2 questions, regarding landings and circular stairs.

1.  Landings — if landings are not strictly required, do they still need to comply with this part that says they “shall have a dimension measured in the direction of travel equal to the width of the stairway.”  This seems crazy, because you could imagine a stair 44” wide turning 180 degrees at a landing 36” deep by 88” across, but to comply with code you’d have to shorten the tread width of the entire stair to 36”.  (private, less than 10 occupants, etc.). Then it would comply, but obviously be stupidly diminished…?

(Title 24, Part 2, Section 3305(e).)

(f) Landings. Every landing shall have a dimension measured in the direction of travel equal to the width of the stairway. Such dimension need not exceed 4 feet when the stair has a straight run. Landings, when provided, shall not reduce the width to less than one-half the required width at any position in the swing or by more than 7 inches by a door when fully open. There shall be not more than 12 feet vertically between landings.

2. Circular stairs: this seems to preclude every circular stair I’ve ever seen… The smaller radius is not less than TWICE the WIDTH of the stair way?  Huh?  If the stair width is 30” wide, the SMALLER radius is twice this or 60”?  Then the stair would be 90” RADIUS, or 180” diam, 15’ wide???  I asked fine homebuilding and no one responded,.

(Title 24, Part 2, Section 2-3305(s).)

(e) Circular Stairways. Circular stairs may be used as an exit providing the minimum width of run is not less than 10 inches and the smaller radius is not less than twice the width of the stairway.