Tread trip hazard

[Jerry Peck]

This has been discussed several times in the past, and (as I recall) some have questioned the validity of writing it up.

Raised nosings at the treads.

This was at our daughters house, I pointed it out to the home inspector I had go out there with me, he was already questioning it. It was in the report, I pointed it out her too - our daughter said 'it is okay' (because they really wanted the house), they closed on the house on Thursday, and Thursday afternoon after they closed, they went to the house, and ... she fell down the stairs because she tripped over that raised nosing ...

I am posting this so that all recognize that those raised nosing at stair treads is a REAL TRIP HAZARD.

My list of things (many things) to fix now has a new item - remove those raised nosings and the wood tread cover, find what is below it (I am guessing at painted stairs or some reason that was cosmetic as these stairs not only lead to the basement, but half of the basement is finished and these stairs are part of what makes that finished basement area 'part of the house'.

When you see those raised tread nosings - write them up!

Other than a twisted and bruised ankle, she is okay, but the fall down the stairs could have ended with a worse result (most falls down stairs end with greater injuries than that).

[Gunnar Alquist]

Jerry,

I see those a lot and have been concerned about them. I have not been able to find any code violation. As long as the riser/tread tolerance is within 3/8", I believe it is ok by the book. However, I agree with you and try to put them in my report every time.

[Jerry Peck]

Jerry,

I see those a lot and have been concerned about them. I have not been able to find any code violation. As long as the riser/tread tolerance is within 3/8", I believe it is ok by the book. However, I agree with you and try to put them in my report every time.

Gunnar,

Put your level on the stair tread, the inboard end at the bottom corner of the riser/tread joint, with the level resting on that raised nosing, then read/determine the slope - it must meet this:

From the IRC:
- R311.7.7 Stairway walking surface. - - The walking surface of treads and landings of stairways shall be sloped not steeper than one unit vertical in 48 inches horizontal (2-percent slope).

That slope won't meet the above.

Here is an easy math way without a level:
- "one unit vertical in 48 inches horizontal" equals 1/4 inch per foot
- a 13-1/2 inch deep tread (leaving ~1 foot between the riser and the inside of the nosing - when have you ever seen a 13-1/2 inch deep tread) with only a 1/4 inch high trip edge, equals 1/4 inch per foot
- now to get more realistic with a 10 inch tread ... any depth less than 12 inches from the riser to that the inside edge of that raised nosing ... and the slope gets steeper with each fraction of an inch less than 12 inches
- now do that with a 9 inch tread of an older stair ...

[Markus Keller]

Glad to hear the kid is in one piece.
Usual story of someone thinking its no big deal until something happens. Just the way it goes.
We don't need no stinking handrail along the stairs either.

[Elizabeth Chambers]

Lucky she didnt break her neck. Question Jerry, how come you didnt go over and eliminate the hazard for her after they closed on the house? It might have been intruding, but when it comes to safety and loved ones, I intrude.

[Jerry Peck]

Question Jerry, how come you didnt go over and eliminate the hazard for her after they closed on the house? It might have been intruding, but when it comes to safety and loved ones, I intrude.

Because she didn't want me to.

And she still doesn't.

I reminded her that two people pointed out that trip hazard ("those" trip hazards as it is every step and the landing) - one person pointed it out on the report (the inspector) and one person told her (me) - and then she tripped and fell ...

That's all that I can do until she says otherwise.

[Elizabeth Chambers]

I was raised up without a dad. Had I had a dad at all, let alone a dad with the knowlege and common sense that you have, I would have listened to his advice, and acted on it. Makes you scratch your head wondering what the heck they were thinking.

I appreciate yoir advice and will be aware of this and write it up as a saftey hazard whenever I see it. Thanks Jerry.

[Gunnar Alquist]

From the IRC:
- R311.7.7 Stairway walking surface. - - The walking surface of treads and landings of stairways shall be sloped not steeper than one unit vertical in 48 inches horizontal (2-percent slope).

Thanks for that Jerry. I completely forgot about the slope. Now that I think of it, I have probably seen exterior steps that exceed that maximum slope.

[ROBERT YOUNG]

If these are steps/stairs.
R311.7.5.3 Profile
The radius of curvature at the (leading edge) of the tread shall be no greater than 9/16 inch (14.3 mm). A nosing not less than 3/4 inch (19 mm) but not more than 1 1/4 inches (32 mm) shall be provided on stairways with solid risers. The greatest nosing projection shall not exceed the smallest nosing projection by more than 3/8 inch (9.5 mm) between two stories, including the nosing at the level of floors and landings. Beveling of nosing shall not exceed 1/2 inch (12.7 mm). Risers shall be vertical or sloped from the underside of the leading edge of the tread above at an angle not more than 30 degrees (0.51 rad) from the vertical. Open risers are permitted, provided that the opening between treads does not permit the passage of a 4-inch diameter (102 mm) sphere.

[Jerry Peck]

Robert,

You posted that to say that it does allow raised trip hazard nosings?

Or that it does not allow them?

A code section of, and by itself, doesn't tell us much.

[ROBERT YOUNG]

Robert,

You posted that to say that it does allow raised trip hazard nosings?

Or that it does not allow them?

A code section of, and by itself, doesn't tell us much.

You are right. I wanted to get it out there before I got called away. Sorry.

I feel, rightly or wrongly, this post falls within maximum height of interior threshold transitions or door saddles. I believe it is 1/2"

Jerry, Is this a step, a landing or flooring elevation change? Is there a door or egress in its path?

[Jerry Peck]

I feel, rightly or wrongly, this post falls within maximum height of interior threshold transitions or door saddles. I believe it is 1/2"

Wrongly.

Stairs are completely different animals and have their own very detailed code section.

They are not thresholds.

There are occasions where there is a threshold at the top of a stair where an exterior doors does not swing over the stair.

[Jerry Peck]

Robert,

To answer your other questions:

From my original post:


Raised nosings at the treads.

[ROBERT YOUNG]

Robert,

To answer your other questions:

From my original post:
Sorry, I see the 2 steps down. Originally I thought there was one one step down.

Unnecessary additional level to a tread platform.

I can see how a foot would feel uncomfortable landing on the tread or how the heel of a shoe could get restricted at the raised right angle as you traverse down the steps. Specially older or impaired individuals.

Thanks for the post. Never seen this before.

[Bob Ozbirn]

34183

34184

Would these treads be considered sloped? If not what would specifically disallow and uneven tread like this?

[Jerry Peck]

Looking at the photos on my phone, the nosing look flat with (at the same surface level) the treads.

Which is how they should be.

[Bob Ozbirn]

The issue here is not the nose but the fact that the treads on either side of the carpet are a boards depth higher than the carpet.

[Jerry Peck]

The issue here is not the nose but the fact that the treads on either side of the carpet are a boards depth higher than the carpet.

I see it now - I would write that up as on of a few ways (maybe even all together);
a) the treads are discontinuous across their width and at different heights
b) there are three sets of conforming treads as each set of treads is too narrow
c) riser heights are inconsistent (the riser height at the carpet is not the same as at the wood)
d) the handrail and wall (guard) and the wider center carpet tread are separated from each other, thus the wider carpeted treads cannot be considered as the treads.