exterior steps requirements

[daniel nantell]

Is it 2 or 3 steps that needs a handrail, coming off a porch, It was 3, I thought then it was changed to 2 I believe. any info would be appreciated.

[Jerry Peck]

First, you need to define "steps" as that is not a code term and it means different things to different people - there was a long heated discussion about "steps" here a few months ago.

Try using "stair" or "stairs" instead, and, in fact, try using "riser"/"risers" and "tread"/"treads" as that is how the code addresses them.

A "stair" is "one or more risers".

Okay, so to ask your question properly it would ask "How many risers are allowed before a handrail is required?"

From the 2006 IRC.
- R311.5.6 Handrails. Handrails shall be provided on at least one side of each continuous run of treads or flight with four or more risers.

From the 2006 IBC.
- STAIR. A change in elevation, consisting of one or more risers.

Some people think of a "step" as the place you put your foot, i.e., "the step", however, that is really a "tread" and a "tread" is not required in a "stair".

Here is example: You are in the garage, you have one riser to the interior floor level (you have to "step up" to get into the house). This is a "stair" and it has one "riser" and no "treads". Next, each stair must have a landing at each end, the garage floor is the lower "landing" and the inside floor is the upper "landing" - thus you have a "stair" with no "treads". :cool:

So, back to your question and R311.5.6 shown above, a handrail is required with "4 or more" "risers".