Single Means of Egress
Federal Budget 2024 commits to a consultation with fire safety experts on single egress construction. The Consultation is being led by the National Research Council.
In the meantime, some provincial and local governments have already started exploring the inclusion of single egress constructions in their own building codes.
While this is in fact a technical fire safety issue, the conversation on single egress has become a subject of media commentary and politicized.
Outside of the technical issues, there are at least five policy issues that are already surfacing to the Fire Chiefs even before the consultation has begun:
Confusion about what the original code change is, what is meant by single egress, and what other contingencies are used in countries where single egress construction is permitted.
Questions about the policy commitment to harmonized building codes if high population cities and provinces are used as early adopters prior to any national or federal consultation
Substantive problems in the analytical reports being used to justify single egress.
Reference to permitting single egress in regions where there are only career departments.Most importantly, the assumption that access to a single wider staircase will never itself be compromised and could service individuals with regular mobility, impaired mobility, those with small children, as well as firefighters with equipment or people going in and out.
For now, however, this webpage is intended to help track some of the conversation.
UPDATE THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 12:
The GVFCA, represented by President elect Fire Chief Dave Samson and Chief Larry Thomas, presented to the Metro Vancouver Mayors Council about the Associations concerns with the recent BC Building Code amendments to remove the requirement for a second egress stairway from small footprint six storey buildings. Please see slides and video of the meeting: https://metrovancouver.org/media-room/video/1008949492
National Fire Protection Association Single Egress Symposium
On September 12, the National Fire Protection Association hosted a Single Egress Symposium in Boston. The following slides were presented by the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs Board Member and Building Codes Chair Keven Lefebvre: View the slides here.
National Research Council of Canada Launches Consultation on Single Egress
On September 4th, the NRC announced the beginning of the federal consultation on single egress. Read the press release here.
Original Single Egress Code Change Proposal
Single Egress website: Conrad Speckhert
It is generally understood that the original code change proposal was developed as an environmental scan of building codes and single egress construction. It is not a comprehensive study of single egress. It was intended to satisfy degree requirements for the Masters of Architecture program at McGill University. It does not include a discussion of fire operations or contexts.
Letters and representations
IAFF and Metro Chiefs Joint Statement Regarding Single Stairways in Multifamily Buildings
FCABC Board of Directors Position Statement: Single Means of Egress
FCABC Background to Position Statement Regarding Single Means of Egress
OAFC Position on Single Exits in Buildings up to Six Stories or that Exceed Current Code Requirements
NASFM Opposition of Single-Exit Stairway in Multifamily Structures
IAFC- Reducing Stairs in Residential Buildings Higher Than Three Stories Creates Escape Hazards for Occupants and Inhibits Vital Emergency Response Operations
Greater Vancouver Fire Chiefs’ Association response to Ministry of Housing SES Request
Fire Chiefs Association of BC and the BC Professional Fire Fighters Association
CAFC representations to date in advance of the Federal Consultation
CAFC President’s Letter to Minister of Housing offering recommendations on Single Egress discussion and National Fire Administration
CAFC President’s letter to Minister of Housing on Single Egress Consultation
In response to this letter, a meeting is being organized with Infrastructure, Communities and Housing.
CAFC Letter to BC Minister of Housing
In an unprecedented move to rapidly amend a building code (the change was made within 18 days of the submission deadline), and against fire safety experts advice, the BC Government has changed its building code to allow single egress construction.
CAFC President’s Letter to Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions, and Intergovernmental Affairs on Single Egress Consultation
BC order description (summary of order)
BC Building Code Update: Enabling Single Exit Stair Buildings
The BC Building Code changes:
Enable single exit stair buildings, up to 6 storeys in height,
Limit the occupancy load to 24 people, per floor,
Limit the travel distance to the exit,
Provide automatic sprinkler systems throughout buildings, including balconies,
Manage smoke movement and include other fire protections, and
Require high-level local fire department and high-level building operations and management to ensure ongoing fire system inspections.
The code changes are in force now. You can read more about them on BC Gov News and access Revision 3 of the BC Building Code on the Errata & Revisions page of the Building Codes and Standards website.
Additionally, new Technical Bulletins for BC Building Code 2024 have been published and you can expect to find more added as they are finalized.
Media stories on Single Egress
B.C. fire chiefs worry about 1-stairwell building code changes – CBC News (08/31/2024)
A design change that aims to unlock housing density – The Globe and Mail (08/16/2024)
B.C. looks to change building code to develop single-stair apartment buildings – The Globe and Mail (07/02/2024)
Single-exit stairways should be allowed in more, taller B.C. buildings: housing minister – City News (06/28/2024)
How changing an old rule about stairs could unlock a lot of new housing – The Globe and Mail (05/25/2024)
Who’s getting it done on housing – feds or the province? – CollingwoodToday (03/10/2024)
How single-stair apartment buildings could be cooler, friendlier — and more affordable – CBC News (01/29/2024)
Province seeks input on single egress stairway designs – BC Government (01/26/2024)
Why North America Can’t Build Nice Apartments (because of one rule) (12/23/2023)
Reports
Download the report from the BC Government
Download the report from City of Toronto
Evaluating Stakeholder Concerns About Proposed Single Egress Stairs Residential Buildings in Canada, and What the Data Tells Us
A fire risk assessment model for residential high-rises with a single stairwell – Fire Safety Journal
Firefighter Shafts in Tall Single Stair Residential Buildings
Seattle Building Code Extracts re Single Exits
Single-Stair Layouts Are Not Going to Fix the Housing Crisis – The Nation
Single Stair, Many Questions – NFPA Journal
The use of elevators for egress – National Research Council
Other resources:
Single-stair reform efforts across North America – Centre for Building Innovation
BC specifications
Reposted from https://cafc.ca/page/single-egress