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Appendix AZ — EMERGENCY HOUSING

Section AZ108

California Residential Code (Title 24, Part 2.5) · 2022 edition · updated 2026-09-12 · California

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

AZ108.1 Minimum loft area and dimensions.

Lofts used as a sleeping or living space shall meet the minimum area and dimension requirements of Sections AZ108.1.1 through AZ108.1.3.

AZ108.1.1 Minimum area. Lofts shall have a floor area of not less than 35 square feet (3.25 m 2 ). AZ108.1.2 Minimum dimensions. Lofts shall be not less than 5 feet (1524 mm) in any horizontal dimension. AZ108.1.3 Height effect on loft area. Portions of a loft with a sloping ceiling measuring less than 3 feet (914 mm)

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APPENDIX AZ—EMERGENCY HOUSING

from the finished floor to the finished ceiling shall not be considered as contributing to the minimum required area for the loft.

Exception : Under gable roofs with a minimum slope of 6:12, portions of a loft with a sloping ceiling measuring less than 16 inches (406 mm) from the finished floor to the finished ceiling shall not be considered as contrib- uting to the minimum required area for the loft.

AZ108.2 Loft access.

The access to and primary egress from lofts shall be any type described in Sections AZ108.2.1 through AZ108.2.4.

AZ108.2.1 Stairways. Stairways accessing lofts shall com- ply with this code or with Sections AZ108.2.1.1 through AZ108.2.1.6.

AZ108.2.1.1 Width. Stairways accessing a loft shall not be less than 17 inches (432 mm) in clear width at or above the handrail. The minimum width below the handrail shall be not less than 20 inches (508 mm). AZ108.2.1.2 Headroom. The headroom in stairways accessing a loft shall be not less than 74 inches (1880 mm), as measured vertically, from a sloped line con- necting the tread or landing platform nosings in the middle of their width. AZ108.2.1.3 Treads and risers. Risers for stairs accessing a 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 4/3 of the riser height, or 2. The riser height shall be 15 inches (381 mm) minus 3/4 of the tread depth. AZ108.2.1.4 Landing platforms. The top step of stair- ways accessing lofts shall be constructed as a landing platform where the loft ceiling height is less than 74 inches (1880 mm). The landing platform shall be 18 inches (457 mm) to 22 inches (559 mm) in depth mea- sured from the nosing of the landing platform to the edge of the loft, and 16 inches (406 mm) to 18 inches (457 mm) in height measured from the landing platform to the loft floor. AZ108.2.1.5 Handrails. Handrails shall comply with Section R311.7.8. AZ108.2.1.6 Stairway guards. Guards at open sides of stairways shall comply with Section R312.1. AZ108.2.2 Ladders. Ladders accessing lofts shall comply with Sections AZ108.2.1 and AZ108.2.2.

AZ108.2.2.1 Size and capacity. Ladders accessing lofts shall have a rung width of not less than 12 inches (305 mm), and 10-inch (254 mm) to 14-inch (356 mm) spac- ing between rungs. Ladders shall be capable of sup- porting a 200 pound (90.7 kg) load on any rung. Rung spacing shall be uniform within 3 /8 inch (9.5 mm). AZ108.2.2.2 Incline. Ladders shall be installed at 70 to 80 degrees from horizontal.

AZ108.2.3 Alternating tread devices. Alternating tread devices are acceptable as allowed by the enforcing agency. AZ108.2.4 Loft guards. Loft guards shall be located along the open side of lofts. Loft guards shall not be less than 36 inches (914 mm) in height or one-half of the clear height to the ceiling, whichever is less. Loft guards shall not have openings from the walking surface to the required guard height that allow passage of a sphere 4 inches (102 mm) in diameter.

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▸Contents — California Residential Code (Title 24, Part 2.5)
California Residential Code (Title 24, Part 2.5)
  1. Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS
  2. Appendix AF — RADON CONTROL
  3. Appendix AI — PRIVATE SEWAGE
  4. Appendix AJ — EXISTING
  5. Appendix AK — SOUND
  6. Appendix AO — AUTOMATIC
  7. Appendix AR — LIGHT STRAW-CLAY
  8. Appendix AS — STRAWBALE
  9. Appendix AU — COB CONSTRUCTION
  10. Appendix AV — BOARD
  11. Appendix AW — 3D-PRINTED BUILDING
  12. Chapter 1 — SCOPE AND APPLICATION
  13. Chapter 3 — BUILDING PLANNING
  14. Chapter 4 — FOUNDATIONS
  15. Chapter 5 — FLOORS
  16. Chapter 6 — WALL CONSTRUCTION
  17. Chapter 7 — WALL COVERING
  18. Chapter 8 — ROOF-CEILING CONSTRUCTION
  19. Chapter 9 — ROOF ASSEMBLIES
  20. Chapter 10 — CHIMNEYS AND FIREPLACES
  21. Chapter 44 — REFERENCED STANDARDS
  22. Appendix AH — PATIO COVERS
  23. Appendix AL — PERMIT FEES
  24. Appendix AQ — TINY HOUSES
  25. Appendix AT — SOLAR-READY PROVISIONS—DETACHED ONE- AND
  26. Appendix AX — SWIMMING POOL SAFETY ACT
  27. Appendix AY — AREAS PROTECTED BY THE FACILITIES
  28. ▸Appendix AZ — EMERGENCY HOUSING
    Overview
    1. Section AZ101
    2. Section AZ102
    3. Section AZ103
    4. Section AZ104
    5. Section AZ105
    6. Section AZ106
    7. Section AZ107
    8. Section AZ108
    9. Section AZ109
    10. Section AZ110

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