Architects have proposed building-code changes in Canada and the United States to allow construction of six-storey multi-family dwellings with one stairway instead of two.
Ostensibly, the proposals are about more family-friendly buildings; the single-staircase model accommodates three-bedroom suites and better layouts, improved climate controls, smaller lots and increased fire and life-safety measures.
But to fire personnel and organizations the proposals go against decades of consensus codes, circumvent long-established standards-development processes, and increase risks to occupants and responders.
NFPA regional director Laura King examines the single-stair issue, the potential impacts on inspections and building officials, gaps in the proposals, arguments for and against the change, the jurisdictions that have long permitted single-egress stairs, the situation in Canada, and who’s doing what to ensure everyone stays safe.