Stairs required?

[rwand1]

Sorry you must mean ladder, not stairs? I am having a hard time understanding how stairs can be utilized with a 5 foof ceiling height even if they are hinged. You won't have sufficient slope for proper stringers in my opinion.

[Jason A. Sieg, CMI]

I have stairs going in to my craw space. It is 4 steps. No hand rail though. I must add though that the access hatch is a 3'x5' flip up, side hinged, floor section in the closet under the 2nd floor stairs.

I think the main question here though would be how to put a hand rail on the narrow 2' wide circular stairs to the 2nd & 3rd floors. The only thing I could think of would be to have something made by a Blacksmith. They could make something small enough to not take up much of the limited space.

***Question how would they get anything (furniture) up to the other floors?***

[jmichalski]

Originally Posted by jsieg

***Question how would they get anything (furniture) up to the other floors?***

The windows, of course! You have to see people move into a trinity. It is a definite lifestyle choice. It also gives you an appreciation for why antique furniture appears so much smaller than ours today!!

[jmichalski]

Originally Posted by rwand1

Sorry you must mean ladder, not stairs? I am having a hard time understanding how stairs can be utilized with a 5 foof ceiling height even if they are hinged. You won't have sufficient slope for proper stringers in my opinion.

No, I am not talking about a full fledged staircase, I am talking about a custom small version with about 4 steps (as someone else suggested) kind of like a half of a pull down stair unit for an attic. I have one in my garage that was homemade (well) by the previous owner. Just thinking out loud.

FHA does not mearsure for depth of tread or "proper" stringers - at least not in my experience. But they do write up missing handrails and GFCIs all the time. In other words, they are willing to grandfather in older staps, but seem to have a bug up their a** about the handrails (at least locally). But I have never seen this exact situation before.

Like I said, this is more for my curiosity but I was intrigued when the client asked and I did not have an answer.

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Hi. Joe;

Glad to be of any help.

Marcel

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Hi. Joe;

Just thought of another scenario for a ladder, and the would be what they call a ships ladder and is very comfortable to the user when hand rails on both sides can be provided.

In a case of a small access hole, this might be difficult and a straight ladder might be the best alternative if the access hole can not be modified.

Marcel
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[jmichalski]

I can picture it exactly. Wonder why I didnt think of that in the first place....