Anybody have any good examples (images or plans) of ship’s ladder-type stairs or ladders? I’m trying to access an attic (potential loft) space that has an overall rise of ~95″ & run of ~60″. One side will be against a wall, and the other open into a room, so they will be finished appropriately. I’m not interested in those ‘alternating’ step/rung versions. (I searched the FHB Breaktime archives.)
Thanks for the help!
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Replies
Try Google, Images, "ships
Try Google, Images, "ships ladder".
I find the Images option at the top extremely useful.
John
Yeah, tried that- came up with a few images, but not many.
Whatcha got against alternating step stairs?
I built a set that gets me down into our wine cellar. I think they are much easier for descending, because you can face forward, and the height of the risers can be the same as normal stairs.
Just ran across this
This thread has some photos of one:
http://countryplans.com/smf/index.php?topic=6980.100
Not so many diagrams for anything other than to-code staircases, which makes some CYA sense.
I'll put in the pro forma adviso that almost all AHJ will not allow anything other than a "compliant" staircase to "accessable" spaces. You can use almost any method you want to get to "non habitable" spaces, though.
The "rule of 17" is your friend here, too. That is where you proportion the rise and run to be about 17" when added together. So, you can use a 6" tread with an 11" rise. Or, a 7" tread and a 10" rise. There's a middling-spiffy graph of rise-run ratios in Architectural Graphic Standards, which your local library might have on its shelves.
But. the best bet is to mock up what you think might work and test it out.
Thanks for the images, KHWillets- that's some fine craftsmanship, and gives me some good ideas.
"...almost all AHJ will not allow anything other than a "compliant" staircase to "accessable" spaces. You can use almost any method you want to get to "non habitable" spaces, though."
Our local code inspector said something similar- if the access is anything less steep than a vertical ladder, it gives the impression of access to a 'habitable' space. My ship's ladder plans might happen 'after the fact'....