Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 8, § 1626 - Stairwells and Stairs
(a) General.
(1) Stairways shall be al least 24 inches in
width and shall be equipped with stair rails, handrails, treads, and
landings.
(2) Railings and
toeboards meeting the requirements of Article 16 of these safety orders shall
be installed around stairwells.
(b) The following requirements apply to all
stairways as indicated:
(1) Temporary
stairways that will not be a permanent part of the structure on which
construction work is being performed shall be at least 24 inches in width. The
stairway shall have landings at each floor, or level, of not less than 30
inches in the direction of travel and extend at least 24 inches in width at
every 12 feet or less of vertical rise.
(2) Stairs shall be installed between 30°
and 50° from horizontal.
(3)
Riser height and tread depth shall be uniform within each flight of stairs,
including any foundation structure used as one or more treads of the stairs.
Variations in riser height or tread depth shall not be over ¼ -inch (0.6
cm) on any stairway.
(4) Where
doors or gates open directly on a stairway, a platform shall be provided, and
the swing of the door shall not reduce the effective width of the platform to
less than 20 inches (51 cm).
(5)
Unprotected sides and edges of stairway landings shall be provided with
railings. Design criteria for railings are prescribed in Section
1620 of these safety
orders.
(6) Metal pan landings and
metal pan treads, when used, shall be secured in place before filling with
concrete or other material.
(7) All
parts of stairways shall be free of hazardous projections, such as protruding
nails.
(8) Slippery conditions on a
stairway shall be eliminated before the stairway is used to reach another
level.
(c) Stair rails
and handrails. The following requirements apply to all stairways as indicated:
(1) Stairways having four or more risers or
rising more than 30 inches (76 cm), whichever is less, shall be equipped with:
(A) At least one handrail; and
(B) A stair rail consisting of a top rail and
mid-rail along each unprotected side or edge.
(2) Winding and spiral stairways shall be
equipped with a handrail offset sufficiently to prevent walking on those
portions of the stairways where the tread width is less than 6 inches (15
cm).
(3) The height of stair rails
shall be not less than 34 inches nor more than 38 inches from the upper surface
of the stair rail to the surface of the tread, in line with the face of the
riser at the forward edge of the tread.
(4) Mid-rails shall be located at a height
midway between the top edge of the stair rail and the stairway steps.
(A) Screens, mesh, or other material, when
used in lieu of mid-rails, shall extend from the top rail to the stairway step,
and along the entire opening between top rail supports.
(B) Other structural members, when used,
shall be installed such that there are no openings in the stair rail that are
more than 18 inches (46 cm) wide.
(5) Handrails and the top rails of stair
rails shall be capable of withstanding, without failure, a force of at least
200 pounds (890 n) applied within 2 inches (5 cm) of the top edge, in any
downward or outward direction, at any point along the top edge.
(6) The height of handrails shall be not less
than 34 inches nor more than 38 inches from the upper surface of the handrail
to the surface of the tread, in line with the face of the riser at the forward
edge of the tread.
(7) When the top
edge of a stair rail also serves as a handrail, the height of the top edge
shall be not less than 34 inches nor more than 38 inches from the upper surface
of the stair rail to the surface of the tread, in line with the face of the
riser at the forward edge of the tread.
(8) Stair rails and handrails shall be so
surfaced as to prevent injury to employees from punctures or lacerations, and
to prevent snagging of clothing.
(9) Handrails shall provide an adequate
handhold.
(10) The ends of stair
rails, handrails and mid-rails shall be constructed so as not to constitute a
projection hazard.
(11) Handrails
that will not be a permanent part of the structure being built shall have a
minimum clearance of 3 inches (8 cm) between the handrail and walls, stair
rails, and other objects.
(d) Temporary Service. The following
requirements apply to all stairways as indicated:
(1) Except during stairway construction, foot
traffic is prohibited on stairways with pan stairs where the treads and/or
landings are to be filled in with concrete or other material at a later date,
unless the stairs are temporarily fitted with wood or other solid material at
least to the top edge of each pan.
(2) Except during stairway construction, foot
traffic is prohibited on skeleton metal stairs where permanent treads and/or
landings are to be installed at a later date, unless the stairs are fitted with
secured temporary treads and landings long enough to cover the entire tread
and/or landing area.
(3) Treads for
temporary service shall be made of wood or other solid material, shall cover
the full width and depth of the stair and shall be supported to prevent undue
deflection.
(4) Temporary treads
and landings shall be replaced when worn below the level of the top edge of the
pan.
Notes
2. Repealer of subsection (g) and new subsections (g) and (h) filed 5-21-75; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 75, No. 21).
3. Amendment of subsection (c) filed 11-14-75; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 75, No. 46).
4. Repealer and new subsections (f) and (g) filed 3-19-79; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 79, No. 12).
5. Amendment of subsection (a) filed 4-3-2002; operative 5-3-2002 (Register 2002, No. 14).
6. Repealer and new section filed 4-20-2007; operative 5-20-2007 (Register 2007, No. 16).
Note: Authority cited: Section 142.3, Labor Code. Reference: Section 142.3, Labor Code.
2. Repealer of subsection (g) and new subsections (g) and (h) filed 5-21-75; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 75, No. 21).
3. Amendment of subsection (c) filed 11-14-75; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 75, No. 46).
4. Repealer and new subsections (f) and (g) filed 3-19-79; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 79, No. 12).
5. Amendment of subsection (a) filed 4-3-2002; operative 5-3-2002 (Register 2002, No. 14).
6. Repealer and new section filed 4-20-2007; operative 5-20-2007 (Register 2007, No. 16).
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