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Single Egress (One Way In/Out)

 

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Federal Budget 2024 commits to a consultation with fire safety experts on single egress construction. The Consultation is being led by the National Research Council.

 

In the meantime, some provincial and local governments have already started exploring the inclusion of single egress constructions in their own building codes.

 

While this is in fact a technical fire safety issue, the conversation on single egress has become a subject of media commentary and politicized.

 

Outside of the technical issues, there are at least five policy issues that are already surfacing to the Fire Chiefs even before the consultation has begun:

  • Confusion about what the original code change is, what is meant by single egress, and what other contingencies are used in countries where single egress construction is permitted.
  • Questions about the policy commitment to harmonized building codes if high population cities and provinces are used as early adopters prior to any national or federal consultation
  • Substantive problems in the analytical reports being used to justify single egress. 
  • Reference to permitting single egress in regions where there are only career departments.
  • Most importantly, the assumption that access to a single wider staircase will never itself be compromised and could service individuals with regular mobility, impaired mobility, those with small children, as well as firefighters with equipment or people going in and out.

Fire chiefs believe this is another example of why Canada requires a National Fire Administration: https://cafc.ca/2023-Governance-Report

 

For now, however, this webpage is intended to help track some of the conversation that is happening in anticipation of the CAFC’s formal response to the National Research Council’s consultation.

 

Presentation to Task Group at National Harmonized Codes Commission

 

On May 22, 2025, Chief Paul Boissonneault, Chair of the CAFC Building Codes Committee, Secretary of the Board and Board Member, presented to the Single Egress Task Group of the National Harmonized Codes Commission. You can view the presentation here.

 

Results of National Research Council of Canada Study on Single Egress

 

On February 4th, 2025 the National Research Council released the results of their most recent study on Single Egress Construction.

View the report here. 

View the comment table here.

View the response to feedback here.

 

 

Letter from the CAFC to the National Research Council


On October 21, 2024, CAFC sent a letter to the National Research Council with feedback from the CAFC as a member of the General Interest Stakeholder Group that contributed to their report. You may view the letter here.

 

 

Motion from Canadian Metro Chiefs

On September 25, 2024, The Canadian Metro Fire Department Chiefs passed a unanimous motion expressing concern on single egress construction;

WHEREAS:

Canadian Metro Fire Department Chiefs have concerns about single means of egress

AND WHEREAS:

Canadian Metro Fire Department Chiefs need to identify those concerns to the government and explain why this is an issue

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That the Canadian Metro Fire Department Chiefs identify concerns around single means of egress to the CAFC

 

 

National Fire Protection Association Single Egress Symposium

 

On September 12, 2024, the National Fire Protection Association hosted a Single Egress Symposium in Boston. The following slides were presented by the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs Board Member and Building Codes Chair Keven Lefebvre. View the slides here.

 

View the report from the symposium here.

 

 

GVFCA Presentation to Metro Vancouver Mayors Council

 

On September 12, 2024, the GVFCA, represented by President elect Fire Chief Dave Samson and Chief Larry Thomas, presented to the Metro Vancouver Mayors Council about the Associations concerns with the recent BC Building Code amendments to remove the requirement for a second egress stairway from small footprint six storey buildings. Please see slides and video of the meeting: https://metrovancouver.org/media-room/video/1008949492

 

 

National Research Council of Canada Launches Consultation on Single Egress

 

On September 4, 2024 the NRC announced the beginning of the federal consultation on single egress. Read the press release here.

 

View the minutes from the consultations here (members only).

     

    Original Single Egress Code Change Proposal

    It is CAFC’s understanding that the original code change proposal was developed as an environmental scan of building codes and single egress construction. It is not a comprehensive study of single egress. It was intended to satisfy degree requirements for the Masters of Architecture program at McGill University. It does not include a discussion of fire operations or contexts.  

     

    Letters and representations

     

    CAFC representations to date in advance of the Federal Consultation

     

    BC order description (summary of order)

     

    BC Building Code Update: Enabling Single Exit Stair Buildings


    The BC Building Code changes:

    • Enable single exit stair buildings, up to 6 storeys in height,
    • Limit the occupancy load to 24 people, per floor,
    • Limit the travel distance to the exit,
    • Provide automatic sprinkler systems throughout buildings, including balconies,
    • Manage smoke movement and include other fire protections, and
    • Require high-level local fire department and high-level building operations and management to ensure ongoing fire system inspections.

    The code changes are in force now. You can read more about them on BC Gov News and access Revision 3 of the BC Building Code on the Errata & Revisions page of the Building Codes and Standards website.

    Additionally, new Technical Bulletins for BC Building Code 2024 have been published and you can expect to find more added as they are finalized.

     

     

    Media stories on Single Egress


    Reports

     

    Other resources:

     

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