A building inspector finds that stair risers vary between 7.5 inches and 8.25 inches in height. According to Michigan Building Code, is this acceptable?
Correct Answer
A) No, the variation exceeds 3/8 inch tolerance
Michigan Building Code requires riser heights to be uniform with a maximum variation of 3/8 inch. The 0.75 inch variation (8.25 - 7.5) exceeds this tolerance.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
Michigan Building Code (aligned with IRC) requires that stair riser heights be uniform, with a maximum allowable variation of 3/8 inch (0.375 inches) between the tallest and shortest riser in a flight. Here, 8.25 − 7.5 = 0.75 inches of variation, which is double the 3/8-inch tolerance. This fails code and is not acceptable.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option B: Yes, the variation is within 3/8 inch tolerance
Option B ('Yes, the variation is within 3/8 inch tolerance') is incorrect. The actual variation is 0.75 inches, which exceeds the 3/8-inch (0.375-inch) maximum. This answer would only be correct if the difference were 0.375 inches or less.
Option C: Yes, all risers are within the 4-8 inch range
Option C ('Yes, all risers are within the 4–8 inch range') is incorrect on two counts: first, 8.25 inches actually exceeds the maximum 8.25-inch riser height limit (right at the edge), but more importantly, code requires uniformity — individual risers being within range does not satisfy the requirement if the variation between risers exceeds 3/8 inch.
Option D: No, all risers must be exactly the same height
Option D ('No, all risers must be exactly the same height') is incorrect. Code does not demand perfect uniformity — it allows a 3/8-inch variance to account for real-world construction tolerances. The answer is 'no, it is not acceptable,' but the reason is that the variation exceeds 3/8 inch, not that absolute uniformity is required.
Memory Technique
Remember '3/8 inch = stair step consistency.' Picture a spirit level — if the difference between your highest and lowest riser tips the level more than 3/8 inch, you fail inspection.
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