Secondary Suites Changes between the 2006 ABC and the 2014 ABC Requirements Alberta Building Code 2006 Alberta Building Code 2014 Change 9.37.2. Construction 9.37.2.1. Height of Rooms and Spaces 1) The height of rooms or spaces in a secondary suite over the required minimum area in accordance with Table 9.5.3.1. shall be not less than 1.95 m. 9.5.3.1. Ceiling Heights of Rooms or Spaces 1) Except as provided in Sentences (2) and (3), the ceiling heights and clear heights in rooms or spaces in residential occupancies shall conform to Table 9.5.3.1. 2) Ceiling heights in secondary suites shall be not less than 1.95 m. 3) Clear heights under beams and ducting in secondary suites shall be not less than 1.85 m. 4) Areas in rooms or spaces over which ceiling height and clear height are not less than the minimum specified in Table 9.5.3.1. or Sentence (2) or (3) shall be contiguous with the entry or entries to those rooms or spaces. Reduction of ceiling height from 1.95m to 1.85m under beams and ductwork. 9.37.2.2. Door Heights 1) Except where the height of rooms or spaces in a secondary suite is less than the minimum height listed in Table 9.6.3.1., doors within dwelling units shall conform to subsection 9.6.3. 9.37.2.3. Bedroom Windows 1) Except as permitted in Sentence 9.7.1.2.(1), each bedroom within a secondary suite shall have at least one outside window that meets the requirements of Articles 9.7.1.2. and 9.7.1.3. 9.5.5.1. Doorway Opening Sizes 1) Except as provided in Sentence (2) and Articles 9.5.5.3., 9.9.6.2. and 9.9.6.3., doorway openings within dwelling units and within houses with a secondary suite including their common spaces shall be designed to accommodate at least the door sizes given in Table 9.5.5.1. for swing-type and folding doors.in 9.5.5.2. Division B 2) Doorway openings within secondary suites shall be designed to accommodate swing-type and folding doors not less than 1 890 mm high where the ceiling height complies with Sentence 9.5.3.1.(2). 9.9.10. Egress From Bedrooms 9.9.10.1. Egress Windows or Doors for Bedrooms 1) Except where the suite is sprinklered, each bedroom or combination bedroom shall have at least one outside window or exterior door openable from the inside without the use of keys, tools or special knowledge and without the removal of sashes or hardware. (See Article 9.5.1.2. and Appendix A.) Reduction of door height from 1980 to 1890 when door is located under a beam or ductwork. 9.37.2.5. Landings 1) Landings for stairs shall be at least as wide as the stairs and not less than 900 mm in length. 9.8.6.3. Dimensions of Landings (See Articles 9.9.6.1. and 9.9.6.6. regarding landings in exits.) 1) Except as provided in Sentences (2) to (6), the width and length of landings shall comply with Table 9.8.6.3. (See Appendix A.) 2) Widths and lengths of landings serving a house with a secondary suite including their common spaces shall comply with the requirements in Table 9.8.6.3. that apply to dwelling units. Reduced from 900 to 860 in length. 1
9.37.2.6. Handrails and Guards 1) Handrails and guards shall conform to the requirements of Subsections 9.8.7. and 9.8.8 9.8.7. Handrails 9.8.8. Guards 9.37.2.7. Public and Exit Corridor Width 1) The clear width of every public corridor and exit corridor shall be not less than 860 mm. 9.5.4. Hallways 9.5.4.1. Hallway Width 1) The unobstructed width of a hallway within a dwelling unit shall be not less than 860 mm, except that the hallway width is permitted to be 710 mm where a) there are only bedrooms and bathrooms at the end of the hallway furthest from the living area, and b) a second exit is provided i) in the hallway near the end farthest from the living area, or ii) in each bedroom served by the hallway. 2) The unobstructed width of a hallway within a common space of a house with a secondary suite shall be not less than 860 mm. 9.37.2.8. Unenclosed Exterior Stair or Ramp 1) Where an unenclosed exterior exit stair or ramp provides the only means of egress from a secondary suite and is exposed to the hazards of fire from unprotected openings in the exterior wall of the primary dwelling unit, the openings shall be protected in conformance with Articles 9.10.13.5. and 9.10.13.7. 9.9.4.4. Openings Near Unenclosed Exterior Exit Stairs and Ramps 1) Unprotected openings in exterior walls of the building shall be protected with wired glass in fixed steel frames or glass block conforming to Articles 9.10.13.5. and 9.10.13.7., where a) an unenclosed exterior exit stair or ramp provides the only means of egress from a suite and is exposed to fire from unprotected openings in the exterior walls of i) another fire compartment, or ii) another dwelling unit, ancillary space or common space in a house with a secondary suite, and b) unprotected openings in the exterior walls of the building are within 3 m horizontally and less than 10 m below or less than 5 m above the exit stair No change 9.37.2.9. Exit Doors 1) Every exit door or door that provides access to exit from a secondary suite shall be a) not less than 1 980 mm high, b) not less than 810 mm wide, and c) permitted to swing inward. 9.5.5.1. Doorway Opening Sizes 1) Except as provided in Sentence (2) and Articles 9.5.5.3., 9.9.6.2. and 9.9.6.3., doorway openings within dwelling units and within houses with a secondary suite including their common spaces shall be designed to accommodate at least the door sizes given in Table 9.5.5.1. for swing-type and folding doors. 9.5.5.2. Division B 2) Doorway openings within secondary suites shall be designed to accommodate swing-type and folding doors not less than 1 890 mm high where the ceiling height complies with Sentence 9.5.3.1.(2). 2
9.37.2.10. Travel Limit 1) The travel limit from a floor level in a dwelling unit to an exit or egress door may exceed 1 storey where that floor level is served by an openable window conforming to Sentence 9.9.9.1.(2). 9.9.9.1. Travel Limit to Exits or Egress Doors 4) The travel limit from a floor level in a house with a secondary suite to an exit or egress door may exceed 1 storey where that floor level is served by an openable window conforming to Sentence (2) 9.37.2.11. Means of Egress 1) Except as permitted in Sentence (2), each dwelling unit shall be provided with at least one exit that leads directly to the outside. 2) Dwelling units may share a common exit meeting the requirements of Article 9.37.2.13 9.9.9.2. Two Separate Exits 1) Except as provided in Sentence 9.9.7.3.(1) and except for dwelling units in a house with a secondary suite, where an egress door from a dwelling unit opens onto a public corridor or exterior passageway it shall be possible from the location where the egress door opens onto the corridor or exterior passageway to go in opposite directions to 2 separate exits unless the dwelling unit has a second and separate means of egress 9.37.2.12. Shared Egress Facilities 1) A dwelling unit need not be provided with a second and separate means of egress referred to in Article 9.9.9.3. where the dwelling unit is provided with not less than one exit as required by Article 9.37.2.11. 9.9.9.3. Shared Egress Facilities 1) Except for dwelling units in a house with a secondary suite, a dwelling unit shall be provided with a second and separate means of egress where an egress door from the dwelling unit opens onto a) an exit stairway serving more than one suite, b) a public corridor i) serving more than one suite, and ii) served by a single exit, c) an exterior passageway i) serving more than one suite, ii) served by a single exit stairway or ramp, and iii) more than 1.5 m above adjacent ground level, or d) a balcony i) serving more than one suite, ii) served by a single exit stairway or ramp, and iii) more than 1.5 m above adjacent ground level. 2) Where a dwelling unit is located above another dwelling unit or common space in a house with a secondary suite, the upper dwelling unit shall be provided with a second and separate means of egress where an egress door from that dwelling unit opens onto an exterior passageway that a) has a floor assembly with a fire-resistance rating less than 45 min, b) is served by a single exit stairway or ramp, and c) is located more than 1.5 m above adjacent ground level. Sentence 2 is new 3
9.37.2.13. Protection of Exits 1) Every exit, other than an exit doorway, shall be separated from adjacent floor areas by not less than one layer of 12.7 mm thick gypsum wallboard or equivalent material on each side of the walls. (See Appendix A.) 9.9.4.2. Fire Separations for Exits 2) Where an exit is located in a house with a secondary suite including their common spaces, the exit shall be protected by a continuous smoke-tight barrier of not less than 12.7 mm thick gypsum board installed on a) both sides of walls separating the exit from the remainder of the building, b) the underside of floor-ceiling framing separating the exit from the remainder of the building. Clarifies that the barrier between the dwelling units has to be smoke tight and that drywall has to be used. The word equivalent has been deleted. 37.2.14. Exit Signs 1) Exit signs referred to in Subsection 9.9.10. are not required within a building that contains a secondary suite. 9.9.11. Signs 9.9.11.1. Application 1) This Subsection applies to all exits except those serving not more than one dwelling unit or a house with a secondary suite. 9.37.2.15. Emergency Lighting 1) Emergency lighting referred to in Subsection 9.9.11. is not required within a building that contains a secondary suite. 9.9.12. Lighting 9.9.12.1. Application 1) This Subsection applies to the lighting of all means of egress except those within dwelling units or a house with a secondary suite. 9.37.2.16. Dwelling Unit Separations 1) Dwelling units shall be separated from each other by not less than one layer of 12.7 mm thick gypsum wallboard or equivalent material on the ceiling and on each side of the walls. (See A-9.37.2.13.(1) in Appendix A.) 2) Table 9.10.8.1. does not apply to a dwelling unit within a building that contains a secondary suite. 9.10.9.14. Separation of Residential Suites 4) Walls and floor-ceiling framing in a house with a secondary suite that separate dwelling units from each other or dwelling units from ancillary spaces and common spaces need not comply with Sentence (1), where the walls and floor-ceiling framing are protected by a continuous smoke-tight barrier of not less than 12.7 mm thick gypsum board installed on a) both sides of walls, and b) the underside of floor-ceiling framing. (See Sentence 9.10.9.3.(2) for closures.) Clarification that the barrier is to be smoketight. 9.37.2.17. Protection of Public Corridors 1) A public corridor shall be separated from the remainder of the building by not less than one layer of 12.7 mm thick gypsum wallboard or equivalent material on each side of the walls. (See A- 9.37.2.13.(1) in Appendix A.) 9.10.9.15. Separation of Public Corridors 4) Where a public corridor is located in a house with a secondary suite, a continuous smoke-tight barrier of not less than 12.7 mm thick gypsum board shall be installed on a) both sides of walls separating the corridor from the remainder of the building, and b) the underside of floor-ceiling framing separating the corridor from the remainder of the building. (See Sentence 9.10.9.3.(2) for closures.) Clarification that the barrier is to be smoketight. 4
9.37.2.19. Heating and Ventilation Systems 1) Each dwelling unit shall have an independent heating and ventilation system complying with Sections 9.32. and 9.33. (See Appendix A.) 9.32.1.2. Required Ventilation 1) Every residential occupancy shall incorporate a) provisions for non-heating-season ventilation in accordance with Subsection 9.32.2., and b) except as required by Sentences (2) and (3), if supplied with electrical power and a heating system, provisions for heating-season ventilation in accordance with Part 6. 2) A self-contained heating-season ventilation system serving a single dwelling unit shall comply with Subsection 9.32.3. (See Appendix A.) 3) In houses that contain a secondary suite, heating-season ventilation need not be provided for a) exits, b) public corridors, and c) ancillary spaces that are not within a dwelling unit, except as provided in Sentence (4). (See A-9.32.1.2.(2) in Appendix A.) 4) Where ancillary spaces described in Clause (3)(c) contain exhaust devices, these spaces shall be provided with make-up air in accordance with Article 9.32.3.8. Clarification of heating and ventilation requirements. 9.37.2.21. Solid Blocking 1) Solid blocking may be omitted for doors described in Sentence 9.6.8.9.(1), where the interior wall finish adjacent to the door is in place prior to the construction of the secondary suite. 9.7.5.2. Resistance to Forced Entry for Doors 9) Solid blocking shall be provided on both sides at the lock height between the jambs for doors described in Sentence (1) and the structural framing so that the jambs will resist spreading by force. 10) Solid blocking may be omitted for doors described in Sentence (9), where the interior wall finish adjacent to the door is in place prior to the construction of a secondary suite. No changes. 9.37.2.22. Sound Control 1) Section 9.11. does not apply to a building that contains a secondary suite. 9.11.2.1. Minimum Sound Transmission Class Ratings 2) This Section does not apply to the construction separating dwelling units within a house with a secondary suite. 3) Where a dwelling unit is adjacent to an elevator shaft or a refuse chute, the separating construction shall have a sound transmission class rating of at least 55, measured in accordance with Subsection 9.11.1. or as listed in A-9.10.3.1. in Appendix A. No changes. 9.37.2.23. Garages and Carports 1) Section 9.35. applies to garages and carports serving a building that contains a secondary suite. 2) The requirements regarding fire resistance rating, type of construction and type of cladding shall not apply to the exposing building face of a building that contains a secondary suite facing a 9.35.1.1. Application 1) This Section applies to garages and carports serving not more than one dwelling unit or a house with a secondary suite 5) Except as provided in Sentence (6), combustible projections on the exterior of a wall that are more than 1 m above ground level and that could expose an adjacent building to fire spread shall not be permitted within Clarification that the article applies to one dwelling unit or a house with a secondary suite. 5
detached garage or accessory building, where a) the detached garage or accessory building is located on the same property as that building, and b) the building served by the detached garage or accessory building is the only other building on the property a) 1.2 m of a property line or the centre line of a public way, or b) 2.4 m of a combustible projection on another building on the same property. 6) Except as provided in Sentences (8) to (10), Sentence (5) shall not apply to a) buildings containing 1 or 2 dwelling units only, and b) detached garages or accessory buildings, where i) the detached garage or accessory building serves only one dwelling unit or a primary dwelling unit with a secondary suite, ii) the detached garage or accessory building is located on the same property as that dwelling unit, and iii) the dwelling unit served by the detached garage or accessory building is the only major occupancy on the property. (See A-9.10.14.5.(7) in Appendix A.) 6