The Province adopted the British Columbia Building and Fire Codes (BC Codes 2024) to provide people with a greater level of building safety and to make new buildings more sustainable, resilient and accessible.
“As we take historic steps to build more homes for people faster, we are also taking action to make sure homes are safe, accessible and more resilient to climate change,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing. “We have to find ways to innovate and build differently. Over the next year, the Province will lead a discussion on enabling single-egress stairs in the BC Building Code.”
Key updates to the building code will require all new buildings to:
- provide one living space that is designed not to exceed 26 C;
- have power-operated doors in all building entrances and universal washrooms; and
- have an elevator in all large two- and three-storey apartment buildings.
Additional updates to the building code focus on accessibility, mass-timber construction and radon safety.
https://news.gov.bc....HOUS0167-001923
This paper presents a first attempt to decode the requirement for two exit stairs in the National Building Code of Canada – to document its adverse effect on the design of small apartment buildings, and to compare Canada with other jurisdictions where this is not required. This study has since evolved into a project to thoroughly compare international building codes, study the history of the Canadian requirements and submit a code change request to the national codes board. Underpinning the research is the idea that architects should actively question and contribute to the rules we work with.
https://secondegress...-Wicked-Problem
Edited by Victoria Watcher, 06 December 2023 - 03:45 AM.