Calgary’s firefighters union is raising concerns about a concerning housing trend where new apartment buildings are being constructed with only one exit stairwell. While the national building code mandates two stairwells for residential apartment buildings over two storeys tall, there has been a recent movement in Canada to circumvent this requirement.
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 guidelines earlier this year to facilitate single-stair housing projects by utilizing alternative fire safety measures instead of requiring two stairwells, a process that has been available for years.
Jamie Blayney, president of the Calgary Firefighters Association, expressed apprehension that Calgary might follow suit with such developments. He emphasized the importance of maintaining two exit stairwells to ensure safety during emergencies, especially with the increasing prevalence of rapid fires.
Firefighters across North America, including those in Vancouver and Los Angeles, have been actively opposing similar proposals due to safety concerns. However, proponents argue that in the face of a housing crisis, opting for a single stairwell can expedite and reduce costs in housing construction.
Stephen Barnecut, principal of Gravity Architecture, anticipates the emergence of single-stair housing designs in Calgary, citing benefits such as cost savings and enhanced design possibilities leading to improved lighting and air circulation for residents. This design approach also enables the construction of multi-storey buildings on smaller land parcels, potentially addressing urban space constraints.
While the concept of single-stair buildings is more prevalent in Europe, where safety measures like non-combustible materials and designated refuge areas for individuals with mobility challenges are common, proponents believe it offers a progressive approach to construction practices.
The City of Calgary’s chief building official stated that no single-stair proposals have been submitted thus far, but the city is willing to consider such projects if they adhere to equivalent safety standards as per the building code. However, the Calgary Fire Department would play a crucial role in reviewing designs to ensure emergency response capabilities are not compromised.
As discussions continue within the firefighters’ union and with city council members, the debate persists over the safety implications of single-stair housing designs compared to the traditional two stairwells standard.
