Calgary’s firefighters union is raising concerns about a concerning housing development trend in which new apartment buildings are constructed with only one exit stairwell. Despite the national building code requiring two stairwells for residential apartments over two storeys, there has been a recent push in Canada to bypass this regulation.
Last year, the B.C. government modified its building code to permit buildings up to six storeys to have just one stairwell instead of two. Similarly, the City of Edmonton introduced a guide earlier this year to facilitate developers in obtaining approval for single-stair housing by employing alternative fire safety solutions. This approach, available for decades, has already led to the approval of two building permits.
Jamie Blayney, president of the Calgary Firefighters Association, is apprehensive that Calgary may follow suit with this housing trend. Expressing his concerns, Blayney emphasized the risks associated with occupying a single stairwell during emergencies when people are attempting to flee swiftly.
Firefighters across North America share similar apprehensions regarding these single-stair housing designs, aiming to thwart such proposals in cities like Vancouver and Los Angeles. Advocates for single-stair housing argue that, amidst a housing crisis, utilizing one stairwell can expedite and reduce construction costs.
Stephen Barnecut, principal of Gravity Architecture, believes it is inevitable for Calgary to witness developments of this kind. He highlighted the advantages of single-stair housing, including cost savings on stairwells, enhanced design possibilities for better lighting and air circulation, and the potential for constructing multi-storey buildings on smaller land parcels.
The City of Calgary’s chief building official mentioned that while no single-stair proposals have been submitted yet, the city is open to reviewing such proposals if they meet equivalent safety standards to the building code. However, the Calgary Fire Department would need to be involved in the review process to ensure emergency response capabilities are not compromised.
Blayney continues to advocate for the necessity of two exit stairwells for safety. As discussions with the new city council commence, he plans to engage with councillors to address his concerns.