<div dir="ltr">I believe I've confirmed what I thought was the case: stairs to stages are not usually desirable for professional performance events but a necessary feature sometimes; and probably expected and frequently used in the K-12 and some college/university settings.  No surprises.<div><br></div><div>As far as the accessibility issue, here is what the IBC says now:</div><div><br></div><div><div class="gmail-x_elementToProof" style="border:0px;font-variant-numeric:inherit;font-variant-east-asian:inherit;font-variant-alternates:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:15px;line-height:inherit;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;margin:0px 40px;padding:0px;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(36,36,36)"><span style="border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:12pt;line-height:inherit;font-family:Aptos,Aptos_EmbeddedFont,Aptos_MSFontService,Calibri,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;margin:0px;padding:0px;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><b>1109.2.8 Performance areas.</b></span><span style="border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:12pt;line-height:inherit;font-family:Aptos,Aptos_EmbeddedFont,Aptos_MSFontService,Calibri,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;margin:0px;padding:0px;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(0,0,0)"> An <i>accessible route</i> shall directly connect the performance area to the assembly seating area where a<i> circulation path</i> directly connects a performance area to an assembly seating area.</span><span style="border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:12pt;line-height:inherit;font-family:Aptos,Aptos_EmbeddedFont,Aptos_MSFontService,Calibri,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;margin:0px;padding:0px;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(0,0,0)">An <i>accessible route</i> shall be provided from performance areas to ancillary areas or <i>facilities</i> used by performers.</span></div><div class="gmail-x_elementToProof" style="border:0px;font-variant-numeric:inherit;font-variant-east-asian:inherit;font-variant-alternates:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:15px;line-height:inherit;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;margin:0px;padding:0px;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(36,36,36)"><span style="border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:12pt;line-height:inherit;font-family:Aptos,Aptos_EmbeddedFont,Aptos_MSFontService,Calibri,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;margin:0px;padding:0px;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><br aria-hidden="true"></span></div><div class="gmail-x_elementToProof" style="border:0px;font-variant-numeric:inherit;font-variant-east-asian:inherit;font-variant-alternates:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:15px;line-height:inherit;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;margin:0px;padding:0px;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(36,36,36)"><span style="border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:12pt;line-height:inherit;font-family:Aptos,Aptos_EmbeddedFont,Aptos_MSFontService,Calibri,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;margin:0px;padding:0px;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(0,0,0)">But keep in mind the IBC 1104.5 general requirements for accessible routes also apply:</span></div><div class="gmail-x_elementToProof" style="border:0px;font-variant-numeric:inherit;font-variant-east-asian:inherit;font-variant-alternates:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:15px;line-height:inherit;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;margin:0px;padding:0px;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(36,36,36)"><span style="border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:12pt;line-height:inherit;font-family:Aptos,Aptos_EmbeddedFont,Aptos_MSFontService,Calibri,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;margin:0px;padding:0px;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><br aria-hidden="true"></span></div><div class="gmail-x_elementToProof" style="border:0px;font-variant-numeric:inherit;font-variant-east-asian:inherit;font-variant-alternates:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:15px;line-height:inherit;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;margin:0px;padding:0px;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(36,36,36)"><span style="border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:12pt;line-height:inherit;font-family:Aptos,Aptos_EmbeddedFont,Aptos_MSFontService,Calibri,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;margin:0px;padding:0px;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(0,0,0)">1104.5 Location. Accessible routes shall comply with all of the following:</span></div><div class="gmail-x_elementToProof" style="border:0px;font-variant-numeric:inherit;font-variant-east-asian:inherit;font-variant-alternates:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:15px;line-height:inherit;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;margin:0px 40px;padding:0px;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(36,36,36)"><span style="border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:12pt;line-height:inherit;font-family:Aptos,Aptos_EmbeddedFont,Aptos_MSFontService,Calibri,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;margin:0px;padding:0px;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(0,0,0)">1. Accessible routes shall coincide with or be located in the same area as a general circulation path.</span></div><div class="gmail-x_elementToProof" style="border:0px;font-variant-numeric:inherit;font-variant-east-asian:inherit;font-variant-alternates:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:15px;line-height:inherit;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;margin:0px 40px;padding:0px;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(36,36,36)"><span style="border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:12pt;line-height:inherit;font-family:Aptos,Aptos_EmbeddedFont,Aptos_MSFontService,Calibri,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;margin:0px;padding:0px;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(0,0,0)">2.  Where the circulation path is interior, the accessible route shall be interior.</span></div><div class="gmail-x_elementToProof" style="border:0px;font-variant-numeric:inherit;font-variant-east-asian:inherit;font-variant-alternates:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:15px;line-height:inherit;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;margin:0px 40px;padding:0px;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(36,36,36)"><span style="border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:12pt;line-height:inherit;font-family:Aptos,Aptos_EmbeddedFont,Aptos_MSFontService,Calibri,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;margin:0px;padding:0px;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(0,0,0)">3.  Where only one accessible route is provided, the accessible route shall not pass through kitchens, storage rooms, restrooms, closets or similar spaces.</span></div><div class="gmail-x_elementToProof" style="border:0px;font-variant-numeric:inherit;font-variant-east-asian:inherit;font-variant-alternates:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:15px;line-height:inherit;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;margin:0px 40px;padding:0px;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(36,36,36)"><br class="gmail-Apple-interchange-newline"></div></div><div><div class="gmail-x_elementToProof" style="border:0px;font-variant-numeric:inherit;font-variant-east-asian:inherit;font-variant-alternates:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:15px;line-height:inherit;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;margin:0px 40px;padding:0px;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(36,36,36)"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Aptos,Aptos_EmbeddedFont,Aptos_MSFontService,Calibri,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-style:inherit;font-variant-ligatures:inherit;font-variant-caps:inherit;font-weight:inherit">I am submitting the following proposed changes:</span></div></div><div><div class="gmail-x_elementToProof" style="border:0px;font-variant-numeric:inherit;font-variant-east-asian:inherit;font-variant-alternates:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:15px;line-height:inherit;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;margin:0px 40px;padding:0px;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(36,36,36)"><br></div><div class="gmail-x_elementToProof" style="border:0px;font-variant-numeric:inherit;font-variant-east-asian:inherit;font-variant-alternates:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:15px;line-height:inherit;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;margin:0px 40px;padding:0px;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(36,36,36)"><span style="border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:12pt;line-height:inherit;font-family:Aptos,Aptos_EmbeddedFont,Aptos_MSFontService,Calibri,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;margin:0px;padding:0px;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><b>1109.2.8 Performance areas.</b></span><span style="border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:12pt;line-height:inherit;font-family:Aptos,Aptos_EmbeddedFont,Aptos_MSFontService,Calibri,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;margin:0px;padding:0px;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(0,0,0)"> An <i>accessible route</i> shall directly connect the performance area to the assembly <s>seating</s> area where a<i> circulation path</i> directly connects a performance area to an assembly <s>seating</s> area. </span><span style="border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:12pt;line-height:inherit;font-family:Aptos,Aptos_EmbeddedFont,Aptos_MSFontService,Calibri,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;margin:0px;padding:0px;vertical-align:baseline;color:black"><u>The location of the </u><i><u>accessible route</u></i><u> shall be in the same rooms and spaces as the general circulation path. </u></span><span style="border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:12pt;line-height:inherit;font-family:Aptos,Aptos_EmbeddedFont,Aptos_MSFontService,Calibri,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;margin:0px;padding:0px;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(0,0,0)">  <u>The audience's visual contact with the accessible route shall be equivalent to that with the general circulation route.</u> An <i>accessible route</i> shall be provided from performance areas to ancillary areas or <i>facilities</i> used by performers.<br></span></div><div class="gmail-x_elementToProof" style="border:0px;font-variant-numeric:inherit;font-variant-east-asian:inherit;font-variant-alternates:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:15px;line-height:inherit;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;margin:0px 40px;padding:0px;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(36,36,36)"><span style="border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:12pt;line-height:inherit;font-family:Aptos,Aptos_EmbeddedFont,Aptos_MSFontService,Calibri,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;margin:0px;padding:0px;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><br></span></div><div class="gmail-x_elementToProof" style="border:0px;font-variant-numeric:inherit;font-variant-east-asian:inherit;font-variant-alternates:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:15px;line-height:inherit;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;margin:0px 40px;padding:0px;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(36,36,36)"><span style="border:0px;font-style:inherit;font-variant:inherit;font-stretch:inherit;font-size:12pt;line-height:inherit;font-family:Aptos,Aptos_EmbeddedFont,Aptos_MSFontService,Calibri,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-kerning:inherit;font-feature-settings:inherit;margin:0px;padding:0px;vertical-align:baseline;color:rgb(0,0,0)">This is a long way off of course, with several points at which it will be heard and discussed in public in 2024, finally voted upon for the 2027 edition of the IBC, and might be adopted in your jurisdiction within several years of its publishing. And as usual it applies to new build, and major renovations which bring the building up to "new".</span></div><br class="gmail-Apple-interchange-newline"></div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Wed, Jan 17, 2024 at 6:16 PM Greg Bierly via Stagecraft <<a href="mailto:stagecraft@theatrical.net">stagecraft@theatrical.net</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div>My former workplace was a 1300 seat high school auditorium built in 1995.  My understanding they were able to avoid ADA access during construction from being in view of the audience.  (Must exit house left, up ramp access to stage, then enter USR through the shop for wheelchairs) It has staircases in the house on either side of stage next to the pit.  They had permanent handrails both on the wall and on the pit side of the steps.  We built plugs to fill in the staircases and around 2002 I had the onstage railings removable.  Probably not code but I made sure to make sure they were present anytime the pit was in the down position.  In the 25 years of events over half NEEDED stair access and 10% needed NO access from the house.  Flexibility was key.  We had temporary ramps and stairs added to stage extensions or pit bridges.  Hope that is useful info.<br><div>
<div dir="auto" style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;text-decoration:none;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Helvetica;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:normal;text-align:-webkit-auto;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px"><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Helvetica;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:normal;text-align:-webkit-auto;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px"><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Helvetica;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:normal;text-align:-webkit-auto;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px"><div><br>Greg Bierly</div><div>Former Performing Arts Center Coordinator</div><div>Hempfield High School</div><div><br></div></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;text-decoration:none"><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;text-decoration:none"><br></div><br>
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</blockquote></div><br clear="all"><div><br></div><span class="gmail_signature_prefix">-- </span><br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature">Bill Conner Fellow of the ASTC</div>