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Burnaby Mayor Pushing Province To Repeal Single Egress Stairway Change

Burnaby Mayor Pushing Province To Repeal Single Egress Stairway Change

Last week, Burnaby’s city council approved a motion by Mayor Mike Hurley asking the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) to urge the provincial government to reverse a recent change in the BC Building Code. The revision, introduced last summer, now allows buildings up to six storeys tall to be built with just a single stairway for exiting, instead of the previous requirement of two or more.

Mayor Hurley, who spent many years in the Burnaby Fire Department in roles from firefighter to acting assistant chief, has strong firsthand knowledge of fire safety risks. He and others argue that having only one stairwell could put residents and first responders in danger during emergencies like fires, where smoke or flames might cut off the only exit.

Supporters of the update say single-stair buildings are more flexible and efficient. Removing a second stairwell can free up space for more units or larger layouts, potentially making housing more affordable and designs more appealing. Some cities have noted that this could give developers room to improve living spaces, daylighting, and ventilation, and make better use of land.

But public safety officials are sounding the alarm. Firefighters and chiefs from across BC have raised serious concerns about the new rule. They worry that emergencies in single-stair buildings could lead to dangerous congestion or trap people, including first responders, in worsening conditions.

Hurley’s motion doesn’t just ask for a rollback. It calls on the province to immediately pause the single-egress rule and conduct a full review with input from UBCM, firefighters, police, and other experts. The review would examine public and responder safety, risks from rising dangers like lithium-ion battery fires, smoke inhalation fatalities, evacuation challenges for people with disabilities, and how well safety systems are maintained over time.

Burnaby’s push adds to growing local resistance. Surrey, Richmond, and Vancouver have also pushed back, citing the same safety concerns and questioning whether the benefits are worth the risks. With Mayor Hurley leading one of BC’s largest cities, his call could influence other municipalities and perhaps even shape how the province approaches this building-code change in the end.