Difference in stair riser height standards between InerNACHI courses?

Specific Inspection Topics Interior Inspections
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What is the difference in standards for the maximum height of a stair riser for interior stairs between that mentioned in InterNACHI’s How to Inspect the Attic, Insulation, Ventilation & Interior Course, and that mentioned in InterNACHI’s Healthy Homes, Part 6: Housing Structure Course?

In the How to Inspect the Attic, Insulation, Ventilation & Interior Course, the maximum tread height is 7.75". At the same time in the Healthy Homes, Part 6: Housing Structure Course, the maximum tread height is 8.25".

Which InterNACHI standard is correct?
Here’s a screenshot from the How to Inspect the Attic, Insulation, Ventilation & Interior Course:

Screenshot 2024-10-25 144502
Screenshot 2024-10-25 144502852×575 138 KB

Here’s a screenshot from the Healthy Homes, Part 6: Housing Structure Course:

Screenshot 2024-10-25 144139
Screenshot 2024-10-25 1441391016×872 202 KB

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My guess is you are comparing attic ladder stair risers to interior stair risers :thinking: :man_shrugging:

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IRC riser height is no more than 7 3/4.

Why they have 8 1/4 in the Healthy Home course I have no idea. You’ll have to ask whoever wrote that. Maybe they figure you’d be more healthy if you have to climb steeper stairs.

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Closed versus Open Risers?
Measured with or without the Tread thickness?
OLD coursework versus revised?

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5

You obviously didn’t read my attached screenshots or take the courses.

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I read that you were the comparing “How to inspect the attic etc.” versus “Healthy Homes etc.” My point being, when do you find a standard interior stairway leading to the attic? Simple question to look into. Don’t get too tight about it… :roll_eyes:

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Different authors of different courses from different regions of the country? That could explain it.

Indiana adopted 2018 IRC, but max riser height in Indiana Residential Code is 8.25”.

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Many older (1940 earlier) Victorian style homes in this area have built in stairs to the attic, even when the attic was an unfinished space. Made it much easier to use for storage.

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Send an email to fastreply@internachi.org for clarification

Inconsistencies in the educational material come up occasionally and they appreciate us notifying them.

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10

7.75” for other than Masonary stairs. Masonry stairs at the exterior may be as high as 8”. The 8.25” riser height may have been an old IRC code for Masonary riser height.

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In your PIA, do you mention you inspect following InterNACHI SOP?

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That could explain the discrepancy.
However, Indiana Residential Code probably should not be considered modern building standards for InterNACHI when International Residential Code gives a different standard.

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Just remember none of the standards that InterNACHI references in their training are meant to be IRC codes. They are just safety standards.

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That’s more of a reason for the safety standards to be consistent within InterNACHI’s training curriculum.

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UPDATE for all including: @mwilles , @jjonas , @rkenney , @rbleich , @tglaze , @ccurrins

After sending an email to fastreply@internachi.org, Ben Gromicko emailed me a Loom video update. Basically, Ben said that the Healthy Homes, Part 6: Housing Structure Course was outdated. The IRC standard for stair risers changed in the year 2000 changed from 8.25" to 7.75". As such, Ben then showed me that he updated the course as a result of my inquiry to show that the modern standard for stair risers is indeed 7.75".

Yes, I do include in my agreement that I follow InterNACHI’s Residential SOP.

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Thanks Adam!

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Thanks Adam!

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Thanks for the update Adam. We have many row homes in the city at or over 100 years. In those days stairs were often built to fit whatever space they had available. This created many steep narrow staircases and people moved furniture just like the Laurel & Hardy movies, with a rope through a second floor window.

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