3.3.4.4.Egress from Dwelling Units

(1) Except as required by Sentence (8), single storey dwelling units in an apartment building need not lead to a public corridor or exterior passageway on the same storey provided the dwelling units are served by private stairways leading directly to a public access to exit on the storey (a) immediately above, and (b) immediately below. (See Note A-3.3.4.4.(1)) (2) Except as required by Sentence (8) and as permitted by Sentences (3) and (4), a dwelling unit containing more than one storey shall have an exit door or an egress door opening directly into a public access to exit from the uppermost storey and from the lowest storey of the dwelling unit so that each of these storeys is served by an exit or egress door located not more than 1.5 m above or below its floor level. (3) A single exit is permitted from a dwelling unit provided the exit is an exterior doorway not more than 1.5 m above adjacent ground level and (a) it is not necessary to travel up or down more than one storey to reach the exit door, or (b) the uppermost floor level opens to a balcony not more than 6 m above adjacent ground level. (4) An egress door from either the uppermost storey or the lowest storey in a dwelling unit, as required by Sentence (2), need not be provided (a) except as required by Sentence (8), if that storey is served by a stairway that (i) leads to a public access to exit, (ii) has no direct access to any other storey in the dwelling unit, and (iii) is separated from the other storeys in the dwelling unit by a fire separation having a fire-resistance rating of not less than 45 min, (b) on the uppermost storey in the dwelling unit if the dwelling unit has not more than 2 storeys above the first storey of the building, (c) if it is not necessary to travel either more than 18 m or more than 1 storey up or down within the dwelling unit to reach the egress door, or (d) if that storey is (i) provided with a balcony conforming to Sentence (7), (ii) not more than 2 storeys above or below the dwelling unit egress door, and (iii) in a building that is not more than 6 storeys in building height. (5) In a building of residential occupancy not more than 3 storeys in building height, a doorway from a dwelling unit is permitted to open directly into an exit stairway provided the dwelling unit has a second and separate means of egress. (6) If a dwelling unit has a second and separate means of egress, one means of egress from a dwelling unit is permitted to pass through (a) an interior corridor served by a single exit, (b) an exterior balcony served by a single exit stairway, or (c) an exterior passageway served by a single exit stairway. (7) Where a balcony is provided to meet the requirements of Sentence (3) or (4), the balcony shall have (a) a solid floor having a fire-resistance rating not less than that required for a floor assembly between suites, and (b) an area providing not less than 1.5 m2 per suite occupant, based on occupant load, and a minimum dimension of 1 200 mm. (8) Each dwelling unit in a building conforming to Subclause 3.2.2.50.(1)(a)(ii) shall be served by (a) a direct exit that is an exterior doorway located not more than 1.5 m above adjacent ground level, or (b) a stairway that (i) leads to an exterior doorway not more than 1.5 m above adjacent ground level, (ii) has no access to another dwelling unit, and (iii) is separated from the remainder of the building with a fire separation having a fire-resistance rating not less than 1 h.