What Is an Outdoor Staircase?
An outdoor staircase refers to staircase installed on the exterior of a building.
As per the Building Standards Act, outdoor staircases are defined by the following criteria:
- The staircase has two or more open sides, and approximately more than half of its circumference is exposed to the outside air.
- The upper part of the handrail is at least 1.1m high and open to the outside air.
For emergency outdoor staircases, the exposed part in the open air must meet the following criteria:
- Ensure a distance of at least 50 cm from the neighboring boundary line.
- Ensure a distance of at least 1m from buildings within the property.
It is worth noting that the installation of outdoor wooden stairs for direct access is generally prohibited.
Applications of Outdoor Staircases
Outdoor staircases are used for general access and emergency purposes. In general use, they are installed in buildings such as office buildings and apartments. In single-family homes, they might be installed when there is a need to access the second floor or higher without entering the interior of the first floor.
Examples include homes with an entrance on the second floor or multi-generational homes where separate entrances are required. Additionally, outdoor staircases can be incorporated into design and aesthetics, such as installing a terrace on the second floor and an accompanying outdoor staircase.
For emergency purposes, specific conditions mandate the installation of outdoor escape stairs. These stairs, providing a direct route without passing through doors, are necessary for buildings:
- With 5 to 14 floors
- With 2 basement levels
- With the 3rd and 4th floors designated as retail stores with a total floor area exceeding 1500m2
For buildings taller than 15 floors, special evacuation stairs are mandated instead of regular outdoor escape stairs. Outdoor staircases prove effective as an evacuation route in situations where elevators malfunction or internal staircases are inaccessible due to a fire. However, buildings, especially tall ones, may require additional measures for wind protection, and not all cases strictly meet the definition of complete outdoor stairs.
Principles of Outdoor Staircases
General Outdoor Staircases
The Building Standards Act, Enforcement Ordinance Article 23, specifies the conditions that outdoor staircases must meet:
- Two or more open sides, and approximately more than half of its circumference is exposed to the outside air.
- The upper part of the handrail is at least 1.1m high and open to the outside air.
Outdoor staircases, defined as “landing edges and the like” in the Building Standards Act, fall under the same classification as balconies, verandas, and terraces. Generally, areas enclosed by external walls or columns are included in the building’s floor area. When calculating the building area, the measurement typically involves a 1m setback from the tip of the protruding part.
The term “open to the outside air” in the regulation refers to ensuring the “vacant dimensions to the adjacent boundary line” and “vacant dimensions to the building facing the stairs”. These conditions vary depending on the specific local government, necessitating caution.
Outdoor staircases with the following two conditions can be excluded from floor area calculations:
- The length of the open part exposed to the outside air is more than half the circumference of the staircase.
- The height of the open upper part of the handrail exposed to the outside air is more than 1.1m and exceeds half the height of the staircase ceiling.
Outdoor Escape Stairs
In the “Explanation of Fire Prevention and Evacuation Regulations for Buildings,” outdoor escape stairs must meet the following additional conditions:
- The open part of the staircase exposed to the outside air must be at least 50 cm from the facing adjacent boundary line (excluding parks and water surfaces) and at least 1m from buildings within the same property.
Furthermore, outdoor escape stairs are mandatory for buildings that meet the following conditions:
- with 5 to 14 floors
- with 2 basement levels
- with the 3rd and 4th floors designated as retail stores with a total floor area exceeding 1500m2
However, for fire-resistant buildings meeting certain conditions, the obligation to install outdoor escape stairs might be exempted for buildings with five floors or more.
Types of Outdoor Staircases
Classification by Use
Various types of outdoor staircases are available for different purposes. Representative types include steel stairs unitized with corridors for condominiums, residential stairs enhanced with louvers for safety and design, and small truck bars and platforms for warehouses and factories. Additionally, there are straight stairs for evacuation in nurseries and emergency slides.
Classification by Material
Materials used for outdoor staircases include aluminum, aluminum alloys, steel, and other materials such as precast concrete and resin.
Classification by Shape
Outdoor staircases come in various shapes, such as circular stairs, turning stairs, spiral stairs, and straight stairs.
Classification by Functionality
Some outdoor staircases are designed with enhanced functionalities like noise reduction and rust prevention.