Calgary’s firefighters union is raising concerns about a risky housing trend in which new apartment buildings are designed with only one stairwell for emergency exits. According to the national building code, residential buildings over two storeys high should have two stairwells. However, there is a recent movement in Canada to bypass this requirement.
Last year, the government of British Columbia modified its building code to permit buildings up to six storeys to have only one stairwell instead of two. Similarly, the City of Edmonton released guidelines earlier this year to assist developers in gaining approval for single-stair housing by utilizing alternative fire safety solutions. Despite being available for years, this process has resulted in the approval of two building permits so far.
Jamie Blayney, president of the Calgary Firefighters Association, expressed apprehension that this trend may spread to Calgary. He emphasized the importance of not compromising on safety measures, especially as fires are becoming more frequent and intense. Firefighters across North America share similar concerns about single-exit housing designs being proposed in various cities.
Advocates of the single-stair approach argue that it can accelerate the construction of affordable housing amid a housing crisis. Stephen Barnecut, a principal at Gravity Architecture, highlighted the advantages of this design, including cost savings on stairwells and the potential for more innovative and airy living spaces. This type of construction could also enable the development of multi-storey buildings on smaller land parcels.
While the concept of single-stair housing is common in Europe, where safety measures are stringent, its implementation in North America has sparked debates. The City of Calgary remains open to reviewing single-stair proposals as long as they meet equivalent safety standards to the building code. The Calgary Fire Department will play a crucial role in assessing the impact on emergency responses and ensuring compliance with fire safety regulations.
As discussions continue within the firefighters’ union and with city councillors, the debate over the safety and feasibility of single-stair housing developments persists.