eLaws | eCases | Texas Statutes | Texas Administrative Code | Texas Courts | Counties & Cities of Texas | Code of Federal Regulations | United States Code |
 Austin
 Building Criteria Manual
 Section 6. MINIMUM LIFE SAFETY GUIDELINES

  § 6.5.0. COMMON LIFE SAFETY COMPONENTS BY ADOPTED CODE  

Latest version.

  • Section 6.5 is a reference chart and guideline for the "most common" minimum requirements for life safety components based on the adopted code for each time period. This chart helps property owners understand the construction requirements based on the Code in effect at the time their house was built. For instance, if your house was built in 1931, find the corresponding requirements and code in effect in 1931.

    COMMON LIFE SAFETY COMPONENTS BY ADOPTED CODE - RESIDENTIAL

    Residential Single-Family and Multi-Family Occupancy-Life Safety Requirements

    Egress
    window
    		Stairs Landings Handrail Guardrails Ceiling Height Egress Door Hallway Smoke
    Detector
    1931 City of Austin Code Adopted Apr. 30, 1931 Ordinance 310430-5 Height N/A
    Width N/A
    Sq. Ft. N/A
    Sill N/A
    		Rise 8"
    Run 9"
    Headroom N/A
    Width 30"
    		Width 30" Height 30" all stairways required handrails Height 42"
    Openings N/A
    		Height N/A Width N/A Width 36" N/A
    1964 City of Austin Code adopted Apr. 29, 1965 Ordinance 650429-C Height 24"
    Width 24"
    Sq. Ft. 5.0
    Sill 48"
    		Rise 8"
    Run 9"
    Headroom 6'6"
    Width 30"
    		Width 30" Height 30"—34" 4 risers or more Height 36"
    Openings 9"
    		Height 7'6" Width 34" Width 36" N/A
    1970 Uniform Building Code Adopted Dec. 21, 1971 Ordinance 711221-J Height 22"
    Width 22"
    Sq. Ft. 5.0
    Sill 48"
    		Rise 8"
    Run 9"
    Headroom 6'6"
    Width 30"
    		Width 30" Height 30"—34" 4 risers or more Height 42"
    Openings 9"     		Height 7'6" Width 36" Width 36" N/A
    1973 Uniform Building Code Adopted Nov. 09, 1976 Amended Aug. 25, 1977 Ordinance 761109-E Height 22"
    Width 22"
    Sq. Ft. 5.0
    Sill 48"
    		Rise 8"
    Run 9"
    Headroom 6'6"
    Width 30"
    		Width 30" Height 30"—34" 4 risers or more Height 42"
    Openings 9"
    		Height 7'6" Width 36"
    Clear 28"
    		Width 36" Hallway & Above stairs
    1976 Uniform Building Code Adopted Jun. 29, 1978 Ordinance 780629-F Height 24"
    Width 20"
    Sq. Ft. 5.7
    Sill 44"
    		Rise 8"
    Run 9"
    Headroom 6'6"
    Width 36"
    		Width 36" Height 30"—34" 2 risers or more Height 36"
    Openings 9"
    		Height 7'6" Width 36"
    Clear 32"
    		Width 36" Hallway & Above stairs
    1979 Uniform Building Code Adopted Sep. 11, 1980 Ordinance 800911-B Height 24"
    Width 20"
    Sq. Ft. 5.7
    Sill 44"
    30" min. from floor
    		Rise 8"
    Run 9"
    Headroom 6'6"
    Width 36"
    		Width 36" Height 30"—34" 2 risers or more Height 36"
    Openings 9"
    		Height 7'6" Width 36"
    Clear 32"
    		Width 36" Hallway & Above stairs power from house wiring
    1982 Uniform Building Code Adopted Nov. 10, 1983 Ordinance 831110-A Height 24"
    Width 20"
    Sq. Ft. 5.7
    Sill 44"
    		Rise 8"
    Run 9"
    Headroom 6'6"
    Width 30"
    		Width 30" Height 30"—34" 4 risers or more Height 36"
    Openings 6"
    		Height 7'6" Width 36"
    Clear 32"
    		Width 36" Hallway & Above stairs power from house wiring
    1986 CABO Adopted Jan. 28, 1988 Ordinance 880128-N Height 24"
    Width 20"
    Sq. Ft. 5.7 & 5.0
    Sill 44"
    		Rise 8.25"
    Run 9"
    Headroom 6'8"
    Width 36"
    		Width 36" Height 30"—34" 4 risers or more Height 36"
    Openings 6"
    		Height 7'6" Width 36" Width 36" Outside each bedroom & each story primary power from house wiring
    1989 CABO Adopted Apr. 6, 1989 Ordinance 890406-M Height 24"
    Width 20"
    Sq. Ft. 5.7 & 5.0
    Sill 44"
    		Rise 8.25"
    Run 9"
    Headroom 6'8"
    Width 36"
    		Width 36" Height 30"—34" 3 risers or more Height 36"
    Openings 6"
    		Height 7'6" Width 36" Width 36" Outside each bedroom & each story primary power from house wiring
    1992 CABO Adopted Apr. 06, 1989 Ordinance 921112-B Height 24"
    Width 20"
    Sq. Ft. 5.7 & 5.0
    Sill 44"
    		Rise 8.25"
    Run 9"
    Headroom 6'8"
    Width 36"
    		Width 36" Height 30"—38" 3 risers or more Height 36"
    Openings 6"
    		Height 7'6" Width 36" Width 36" Outside each bedroom & each story interconnected house wiring
    1995 CABO Adopted Dec. 11, 1996 Ordinance 960912-I Height 22"
    Width 20"
    Sq. Ft. 5.7 & 5.0
    Sill 44"
    		Rise 7.75"
    Run 10"
    Headroom 6'8"
    Width 36"
    		Width 36" Height 30"—38" 3 risers or more Height 36"
    Openings 4"
    		Height 7'6" Width 36" Width 36" Outside each bedroom & each story interconnected house wiring
    2000 IRC Adopted May 5, 2003 Ordinance 030424-66 Height 24"
    Width 20"
    Sq. Ft. 5.7 & 5.0
    Sill 44"
    		Rise 7.75"
    Run 10"
    Headroom 6'8"
    Width 36"
    		Width 36" Height 30"—38" 3 risers or more Height 36"
    Openings 4"
    		Height 7' Width 36" Width 36" Outside each bedroom & each story interconnected house wiring
    2006 IRC Adopted Oct. 18, 2007 Ordinance 20071018-089 Height 24"
    Width 20"
    Sq. Ft. 5.7 & 5.0
    Sill 44"
    		Rise 7.75"
    Run 10"
    Headroom 6'8"
    Width 36"
    		Width 36" Height 30"—38" 4 risers or more Height 36"
    Openings 4"
    		Height 7' Width 36" Width 36" Outside each bedroom & each story interconnected house wiring
    2012 IRC Adopted Sep. 16, 2013 Ordinance 20130606-055 Height 24"
    Width 20"
    Sq. Ft. 5.7 & 5.0
    Sill 44" (clear opening)
    		Rise 7.75"
    Run 10"
    Headroom 6'8"
    Width 36"
    		Width 36" Height 30"—38" 4 risers or more Height 36"
    Openings 4"
    		Height 7' Width 32" (clear opening w/door at 90 degrees) Width 36" Outside each bedroom & each story interconnected house wiring Carbon monoxide detector also required
    Development Services Dept., Building Inspections Division Revised: 1/1/2014

     

    COMMON LIFE SAFETY COMPONENTS BY ADOPTED CODE - COMMERCIAL

    Commercial Residential/Multi-Family Occupancy - Life Safety Requirements

    Egress window from the Basement to 3rd story Stairs Landings Handrail Guard-rails Ceiling Height Egress Door Hallway Smoke Detector
    1931 City of Austin Code Height N/A
    Width N/A
    Sq. Ft. N/A
    Sill N/A     		Common Stairs: Rise 7.5" Width 30" Height 30" Height 42" Openings N/A Height N/A Width N/A Width 36" N/A
    Run 10"
    Private Stairs: Rise 8"
    Run 9"
    - Headroom N/A
    Width: 30"
    1964 City of Austin Code Height 24"
    Width 24"
    Sq. Ft. 5.0
    Sill 48"     		Common Stairs: Rise 7.5" No Less than the Width of the Stairs. Height 30"—34" Height 36
    Openings 9"
    		Height 7'6" Width 34" Width 36" N/A
    Run 10"
    Private Stairs: Rise 8"
    Run 9"
    - Headroom 6'6"
    Width: Common Stair: 36"
    - Private Stair: 30"
    1970 Uniform Building Code Height: 22"
    Width: 22"
    Sq. Ft. 5.0
    Sill 48"
    		Common Stairs: Rise 7.5" No Less than the Width of the Stairs. Height 30"—34" Height 42"
    Openings 9"
    		Height 7'6" Width 36"
    Clear 28"
    		Width 36" N/A
    Run 10"
    Private Stairs: Rise 8"
    Run 10"
    - Headroom 6"6"
    Width: Common Stair: 36"
    - Private Stair: 30"
    1973 Uniform Building Code Height 22"
    Width 22"
    Sq. Ft. 5.0
    Sill 48"     		Common Stairs: Rise 7.5" No Less than the Width of the Stairs. Height 30"—34" Height 42"
    Openings 9"
    		Height 7'6" Width 36"
    Clear 28"
    		Width 36" Hallway & Above stairs
    Run 10"
    Private Stairs: Rise 8"
    Run 9"
    - Headroom 6'6"
    Width Common Stair: 36"
    - Private Stair: 30"
    1976 Uniform Building Code Height 24"
    Width 20"
    Sq. Ft. 5.7
    Sill 44"
    		Common Stairs: Rise 7.5" No Less than the Width of the Stairs. Height 30"—34" Height 36"
    Openings 9"
    		Height 7'6" Width 36"
    Clear 32"
    		Width 36" Hallway & Above stairs
    Run 10"
    Private Stairs: Rise 8"
    Run 9"
    - Headroom 6"6"
    Width: Common Stair: 36"
    - Private Stair: 30"
    1979 Uniform Building Code Height 24"
    Width 20"
    Sq. Ft. 5.7
    Sill 44"
    30" min from floor     		Common Stairs: Rise 7.5" No Less than the Width of the Stairs. Height 30"—34" Height 36"
    Openings 9"
    		Height 7'6" Width 36"
    Clear 32"
    		Width 36" Hallway & Above stairs
    Run 10"
    Private Stairs: Rise 8"
    Run 9"
    - Headroom 6'6"
    Width: Common Stair: 36"
    - Private Stair: 30"
    1982 Uniform Building Code Height 24"
    Width 20"
    Sq. Ft. 5.7
    Sill 44"
    		Common Stairs: Rise 7.5" No Less than the Width of the Stairs. Height 30"—34" Height 36"
    Openings 6"
    		Height 7'6" Width 36"
    Clear 32"
    		Width 36" Hallway & Above stairs
    Run 10"
    Private Stairs: Rise 8"
    Run 9"
    - Headroom 6'6"
    Width Common Stair: 36"
    - Private Stair: 30"
    1985 Uniform Building Code Height 24"
    Width 20"
    Sq. Ft. 5.7
    Sill 44"
    		Common Stairs: Rise Min. 4" Max 7" No Less than the Width of the Stairs. Height 30"—34" Height 36"
    Openings 6"
    		Height 7'6" Width 36"
    Clear 32"
    		Width 36" Hallway or Area giving access to bedrooms and above stairs.
    Run 11"
    Private Stairs: Rise 8"
    Run 9"
    - Headroom 6'6"
    Width: 36" up to 49 occupants
    1988 Uniform Building Code Height 24"
    Width 20"
    -
    Sq. Ft. 5.7
    Sill 44"
    		Common Stairs: Rise Min. 4" Max 7" No Less than the Width of the Stairs. Height 34"—38" Height 36"
    Openings 6"
    		Height 7'6" Width 36"
    Clear 32"
    		Width: 36" up to 9 occ. 44" for 10 or more occ. Hallway or Area giving access to bedrooms and each story.
    Run 11"
    Private Stairs: Up to 10 occupants
    - Rise 8"
    Run 9"
    - Headroom 6'8"
    Width: 36" up to 49 occupants
    1991 Uniform Building Code Height 24"
    Width 20"
    -
    Sq. Ft. 5.7
    Sill 44"
    		Common Stairs: Rise Min. 4" Max 7" No Less than the Width of the Stairs. Height 34"—38" Height 36"
    Openings 4"
    		Height 7'6" Width 36"
    Clear 32"
    		Width: 36" up to 49 occ. Inside & Outside each bedroom or sleeping area & each story interconnected.
    Run 11"
    Private Stairs: Up to 10 occupants
    - Rise 8"
    Run 9"
    - Headroom 6' 8"
    Width: 36" up to 49 occupants
    1994 Uniform Building Code Height 24"
    Width 20"
    -
    Sq. Ft. 5.7
    Sill 44"
    		Common Stairs: Rise Min. 4" Max. 7" No Less than the Width of the Stairs. Height 34"—38" Height 36"
    Openings 4"
    		Height 7'6" Width 36"
    Clear 32"
    		Width: 36" up to 49 occ. Inside & Outside each bedroom or sleeping area & each story interconnected.
    Run 11"
    Private Stairs: Up to 10 occupants
    - Rise 8"
    Run 9"
    - Headroom 6'8"
    Width: 36" up to 49 occupants
    2003 International Building Code Height 24"
    Width 20"
    Sq. Ft. 4.7
    Sill 44"
    Not required if Sprinkle red     		Common Stairs: Rise Min. 4" Max 7" No Less than the Width of the Stairs. Height 34"—38" on Common areas, handrails must be installed on both sides. Height 42" Openings 4" up to a height of 34". From 34" to 42" an opening of 8" is allowed. Height 7'6" Width 36" Clear 32" Width: 36" up to 50 occupants and within a dwelling unit. Inside & Outside each bedroom or sleeping area & each story interconnected.
    Run 11"
    Within Dwelling: Rise 7.75"
    Run 10"
    - Headroom 6'8"
    Width: 36" up to 50 occupants
    2012 International Building Code Height 24"
    Width 20"
    Sq. Ft. 5.7
    Sill 44"
    Not required if Sprinkle red     		Common Stairs: Rise Min. 4" Max 7" No Less than the Width of the Stairs. Height 34"—38" on Common areas, handrails must be installed on both sides. Height 42" Openings 4" up to a height of 34". From 34" to 42" an opening of 8" is allowed. Height 7'6" Width 36" Clear 32" Width: 36" up to 50 occupants and within a dwelling unit. Inside & Outside each bedroom or sleeping area & each story interconnected.
    Run 11"
    Within Dwelling: Rise 7.75"
    Run 10"
    - Headroom 6'8"
    Width: 36" up to 50 occupants
    Development Services Dept., Building Inspections Division