Locate the stair in an equally or more prominent area than escalators or elevators and increase visibility of the stair

Rationale: Implementing behavioral design tactics to increase stair visibility has been shown to encourage occupants to climb stairs instead of taking elevators and escalators when able, increasing physical activity and decreasing the risk of chronic conditions associated with sedentary lifestyles such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

Requirements

Demonstrate compliance with one of the options below:

Option 1 - Stair Location and Visiblity (Full Credit):

Demonstrate compliance with all the following requirements:

Multi-Tenant Base Building (no on-site management), Multi-Tenant Base Building (with on-site management)

1. At the stairs used to achieve credit for the Stair Access Strategy, make the set of stairs more visible on the main entrance floor by implementing one of the following methods: 

• locating the stairs in a location that is directly visible from a main building entrance
• locating an unenclosed set of stairs on the main entrance floor
• posting directional signage from a main building entrance to the stairs to direct occupants. If the stairs are located past an elevator or escalator area, at least one directional sign must be located immediately prior to reaching the elevator or escalator areas. 

Stairs documented in this strategy must be the same stairs documented in the Stair Access Strategy.

2. At the stairs used to achieve credit for the Stair Access Strategy, make the set of stairs more visible throughout the building by implementing one of the following methods:

• the stair is not enclosed behind doors, walls, or other partitions that obstruct visibility on at least 51% of the floors connected by the stairs
• the stair doors or walls include clear glazing (include code-compliant glass when using egress stairs) on all floors connected by the stairs
• hold stair doors open using magnetic hold-open devices on all floors connected by the qualifying stairs (magnetic hold-open devices must be connected to the building emergency response system).

Stairs documented in this strategy must be the same stairs documented in the Stair Access Strategy.

Single-Tenant, Commercial Interior

1. At the stairs used to achieve credit for the Stair Access Strategy, make the set of stairs more visible on the main entrance floor by implementing one of the following methods: 

• locating the stairs in a location that is directly visible from a main building entrance
• locating an unenclosed set of stairs on the main entrance floor
• posting directional signage from a main building entrance to the stairs to direct occupants. If the stairs are located past an elevator or escalator area, at least one directional sign must be located immediately prior to reaching the elevator or escalator areas. 

Stairs documented in this strategy must be the same stairs documented in the Stair Access Strategy.

2. At the stairs used to achieve credit for the Stair Access Strategy, make the set of stairs more visible throughout the building by implementing one of the following methods:

• the stair is not enclosed behind doors, walls, or other partitions that obstruct visibility on at least 51% of the floors connected by the stairs
• the stair doors or walls include clear glazing (include code-compliant glass when using egress stairs) on all floors connected by the stairs
• hold stair doors open using magnetic hold-open devices on all floors connected by the qualifying stairs (magnetic hold-open devices must be connected to the building emergency response system).

Stairs documented in this strategy must be the same stairs documented in the Stair Access Strategy.

Option 2 - Stair Location (Partial Credit):

The project may achieve partial credit by demonstrating compliance with the following requirements:

Multi-Tenant Base Building (no on-site management), Multi-Tenant Base Building (with on-site management)

1. At the stairs used to achieve credit for the Stair Access Strategy, make the set of stairs more visible on the main entrance floor by implementing one of the following methods: 

• locating the stairs in a location that is directly visible from a main building entrance
• locating an unenclosed set of stairs on the main entrance floor
• posting directional signage from a main building entrance to the stairs to direct occupants. If the stairs are located past an elevator or escalator area, at least one directional sign must be located immediately prior to reaching the elevator or escalator areas. 

Stairs documented in this strategy must be the same stairs documented in the Stair Access Strategy.

Single-Tenant, Commercial Interior

1. At the stairs used to achieve credit for the Stair Access Strategy, make the set of stairs more visible on the main entrance floor by implementing one of the following methods: 

• locating the stairs in a location that is directly visible from a main building entrance
• locating an unenclosed set of stairs on the main entrance floor
• posting directional signage from a main building entrance to the stairs to direct occupants. If the stairs are located past an elevator or escalator area, at least one directional sign must be located immediately prior to reaching the elevator or escalator areas. 

Stairs documented in this strategy must be the same stairs documented in the Stair Access Strategy.

Option 3 - Stair Visibility (Partial Credit):

The project may achieve partial credit by demonstrating compliance with the following requirements:

Multi-Tenant Base Building (no on-site management), Multi-Tenant Base Building (with on-site management)

1. At the stairs used to achieve credit for the Stair Access Strategy, make the set of stairs more visible throughout the building by implementing one of the following methods:

• the stair is not enclosed behind doors, walls or other partitions that obstruct visibility on at least 51% of the floors connected by the stairs
• the stair doors or walls include clear glazing (include code-compliant glass when using egress stairs) on all floors connected by the stairs
• hold stair doors open using magnetic hold-open devices on all floors connected by the qualifying stairs (magnetic hold-open devices must be connected to the building emergency response system).

Stairs documented in this strategy must be the same stairs documented in the Stair Access Strategy.

Single-Tenant, Commercial Interior

1. At the stairs used to achieve credit for the Stair Access Strategy, make the set of stairs more visible throughout the building by implementing one of the following methods:

• the stair is not enclosed behind doors, walls or other partitions that obstruct visibility on at least 51% of the floors connected by the stairs
• the stair doors or walls include clear glazing (include code-compliant glass when using egress stairs) on all floors connected by the stairs
• hold stair doors open using magnetic hold-open devices on all floors connected by the qualifying stairs (magnetic hold-open devices must be connected to the building emergency response system).

Stairs documented in this strategy must be the same stairs documented in the Stair Access Strategy.

Compliance Documentation

Types of compliance documentation required:

• Annotated plans
• Annotated design drawings
• Annotated photographs