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3.3.2
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(1) Except as required by Article 3.3.4.8., stairs, ramps, landings, handrails and interior guards within a dwelling unit shall conform to the applicable requirements in Section 9.8. (2) Except as provided in Sentence (3), exterior stairs, ramps, landings, handrails and guards serving a single dwelling unit shall conform to the applicable requirements in Section 9.8. and Sentence 3.1.20.1. (1). (3) Loads on exterior guards serving a single dwelling unit shall comply with Part 4.
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(1) Except as permitted by Sentence (3), the minimum aggregate required width of exits serving floor areas intended for assembly occupancies, residential occupancies, business and personal services occupancies, mercantile occupancies, and industrial occupancies shall be determined by multiplying the occupant load of the area served by,
(a) 6.1 mm per person for ramps with a slope of not more than 1 in 8, doorways, corridors and passageways,
(b) 8 mm per person for a stair consisting of steps whose rise is not more than 180 mm and whose run is not less than 280 mm, or
(c) 9.2 mm per person for,
(i) ramps with a slope of more than 1 in 8, or
(ii) stairs, other than stairs conforming to Clause (b). (2) The minimum aggregate width of exits serving floor areas intended for a care, care and treatment or detention occupancy shall be determined by multiplying the occupant load of the area served by 18.4 mm per person. (3) The minimum aggregate width of means of egress serving a Group A, Division 4 occupancy shall be determined by multiplying the occupant load of the area served by,
(a) 1.8 mm per person for,
(i) aisles,
(ii) stairs other than exit stairs, and
(iii) ramps and passageways in vomitories and exits, and
(b) 2.4 mm per person for exit stairs. (4) Except as required by Sentence (5), the required exit width need not be cumulative in an exit serving two or more floor areas located one above the other. (5) The required exit width for an exit stair in an assembly hall or theatre serving more than one balcony level shall conform to the appropriate requirements for stairs serving interconnected floor spaces in Article 3.2.8.4. (6) If more than one exit is required, every exit shall be considered as contributing not more than one-half of the required exit width. (7) The width of an exit shall be not less than,
(a) 1 100 mm for corridors and passageways,
(b) 1 100 mm for ramps not serving patients’ or residents’ sleeping rooms,
(c) 1 100 mm for stairs, not serving patients’ or residents’ sleeping rooms, that serve more than two storeys above the lowest exit level or more than one storey below the lowest exit level,
(d) 900 mm for stairs, not serving patients’ or residents’ sleeping rooms, that serve not more than two storeys above the lowest exit level or not more than one storey below the lowest exit level,
(e) 1 650 mm for stairs and ramps serving patients’ or residents’ sleeping rooms,
(f) 1 050 mm for doorways serving patients’ or residents’ sleeping rooms, and
(g) 790 mm for doorways not serving patients’ or residents’ sleeping rooms.
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(1) Except as provided by Sentences (2), (4) and (5), every exit shall have a clear height over the clear width of the exit of not less than 2 100 mm. (2) The clear height of stairways shall be measured vertically, over the clear width of the stairway, from a straight line tangent to the tread and landing nosings to the lowest point above, and shall not be less than 2 050 mm. (3) The clear height of landings shall be measured vertically, over the clear width of the landing, to the lowest point above. (4) Except as permitted by Sentence (5), the clear height of doorways shall not be less than 2 030 mm. (5) No door closer or other device shall be installed so as to reduce the clear height of a doorway to less than 1 980 mm.
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(1) The surfaces of ramps, landings and treads shall,
(a) have a finish that is slip-resistant, and
(b) if accessible to the public, have a colour contrast or a distinctive visual pattern to demarcate,
(i) the leading edge of the tread,
(ii) the leading edge of the landing, and
(iii) the beginning and end of a ramp. (2) A tactile attention indicator conforming to Article 3.8.3.18. shall be installed,
(a) at the top of the stairs, starting one tread depth back from the edge of the top stair, and
(b) at the leading edge of landings where a doorway opens onto stairs, starting one tread depth back from the edge of the landing. (3) Treads and landings of exterior exit stairs shall be designed to be free of ice and snow accumulations if the stairs,
(a) are more than 10 m high, or
(b) serve a hotel.
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(1) Except as permitted by Sentence 3.3.2.13. (1), every flight of interior stairs shall have no fewer than 3 risers.
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(1) No flight shall have a vertical rise of more than 3.7 m between floors or landings, except that a flight serving as an exit in a Group B, Division 2 or 3 occupancy shall have a vertical rise not more than 2.4 m between floors or landings. (2) Except as provided by Sentence (3), a landing shall be provided,
(a) at the top and bottom of each flight of interior and exterior stairs,
(b) at the top and bottom of every section of ramp,
(c) where a doorway opens onto a stair or ramp,
(d) where a ramp opens onto a stair, and
(e) where a stair opens onto a ramp. (3) A landing may be omitted at the bottom of an exterior stair or ramp, provided there is no gate, door or fixed obstruction within the lesser of,
(a) the width of the stair or ramp, or
(b) 1 100 mm.
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(1) Except as permitted in Sentences (2) and (6), a landing shall be,
(a) at least as wide as the width of the stair or ramp in which it occurs, and
(b) at least as long as the width of the stair or ramp in which it occurs. (2) Where a landing in a stair or ramp does not turn or turns less than 90o, the length of the landing need not be more than the lesser of,
(a) the required width of the stair or ramp, or
(b) 1 100 mm. (3) Where a landing in a stair or ramp turns less than 90o, the length of the landing shall be measured perpendicular to the nosings of adjacent steps or to the end of the ramp, at a distance equal to half the length required by Sentence (2) from the narrow edge of the landing. (4) Where a doorway or stair empties onto a ramp through a side wall, there shall be a level area extending across the full width of the ramp, and for a distance of 300 mm on either side of the wall opening, except one side if it abuts on an end wall. (5) Where a doorway or stair empties onto a ramp through an end wall, there shall be a level area extending across the full width of the ramp and along its length for not less than 900 mm. (6) Where the direction of exit travel changes at a landing, the landing is permitted to be chamfered or curved in plan, provided the required width of the stair is maintained where measured perpendicular to the direction of exit travel across the landing.
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(1) At least one handrail shall be provided on straight flights that are less than 1 100 mm in width. (2) One handrail shall be provided on each side of,
(a) straight flights that are 1 100 mm or more in width,
(b) curved flights, and
(c) ramps. (3) In addition to Sentence (2), intermediate handrails shall be provided so that,
(a) a handrail is reachable within 825 mm of all portions of the required exit width, and
(b) at least one portion of the stair or ramp between two handrails is the required exit width for stairs or ramps as described in Sentences 3.4.3.2. (7) and 3.4.3.4. (4). (4) Where a stair or ramp is wider than its required exit width, handrails shall be located along the most direct path of travel. (5) Handrails shall be continuously graspable along their entire length, shall be free of any sharp or abrasive elements, and shall have,
(a) a circular cross-section with an outside diameter not less than 30 mm and not more than 43 mm, or
(b) any non-circular cross-section with a perimeter not less than 100 mm and not more than 125 mm and whose largest cross-sectional dimension is not more than 45 mm. (6) The height of handrails on stairs, on aisles with steps and on ramps shall be measured vertically from the top of the handrail to,
(a) a straight line drawn tangent to the tread nosings of the stair served by the handrail, or
(b) the surface of the ramp, floor or landing served by the handrail. (7) Except as provided by Sentence (8) and Clause 3.8.3.4. (1)(e), the height of handrails on stairs, on aisles with steps and on ramps shall be,
(a) not less than 865 mm, and
(b) not more than 1070 mm. (8) Handrails installed in addition to required handrails need not comply with Sentence (7). (9) Required handrails shall be continuous throughout the length of,
(a) a ramp, and
(b) a flight, from the bottom riser to the top riser. (10) Except as required by Sentence (16) and except where interrupted by doorways or newels at changes in direction, at least one handrail shall be continuous throughout the length of a stair or ramp, including at landings. (11) Handrails shall be terminated in a manner that will not obstruct pedestrian travel or create a hazard. (12) At least one handrail shall,
(a) in the case of a stair,
extend horizontally at the required height, not less than 300 mm beyond the top riser, and
continue to slope for a depth of one tread beyond the bottom riser followed by a 300 mm horizontal extension, and
(b) in the case of a ramp, extend horizontally at the required height, not less than 300 mm beyond the top and bottom edges of the incline. (13) The clearance between a handrail and any surface behind it shall be not less than,
(a) 60 mm, if the surface behind the handrail is rough or abrasive, or
(b) 50 mm, in all other cases. (14) Handrails and their supports shall be designed and constructed to withstand the loading values specified in Sentence 4.1.5.14. (7). (15) A ramp shall have handrails on both sides. (16) In a long-term care home, a Group B, Division 3 occupancy and a retirement home, a continuous handrail shall be provided on both sides of a stair throughout the length of the stair, including landings, except where a handrail is interrupted by doorways or newels at changes in direction.
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(1) Every exit shall have a wall or a well-secured guard on each side where,
(a) the difference in level is more than 600 mm between the walking surface and the adjacent surface, or
(b) the adjacent surface within 1 200 mm of the walking surface has a slope of more than 1 in 2 away from the walking surface. (2) Except as required by Sentence (4), the height of guards for exit stairs and exit ramps, as well as their landings, shall be not less than 1 070 mm. (3) The height of guards shall be measured vertically to the top of the guard from,
(a) a line drawn through the outside edges of the tread nosings, or
(b) the surface of the ramp or landing. (4) The height of guards for exterior stairs and landings more than 10 m above adjacent ground level shall be not less than 1 500 mm measured vertically to the top of the guard from the surface of the landing or a line drawn through the outside edges of the tread nosings. (5) Except as provided in Sentence (6), openings through any guard that is required by Sentence (1) shall be of a size that will prevent the passage of a sphere having a diameter more than 100 mm unless it can be shown that the location and size of openings that exceed this limit do not represent a hazard. (6) Openings through any guard that is required by Sentence (1) and that is installed in a building of industrial occupancy shall be of a size that will prevent the passage of a sphere having a diameter more than 200 mm unless it can be shown that the location and size of openings that exceed this limit do not represent a hazard. (7) In a stairway, a window for which the distance measured vertically between the bottom of the window and a line drawn through the outside edges of the tread nosings is less than 900 mm, or a window that extends to less than 1 070 mm above the landing, shall,
(a) be protected by a guard that is,
(i) located approximately 900 mm above a line drawn through the outside edges of the tread nosings, or
(ii) not less than 1 070 mm high measured to the top of the guard from the surface of the landing, or
(b) be fixed in position and designed to resist the lateral design loads specified for guards and walls in Articles 4.1.5.14. and 4.1.5.16. (8) Unless it can be shown that the location and size of openings do not present a hazard, a guard shall be designed so that no member, attachment or opening located between 140 mm and 900 mm above the level being protected by the guard will facilitate climbing.
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(1) Except as required for aisles by Article 3.3.2.4., the maximum slope of a ramp shall be,
(a) 1 in 10 in any assembly, care, care and treatment, detention or residential occupancy,
(b) 1 in 6 in an industrial occupancy,
(c) 1 in 8 in all other occupancies, and
(d) 1 in 10 for an exterior ramp.
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(1) Except as permitted for dwelling units and by Sentence 3.4.7.5. (1) for fire escapes, steps in flights shall have a run of not less than 280 mm and not more than 355 mm between successive steps. (2) Steps referred to in Sentence (1) shall have a rise between successive treads not less than 125 mm and not more than 180 mm.
(2.1) Steps in flights shall have no open risers,
(a) except as provided in Article 3.3.4.7., and
(b) except for the following stairs:
(i) fire escape stairs,
(ii) stairs that are principally used for maintenance and service, and
(iii) stairs that serve industrial occupancies other than storage garages. (3) Except in fire escape stairs and where an exterior stair adjoins a walkway as permitted by Sentence 3.4.6.3. (3), risers, measured as the vertical nosing-to-nosing distance, shall be of uniform height in any one flight, with a maximum tolerance of,
(a) 5 mm between adjacent treads or landings, and
(b) 10 mm between the tallest and shortest risers in a flight. (4) Except in fire escape stairs, treads, measured as the horizontal nosing-to-nosing distance, shall have a uniform run with a maximum tolerance of,
(a) 5 mm between adjacent treads, and
(b) 10 mm between the deepest and shallowest treads in a flight. (5) Treads and risers shall not differ significantly in run and rise in successive flights in any stair system. (6) Reserved
(7) The slope on treads or landings shall not exceed 1 in 50. (8) Except as permitted by Sentence (10), the top of the nosing of a stair tread shall have a rounded or bevelled edge extending not less than 6 mm and not more than 13 mm measured horizontally from the front of the nosing. (9) The front edge of stair treads in exits and public access to exits shall be at right angles to the direction of exit travel. (10) If resilient material is used to cover the nosing of a stair tread, the minimum radius or bevel required by Sentence (8) is permitted to be reduced to 3 mm.
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(1) Flights used as an exit shall consist solely of,
(a) straight flights, or
(b) curved flights complying with Sentence (2). (2) A curved flight used as an exit shall have,
(a) a handrail on each side,
(b) treads with a minimum run of 240 mm,
(c) treads with a run that conforms to Article 3.4.6.8. when measured at a point 300 mm from the centre line of the inside handrail, and
(d) an inside radius that is not less than twice the stair width. (3) Tapered treads shall have a consistent angle and uniform run and rise dimensions in accordance with the construction tolerances described in Article 3.4.6.8. when measured at a point 300 mm from the centre line of the inside handrail. (4) All tapered treads within a flight shall turn in the same direction.