Cellar Door - North Hempstead DOB

[nuts2uiam]

Originally Posted by Chrisk327

I live in a 2 story colonial.... I don't have a door at the top of the 2nd floor stairs....... this is no different..


I have no info on what code is here on this. I would think if you are finishing the basement, you likely don't need one if you follow the appropriate rules regarding railing and the utilities are closeted away appropriately.

my brother in chicago has a basement without a door at the top of the stairs, its like any other level of the house, but obviously that is a whole nother set of building codes.

I did consider that as many homes are that way. One thing however, in a colonial for the most part the bedrooms are on the second floor and the "living" space is on the first. One would think that there is far less likelihood for guests to be walking around on the second floor than the first, as a matter of routine.

I am more interested in the design the OP is speaking of in his reply.

We were designing the stairs in a way that prevents falling. Like I said, I am interested in this design.

[RPC324]

I'm looking for a door requirement, but absent one I would think that the basement becomes part of conditioned space within the building envelope and subject to all of the energy efficiency requirements (insulation, air exchanges, duct sealing)

[nyc_sport]

There are competing issues here. If the basement is unfinished, I believe that code requires a weatherproof, weatherstripped door between the conditioned and unconditioned spaces. If the basement is finished, heated and insulated to the level required of dwelling space, and the boiler room is enclosed, you likely can go without a door provided there is sufficient means of egress out of the basement. Either way, you could probably put in a pocket door and pass even you you elect to leave it open.

[nuts2uiam]

Originally Posted by nyc_sport

There are competing issues here. If the basement is unfinished, I believe that code requires a weatherproof, weatherstripped door between the conditioned and unconditioned spaces. If the basement is finished, heated and insulated to the level required of dwelling space, and the boiler room is enclosed, you likely can go without a door provided there is sufficient means of egress out of the basement. Either way, you could probably put in a pocket door and pass even you you elect to leave it open.

OP said he is designing the stairs in a manner to prevent falling, I am still waiting to hear what that looks like.

[nyc_sport]

Originally Posted by nuts2uiam

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OP said he is designing the stairs in a manner to prevent falling, I am still waiting to hear what that looks like.

Why would one be any more likely to fall down a doorless stair to a basement compared to a doorless stair between a first and second floor?

In any event, here is such a design found in a 5 second search, if one cares.
https://finishedbasementnj.com/wp-co...464-scaled.jpg

[nuts2uiam]

Originally Posted by nyc_sport

Why would one be any more likely to fall down a doorless stair to a basement compared to a doorless stair between a first and second floor?

In any event, here is such a design found in a 5 second search, if one cares.
https://finishedbasementnj.com/wp-co...464-scaled.jpg

Answered previously, but generally speaking the living area is on the 1st floor and sleeping on the second. There is far more likelihood for guests to be walking near a basement staircase that they are not familiar with than an occupant, unless you are entertaining in the bedroom upstairs.

And as I said I am curious about the OP statement regarding stairs designed in such a way as to prevent falling. Unless I am missing something your photo shows an open staircase entrance and I don't see that as a design that prevents falling.