Your Secondary Suite’s Exterior Stair May Be A Problem!
Alright, before I get too far into this, I should stress that “I like the exterior stair.” However, due to the new rules from the City of Calgary, and (better yet) all of Alberta, the exterior stair is a “so-so” idea.
What Is An Exterior Stair Exactly?
The exterior stair is a stairwell that leads directly into your basement. Thus, it creates a separate entrance or exit from the suite. The exterior stair is usually made up of concrete to retain the soil in your back or side yard and goes as deep as your house footings.
Where Do I Need To Place This Stair? Does It Need To Be In A Specific Area?
In short, no. The stairwell into the basement doesn’t necessarily need to be on a certain side to the house. It can be on the side or rear. Depending on the design of your home, the stair could be within the front yard of your house, like a brownstone in New York. But, that will depend on your development permit.
OK, So What Is The Problem With An Exterior Stair?
In case of fire, how is someone getting out safely? Secondary Suites are a fire compartment that is separate from the remainder of the house. Therefore, the two living areas are treated as two fire compartments. Here is where things get tricky. Since those stairs are a means to escape, they cannot be obstructed by fire. Therefore, if a room above that stair catches fire, then the window directly above the stair may explode, leaving the tenant below screwed.
So What Do I Do?
Create a separation. The basic and most cost-effective separation is a form of roof that covers the entire length of the stair. That way, you are provided coverage when escaping from the suite. The roof can be a typical simple roof, or you can extend the deck or porch over the secondary suite entrance.
Another option is to change the stair direction. Instead of the stairs running along the edge of the building, have the stair run into the yard. Yes, you will lose yard space, but it is cheaper than the last option.
The last resort is changing the windows above the stair and entrance. (Urgh, it is that painful.) Because the new windows need to be of glass block or wired glass. Glass block is cheaper and dated, and wired glass is very expensive. Both require to be steel-framed. So the larger your window, the deeper into your pocket you need to go to do it right.
That Sucks! Is There More?
Yes. Your upper floor windows could be a possible obstruction. The upper-floor windows are to be a minimum of five meters from the ground. Therefore, from the bottom of your window to the ground, you need to be more than five meters, or else, they would need to change as well.
Luckily, it is common to find upper-floor windows make that clearance, or they are above a roof, or they are not on the same wall plane as the lower windows. So, it saves us from treating those windows as well. But check with your safety codes officer and designer.
A Last Alternative?
If you can, keep the stairs on the inside of your house. But if you like the stairs being on the outside, try to keep this blog in mind. It is a good idea to talk about what you want to do for your secondary suite, with a safety codes officer from the city of Calgary so that they can give you some solid direction. Make sure to be clear and thorough when explaining your plans. Additionally, bring lots of photos and put everything you want to do on the table. Lastly, hire a designer, technician, or an architect if you cannot draft your plans or have a clear understanding of the National Building Code, Alberta Edition.
That’s all for this week!
Cheers