Single stair buildings will be allowed in British Columbia's new building code

British Columbia’s next building code will allow single-staircase buildings: a design element common in much of the world, but banned in Canada for decades.

The building types are touted as a simple design solution that allow for denser housing on smaller lots, which could help bolster “missing middle” housing stock (multiplexes, townhouses, and apartment buildings less than five storeys) while delivering climate benefits.

A report commissioned by B.C.’s Ministry of Housing and released last week provided research and recommendations on how the buildings could be safely allowed in the next provincial building code, due this upcoming fall, explained Minister of Housing Ravi Kahlon in an interview with Canada’s National Observer.

“We are going to allow them. We're moving forward. We're going ahead,” he said. “What we have to finalize is the specifics of the code. What are the parameters within the code that we need? That work is going to happen all through summer, and we'll make public the new code this fall.”

Currently, low- and mid-rise apartment buildings in the province (and most of North America) require two staircases. The rule dates back about 80 years ago to building codes largely based on what American cities, such as Chicago, were doing at the time. In the 1940s, buildings were built mostly with flammable timber, and two staircases were required with evacuation in mind.

The province has decided to allow the builds primarily because they allow for more family-friendly units, said Kahlon. Instead of apartment buildings mostly made up of studios and one-bedrooms, single staircase buildings – also called point access blocks – typically include three-bedroom units that can accommodate families and other living arrangements.

“Right now, when someone goes to build housing, they have to assemble so much land because of the structure of the building, and it takes years for housing to get built,” explained Kahlon.

“Having the ability to have a smaller lot, and a smaller building, I think not only will be appreciated more in communities, it will also build the type of units that we need more of in our communities.”

There are also important climate adaptation benefits, explained Kahlon, such as buildings being more livable during extreme heat because their layouts allow for cross breezes in units: something now reserved for those living in single-family homes or townhouses.

While the province is confident they will find a way to allow the builds, what specifically will be required by builders and developers in the code isn’t set in stone.

As a prime example for the province to look toward, Kahlon points to Seattle, which has allowed single-stairway buildings up to six storeys since the 1970s, with a limit of four apartments per floor with requirements around sprinkler systems. It’s also the style of building frequently seen in older parts of cities like Montreal, and dense European cities like Paris or Berlin.

Fewer units means less people who need to evacuate in a fire. Kahlon also highlighted wider staircases and pressurized hallways as notable fire safety solutions presented by the report.

He said those solutions address concerns from fire safety officials, including the elevated fire risk Chicago-style restrictions originally set out to prevent. But it’s not a solution for every building type. The report noted “representatives of BC fire services organizations expressed their opposition to the concept of allowing larger [single staircase] buildings.”

While single staircase buildings will be allowed in B.C., there will likely be exceptions. Namely, any jurisdiction without a professional fire fighting service “probably isn’t the best place for it,” said Kahlon, noting “the majority of our large communities have professional fire service.”

Now, building code officials will take the report, and “do a little bit more consultation on the fine points of the code” before implementing single-stair buildings into the province’s code this fall.