

Therefore, they have different requirements, and we’ll discuss the differences in the next few sections. The IRC code differentiates between stairs at or below the handrail height and stairs above the handrail height.

In this situation, you would measure stair width from the inside of the handrails. Usually, this is from wall to wall, but it may differ depending on the type of stairs you are constructing (such as half landing stairs).Īn exception to this measuring rule is if the handrails extend more than 4 1/2 inches into the stair.

You usually measure stair width above the handrails and between whatever obstructions are on either side of the stairs. Much like the name suggests, stair width is simply the clear horizontal width of a stair. Spiral staircases only require a minimum headroom of 78 inches (6 feet 6 inches). IRC code states that there should be a minimum of 80 inches (6 feet 8 inches) of headroom above every stair or landing.Įxceptions – When a flight of stairs leads into an opening in the floor above, the opening cannot extend into the required headspace more than 4 3/4 inches. Calculating headroom on a staircase is pretty straightforward: you measure vertically how much space is between the ceiling and the tread on a stair or the surface of a landing. Headroom on a staircase is the amount of space above a landing or stair. There are many reasons for this vertical rise limit, but it is primarily for safety reasons. However, you would measure vertical rise from the floor to the next landing if the staircase spans multiple stories.Īccording to the IRC, a staircase should have a maximum vertical rise of 151 inches (12 feet 7 inches).Ī staircase must be less than or equal to 151 inches tall from top to bottom, or you must place a landing partway up if the stairs need to extend taller. You usually measure vertical rise from the floor to the top of the stairs. Vertical rise is the total height of a staircase. Video can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: First Time Building Stairs – Everything You Need To Know () Vertical Rise
