R311.3

Section R311.3 is titled 'Floors and landings at exterior doors' and covers the requirements for access ways adjacent to exterior doors. Access ways are required to meet minimum width and travel direction dimensions as well as not exceed a slope limit. The purpose of this section is to provide an efficient and safe route in and out of a dwelling. This section has an exception which eliminates the required travel direction dimension, for small balconies which are only accessed by the exterior door. The purpose of this exception is to clarify that it is not the intent of this section to prohibit small balconies only accessed from an exterior door.

The model shows an inward swinging exterior door with a floor on the inside and a landing on the outside. The required width, direction of travel, and slope dimensions are shown for the landing. The model also replaces the landing with a small balcony per the allowed exception.