Minimum Stair Requirement, Broken Back

te12c02w

Hello all; I'm hoping to get some specifics on minimum temporary stair construction. 5 weeks ago I was coming down a temporary set of stairs. I stepped off the top landing to the first stair tread down. It snapped like a straw and I went over the edge (no railing) and landed flat on my back. Crushed 3 discs. Things are better now though, I am up and moving around and have doctor's clearance to do whatever I feel like. There must be a code requirement or recommendation about this but I don't know what it is. My community has adopted the IBC, but this was out of the city limits, so maybe the UBC applies.
The gc built the stair treads out of 5/8" osb. Is that adequate? It seems less than sufficient to me but I don't know the code about these things. The gc is sort of willing to work with me on this. I told him I have a $5000 deductible and would like to have that paid for me. The more I think about it though, the more I think that my insurance shouldn't be having to pay for anything. That is if that 5/8" osb does not meet code for temporary stairs. If that is acceptable stair construction then I think it should be heavier.
What say you all? Is this acceptable for stairs? If not, what should the minimum be? Code articles would be appreciated, then I can look it up in the local library. I feel like I need to be armed with this info in case,God forbid, attorneys get involved. By the way there is no building inspection department here.

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Jim R

neolitic

Sorry to hear you were hurt,
hope you make a full recovery.
5/8" OSB doesn't sound adequate
to me, unless stringers were 12"oc.
More informed folks will be along later.
You'll get better answers
with more details:
Where are you?
Commercial or residential job?
Interior or exterior stair?
So on....

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Put your location in your profile!
(Sorry....it seems there really are dumb questions)

concretemasonry

I think the question will be whether the code applies to a temporary condition under construction. Usually code only apply to completed structures that are subject to inspection before occupancy.

If this was a construction project, accident reports should have filed if you reported it. Them OSHA would have jurisdiction. Usually construction sites have lower standards because they are temporary conditions and everyone is aware that is subject to changes daily.

Were you working for a subcontracting company or directly for the GC?

Not an answer, but a few more questions.

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Dick

Engineer, designer and consultant recently active domestically and internationally on construction and design in about 35 countries.

thom

For you, code and ohsa aren't the issue though ohsa may be for the GC. You should be covered under workmens compensation.

If you are an employee of anyone, the gc or a sub, they should have wc that will cover your medical costs and lost income. If your employer is a sub and does not have wc, then the gc's wc should pay.

If you're a sub, you should have wc. If you chose to go naked, you're on your own.

Tom M

Section 3306.6 In the IBC give's some criteria for safeguards during construction.

te12c02w

Thanks for the responses.
I am a sole proprietor electrical contractor. Don't have myself set up as an employee,although I see that as a mistake now. I do have pretty good catastrophic insurance after a medium high deductible. This is Wyoming and it was a residential job on interior stairs. I didn't measure how far apart the stringers are but it seems like more than 12". One middle stringer and 2 outside ones. Stairway to upstairs master bath and bedroom. Working directly for the gc.

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Jim R

toolwiz93

Sorry to hear about your accident and the fact that you have to work for an idiot. No way is 5/8 near enough for the stairs. If there isn't 2x material on a set of temp. steps i wouldn't walk on it. During construction people are carrying heavy loads up and down, obviously this is not an area to try and save a few bucks on. The code for this question is common sense and this builder must not have any.

BKFranks

Whoa, 5/8" OSB???? That's not enough for that! For OSB you've got to have like 1" or 1-1/8" min. Regular ply maybe 3/4" min. And your stringers can't be more then 16" or 24" apart max. I don't know if I would even use OSB on stairs personally. I've seen it done, but I would use ply or 2x on temp stairs.

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72chevy4x4

second the plywood comment-3/4" plywood would be sufficient, but OSB doesn't have the comparable strength. I've been on jobs where they've used 2x10 treads as temporarys treads.

genecarp

sorry to hear of your injury, that is inexcuseable, whether temporary or permanent it was clearly built wrong. there also should have been a railing. this should be the sole responsibility of the gc. dont be greedy, but get what deserve.

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te12c02w

I did some digging around on the web and while I found some sites that were very specific regarding stringers and railings, things were strangely silent about the thickness and material for treads. One site mentioned that treads have to be made of solid material (such as wood). Another one that came the closest to specifying anything said that the tread must be made of material so as not to allow "undue deflection" under load. No conclusion to this yet.

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Jim R

mikec

Does your insurance company know this happened on the job? If so, let them decide if they should pay or go after the GC. You pay them to cover your bills if you get hurt, they will then in turn determine if there is anyone else they can get to pay. Insurance companies are good at this. If they can get anyone other than themselves to pay, they will find them and have the cash and manpower to fight for any dollar savings they can get.

A W Smith

shouldn't you be talking to a lawyer? and an expert witness in the construction Field?

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Al Smith
http://www.awsmith.com