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Appendix P — SLEEPING LOFTS

Section P103 — MEANS OF EGRESS

2025 California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2) · 2025 edition · updated 2026-07-27 · California

Italicized text is a California amendment to the model code, as printed in the official publication.

P103.1 General.

Where a permanent means of egress is provided for sleeping lofts, the means of egress shall comply with Chapter 10 of this code, as modified by Sections P103.2 through P103.6.

P103.2 Ceiling height at sleeping loft means of egress.

A minimum ceiling height of 3 feet (914 mm) shall be provided for the entire width of the means of egress from the sleeping loft.

P103.3 Stairways.

Stairways providing egress from sleeping lofts shall be permitted to comply with Sections P103.3.1 through P103.3.3.

P103.3.1 Width. Stairways providing egress from a sleeping loft shall not be less than 17 inches (432 mm) in clear width at or above the handrail. The width below the handrail shall be not less than 20 inches (508 mm).

P103.3.2 Treads and risers. Risers for stairs providing egress from a sleeping loft shall be not less than 7 inches (178 mm) and not more than 12 inches (305 mm) in height. Tread depth and riser height shall be calculated in accordance with one of the following formulas:

  1. The tread depth shall be 20 inches (508 mm) minus four-thirds of the riser height.
  2. The riser height shall be 15 inches (381 mm) minus three-fourths of the tread depth.

APPENDIX P-2 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE

on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.

APPENDIX P—SLEEPING LOFTS

P103.3.3 Landings. Landings at stairways providing egress from sleeping lofts shall comply with Section 1011.6, except that the depth of landings in the direction of travel shall be not less than 24 inches (508 mm).

P103.4 Alternating tread devices.

Alternating tread devices shall be permitted as a means of egress from sleeping lofts, where the sleeping loft floor is not more than 10 feet (3048 mm) above the floor of the room to which it is open. Handrails and treads of such alternating tread devices shall comply with Section 1011.14.

P103.5 Ship’s ladders.

Ship’s ladders shall be permitted as a means of egress from sleeping lofts where the sleeping loft floor is not more than 10 feet (3048 mm) above the floor of the room to which it is open. Handrails and treads of such ship’s ladders shall comply with Section 1011.15.

P103.6 Ladders.

Ladders shall be permitted as a means of egress from sleeping lofts where the sleeping loft floor is not more than 10 feet (3048 mm) above the floor of the room to which it is open. Such ladders shall comply with Sections P103.6.1 and P103.6.2.

P103.6.1 Size and capacity. Ladders providing egress from sleeping lofts shall have a rung width of not less than 12 inches (305 mm), and 10-inch (254 mm) to 14-inch (356 mm) spacing between rungs. Ladders shall be capable of supporting a 300-pound (136 kg) load on any rung. Rung spacing shall be uniform within [3] / 8 inch (9.5 mm).

P103.6.2 Incline. Ladders shall be inclined at 70 to 80 degrees from horizontal.

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▸ Contents — 2025 California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2)
2025 California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2)
  1. Chapter 1 — ADMINISTRATION
  2. Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS
  3. Chapter 3 — OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION AND USE
  4. Chapter 4 — SPECIAL DETAILED REQUIREMENTS BASED ON OCCUPANCY A…
  5. Chapter 5 — GENERAL BUILDING HEIGHTS AND AREAS
  6. Chapter 6 — TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION
  7. Chapter 7 — FIRE AND SMOKE PROTECTION FEATURES
  8. Chapter 7A — MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION METHODS FOR EXTERIOR W…
  9. Chapter 8 — INTERIOR FINISHES
  10. Chapter 9 — FIRE PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS
  11. Chapter 10 — MEANS OF EGRESS
  12. Chapter 11 — RESERVED
  13. Chapter 11A — HOUSING ACCESSIBILITY
  14. Chapter 11B — ACCESSIBILITY TO PUBLIC BUILDINGS, PUBLIC ACCOMM…
  15. Chapter 12 — INTERIOR ENVIRONMENT
  16. Chapter 13 — ENERGY EFFICIENCY
  17. Chapter 14 — EXTERIOR WALLS
  18. Chapter 15 — ROOF ASSEMBLIES AND ROOFTOP STRUCTURES
  19. Chapter 16 — STRUCTURAL DESIGN
  20. Chapter 16A — STRUCTURAL DESIGN
  21. Chapter 17 — SPECIAL INSPECTIONS AND TESTS
  22. Chapter 17A — SPECIAL INSPECTIONS AND TESTS
  23. Chapter 18 — SOILS AND FOUNDATIONS
  24. Chapter 18A — SOILS AND FOUNDATIONS
  25. Chapter 19 — CONCRETE
  26. Chapter 19A — CONCRETE
  27. Chapter 20 — ALUMINUM
  28. Chapter 21 — MASONRY
  29. Chapter 21A — MASONRY
  30. Chapter 22 — STEEL
  31. Chapter 22A — STEEL
  32. Chapter 23 — WOOD
  33. Chapter 24 — GLASS AND GLAZING
  34. Chapter 25 — GYPSUM PANEL PRODUCTS AND PLASTER
  35. Chapter 26 — PLASTIC
  36. Chapter 27 — ELECTRICAL
  37. Chapter 28 — MECHANICAL SYSTEMS
  38. Chapter 29 — PLUMBING SYSTEMS
  39. Chapter 30 — ELEVATORS AND CONVEYING SYSTEMS
  40. Chapter 31 — SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION
  41. Chapter 31A — SYSTEMS FOR WINDOW CLEANING OR EXTERIOR BUILDING…
  42. Chapter 31B — PUBLIC POOLS
  43. Chapter 31C — RADIATION
  44. Chapter 31D — FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS
  45. Chapter 31F — MARINE OIL TERMINALS
  46. Chapter 32 — ENCROACHMENTS INTO THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY
  47. Chapter 33 — SAFEGUARDS DURING CONSTRUCTION
  48. Chapter 34 — RESERVED
  49. Chapter 35 — REFERENCED STANDARDS
  50. Appendix A — EMPLOYEE QUALIFICATIONS
  51. Appendix B — BOARD OF APPEALS
  52. Appendix C — GROUP U—AGRICULTURAL BUILDINGS
  53. Appendix D — FIRE DISTRICTS
  54. Appendix E — RESERVED
  55. Appendix F — RODENTPROOFING
  56. Appendix G — FLOOD-RESISTANT CONSTRUCTION
  57. Appendix H — SIGNS
  58. Appendix I — PATIO COVERS
  59. Appendix J — GRADING
  60. Appendix K — GROUP R-3 AND GROUP R-3.1 OCCUPANCIES PROTECTED B…
  61. Appendix L — EARTHQUAKE RECORDING INSTRUMENTATION
  62. Appendix M — TSUNAMI-GENERATED FLOOD HAZARDS
  63. Appendix N — REPLICABLE BUILDINGS
  64. Appendix O — PERFORMANCE-BASED APPLICATION
  65. ▸ Appendix P — SLEEPING LOFTS
    Overview
    1. Section P101 — GENERAL
    2. Section P102 — DEFINITIONS
    3. Section P103 — MEANS OF EGRESS
    4. Section P104 — GUARDS
    5. Section P105 — SMOKE ALARMS
    6. Section P106 — RESERVED
  66. Appendix Q — EMERGENCY HOUSING

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