BCAB #1344 - Determination of Building Perimeter, Article 3.2.2.6.

April 18, 1994

BCAB #1344

Re: Determination of Building Perimeter, Article 3.2.2.6.

Project Description

The project in question is a large apartment complex divided into two buildings by a 2 hour firewall.

Reason for Appeal

Article 3.2.2.6. requires every building to face a street and relates the number of streets a building is considered to face to the percentage of the building's perimeter that is within 15 metres of a street or access route.

Appellant's Position

The appellant contends that the firewall does not constitute part of the building's perimeter because it is an interior wall. Article 3.2.2.6. and Subsection 3.2.5. are concerned with fire fighter access to and into the building from the exterior which would be through outside walls. As access to the interior of the building is not possible through an interior firewall the appellant has not included the length of the firewall in the building perimeter

Building Official's Position

The building official maintains that the firewall is part of the building perimeter "which is the outer limits of the building as defined by the code".

Appeal Board Decision #1344

It is the determination of the Board that for the purposes of Article 3.2.2.6. the building perimeter must include the interior firewall. However, only those portions of the building's perimeter that are accessible to firefighters from the exterior can be used in calculating what percentage of that perimeter is within 15 metres of a street.

George R. Humphrey, Chair