Portable Stairs

OSHA/IBC Portable Stairs

IBC & OSHA Compliant Configurations

Banks Industrial Group provides a painless solution for temporary metal stair installation. Our portable stairs are designed to be fully compliant with both OSHA or IBC/OSHA standards and regulations. Two different configurations are available: OSHA or IBC and OSHA. Our representatives can help you determine which configuration will best meet your requirement. Benefits include:

Fast assembly and modular design allow easy reconfiguration

Rugged, powder coated & galvanized steel construction

Slip resistant, 4x6' and 4x4' platforms allow steps from either the front, side or two sides

Available in 7 heights from 28 to 63-inches

Adjustable leg height allows the stairs to adapt to uneven terrain for easy leveling

Suitable for interior or exterior use

Use for modular office trailers, job site work trailers, temporary classrooms, temporary housing, construction and industrial sites

Install yourself, or have us do the installation

Do I Need OSHA or IBC Stairs?

IBC regulations are more demanding than OSHA. The OSHA guidelines have an understanding that end users are authorized adults. These stairs are used in a private industrial or construction environment. However, IBC codes assume that the user may be a small child. Therefore, the IBC construction requirements must be more stringent regarding safety. These stairs are used in a public commercial or residential setting.

In general, the OSHA stairs require less space to reach a given height. They also requires less material to construct and therefore have a lower cost. Portable stairs that meet IBC requirements are new to the market and represent an easy option to install stairs for modular office buildings, temporary classrooms and temporary housing that is open to the public.

The table below compares our OSHA and IBC compliant portable stairs:

OSHA Compliant Features
IBC Compliant Features

OSHA Compliant Models

For private facilities not open to public use. Typically used at construction sites and industrial areas like factory floors and manufacturing spaces where only designated employees work.

Advantages: Requires less space and costs less than IBC compliant stairs.

4x4 Platform
Medium Duty Platform - 50 psf load requirements
Handrails with standard balusters

Key OSHA Regulations:
Must be designed to carry a load five times greater than the anticipated load, but never less than a load of 1,000 pounds. Both handrails and guardrails must be capable of withstanding a minimum of 200 pounds of pressure applied from any direction at any point along the rails.

Risers & Tread: 8" open riser, 9.5" tread
Stair Width: minimum 22"
Railings & Guardrail: railings on open sides of stairwells and 42" high handrail on the side, preferably right side descending
Balusters: space between no more than 19" apart
Landings: landings at the top and bottom typically 4' square
Door Swing: landing must extend 21" beyond end of door swing (a 36" door requires platform that ends at no less than 57")

osha-portable-stair-compliance-diagram

IBC Compliance

For commercial and residential applications open to the public which may include small children.

Advantages: Portability and compliance with IBC regulations! These stairs are rapidly assembled and suitable for use with temporary housing, classroom trailers and other areas open to the public.

4x6 Platform
Heavy Duty Platform - 100 psf load requirements
Balusters with 4" spacing

Key OSHA Regulations:

Risers & Tread: 7 closed riser, max. 4" open gap, 11" tread
Stair Width: minimum 44" wide (36" wide in areas served by less than 50 people)
Railings & Guardrail: 42" high and handrails of 34" on both sides of stairwells
Balusters: space between no more than 4" apart
Landings: landings at the top and bottom larger than 4' square, also intermediate landing for stairwells over 12' high
Door Swing: landing must extend 21" beyond end of door swing (a 36" door requires platform that ends at no less than 57")

ibc-portable-stair-compliance-diagram

How Can We Help You?

Please contact us today for more information or to schedule service. Our lunch and learn program also provides one-on-one education on how to solve your maintenance needs.