Notes and excerpts from the Building Code Commission Laneway house Decision in draft

The full document is here

One of the issues is the definition of the term "unacceptable risk" -- which doesn't seem to be listed in the definitions section of the Act.

Excerpts:

p.3: Provisions of the Building Code in Dispute

9.10.20.3 Fire Department Access to Buildings (1) Access for fire department equipment shall be provided to each building by means of a street, private roadway or yard.

The laneways are full of garages. Are garages buildings? If not, why not? If yes, that means they are all accessible from the front door and out the back door of the house that fronts the street.

P.7 (reasons from the commissioners)

Objective OS1.5 states, "An an objective of the Code is to limit the probability that, as a result of the design or construction of the building, a person in or adjacent to a building will be exposed to an unacceptable risk of injury due to fire caused by persons being delayed in or impeded from moving to a safe place during a fire emergency."

The commission received evidence that a safe passage from the building during a fire emergency is provided by a 1 m side yard. Further, in accordance with the above-mentioned conditions, a person in or adjacent to the bu7iidng will be protected by exterior walls having a fire-resistant rating of 45 minutes and non-combustible cladding. Therefore, it is the Commission's opinion that a sufficiency of compliance with the objective OS1.5 is achieved.

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