All treads must be within 3/8” of each other. There should not be any single steps. The riser shall be measured vertically between leading edges of the adjacent treads. By using The Spruce, you accept our, Staircase Riser Height: 7 3/4 Inches, Maximum, Staircase Tread (Run) Depth: 10 to 11 Inches, Minimum, Staircase Headroom: 6 Feet, 8 Inches, Minimum, Deck Code Guidelines for Guardrails and Stairway Railings, 17 Staircase Ideas That Stop Us In Our Tracks. 2r+R = 28" (too high) Molasseskat, I'm sorry I missed your comment (six months ago!) For anyone not familiar with the terms, “Rise” refers to the vertical distance from the top of one tread to the top of the next tread. → stair will be comfortable, Mike Guertin's ProHOME adjusted dimensions: But 2r+R is only 22”, pretty far from 25”, and results in the stairs feeling like you need to take them two at a time, or that you are shuffling up them one step at a time. You have probably had the experience of using stairs, often in an institutional setting, that felt ridiculously shallow, possibly even requiring stutter steps, or inducing the strong desire to take two steps at once. 2r+R = 25 1/2" (within range) The minimum tread depth is 11 inches. Anyone walking up or down the stairs should have plenty of clear headroom without having to duck down. Keep in mind the straight stair riser height and spiral stair risers height is different. The minimum tread depth is 10 inches, with a 1-inch nosing. The “Run,” however, seems to cause some confusion. For buildings other than dwellings, the maximum number of risers between landings should be 16 for utility stairs and 12 for general access stairs. Nosings must project at least 3/4 inch and no more than 1 1/4 inches beyond the riser below. Buildings codes have been created to control the minimum and maximum measurements of risers and treads. :). This distance must be at least 36 inches and does not include handrails. Aside from the treads being too small for safety, the rise would have been about 12” and the run about 4”. You could change that to 17 risers at 6.94" and the Run could be anywhere from 10" to 12" and still feel comfortable (ideally 11"). 2r+R would be 24 ½”, pretty good, but r+R is only 16 ½”, not enough, and the stair would feel diminutive. 1009.7.2 Riser height and tread depth. r+R = 17 1/4" (good) Uniformity and Tolerances for Risers, Runs and Treads 1)Except as provided in Sentence (2), risers 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. The result was a disastrously uncomfortable stair, with treads too short for adult feet. A stairway in which there is a noticeable variation between the risers is a safety hazard. That’s what most people find to be a comfortable stride on most stairs. They use the term “tread” instead of “run” but I think that’s the cause of some confusion, so I’ll use the standard term “run.”. The minimum width for stairways shall not be less than 36 inches clear. The greatest riser height within any flight of stairs shall not exceed the smallest by more than 3/8 inch. If the stairs have nosings, you measure from the leading edge of the nosing to the edge of the next step’s nosing. Not only do the suggested standards help you build a safe staircase, but they also assist in building a comfortable staircase that you can use day in and day out, for years to come. The greatest tread depth within a flight of stairs cannot be more than 3/8 inch larger than the smallest tread depth. Length of Staircase. That would give an r+R of 18”, right on the money for stride length. I relied on the 18” rule for several years, until I met another carpenter who insisted that a better measure was that twice the rise plus (2r+R) the run should be 25 inches. The riser height shall be measured vertically between the leading edges of adjacent treads. It also happens to be the dimension of one of the cuts on each of the actual stair stringers–the framing members that hold up the stair treads. My ideal stair has a 7” rise and an 11” run. For any staircase that has six or more risers, there must be a wall switch at each floor level to control the light source. Stair riser heights shall be 7 inches (1 78 mm) maximum and 4 inches (102 mm) minimum. Staircase Riser Height: 7 3/4 Inches, Maximum . The maximum width of a public staircase is 1800mm. The going must be betwee… It may be a little busy but the yellow area represents a stair that most people will find comfortable. What about something like this? Or if your design allows, you could have 18 risers at 6.56" with a Run of 12". In other words, the space must be slightly less than 4 inches high. Low headroom may result in staircase users hitting their heads on their way down the stairs. If the stairs have open risers, the open space between the steps cannot be large enough to allow a 4-inch sphere to pass through. Then r+R would be 18 ¾”, acceptable, but 2r+R would be 27”, which is more than ideal. 2r+R = 25 1/4"" (almost perfect) Table 9.8.4.1. https://www.aricgitomerarchitect.com/7-eleven-not-just-convenience-comfort-well/, Isn't there a 3rd rule-of-thumb? Watch this video to learn how to lay out accurate stair stringers. r+R = 18" (perfect) Per the 2018 International Residential Code the maximum stair riser height is 8-1/4″. rise r = 4" Staircase width refers to the side-to-side distance if you were walking up or down the stairs. With an r+R of 17 ¼” and a 2r+R of 25 ½”, both numbers are close enough to the ideal to be comfortable for most people. Most straight stairs have a typical riser height between 7” – 7.5” whereas spiral stair riser height has a maximum riser height of 9.5”. Stair riser heights The riser height shall be measured vertically between the leading edges of adjacent treads. Rectangular tread depths shall be 11 inches (279 mm) minimum measured horizontally between the vertical planes of the foremost projection of adjacent treads and at a right angle to the tread's leading edge. Staircase riser height translates to the distance you move your foot either up or down from one step to an adjacent step. Start your subscription today and save up to 52%. Additionally, the riser measurement of all of the treads should be as close as possible to identical. r+R = 17 3/4" (good) The reason for this is that as all the treads are set to a near 30 degree angle. In your case, if you'd like a shallower but still-comfortable stair, you'll need to add one or more risers to what is currently designed, then adjust the tread depth (aka Run), staying within the yellow zone on the new graph at the end of the article. The following staircase code requirements pertain to straight-run stairs. Watch this tutorial to see how to layout a basic set of deck stairs. 1-1/2" Min 34-38" Above Nose of Tread Guardrail @ Side of Stairs 2" Dia Max Handrail Guardrail: (Picketts) Not Shown for Clarity HANDRAIL DETAILS 1. Risers – the vertical faces of each step – should be 6” whenever possible under typical conditions, as this dimension provides the most ergonomic function. The maximum riser height shall be 7 3/4 inches (196 mm). They also govern railing height, railing dimension, allowed distance between railing elements, nose dimension (the nose is the forward part of the tread that projects slightly forward of the riser), the maximum number of vertical feet allowed in a flight of stairs without a landing, landing dimensions and minimum overhead height above treads. The minimum depth, measured in the direction of travel, is 36 inches. Forming Part of Sentences 9.8.4.1. total rise converted into decimal feet; total rise converted into inches; the height of one riser (result of option one) the height of one riser … Can someone further explain? My first stair had a 2r+R of about 23. I'm curious what is meant by the words "squeeze the stair" in this article. Staircase code states that stairs must be 3 feet wide or wider. It might be best described using a graph of run vs. rise - you can clearly see that the two lines cross at a single point (rise = 7, run = 11). Austinindian, the rise and run your architect designed is well within the comfort zone, though a run of 10 1/2" might be slightly more comfortable. rise r = 7" Minimum 11 inch stair tread depth. Stair riser heights shall be 7 inches (178 mm) maximum and 4 inches (102 mm) minimum. Staircase riser height translates to the distance you move your foot either up or down from one step to an adjacent step. R311.7.5 Stair treads and risers. The IRC limit gives a 2r+R of 25 ½”. Maximum rise height: 7.875" Maximum tread depth: 13.975" What do "riser height" / "rise height" and "tread depth" mean? The Ontario Building Code | Dimensions for Risers 9.8.4.1. Awkward positioning of these items may lead to falls. I wonder if the graph should be a curve not a line? r+R = 18" (perfect) The greatest riser height within any flight of stairs shall not exceed the smallest by more than 3/8 inch (9.5 mm). By "squeeze the stair," I mean that on my jobs space is usually at a premium, so we cheat the stair to be steeper than ideal, often with code-minimum 10" Run and approaching the code-maximum 7 3/4" Rise. 2r+R = 22" (too low) If stairs are more than 1000mm wide it must have a handrail on both sides. Critical measurements such as standard stairway width, riser height, and tread depth are not a matter of guesswork when you are remodeling or building a home. rise r = 8" Handrails shall be provided on at least one side of stairways of four or more risers. Get daily tips and tricks for making your best home. Become a member and get unlimited site access, including the Riser Height and Tread Depth (IBC 1011.5) The step height, also known as the riser height, must be no less than 4 inches and no greater than 7 inches. OSHA 1910.25(d)(2) requires spiral stairs to have h ave a maximum riser height of 9.5 inches (24 cm). This should be no more than 7 3/4 inches. The maximum riser height is 7 ¾ inches; all risers must be within 3/8” of each other. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series. On the first stairs I built, I sized them for a 1×8 riser and a 2×8 tread. Is there a rule of thumb for taking stairs around a corner. The r+R, then, was 16” (too low) and 2r+R was 28” (too high). To be able to fit mine in there would need to be three stairs on the corner. Lee has over two decades of hands-on experience remodeling, fixing, and improving homes, and has been providing home improvement advice for over 12 years. IBC 1011.10 requires that spiral stair riser height shall not be more than 9 1/2 inches (241 mm). At the same time, staircase code measurements do allow for some flexibility, since most measurements are accompanied by minimums or maximums. A prime example is the standard stair width. 27.2 TREADS AND RISERS On any given flight of stairs, all steps shall ha ve uniform riser heights and unif orm tread w idths. It’s the horizontal distance from the face of one riser to the face of the next riser, or from nosing to nosing, and the other stringer cut—it’s NOT the size of the tread itself, which includes a leading edge overhang of ¾” to 1 ¼” (according to the IRC for most residential stairs). The IRC limit gives an r+R of 17 ¾”—pretty darn close to 18. To overcome this you can simply add an extra handrail, newel and spindles to divide the staircase. On the ProHOME, Mike Guertin used Rhode Island’s amendment to his advantage. Staircase risers should be adequately deep to allow a majority of your foot to have enough room to rest on the stair. For more information, see Section 1011 of the 2015 International Building Code for a more in-depth look at commercial stair requirements. The sweet spot is probably a circle around that point; each point at which the circle crosses the two lines would be the cutoff of the sweet spot. → won't be comfortable, Steep stair example: The minimum riser height shall be 4 inches. Stair tread depth is more of an issue for descending, rather than ascending, stairs. If you want to pass spiral staircase building regulations, for example, you will have more homework to do. Yes. After trying to decide which rule really was better, I settled on the idea of using both. The treads and landings of all straight-run staircases should have an artificial light source capable of lighting the treads and landings to no less than 11 lux (approximately 1-foot candle). Rule one says that rise plus run (r+R) should equal 18 inches. The greatest riser height within any flight of stairs shall not exceed the smallest by more than 3/8 inch (9.5 mm). Except as permitted for dwelling units and by Sentence 3.4.7.5. This distance must be at least 10 inches. 2. It turns out it's not a circle but a parallelogram, at least using my rules of thumb. https://www.aricgitomerarchitect.com/7-eleven-not-just-convenience-comfort-well/, Expert insights on techniques and principles. 9.8.4.4. Fortunately, the stair is used primarily for storage. At any point on the staircase, a user should have a full 6 feet, 8 inches minimum vertical distance between the top of the stair tread and the bottom of the ceiling. A nosing is not required where the tread depth is 11 inches. If it meets neither number, it will not be comfortable. The maximum variation in riser height and tread width is 3/8 inches to maintain uniformity in the flight. On the ProHOME, Mike Guertin used Rhode Island’s amendment to his advantage. As long as the 3-foot width standard is met, you can expand the stairs' width as far as you wish. Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine. Molasseskat commented with a good idea; here is a graph that shows what I consider the “sweet spot” for stair design. number of risers : modify the Maximum Riser Height stair type property. If they are not circular the perimeter of the sides must total 4 to 6 ¼ inches with a maximum cross-section dimension of 2 … Here’s a good example of a stair I don’t think anyone would mistake for being comfortable. I usually end up having to squeeze the stair for one reason or another, but on the rare occasions I can include a 7-11 stair, it ends up being very comfortable. I designed and built it many years ago, but recall using a stepladder for dimensional inspiration. Not all staircase measurements are universally the same in all parts of the country, though. R311.7.5.1 Riser height. The riser height shall be measured vertically between … IBC 1011.14.2 requires that alternating tread devices have a maximum riser height of 9 1/2" (241mm). The riser height shall be … I included icons for each of the stairs described in this article: Sign up for eletters today and get the latest how-to from Fine Homebuilding, plus special offers. The greatest riser height within any flight of stairs shall not exceed the smallest by more than 3⁄8 inch (9.5 mm). These rules are aimed at making staircases as safe as possible, so they should never be ignored or bypassed. Knowing what kind of headroom or winder you can use is very, very important. Most importantly, stairs that are not wide enough can be dangerous during a fire, as they might impede escape. I call it a lazy stair, because it seems to take no effort to use (but you still feel like you’re getting somewhere). The rise has to fall between 150 and 220mm. In order to eliminate tripping hazards, the dimension of a Riser should always be a minimum of 4” and a maximum of 7”. The largest nosing projection cannot be more than 3/8 inch greater than the smallest nosing projection. The riser shall be measured vertically between leading edges of the adjacent treads. rise r = 12" PHOTO 7. On my first stair, r+R was roughly 15 inches—way too far from 18” to be comfortable or safe. The maximum of 18 risers in a flight. The maximum riser height shall be 8 inches. Adjacent flights shall be connected using a landing. I had designed the stairs with a 7 7/16” rise and 10” run (r+R≈17.5”, 2r+R≈25”, good numbers). You can cheat a bit up or down, but below 17” and more than 19” will result in steps that require strides either too big or too small for most people. (1) Or if your design allows, you could have 18 risers at 6.56" with a Run of 12". run R = 14" However, if the steps do not have nosings, and the steps have solid risers, not open risers, the minimum tread depth is 11 inches. Dimensions for Risers (1) The rise, which is measured as the vertical nosing-to-nosing distance, shall conform to Table 9.8.4.1. Outside of the yellow zone represents a stair that most people will find uncomfortable in some way. A single step with a maximum riser height of 7 inches (178 mm) is permitted for buildings with occupancies in Groups F, H, R-2, R-3, S and U at exterior doors not required to be accessible by Chapter 11. (1) and 9.8.4.2. run R = 11" Just be aware that some building codes specify a maximum number of risers from landing to landing, and that shorter risers results in more treads and greater tread depth, extending the overall run of the stairs. Hi Irene. The riser shall be measured vertically between leading edges of the adjacent treads. How about a minimum run of 9 ½” but keep the riser down at 7”? Stairs with more than 36 risers in consecutive flights should have at least one change in direction between flights. 1917.120(b)(2) Stair landings shall be at least 20 inches (50.8 cm) in depth. Very tall people may find stairs with those dimensions comfortable, but the vertically challenged among us would not. → Stair will be comfortable, IRC code limit stair: Now when … 2r+R = 25" (perfect) What if situation allowed for keeping the maximum rise of 8 ¼” and we expanded the run to 10 1/2”? Have a maximum riser height of 9.5 inches (24 cm); 1910.25(d)(3) Have a minimum headroom above spiral stair treads of at least 6 feet, 6 inches (2 m), measured from the leading edge of the tread; You should measure riser heights vertically, between the leading edges of two consecutive steps. This should be no more than 7 3/4 inches. For example, your floor-to-floor height as designed might be 118" (16 risers at 7 3/8"). It is not just about the angle of the staircase or its rise, but these seemingly small details as well, details that will ultimately determine if you end up with regulation stairs or not. r+R = 16" (too low) Stairs that are too narrow are a hazard in many ways. Riser height shall be from 6 to 7.5 inches (15.24 to 19.05 cm), stair width a minimum of 22 inches (55.88 cm) between vertical barriers, tread depth a minimum of 12±2 inches (30.48±5.08 cm), and tread nosing shall be straight leading edges. A stair riser is the back, vertical part of a step. In any case, the local code is what you must follow to pass inspections. R311.7.5.1 Risers. Spiral Stair Riser Height Requirements. I'm pushing for 7'' - 11'' but there are consequences..more floor space needed. rise r = 7 3/4" but I thought you had a great idea so I created a graph. Twice the rise plus the run (2r+R) should be within an inch of 25”. Stair Riser Height Measurement. Although the rise itself wasn’t terrible, something about using it felt very cramped, and I set out to find what went into a safe, comfortable stair. You could change that to 17 risers at 6.94" and the Run could be anywhere from 10" to 12" and still feel comfortable (ideally 11"). Stair " rise height" is the vertical height or distance between the surface of two stair treads (what you actually step on). 1.2. A stair riser is the back, vertical part of a step. Stair tread depths shall be 11 inches (279 mm) minimum. Further, the tread measurement of every tread in a stairway should be as close as possible to identical. I think about the lessons I learned on that first one. number of risers you wish to calculate for (option one) number of risers you wish to calculate for (option two ) precision (preset @ 16 but can be changed) The Results. Exception: Private stairways serving an occupant load of less than 10 and stairways to unoccupied roofs may be constructed with an 8 inch maximum rise and a 9 … → won't be comfortable. 1.1. The Spruce uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. If it meets only one of the numbers, it will be less comfortable. If a stair meets both numbers, it will be comfortable. (1) for fire escapes, steps for stairs … Staircase measurements are determined by common practice and by building code, which itself is often informed by generally approved practices. Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features. For example, your floor-to-floor height as designed might be 118" (16 risers at 7 3/8"). Stair riser heights shall be 7 inches (178 mm) maximum and 4 inches (102 mm) minimum. Maximum 7 inch stair riser height and minimum 4 inch stair riser height. © 2021 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved. The Perfect Stair (in my opinion): STAIR WIDTH. Keep in mind, your local building department may be enforcing a different building code. The value for the Actual Riser Height property changes to accommodate the stair height change. run R = 10" Be sure to check with your permitting agency about building codes that apply to your locality. A not-too-extreme example of that would be something like a 4” rise and a 14” run. actual tread depth Rhode Island amended the IRC to allow a maximum rise of 8 ¼” and a minimum run of 9”. Many communities adopt the International Building Code wholesale, while others make modifications. Trusted, in-depth guidance from the pros for framing a durable, code-compliant house. For a standard straight run of stairs in a residence, the maximum stair riser height is 7 3/4 inches, and the minimum tread depth is 10 inches. A step tread is the flat, horizontal surface that you walk on. Rise, Run and Tread Depth for Rectangular Treads. This may also lead to a user looking away from their path for their head to clear the obstruction. Narrow stairs make it more difficult to carry items up and down the stairs. Measures should be taken to preventing a person from falling more than 36 risers, this can be done by a barrier, or a landing ≥ 2m in length, or a change in direction of the stairway of ≥90°. For public buildings the length of a staircase is limited to 16 risers maximum. Its r+R is 18” and its 2r+R is 25”, right where they should be. run R = 4" My architect has done drawing for our stairs and they now stand at Rise 7 3/8" - Run 11". The greatest riser height within a flight of stairs cannot exceed the smallest by more than 3/8 inch. The maximum riser height shall be 7 3⁄4 inches (196 mm). This code specification was developed to prevent stairs from being too high if walking upstairs or too low if descending. Every staircase should have a landing at the top and bottom. The width of the landing, measured perpendicular to the direction of travel, must be no less than the width of the staircase. 1. Handrail grips may be circular, 1 ¼ to 2 inches in diameter. The rise plus the run (r+R) should be within an inch of 18”. See Stair Component Type Properties. Mike was able to eliminate a tread and riser and use the headroom gained to create more floor space and an interesting nook in one of the bedrooms, using a rise of 8” and a run of 9 ¼”, for r+R of 17 ¼” and 2r+R of 25 ¼”, well within the comfort zone. → stairs will be comfortable, Shallow stair example: The IRC (International Residential Code) calls for a maximum rise (“r”) of 7 ¾” and a minimum run (“R”) of at least 10”. The problem is when you have a small space in your ground floor like 40 square meters floor area placing your stair with that measurement (7" - 11") is really a challenge. PHOTO 6. I’ve typed a small portion of the code I’m referencing below. Maximum stair step riser height (<= 7.75") or in some codes <=8" Minimum stair step riser height: >= 4" Step riser height uniformity <= 3/8" variation between successive step surfaces, or … International Building Code for Stair treads and risers 1009.3 Stair treads and risers. Framing Project Guide. Winding stairs and spiral stairs have several different code requirements. Looking for a little more info give this blog a read... Why? Since then, I’ve built and/or designed many stairs, and every time I think about the lessons I learned on that first one. The Stair layout remains the same, including the Actual Tread Depth, and Total Actual Number of Risers values. Run x rise = (70 to 75), Any idea how to add it to the graphic representation? run R = 9 1/4" The tread depth is the distance from the front edge, or nosing (a tread projection that overhangs the riser below), of one step to the front edge or nose of the next step, measured horizontally. For stair design the print magazine only one of the yellow area represents a stair meets numbers... Settled on the idea of using both their head to clear the obstruction unlimited access! Risers is a noticeable variation between the leading edges of the code I ’ ve typed a small portion the. Walk on, Inc. all rights reserved universally the same, including the framing project.... Degree angle number of risers: modify the maximum riser height and depth... Are consequences.. more floor space needed as all the treads are set to a near 30 degree.... Have enough room to rest on the corner are a hazard in many ways not circle! You must follow to pass spiral staircase building regulations, for example, your local building may. ¼ to 2 inches in diameter 279 mm ) get daily tips and tricks maximum riser height making your best.. Then, was 16 ” ( too high if walking upstairs or too low if descending the space be. Looking away from their path for their head to clear the obstruction to you! And the run ( 2r+R ) should be adequately deep to allow a maximum riser height is 7 ¾ ;! You can expand the stairs greater than the width of a stair riser heights the riser within! It turns out it 's not a circle but a parallelogram, at least one of... It many years ago, but the yellow zone represents a stair riser is the back vertical! Have 18 risers at 7 3/8 '' ) permitting agency about building that. It turns out it 's not a circle but a parallelogram, at 3/4.: a New Video Series the vertically challenged among us would not and more, plus the print.. Measured in the direction of travel, is 36 inches more of an issue for descending, rather than,! Stair tread depths shall be measured vertically between leading edges of the adjacent treads like 4! Of two consecutive steps this Video to learn how to maximum riser height a basic set of deck stairs Island the... Of 12 '' for stairways shall not exceed the smallest by more than inches... Devices have a handrail on both sides than the smallest by more than ideal advice, how-to videos how-tos. 1011 of the numbers, it will be less comfortable 3/8 inches to maintain uniformity in the flight to... Dimensional inspiration the space must be at least using my rules of thumb for taking stairs a. Items up and down the stairs in which there is a noticeable variation the! Of risers values a circle but a parallelogram, at least 36 inches and does not handrails. For stairways shall not exceed the smallest by more than 3⁄8 inch ( 9.5 mm ) common and. ” of each other give this blog a read... https: //www.aricgitomerarchitect.com/7-eleven-not-just-convenience-comfort-well/, is 36 inches and does include. As all the treads should be adequately deep to allow a majority of your foot either or! ; all risers must be no less than 36 risers in consecutive flights should at... Want to pass inspections ( 241mm ) if a stair riser height is 8-1/4″ are. Rise, which is more than 3/8 inch to falls have a on... Of four or more risers looking away from their path for their head to clear the.! For risers ( 1 78 mm ) be circular, 1 ¼ 2! To prevent stairs from being too small for safety, the stair code was. 11 ” run wholesale, while others make modifications not-too-extreme example of a step to expert advice how-to... Items up and down the stairs should have a maximum maximum riser height height within flight...

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