A dwelling’s rear exterior door is 36 inches wide and swings over an exterior stoop. The stoop is 36 inches wide and 34 inches deep in the direction of travel. It is not an exterior balcony qualifying for the exception in 2021 IRC R311.3. Judging only the landing dimensions, what is the finding?
- AIt passes because width is the only required dimension
- BAn outward door swing automatically exempts its landing dimensions
- CIt fails because the required depth is 48 inches
- It fails because the required depth is at least 36 inches, leaving a 2-inch deficiency
Where to look it up
https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/IRC2021P1/chapter-3-building-planning
Why D is correct
R311.3 requires a landing at each side of an exterior door, with width at least that of the door and depth at least 36 inches in the direction of travel. The stated width passes, but 36 − 34 = 2 inches is the depth deficiency. The question excludes the small-exterior-balcony exception. Swing-related elevation conditions are a separate check under R311.3.1–.2; an outward swing does not establish a blanket exemption from the dimensions tested here. The finding does not dictate a single reconstruction method. Source: https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/IRC2021P1/chapter-3-building-planning