British Columbia updates building code, allowing up to six-storey buildings a single exit stairwell.

British Columbia updates its building code, allowing buildings up to six storeys to have a single exit stairwell instead of two. This move aims to increase housing supply and density, particularly in transit-oriented developments. The change enables more options for larger layouts and facilitates construction on smaller lots. Safety measures such as sprinklers, smoke-management systems, and wider stairwells are required for buildings designed under the new code, which was informed by a policy report revealing that about 8-10% of apartment building fires originate in exit stairs or common corridors, but are usually small.

August 29, 2024
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