Stairs within living units

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Wendy Cowles: BAR Architects; May 20, 2014

In Illustrations 11 and 12 it appears that some of the area of the stair within the unit is counted twice - it's full length is included in the area calculation for the upper level, and the lower part of it's length is included in the area calc for the lower level. Is this correct? It seems like the area should be included in one or the other, but not both.

Under "Measurement Concepts" for Stairs Within Living Units, it says that the area is projected up to the upper floor level, and considered part of the area at that upper level. So in the illustration wouldn't the portion of the stair in the lower level be excluded, and counted only at the upper level?

Can you please clarify? Thank you.

Wendy Cowles: BAR Architects; May 20, 2014

Also, how would the calculation be different if the lower portion of the stair were covered by the floor level above? In other words, if the entire stair wasn't open to the upper floor?

Thank you.

David Fingret: Extreme Measures Inc.; May 21, 2014

Hi Wendy,

The concept is simply that a Void is excluded and an Occupant Void is included. The stairs being part of the Occupant Void on the upper level means that they are included. They aren't really being counted twice in any event because the calculation is being done on separate levels.

I don't think there would be any difference in the calculation if the lower portion of the stair were covered by the floor level above. The upper floor would include everything except the void as it does in the illustration.