British Columbia’s Building Code Update Could Boost Family Housing Options

• BC now allows single stair designs in buildings up to six storeys
• The change boosts housing supply and adds more multi-bedroom unit.
• The new rule removes the second stairwell requirement for more flexible development
• SES buildings must have sprinklers, smoke management, and wider stairwells for safety

Struggling to find an affordable, multi-bedroom apartment in British Columbia? A recent change to the province’s building code could be a game-changer.

Driving the News: British Columbia’s government has updated the BC Building Code (BCBC) to permit single egress stair (SES) designs in low- and mid-rise buildings up to six stories. The revision removes the previous requirement for two exit stairwells in these buildings, a move expected to make housing projects more feasible on smaller lots and increase the availability of multi-bedroom units.

• SES designs are used safely in cities like Seattle and New York.
• New SES buildings in B.C. will have sprinklers, smoke control, and wider stairwells.

Why It Matters: The housing crisis in British Columbia has left many families and individuals struggling to find affordable homes that meet their needs. The updated building code is a response to this challenge, allowing for more diverse building configurations, especially in areas with limited space or high land costs. This could lead to a greater supply of larger, multi-bedroom apartments, which are in high demand but often in short supply.

Industry Insight: “Canada has some of the most restrictive limitations in the developed world for the size of multi-unit residential buildings with a single egress stair, and the requirements have not changed substantially in over 80 years,” said Robert Heikkila, director at Jensen Hughes, a safety, security, and risk-based engineering company. “After review of current approaches in other countries and factors affecting fire safety in Canadian multi-unit buildings, we believe that updated building code requirements can provide an acceptable level of fire safety in larger multi-unit buildings with a single egress stair.”

**Our POV:**BC’s updated building code is set to increase housing options, particularly for families needing larger apartments. By allowing SES designs, the province addresses the housing shortage, encourages innovative, cost-effective developments, and promotes a more adaptable approach to urban housing challenges.