PART 3 — FIRE PROTECTION, OCCUPANT SAFETY AND ACCESSIBILITYUpdated for the 2024 Ontario Building Code
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3.4.6.8.Treads and Risers (See Note A-9.8.4.)
(1) Except as permitted for dwelling units and by Sentence 3.4.7.5.(1) for fire escapes, steps in flights shall have a run of
not less than 280 mm and not more than 355 mm between successive steps.
(2) Steps for stairs referred to in Sentence (1) shall have a rise between successive treads not less than 125 mm and not
more than 180 mm.
(3) Except as provided in Article 3.3.4.7. and except for fire escape stairs, stairs that are principally used for
maintenance and service, and stairs that serve industrial occupancies other than storage garages, steps for stairs shall
have no open risers.
(4) Except in fire escape stairs and where an exterior stair adjoins a walkway as permitted in Sentence 3.4.6.3.(3), risers,
measured as the vertical nosing-to-nosing distance, shall be of uniform height in any one flight, with a maximum
tolerance of
(a) 5 mm between adjacent treads or landings, and
(b) 10 mm between the tallest and shortest risers in a flight.
(5) Except in fire escape stairs, treads shall have a uniform run with a maximum tolerance of
(a) 5 mm between adjacent treads, and
(b) 10 mm between the deepest and shallowest treads in a flight.
(6) Treads and risers shall not differ significantly in run and rise in successive flights in any stair system.
(See Note A-3.4.6.8.(6))
(7) The slope of treads or landings shall not exceed 1 in 50.
(8) Except as permitted by Sentence (10), the top of the nosing of stair treads shall have a rounded or bevelled edge
extending not less than 6 mm and not more than 13 mm measured horizontally from the front of the nosing.
(9) The front edge of stair treads in exits and public access to exits shall be at right angles to the direction of exit travel.
(10) If resilient material is used to cover the nosing of a stair tread, the minimum rounded or beveled edge required by
Sentence (8) is permitted to be reduced to 3 mm.
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Code text is reproduced for reference from the Ontario Building Code (O. Reg. 163/24, 2024 Building Code Compendium). This page is provided for general information and is not an official copy. Always verify requirements against the official Ontario Building Code and confirm with your local building department.