FREE Encyclopedia of Building & Environmental Construction, Diagnosis, Maintenance & Repair No ChatBot Pledge: The accuracy & trustworthiness of every InspectApedia article or Q&A is researched by human experts.
Basement Stairways & Exits
Types, Codes, Construction & Hazards
POST a QUESTION or COMMENT about basement steps & stairs: construction, safety, trip & fall hazards, maintenance, & repair
Basement entry stairs, steps, handrails: this document describes details for constructing, repairing, or inspecting basement stairs, railings, landings, treads, exterior entries to basements, basement stairwell covers & drains, and related conditions for safety and proper
construction. We also include references to stair codes and stair and railing safety.
InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.
Basement Stair Inspection & Safety Concerns
Our photographs show (above) a typical basement entry stair with an open railing - a child hazard - and (below) a twisting, canted narrow, no-railing basement stairway in a pre-1900 home.
The steps in the photo above are dangerous because they lean, have worn stair treads, damaged and loose stair treads.
As our photos just above and below show, these old basement stairs look worse when inspected from underneath, where the inspector can observe: rotted stair risers, treads, and stringer along the basement foundation wall
Conventional or home-made attic or basement stairways
Watch out: for basement stairs from both the building interior and also exterior basement stairs and stairwells that do not meet recommended standards for
In steps to basements, especially in older homes we often find odd dimensions of stair railings, stair tread width, height, depth, nose, low or flimsy stair railings, loose stair components,
and a host of other stair and railing defects are the source of more injuries and more lost time from work
in the United States (and probably other countries) than any other source of injuries after automobile accidents.
If you see a silly railing such as the one in this photograph it may indicate an approach to stair building
that is a red alert for other hazards.
Step riser height
Step tread width
Missing railings
Stair top landing guardrails missing
Worn, damaged treads
Basement walkout stair cover rotted or loose - a serious child hazard such as shown in our photo
Non-standard steps, rails, construction
Open railings
Basement stairs with open side and no railing - people leave off the handrail because it obstructs carrying furniture or other large objects in and out of the basement.
It would be better to provide a handrail and balusters that can be removed when necessary.
Garage stairs to basement: explosion waiting to happen
At left we illustrate an unsafe entry stair passing from a residential garage into the home's basement.
Watch out: As heating equipment is most often found in the home's basement, imagine the explosion that may occur (one did, despite our emphatic warnings, in Fishkill NY) if a vehicle leaks gasoline and gasoline fumes into the garage.
Gasoline fumes, heavier than air, fall down the stairwell, into the basement (or crawl space) where, at the next spark or flame, there is risk of an explosion.
A "fire door" in the stairwell bottom is not enough security for this installation. In fact, as you can see, the (not fire-rated) door has been left ajar.
Basement Walkout Stair Blocked
Thanks to New Jersey home inspector DovBer Kahn for this photograph of basement stairs to the building exterior that have become all but un-usable.
First the stairs were blocked by the canti-levered floor of the structure above (red arrow), and then the addition of a rear porch (upper left in the photo - green arrow) block most of the headroom for anyone wanting to use this stairway.
We also notice that there are no handrails (pink arrow) and that there may be very slippery algae on those steps (blue arrow) - if you could hunch over to walk up or down them.
Dov says that there is of course also an interior stairway between main floor and basement.
But what happens when the homeowner, objecting to mud being tracked-in upstairs or to oil burner odors, instructs the heating service technician or other service people to enter and leave the building by this exterior basement walkout-stair?
Dov Ber Kahn, a home inspector in Rockland County, NY has contributed photographs of various building features to InspectApedia. Mr. Kahn is a licensed home inspector in New York and New Jersey, and can be reached at Website: Kahnbhomeinspectors, Tel: 845-445-8234, Email: kdovber@googlemail.com
ADVERTISEMENT
Reader Comments, Questions & Answers About The Article Above
Below you will find questions and answers previously posted on this page at its page bottom reader comment box.
But certainly any stair well open side needs a guard and handrail.
On 2018-10-22 by curtis
IS IT A HQS REQUIREMENT TO HAVE RAILING ON BOTH SIDES IN A OPEN STAIRWELL
On 2018-03-07 by (mod) -
Leslie
If by "modular stairs" you mean pre-constructed stairways, the answer is yes provided that the stairs actually fit the building, in particular, the total rise between floors.
You do not want to install pre-fab stairs that cause you to have a first or last step that is a different rise height than the rest of the steps - unless you can solve that trip hazard by a properly-designed landing platform.
Brenda H:
For a basement that is used as occupied space for any reason (doing laundry, playroom, etc) in a residential home the same stair codes pertain as for stairs between any other building floors.
That means that a guard along the stairs (balusters in your question) would be required on an open side of the stairway.
Even if your local codes to not require a stair guard you should install one to prevent falls and injuries.
On 2018-03-07 by Leslie Vasquez
Can I use modular stairs to my basement? the ones I have now do not meet the code in regards of width and length
On 2017-11-18 by Brenda H
Does anyone know the *code* for basement stairs? Are balusters required?
On 2017-04-06 by (mod) - how many stringers are needed for basement steps?
Right, Bruce, it depends on stair width AND the specific dimensions, particularly depth, of the stringers you're using and how the stringers are cut. For example a notched 2x12 stringer may effectively give just a 2x6 remaining for stair support while not-notched stringers are twice as deep.
On 2017-04-06 by Bruce
Is there a PA code for how many stringers are needed for basement steps? I would assume it depends on the width, but I can't find any specs. I built stairs with two stringers set about 34" apart. I need to know if I need a third stringer in the middle. I'm using 2x10s for the treads and they seem to be pretty stable with just two stringers so far.
On 2016-09-25 by joe
are closed risers a requirement on basement stairs
On 2015-05-10 by (mod) -
Alan
Take a look at the page top photo of basement stairs. The newell post at the bottom of the stairs is above the first tread and the railing extends past it. However possible concerns with this stair design (as shown) is that there is a snag hazard at the open end of the railing and that if the railing is extended too far past the newell it may be flexible or inadequately supported.
I don't understand the part of your question about cutting the stair stringer.
On 2015-05-10 by Alan Wall
Does the newel post have to be level with the front of the last tread or can it be level with the second or third tread, to leave the bottom one or two stairs open? If I did this would I have to cut the stringer to be level with the treads?
Thanks.
BASEMENT STAIRS at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.
Or use the SEARCH BOX found below to Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia
Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia
Try the search box just below, or if you prefer, post a question or comment in the Comments box below and we will respond promptly.
Search the InspectApedia website
Note: appearance of your Comment below may be delayed:if your comment contains an image, photograph, web link, or text that looks to the software as if it might be a web link, your posting will appear after it has been approved by a moderator. Apologies for the delay.
Only one image can be added per comment but you can post as many comments, and therefore images, as you like.
You will not receive a notification when a response to your question has been posted. Please bookmark this page to make it easy for you to check back for our response.
Our Comment Box is provided by Countable Web Productions countable.ca
In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.
In addition to citations & references found in this article, see the research citations given at the end of the related articles found at our suggested
Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, by Steven Bliss. John Wiley & Sons, 2006. ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, Hardcover: 320 pages, available from Amazon.com and also Wiley.com. See our book review of this publication.
Eric Galow, Galow Homes, Lagrangeville, NY. Mr. Galow can be reached by email: ericgalow@gmail.com or by telephone: 914-474-6613. Mr. Galow specializes in residential construction including both new homes and repairs, renovations, and additions.
[4] "Are Functional Handrails Within Our Grasp" Jake Pauls, Building Standards, January-February 1991
[5] Access Ramp building codes:
UBC 1003.3.4.3
BOCA 1016.3
ADA 4.8.2
IBC 1010.2
[6] Access Ramp Standards:
ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), Public Law 101-336. 7/26/90 is very often cited by other sources for good design of stairs and ramps etc. even where disabled individuals are not the design target.
ANSI A117.4 Accessible and Usable buildings and Facilities (earlier version was incorporated into the ADA)
ASTM F 1637, Standard Practice for Safe Walking Surfaces, (Similar to the above standard
[7] The Circular Staircase, Mary Roberts Rinehart
[8] Construction Drawings and Details, Rosemary Kilmer
[9] Falls and Related Injuries: Slips, Trips, Missteps, and Their Consequences, Lawyers & Judges Publishing, (June 2002), ISBN-10: 0913875430 ISBN-13: 978-0913875438 "Falls in the home and public places are the second leading cause of unintentional injury deaths in the United States, but are overlooked in most literature. This book is unique in that it is entirely devoted to falls. Of use to primary care physicians, nurses, insurance adjusters, architects, writers of building codes, attorneys, or anyone who cares for the elderly, this book will tell you how, why, and when people will likely fall, what most likely will be injured, and how such injuries come about. "
[11] The National Institute of Standards and Technology, NIST (nee National Bureau of Standards NBS) is a US government agency - see www.nist.gov
"A Parametric Study of Wall Moisture Contents Using a Revised Variable Indoor Relative Humidity Version of the "Moist" Transient Heat and Moisture Transfer Model [copy on file as/interiors/MOIST_Model_NIST_b95074.pdf ] - ", George Tsongas, Doug Burch, Carolyn Roos, Malcom Cunningham; this paper describes software and the prediction of wall moisture contents. - PDF Document from NIS
[12] Slips, Trips, Missteps and Their Consequences, Second Edition, Gary M. Bakken, H. Harvey Cohen,A. S. Hyde, Jon R. Abele, ISBN-13: 978-1-933264-01-1 or
ISBN 10: 1-933264-01-2,
available from the publisher, Lawyers ^ Judges Publishing Company,Inc., www.lawyersandjudges.com sales@lawyersandjudges.com
[13] Slips, Trips, Missteps and Their Consequences, Gary M. Bakken, H. Harvey Cohen, Jon R. Abele, Alvin S. Hyde, Cindy A. LaRue, Lawyers and Judges Publishing; ISBN-10: 1933264012 ISBN-13: 978-1933264011
[14] The Stairway Manufacturers' Association, (877) 500-5759, provides a pictorial guide to the stair and railing portion of the International Residential Code. [copy on file as http://www.stairways.org/pdf/2006%20Stair%20IRC%20SCREEN.pdf ] -
[27] "The Dimensions of Stairs", J. M. Fitch et al., Scientific American, October 1974.
[28] Stair & Walkway Standards for Slipperiness or Coefficient of Friction (COF) or Static Coefficient of Friction (SCOF)
ANSI A1264.2
ANSI B101
ASTM D-21, and ASTM D2047
UL-410 (similar to ASTM D-21)
NSFI 101-B (National Floor Safety Institute)
NSFI Walkway Auditing Guideline (WAG) Ref. 101-A& 101-B (may appear as ANSI B101.0) sets rules for measuring walkway slip resist
OSHA - (Dept of Labor CFR 1910.22 does not specify COF and pertains to workplaces) but recognizes the need for a "qualified person" to evaluate walkway slipperiness
ADA (relies on the ANSI and ASTM standards)
[29] A. Sacher, International Symposium on Slip Resistance: The Interface of Man, Footwear, and Walking Surfaces, Journal of Testing and Evaluation (JTE), ISSN: 1945-7553, January 1997 [more focused on slipperiness of polished surfaces
[30] Algae is widely recognized as a slippery surface - a Google web search for "how slippery is algae on steps" produced more than 15,000 results on 8/29/12)
[31] Slipperiness of algae on walking surfaces, warning, Royal Horticultural Society, retrieved 8/29/2012, original source: http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/profile.aspx?pid=418
[32] Slipperiness of algae: "Watch your step, wet rocks and algae are slippery" Oregon State University warning 1977 retrieved 8/29/2012, original source: http://www.worldcat.org/title/watch-your-step-wet-rocks-and-algae-are-slippery/oclc/663683915
[33] Coefficient of friction of algae on surfaces [like stair treads]: Delphine Gourdon, Qi Lin, Emin Oroudjev, Helen Hansma, Yuval Golan, Shoshana Arad, and Jacob Israelachvili, "Adhesion and Stable Low Friction Provided by a Subnanometer-Thick Monolayer of a Natural Polysaccharide", Langmuir, 2008 pp 1534-1540, American Chemical Society,
retrieved 8/29/2012, Abstract: Using a surface forces apparatus, we have investigated the adhesive and lubrication forces of mica surfaces separated by a molecularly thin, subnanometer film of a high-molecular-weight (2.3 MDa) anionic polysaccharide from the algae Porphyridium sp. adsorbed from aqueous solution. The adhesion and friction forces of the confined biopolymer were monitored as a function of time, shearing distance, and driving velocity under a large range of compressive loads (pressures). Although the thickness of the dilute polysaccharide was < 1 nm, the friction was low (coefficient of friction = 0.015), and no wear was ever observed even at a pressure of 110 atm over 3 decades of velocity, so long as the shearing distances were less than twice the contact diameter. Atomic force microscopy in solution shows that the biopolymer is able to adsorb to the mica surface but remains mobile and easily dragged upon shearing. The adhesion (adsorption) of this polysaccharide even to negatively charged surfaces, its stable low friction, its robustness (high-load carrying capacity and good wear protection), and the weak (logarithmic) dependence of the friction force on the sliding velocity make this class of polyelectrolytes excellent candidates for use in water-based lubricant fluids and as potential additives to synovial fluid in joints and other biolubricating fluids. The physical reasons for the remarkable tribological properties of the ultrathin polysaccharide monolayer are discussed and appear to be quite different from those of other polyelectrolytes and proteins that act as thick “polymer brush” layers.
[35] Jason R. Stokes, Lubica Macakova, Agnieszka Chojnicka-Paszun, Cornelis G. de Kruif, and Harmen H. J. de Jongh, "Lubrication, Adsorption, and Rheology of Aqueous Polysaccharide Solutions, Langmuir 2011 27 (7), 3474-3484
[36] "Coefficients of Friction for Ice", The Physics Factbook™, Glenn Elert, Ed., retrieved 8/29/12, original source: http://hypertextbook.com/facts/2004/GennaAbleman.shtml
[37] "Coefficients of Friction for Ice", The University of the State of New York Reference Tables for Physical Setting/Physics. New York: The State Education Department, 2002. Op. Cit.
[38] Serway Physics for Scientists and Engineers 4th edition (p. 126.)
[39] "How Slippery Is It", retrieved 8/29/12, original source http://www.icebike.org/Articles/howslippery.htm
[40] John E. Hunter, "Friction Values", The Source, Society of Accident Reconstructionists, Winter 1998. Study of frictional values of car tires involved in collisions on snow or ice covered roadways.
[41] Frictional Coefficients of some Common Materials and Materials Combinations, The Engineering Toolbox, retrieved 8/29/2012, original source: http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/friction-coefficients-d_778.html [copy on file as Friction and Coefficients of Friction.pdf ]
[42] Stairways and Ladders, A Guide to OSHA Rules, OSHA, U.S. Department of Labor, 3124-12R 2003 - Web Search 05/28/2010 original source: http://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3124.pdf. OSHA regulations govern standards in the construction industry and in the workforce Quoting from OSHA whose focus is on workplace safety and so excludes discussion of falls and stair-falls in private homes:
OSHA estimates that there are 24,882 injuries and as many as 36 fatalities per year due to falls from stairways and ladders used in construction. Nearly half of these injuries are serious enough to require time off the job--11,570 lost workday injuries and 13,312 non-lost workday injuries occur annually due to falls from stairways and ladders used in construction. These data demonstrate that work on and around ladders and stairways is hazardous. More importantly, they show that compliance with OSHA's requirements for the safe use of ladders and stairways could have prevented many of these injuries. -osha.gov/doc/outreachtraining/htmlfiles/stairlad.html
[43] International Building Code, Stairway Provisions, Section 1009: Stairways and Handrails, retrieved 8/29/12, original source: http://www.amezz.com/ibc-stairs-code.htm [copy on file as IBC Stairs Code.pdf]
[44] Model Building Code, Chapter 10, Means of Egress, retrieved 8/29/12, original source: http://www2.iccsafe.org/states/newjersey/NJ_Building/PDFs/NJ_Bldg_Chapter10.pdf, [copy on file as NJ_Bldg_Chapter10.pdf] adopted, for example by New Jersey. International Code Council, 500 New Jersey Avenue, NW, 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20001, Tel: 800-786-4452
Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.
In addition to citations & references found in this article, see the research citations given at the end of the related articles found at our suggested
Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. Tel: (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 Email: info@carsondunlop.com. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors.
Carson Dunlop Associates provides extensive home inspection education and report writing material. In gratitude we provide links to tsome Carson Dunlop Associates products and services.