Deck Egress
Questions and Answers
Brian asked
Deck egress question
Here’s a stumper for you;
Does a deck require a means of egress or can it be enclosed on three sides (enclosed on four sides counting the house wall except of course being able to access the deck from the door leading out of the house on to the deck)?
I have looked online and I own a copy of the IBC and IRC books and can not find a definitive answer anywhere. I have several decks I’m quoting for a multi-family property where the existing decks have stairs but for several reasons it doesn’t make sense to replace the stairs when the deck is rebuilt. My thinking is for the residents that have patios on third and fourth floors their only means of egress in case of an emergency is through the entry door into the apartment. So the residents on the first floor, in this case, do not need a means of deck egress that the others do not have. If you can tell me where to find this code or something I can use to prove my thought on this it would be helpful. Thank you in advance for your assistance and taking time to respond to my question.
Brian
Brian,
I agree with your logic that second or third floor decks and balconies often don’t have stairs and therefore ground level decks don’t require deck egress either. Also, I have built numerous decks over the years that did not have stairs with no issue from the inspections dept.
I am not aware of a specific code that deals with the issue of deck egress requirements, however when you submit a drawing or sketch of the deck to procure the building permit, the inspections dept. will mark up the drawing to include steps if it is a code requirement. If you require a definitive answer before a permit is sought you might try calling or visiting the building inspector. They usually respond well to a politely phrased question, and a gentle reminder that they are public servants will often soften the tone of the occasional inspector that may be a bit testy.
I sometimes include a clause in my proposals or contracts that indicate some modification of the terms may be necessary to comply with building codes.
I hope I have been of some help in this matter.
Best regards,
Tony Wood
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