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The issue with regard to single stair buildings are for things taller than 3 stories. IIRC in America 3 stories is the most common limit by far, and in Canada i
by alexb_ 3y ago
The issue with regard to single stair buildings are for things taller than 3 stories. IIRC in America 3 stories is the most common limit by far, and in Canada it's even worse with most regulations having 2 stories as the limit for a single stair complex.
- pomian 3y agoWe need two exits in Canada. Because a snow drift can easily block one exit. That's why there are exits on each side of a structure, not two, on the same side.
- ghaff 3y agoThere was a so-so movie based on this one exit theme once. Forget where it was set.
- alexb_ 3y agoTwo exits do not require two stairwells - in any case, this is a very weak argument for denying people the ability to buy housing. Especially in Canada, where there is an absurdly large housing crisis due to an extremely small supply.
- ghaff 3y agoBoston and immediate environs is still pretty expensive but, at least historically, these sort of multi-unit houses tended to be in less expensive neighborhoods (many of which are now pretty expensive).
- bluGill 3y agoIt is generally understood that at 4 floors you need an elevator which is expensive. This is partially the ADA (which doesn't say this from what I can tell, but is generally understood to suggest it), and partially 4 floor is enough stairs few people would agree to walk up them.
- mjmahone17 3y agoWhich ties into a second problem: the US especially requires elevators to be too large, which limits how many are built because they take up so much square footage, which drives up the cost to install. In Spain and France you’ll find single staircase, 4 story buildings that have one meter-by-meter sized elevator. Often even as retrofits in older buildings! In NY you’ll find these too, but they’re only in pre-war (1930s and older) buildings. It would make many apartments much more accessible and desirable to live in if we could drive down the cost of elevator installations for smaller buildings.
- tylermw 3y agoThe word you’re looking for is “cheaper,” not “accessible.” Those 1x1m elevators certainly aren’t accessible for wheelchair users. ADA requirements require the following minimum dimensions for an elevator: “The width of the elevator car is a minimum of 80 inches (2030 mm). The depth of the elevator car measured from the back wall to the elevator door is a minimum of 54 inches (1370 mm). The depth of the elevator car measured from the back wall to the control panel is a minimum of 51 inches (1291 mm).”
- mjmahone17 3y agoMore accessible. People with walkers can access the apartment, as can people in smaller wheelchairs, if there is a small elevator. In NYC plenty of older people live in pre-war buildings with tiny elevators. Few live in third floor walk up apartments. My point is exactly that the ADA, in this case, lets the perfect (fully accessible elevator) result in worse outcomes (brand new apartments in 3-5 story buildings require walking up stairs). This is especially harmful in cities where many homes are on small, 12-20 ft wide lots. As an example I know people who had to move out of their home when they tore their ACL, whereas with a small elevator they would not need to. To be clear I think we need many many more ADA-accessible apartments, but wherever you are allowed to not have an elevator at all, you should also be allowed to have a small 1-2 person elevator in addition to the stairs.