# Building code change request

By [Brandon Donnelly](https://paragraph.com/@brandondonnelly), 2024-07-09

architecture, building-code, building-code-change-request, conrad-speckert, construction, david-hine, development, illegal-floor-plans, lga-architectural-partners, national-building-code, point-access-blocks, single-egress, single-stair-building

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Point access blocks (or single-stair buildings) are now an important part of today's discussions around housing supply in Canada. They are seen as a way to encourage more and different types of housing -- something we have been talking about on this blog for years. [Here](https://brandondonnelly.com/2023/01/07/single-exit-housing-in-paris/) and [here](https://brandondonnelly.com/2023/06/19/the-case-for-point-access-blocks/) are two recent posts.

This week, I discovered the work of Conrad Speckert, who works at [LGA Architectural Partners](https://lga-ap.com) and has become a leading voice for this movement. Conrad completed his M.Arch at McGill University and, as part of his thesis project, he developed [this website called Second Egress](https://secondegress.ca).

Since then it has grown to become a major resource for point access blocks. But most importantly, it has evolved into a catalyst for change. On April 18, 2022, he and David Hine (of David Hine Engineering) submitted [this code change request](https://secondegress.ca/Code-Change-Request) to the Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes.

The ask: Allow a single means of egress for multi-unit residential buildings up to 6 storeys. (The current maximum is 2 storeys.) Well done, Conrad and David. This is a massively important request with far-reaching benefits, and so I would encourage all of you to check out his website and spread the word.

P.S. My second favorite part of his site is a section called [_Manual of Illegal Floor Plans_](https://secondegress.ca/Manual-of-Illegal-Floor-Plans). It's a catalog of highly livable single-stair buildings from around the world; all of which would be currently illegal to build in Canada.

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*Originally published on [Brandon Donnelly](https://paragraph.com/@brandondonnelly/building-code-change-request)*