Video: The push behind single egress stair design in Canada
We look into the benefits and concerns being debated across the country.
In the race to solve Canada’s housing shortage, one growing idea is actually about subtraction: removing the requirement for a second staircase in certain residential buildings.
Known as single-egress stair design, this approach allows buildings to be constructed with just one exit stairwell, provided other fire safety measures—like sprinklers and fire-rated materials—are in place. Proponents argue it’s a way to increase floor efficiency, reduce construction costs by up to 11%, and unlock more options for small urban sites.
B.C. led the charge, becoming the first province to officially permit single-egress buildings in its Building Code. Ontario is also exploring the idea, and Edmonton has created a guide to help developers pursue SES through alternative compliance pathways.
But the proposal has hit resistance in some quarters. Vancouver city staff and fire officials have rejected the concept, citing safety concerns and a lack of sufficient risk data. In a staff report, the city manager warned that “the lack of available data to quantify the relative risk of single-egress stair construction represents a significant constraint on evaluation.”
Instead, the city is encouraging safer space-saving options like scissor stairs or external staircases.
The conversation comes at a critical moment. While evidence suggests that modern mid-rise buildings with SES can be safe under current fire protection standards, researchers are still working to understand how these designs perform across a range of scenarios.
Watch our full explainer below for a step-by-step breakdown of the movement, including where it’s gaining ground and why some want to pump the brakes: