2018 British Columbia Building Code

Review of Proposed Changes

Provision
Dormitories To each type of facility, 1 of
every 40 bed spaces, and at
least one bath or shower
Hotels and Motels To every type of public
facility (including those
outside the building), to all
storeys to which the public
is admitted, to one of every
40 sleeping rooms and
washrooms
Business and Personal To at least one washroom
Service Occupancies available to all suites (or one
in each suite), to all areas
intended for the public in
offices, dental offices,
medical offices, fire stations,
police stations without
detention quarters, radio
stations, telephone
exchanges and small tool
and appliance rental and
service premises
Banks To every type of public
facility, teller locations, to
automated banking
machines, to night deposit
boxes and similar services
Barbers and Hairdressers To at least one hairdressing
sink.
Laundry and Dry-cleaning, To each type of equipment
Self-service for public use
Mercantile Occupancies To washrooms (where there
are multiple suites), and to
all public areas and facilities
2012 BCBC 2018 BCBC Additional Comments
Reference Reference
Article 3.8.2.30. Article 3.8.2.3., Note See Sentences 3.8.2.8.(10) and (11) for showers and baths.
A-3.8.2.3. Requirement for a visual warning system is located in
3.8.2.12.(3)(a). A bathroom serving a bed space is regulated by
Article 3.8.3.22. Bed space requirements are located in Sentence
3.8.2.12.(2).
Article 3.8.2.31. Article 3.8.2.3., Note Requirement for a visual warning system is located in
A-3.8.2.3., Article 3.8.2.12.(3)(b). Bed space requirements are located in Sentence
3.8.2.8., Article 3.8.2.12.(2).
3.8.2.12.
Sentence 3.8.2.32.(1) Article 3.8.2.3., Note See Clauses 3.8.2.8.(2)(d) and 3.8.2.8.(3)(a) for required
A-3.8.2.3., Article washrooms.
3.8.2.8.
Sentence 3.8.2.33.(1) Article 3.8.2.3., Note Examples of ABMs and night deposit boxes added to Appendix
A-3.8.2.3. note A-3.8.2.3.
Sentence 3.8.2.34.(1) Article 3.8.2.3., Note Example of hairdressing sink added to Appendix note A-3.8.2.3.
A-3.8.2.3.
Sentence 3.8.2.35.(1) Article 3.8.2.3., Note Special mention of ‘equipment’ added to Appendix note A-
A-3.8.2.3. 3.8.2.3.
Sentence 3.8.2.36.(1) Article 3.8.2.3., Note See Clauses 3.8.2.8.(2)(d) and 3.8.2.8.(3)(a) for required
A-3.8.2.3., Article washrooms.
3.8.2.8.

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2018 British Columbia Building Code
Review of Proposed Changes
Provision
High Hazard Occupancies Need not conform
Industrial Occupancies, To all public areas except for
Service Stations and Parking service stations; access only
Garages to washrooms, and in
garages; access only to
storeys containing
accessible parking
Public Toilets To public toilets in highway
rest areas, campgrounds,
picnic grounds, recreational
vehicle parks, and mobile
home parks; access from the
roadway to an accessible
toilet (water closet), and to
baths/showers (where
provided)
Design Requirements
Application
Paths of Travel
Ramps
Passenger-Loading Areas
Parking Stalls for Persons with Disabilities
Main Entrances
2012 BCBC 2018 BCBC Additional Comments
Reference Reference
Sentence 3.8.2.37.(1) Clause 3.8.2.1.(1)(c)
and Clause
3.8.2.1.(2)(f)
Sentence 3.8.2.38.(1) Article 3.8.2.3., Note
A-3.8.2.3., Article
3.8.2.8.
Sentence 3.8.2.39.(1) Article 3.8.2.3., Note See exemption in 3.8.2.1.(1)(e). See Sentences 3.8.2.8.(10) and
A-3.8.2.3., Article (11) for showers and baths.
3.8.2.5., Article
3.8.2.8.
Article 3.8.3.1. Subsection 3.8.2. Application is as defined for the entire Section 3.8. See also
3.8.1.1.(2). Specific application to exterior walks is now explicitly
covered in Article 3.8.3.3. New option to comply with CSA B651
“Accessible Design for the Built Environment” is located in this
retitled article for “Design Standards”
Article 3.8.3.2. Article 3.8.3.2.
Article 3.8.3.3. Article 3.8.3.5.
N/A Article 3.8.3.4. New requirements, where passenger-loading areas are provided
(they are not required)
Article 3.8.3.4. N/A Requirements for parking stalls are typically regulated by the
authority having jurisdiction and are deleted to align with the
National Building Code.
Article 3.8.3.5. Articles 3.8.2.2., Move from concept of ‘main entrance’ to existing convention of
3.8.3.2., and 3.8.3.6. ‘principal’ entrance. General requirements for accessible doors in
an accessible path of travel apply to 50% of entrances, but
otherwise there are no specific design requirements for main
entrance doors.
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