Re: Single Egress Stairway in Multi-Family Homes (Letter from BCPFFA)
A letter from the BC Professional Fire Fighters' Association to the Minister of Housing opposing the allowance of single means of egress for buildings up to eight storeys.
BRITISH COLUMBIA PROFESSIONAL FIRE FIGHTERS' ASSOCIATION
Affiliated with the International Association of Fire Fighters since 1929
May 15, 2024
Minister of Housing MLA: Hon. Ravi Kahlon ravi.kahlon.MLA@leg.bc.ca
Re: Single Egress Stairway in Multi-Family Homes
I am writing on behalf of the Executive Board of the British Columbia Professional Fire Fighters’ Association (BCPFFA), representing 55 Local Affiliates and 4,500 professional fire fighters. We have concerns about the proposed amendments to the Provincial Building and Fire Codes and wish to bring them to your attention.
While we appreciate the consultation and collaborative efforts taken by the Provincial Government, we are particularly concerned about the proposed allowance of a single means of egress for new low to mid-rise residential buildings of up to eight (8) storeys. We believe this measure poses an unacceptable risk to the health and safety of occupants, the public, and our fire fighters.
To address this issue, the BCPFFA has created a working group that includes a National Building Codes Consultant from the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), and the Fire Chief’s Association of BC (FCABC). In addition, the Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association (OPFFA), the Ontario Fire Chiefs Association (OFCA), and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) all have positions of great concern and oppose the single stairway concept.
Fire services emphasize the importance of fire safety to the fire commissioner's office, which oversees fire safety in British Columbia. Allowing for a single means of egress for residential structures risks the health and safety of the occupants, the public, and all first responder members. Therefore, we urge the Provincial Government and Minister of Housing to be mindful of past incidents that have established the baseline building codes we follow today.
The BCPFFA strongly recommends that sufficient exits be put in place to meet the needs of occupants to evacuate safely in the event of an emergency and to provide a safe place for fire fighters to conduct fire fighting operations (and occupant rescue) while protecting both occupants and firefighters from the undue risk that comes with single exits. This recommendation is supported by clear evidence of the effectiveness of having two stairwells, one for egress and one for fire operations.
Yours Truly,
Todd Schierling President
Cc Hon. David Eby, Premier of British Columbia Hon. Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Fire Commissioner Brian Godlonton, Office of the Fire Commissioner