and as a department) to all sorts of law suits if anyone were to get hurt...

[Jodi B]

I'm sure they did get some kind of permission to do this.

[Gitel in nj]

I'm sure they did get some kind of permission to do this.

Not in the US--won't happen

But I have some more information.

The skateboard stairs were photographed before the railing was installed. It does have a railing now (you can click thru the link) although that railing would still not pass any building code in the US since you can easily see that a 4" sphere could pass thru the openings. This project, however, is in Toronto

Floating stairs: Milan

The hanging box stairs would meet life safety codes from what I can see--I will assume that they were engineered correctly (and that is not necessarily governed by the building department--they usually take our word on that)

The disappearing stairs are a concept model (much like a concept car) if they were to be built in the US they would need to incorporate a railing that met all state and local codes.

The stairway drawers appear to meet all codes--Of course a building inspector could argue that they do not meet code; if a drawer is left open it would block the means of egress. If you look carefully I think only the bottom two stairs have drawers. Very clever.

The glass staircase while it is in the UK would likely meet US standards. It has a solid rail on both sides (the glass panel and wall) and while the photo makes it appear as if there are no risers--the risers are there--they are glass. The code does not dictate what materials you can use.

The Longchamps stairs in NYC I already mentioned. I can see they meet code. Notice the plexi railing etc.

The TAF stairs and Storage Stairs are in Sweden...