Finger Lakes Building Officials, Inc.

An Affiliated Member of the New York State Building Officials Conference

May 28, 2003

RE: Landing requirements for enclosure of existing stairways
BCNYS 1003.3.3.4

This is in response to your question regarding the requirements for the size of landings for enclosure of existing stairways. The stair in question is identified as Stair C 4000 level. The stair is 7'6" wide, the landing is 7'6" wide and 5'2" deep and the stairway has a straight run at the top landing.

Building Code of New York State (BCNYS) section 1003.3.3.4, Stairway landings, requires that there shall be a floor or landing at the top and bottom of each stairway. The width of landings shall not be less than the width of stairways they serve. Every landing shall have a minimum dimension measured in the direction of travel equal to the width of the stairway. Such dimension need not exceed 48 inches (1219 mm) where the stairway has a straight run. The stair in question meets these requirements and is in fact deeper than 48 inches. Exception 2 requires that doors opening onto a landing shall not reduce the landing to less than one-half the required width. The stairway door is 44" wide, is hinged near the edge of the stair wall, opens into the stairway, swings over the 5'2" deep landing such that when fully open is parallel to the side wall of the stairway enclosure. Half of the stairway width is 45 inches and the arc of the swinging door is 44 inches. Therefore, the stair enclosure and landing are compliant.

This advisory opinion is rendered based upon the information provided. Administration and enforcement of the code are within the jurisdiction of the local authority. If you have questions regarding this advisory, please call me at (518) 474-4073.

Sincerely,
Cheryl A. Fischer, P.E.
Assistant Director for Code Interpretation
Codes Division
Al03-123

Finger Lakes Building Officials Association, Inc.
3100 Atlantic Ave.
Penfield, NY 14526