Door Landing Requirements

Code expert Glenn Mathewson runs through the landing requirements for exterior doors, including the threshold dimensions and much more. Doors other than the required egress door shall be provided with landings or floors not more than 7 3 / 4 inches (196 mm) below the top of the threshold. Exception: A top landing is not required where a stairway of not more than two risers is located on the exterior side of the door, provided that the door does not swing over the stairway.

Exception: Where the door opens into the stairway of a smokeproof enclosure, the landing need not have a length of 5 feet. (Title 24, Part 2, Section 2-3303 (i) (2) Exception 1). In existing installations where there is no landing, doors shall be conspicuously marked with a sign stating 'Danger!

The step-down requirements to a landing at an exterior door of a home depends on whether the door is an egress door or just a regular exterior door. The egress door standards are more stringent, per the International Residential Code (IRC R311.1) and Residential Edition of the Florida Building Code (FBC). A: Yes.

The required exit door is classified as an exterior door. The provisions of the Second Exception in Section R311.4.3 permits a landing to be placed a maximum of 7-3/4 inches below the top of the threshold at any exterior doorway, which does include the required exit door. In summary, landing requirements for exterior doors include threshold dimensions, allowable steps, and dimensions.

Landings must be at least as wide as the door served and have a dimension of 36 inches in the direction of the door served. R311.3 Floors and landings at exterior doors. There shall be a landing or floor on each side of each exterior door.

The width of each landing shall be not less than the door served. Landings shall have a dimension of not less than 36 inches (914 mm) measured in the direction of travel. THIS DIAGRAM ILLUSTRATES THE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS OF THESE REGULATIONS AND IS INTENDED ONLY AS AN AID FOR BUILDING DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION DOOR HARDWARE OBSTRUCTIONS VESTIBULE.

A landing may be omitted at the bottom of an exterior stair or ramp provided there is no obstruction, such as a gate or door, within the door. It is important to consult local building codes for specific requirements and guidelines for exterior doors. Doors in the fully open position shall not reduce a required dimension by more than 7 inches (178 mm).

Where a landing serves an occupant load of 50 or more, doors in any position shall not reduce the landing to less than one.