Whereas the Province of British Columbia amended the British Columbia Building Code BCBC, effective August 27, 2024, to permit the construction of residential multi-family buildings up to six storeys with a single exit stairway under certain conditions, raising significant concerns among local governments, emergency responders, and public safety associations; And whereas this amendment presents elevated risks to occupant and first responder safety due to limited egress during emergencies, reduced evacuation efficiencyparticularly for people with disabilitiesand compounded safety hazards such as smoke inhalation, non-compliance of fire safety systems, and the growing threat of lithium-ion battery fires: Therefore be it resolved UBCM urge the Province of British Columbia to suspend the implementation of the single exit stairway provisions in the BC Building Code and conduct a comprehensive safety review, including consultation with UBCM, emergency service stakeholders, and reference to BC-specific data, to ensure multi-family residential buildings maintain the highest standards of egress and fire safety.
