BCAB #1884

March 17, 2022

Re: Reduction of required doorway width and obstruction of access to the doorway

Project description

The subject is a proposed water- closet room to be constructed in a dwelling unit. The dimensions of the water-closet room space are 0.76 m x 1.34 m, (1.02 m²), with a ceiling height of 2.1 m for the entire area. The water-closet room doorway is closed by a sliding door (barn door) outside the room. Shown in the sketch below, the front edge of the water-closet projects past the doorway opening.

Applicable Code requirements:

Sentence 9.5.5.1.(1) and excerpts from Table 9.5.5.1. of Division B of the British Columbia Building Code 2018.

9.5.5.1.(1) Except as provided in 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.

Table 9.5.5.1.
Size of Doors
Forming Part of Sentence 9.5.5.1.(1)

At Entrance to:	Minimum Width, mm	Minimum Height, mm
Bathroom, water-closet room, shower room(1)	610	1 980
Rooms located off hallways that are permitted to be 710 mm wide	610	1 980
Rooms not mentioned above, exterior balconies	760	1 980

Notes to Table 9.5.5.1.:

(1) See Article 9.5.5.3.

Decision being appealed (local authority’s position)

The local authority has determined there are two non-compliant matters:

• The doorway is obstructed by the sliding door not opening to allow the required width of the doorway.
• The water-closet is obstructing the access to and from the room or space.

Appellant's position

The appellant does not consider the protrusion of the water-closet impairs the entry, use, maintenance or cleaning and exiting from the area. The appellant is unaware of any Building Code requirements that support the local authority’s determinations of non-compliance.

Appeal Board decision

It is the determination of the Board that the sliding (barn) door shall not reduce the opening width more than what would be reduced by a swing or folding door.

It is the determination of the Board that the location of the water-closet is not in contravention of the Code.

Reason for decision

The Board considers that the Code does not contain any restrictions in the reduction of this doorway opening but rather Sentence 9.5.5.1.(1). assumes a reduction that would result from the installation of a swing or folding door. (See BCAB # 1883 for further information.)

The Board considers that Sentence 9.9.5.1.(1). does not contain restrictions in the access to a doorway within a dwelling unit. Other than for adaptable dwelling units, the code does not prescribe clearances at bathroom doorways.

Lyle Kuhnert

Chair, Building Code Appeal Board