May 2004
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RESIDENTIAL
STAIR CONSTRUCTION
The height and tread of stairs in new home construction has been an issue within the building community and codes community across the country for the last ten years. As stair heights are reduced and treads lengthened, the overall run of the stairway is increased. This becomes a problem in the construction of town houses and smaller single family homes.
The stair construction standard in the 1992 CABO one and two family dwelling code and the exception for R2 & R2 in the 1993 BOCA national building code, was 8 1/4 inches maximum for the riser, the tread depth was 9 inches minimum. Though strong pressures from a few code inspectors across the country, the CABO one and two family dwelling code in 1995 and the BOCA national building code in 1996, were amended to change the stair construction standard to a maximum riser height of 7 3/4 inches and a minimum tread depth of 10 inches. Across the country, state and local code adoption bodies amended their state�s construction code to retain the 1992-1993 stair construction standard. When Pennsylvania adopted the Uniform Construction Code of 1999,PBA was forced to compromise with only a temporary grandfathering of the 1992-1993 stair construction standards. The temporary grandfather period expired December 31, 2003. At the time of the passage of Act 45, it was PBA�s intention to get the code implemented in Pennsylvania and then go back to the General Assembly for a permanent grandfathering of the 1992-1993 standards. While the code regulation process dragged on, PBA made plans to pass permanent grandfathering language. The regulations adopted by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry on January 10th , 2004 adopt by reference the 2003 International Building Code (IBC) and the 2003 International Residential Code (IRC). The stair construction standard of the IRC 2003, which includes the 7 3/4" 10" geometry despite the advocacy of the National Association of Home Builders, would have taken effect in Pennsylvania on April 9th 2004. Representative Mark McNaughton sponsored HB1654 which
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passed the General Assembly and was signed into law in February 19, 2004. HB1654 permanently retains in Pennsylvania�s Uniform Construction Code Act the stair construction standards of the 1992-1993 stair construction standards.
Once the new exemption became effective on April 9, 2004, the 1992-1993 stair construction standard cannot be modified by any municipality. The language of the Uniform Construction Code Act, as amended by HB1654, prohibits any municipality from modifying their local code ordnance to require a more stringent stair standard. Therefore, the 1992-1953 stair construction described above is in effect. UNIFORM CONSTRUCTION CODE UPDATE The page where the Department of Labor and Industry will list all municipal opt-in and opt-out decisions is now posted on the UCC website. The opt-in or opt-out decisions will be posted aa they are received.. Not all municipals have been posted yet. To view the opt-in and opt-out decisions visit the PBA website at www.pahomes.org
Several local building associations across Pennsylvania are offering code training. To get a complete list visit the PBA website at www.pahomes.org. Currently the closet class is with the Blair County Builders Association. It is being held on June 15 at the Ramada in Altoona. The program is restricted to persons who have taken a two-day IRC course based on the 2000 code. The program is intended to address the differences between 2000 and 2003 residential codes. PBA members can attend the course at the member rate of $150. Lunch will be included. For more information on the IRC update course contact the Blair County BA office for registration forms, directions and fees at 814-693-9710 or by fax at 814-693-9712. You can also email [email protected] or visit Blair County BA website at www.blairbuilders.com H.B.A.A. WEBSITE We have been getting more and more hits on our HBAA web page. If you have not been there in a while come and revisit, many things have changed. www.hbaahomes.org |