SS · Minimum Housing and Health Standards
III. Housing Premises
3 Safe and Secure
Exterior windows and doors shall be capable of being secured.
(b) Emergency Egress
(i) For buildings of 3 storeys or less and except where a bedroom door
provides access directly to the exterior or the suite is sprinklered,
each bedroomshall have at least one outside window which may
be opened from the inside without the use of tools or special
knowledge.
(ii) Windows referred to in section 3(b)(i)
shall provide unobstructed
openings with areas not less than 0.35 m2 (3.8ft2), with no
dimension less than 380 mm (15").
(iii) If the window referred in section 3(b)(i) is provided with security
bars, the security bars shall be installed so they may be opened
from the inside without the use of any tools or special knowledge.
(iv) Notwithstanding section 3(b)(i), (ii) and (iii), alternate
provisions for emergency egress may be approved by an
executive officer where, after consultation with a safety codes
officer, the executive officer is satisfied that the alternate
provisions provide for means of emergency egress.
(c) Handrails
(i) Inside or outside stairs or porches including all treads, risers,
supporting structural members, handrails, guards and balconies,
shall be maintained in good repair and shall comply with the
requirements of the Alberta Building Code or a Professional
Engineer design.
(ii) Notwithstanding section 3(c)(i), alternate provisions respecting
handrails may be approved by an executive officer where, after
consultation with a safety codes officer, the executive officer is
satisfied that the alternate provisions provide for a reasonable
degree of safety.