Tiny Houses 2021

AQ104.2.4 Ship’s ladders. Ship’s ladders accessing lofts shall comply with Sections R311.7.12.1 and R311.7.12.2. The clear width at and below handrails shall be not less than 20 inches (508 mm).

R311.7.12.1 Treads of ship’s ladders. Treads shall have a depth of not less than 5 inches (127 mm). The tread shall be projected such that the total of the tread depth plus the nosing projection is not less than 8 ½ inches (216 mm). The riser height shall be not more than 9 ½ inches (241 mm).

R311.7.12.2 Handrails of ship’s ladders. Handrails shall be provided on both sides of ship’s ladders and shall comply with Sections R311.7.8.2 through R311.7.8.6. Handrail height shall be uniform, not less than 30 inches (762 mm) and not more than 34 inches (864 mm).

AQ104.2.5 Loft guards. Loft guards shall be located along the open sides of lofts. Loft guards shall be not less than 36 inches (914 mm) in height or one-half of the clear height to the ceiling, whichever is less. Loft guards shall comply with Section R312.1.3 and Table R301.5 for their components.

R312.1.3 Opening limitations. Required guards shall not have openings from the walking surface to the required guard height that allow passage of a sphere 4 inches (102 mm) in diameter.

1. The triangular openings at the open side of stair, formed by the riser, tread and bottom rail of a guard, shall not allow passage of a sphere 6 inches (153 mm) in diameter.
2. Guards on the open side of stairs shall not have openings that allow passage of a sphere 4 3/8 inches (111 mm) in diameter.

AQ105.1 General. Tiny houses shall meet the requirements of Section R310 for emergency escape and rescue openings.

Exception: Egress roof access windows in lofts used as sleeping rooms shall be deemed to meet the requirements of Section R310 where installed such that the bottom of the opening is not more than 44 inches (1118 mm) above the loft floor, provided the egress roof access window complies with the minimum opening area requirements of Section R310.2.1.

R310.2.1 Minimum size. Emergency escape and rescue openings shall have a net clear opening of not less than 5.7 square feet (0.530 m²).

R310.1 Emergency escape and rescue opening required. Basements, habitable attics and every sleeping room shall have not less than one operable emergency escape and rescue opening. Where basements contain one or more sleeping rooms, an emergency escape and rescue opening shall be required in each sleeping room. Emergency escape and rescue openings shall open directly into a public way, or to a yard or court having a minimum width of 36 inches (914 mm) that opens to a public way.

1. Storm shelters and basements used only to house mechanical equipment not exceeding a total floor area of 200 square feet (18.58 m²).
2. Where the dwelling unit or townhouse unit is equipped with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section P2904, sleeping rooms in basements shall not be required to have emergency escape and rescue openings provided that the basement has one of the following:
   • 2.1. One means of egress complying with Section R311 and one emergency escape and rescue opening.
   • 2.2. Two means of egress complying with Section R311.
3. A yard shall not be required to open directly into a public way where the yard opens to an unobstructed path from the yard to the public way. Such path shall have a width of not less than 36 inches (914 mm).

R310.1.1 Operational constraints and opening control devices. Emergency escape and rescue openings shall be operational from the inside of the room without the use of keys, tools or special knowledge. Window opening control devices and fall prevention devices complying with ASTM F2090 shall be permitted for use on windows serving as a required emergency escape and rescue opening and shall be not more than 70 inches (178 cm) above the finished floor.

R310.2 Emergency escape and rescue openings. Emergency escape and rescue openings shall have minimum dimensions in accordance with Sections R310.2.1 through R310.2.4.

R310.2.1 Minimum size. Emergency escape and rescue openings shall have a net clear opening of not less than 5.7 square feet (0.530 m²).

Exception: The minimum net clear opening for grade-floor emergency escape and rescue openings shall be 5 square feet (0.465 m²).