Buildings in B.C. that are under six storeys will no longer be required to have more than one egress staircase, a change that has firefighters concerned about safety.
B.C. Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon announced the change to the provincial building code last week.
He says the change will help with the province’s housing crisis.
Requiring only a single staircase leaves more space for housing units, and makes six-storey buildings viable on smaller lots.
Positive pressure hallways/staircases would make a huge impact on the spread of smoke. Smoke would still be an issue if the fire was in the hall itself, but no amount of staircases can help you if you can’t access them. The quote from the Fire Chiefs Association really makes me think we’re using the second staircase to skimp on every other aspect of fire safety.