Access Stairs - very small occupancy

[JJH57]

I was asked by a friend to draw up a combo concession stand and announcers booth. There will be no cooking - just candy/soda/water.

The building is to be 12' x 16' x 2 levels with the concessions below and an announcer booth above. This is for a jr. high soccer field - public school system.

The ramrod on the project insists that the announcers booth can be accessed from a set of steep ships ladder type stairs inside the building and that she has cleared it with the building officials. I don't see how they get around the IBC section on proper stair design - even if the planned occupancy isn't more than a handful of people.

Under what circumstances can you occupy (as opposed to maintain equipment via OSHA approved stairs) a space and have stairs that don't meet the 7" max riser, 11 inch min tread criteria? I drew up a set of exterior stairs per the IBC guidelines, the ramrod was less than happy.

John

 

[stookeyfpe]

Which edition of the IBC?

 

[JJH57]

we're under 2009 IBC.

 

[Ron]

Ship's ladders are commonly used for restricted access locations like roofs; however, roofs are not "occupied space" requiring egress. This is likely a local "authority having jurisdiction (AHJ)" call. Are stairs necessary? Probably not. I've seen both used in this application.

 

[JJH57]

Thanks, Pretty much what I thought - so it becomes an acceptance of liability issue.

 

[Bagman2524]

The stadium is an A-5 assembly occupancy. I think the announcers booth meets the IBC chapter 2 definition of a "Technical Production Area" and use of a ladder or alternating tread device is allowed per IBC-2012 section 410.6.3.4

"Look for 3 things in a person intelligence, energy and integrity. If they don't have the last one, don't even bother with the first 2. W. Buffet