Calgary firefighters push back against single-stair apartment trend
Calgary’s firefighters are sounding the alarm over a growing housing design trend — apartment buildings built with only one exit stairwell — warning it could endanger lives if adopted locally.
Under Canada’s national building code, residential buildings taller than two storeys must include two stairwells. However, that rule is being relaxed in parts of the country.
In 2023, the B.C. government amended its code to allow up to six-storey buildings with just one stairwell. Earlier this year, Edmonton also began approving such designs through alternative fire-safety solutions — and two permits have already been granted.
Now, Jamie Blayney, president of the Calgary Firefighters Association, fears Calgary could follow suit.
“We don’t want to see even one of those buildings get built inside the city,” Blayney said, stressing that firefighters and residents could be forced to share the same stairwell during emergencies.
Blayney’s stance mirrors growing opposition from firefighter unions across North America, including in Vancouver and Los Angeles, where similar proposals are under review.
Architects argue for innovation and affordability
Supporters, however, say single-stair — or point access block — designs can help address the housing crisis by reducing construction costs and allowing more creative layouts.
Stephen Barnecut, principal at Gravity Architecture, believes the approach could bring better air circulation, natural light, and more flexible use of small urban plots.
“The single stair allows even a 50-foot-wide site to be built as an apartment building,” Barnecut explained, noting that such designs are widely used across Europe, where non-combustible materials and designated refuge areas ensure safety.
Barnecut’s firm recently collaborated with University of Calgary architecture students to design single-stair housing, earning recognition in a Denver-based competition.
City of Calgary open to reviewing proposals
The City of Calgary confirmed that no single-stair projects have yet been submitted but said it’s open to reviewing proposals if they meet safety standards through alternative design solutions.
“In cases where emergency response may be impacted, such as with single egress designs, the Calgary Fire Department would be a key partner in review,” said Ulrik Seward, the city’s chief building official.
Firefighters maintain safety concerns
Despite potential design and affordability benefits, Blayney insists no alternative can match the safety of two exit stairwells.
He plans to keep pressing city councillors to block the trend before it reaches Calgary’s skyline.
“As fires spread faster than ever, we can’t risk putting residents and firefighters in the same escape path,” Blayney warned.
As Calgary grapples with the need for more affordable housing, the debate is now heating up between safety and innovation — a balancing act that could shape the city’s future architecture.
