Stairway Inspection for Life Safety

The video above takes place in a hotel exit stairwell and demonstrates a life safety inspection performed in accordance with the International Standards of Practice for Inspecting Commercial Properties (ComSOP). Within the ComSOP, stairways and their components are addressed in four subsections related to the walk-through survey scope, including 6.5.2 Exterior, 6.5.3 Decks, Balconies, Terraces, and Porches, 6.5.11 Doors, Windows, and Interior, and 6.5.12 Life Safety. The following highlights the key differences between a general stairway inspection and a life safety inspection.

Inspecting Stairways

Stairways in commercial buildings come in a variety of designs, but the fundamental construction and safety principles remain the same whether they are part of the means of egress or serve another purpose within or outside the building. This includes proper tread and riser dimensions, handrails, and edge protection.

For inspectors, this means assessing:

• Treads and Risers:
  • Definition: Treads are the horizontal boards in a stairway on which the foot is placed. Risers are the vertical boards closing the spaces between the treads of stairways.
  • Inspection Notes: Inspect risers and treads for dimensional uniformity. Riser height should be between 4 and 7 inches, while tread depth should be at least 11 inches. Within any flight of stairs, the greatest riser height or tread depth should not vary from the smallest by more than 3/8 inch. The treads and risers should appear essentially uniform in size and shape.
• Handrails:
  • Definition: A horizontal or sloping rail designed to provide guidance and support, helping reduce the risk of falls.
  • Inspection Notes: Verify handrails are present on both sides of the stairway. An exception applies to dwelling units and spiral stairways, where only one handrail is required. Handrails should be installed between 34 and 38 inches, measured vertically from the nosings of the stair treads to the top of the gripping surface. Assess the handrail profile for graspability, verify that it is continuous, extends beyond the top and bottom riser, and returns to a wall, guard, or the walking surface at its termination.
• Guardrails:
  • Definition: A general term used to describe a form of edge protection that prevents falls from stairways. It may be used in conjunction with railings or handrails.
  • Inspection Notes: Verify guards are present along all open sides where there is a 30-inch drop or more. Guards should be at least 42 inches above the adjacent walking surface. Openings in the guard should not allow the passage of a 4-inch-diameter sphere up to 36 inches or a 4¾-inch-diameter sphere between 36 and 42 inches. The triangular opening formed by the tread, riser, and bottom rail should not allow the passage of a 6-inch-diameter sphere.

Refer to CCPIA’s Checklist for Inspecting Stairways in Commercial Buildings for additional details and technical images based on the International Building Code (IBC) and ComSOP. The Inspecting Commercial Building Exteriors Online Course reviews the construction requirements for stairways that are not part of the means of egress, such as exterior walkways, porches, decks, and stoops.

Inspecting for Life Safety

As demonstrated in the hotel inspection video, stairways inspected for life safety have additional requirements. These stairways are part of the means of egress and typically serve as interior or exterior exit stairwells. Clear indicators of an exit stairway include exit signage and termination to an exit discharge or public way. The additional requirements are intended to support safe occupant egress, firefighter access, and fire protection during an emergency.

For example, interior exit stairways are common locations for occupants to store materials because they don’t recognize the important role these stairways play during a building evacuation.Look for obstructions, trip hazards, or other conditions affecting the stairway or its handrails that could hinder safe egress.

Additionally, look for penetrations and unprotected openings. Penetrations into interior exit stairways are limited to components necessary to serve or protect the exit enclosure (i.e., fire protection systems, security systems, two-way communication systems, and structural elements). All penetrations should maintain the enclosure’s required fire-resistance rating and be properly sealed with approved firestop materials.

Lastly, stairways that are part of an accessible means of egress should not have open risers. Other stairways permit openings between the treads, provided they do not allow the passage of a 4-inch-diameter sphere.

These are only a few of the inspection points to assess stairways for life safety. Take the Inspecting Commercial Fire and Life Safety Systems Online Course to learn more, and earn your certificate upon completion.