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The British Columbia Building Code | Section 9.5. | Design of Areas and Spaces Pt 2

Division B: Acceptable Solutions Part 9 – Housing and Small Buildings
British Columbia Building Code 2018 Revision 2.01 Division B
Section 9.5. Design of Areas and Spaces
9.5.1. General
9.5.1.1. Method of Measurement
1) Unless otherwise indicated herein, dimensions of rooms or spaces shall be measured between finished wall
surfaces and between finished floor and ceiling surfaces.
9.5.1.2. Combination Rooms
(SeeNoteA-9.5.1.2.)
1) Two or more areas may be considered as a combination room if the opening between the areas occupies the
larger of 3m
2
or 40% or more of the area of the wall measured on the side of the dependent area.
2) Where the dependent area is a bedroom, direct passage shall be provided between the two areas.
9.5.2. Access for Persons with Disabilities
9.5.2.1. General
1) Except as provided in Article
3.8.2.1., every building shall be designed in conformance with Section3.8.
9.5.2.2. Protection on Accessible Floor Areas
1) Where access is required on any floor area, the requirements in Article3.3.1.7. shall apply.
9.5.2.3. Reserved
9.5.3. Ceiling Heights
9.5.3.1. Ceiling Heights of Rooms or Spaces
(See
NoteA-9.5.3.1.)
1) The ceiling heights and clear heights in rooms or spaces in residential occupancies shall conform to
Table9.5.3.1.
2) Reserved.
3) Reserved.
4) Areas in rooms or spaces over which ceiling height and clear height are not less than the minimum specified
in Table9.5.3.1. shall be contiguous with the entry or entries to those rooms or spaces.
Part 9 – Housing and Small Buildings Division B: Acceptable Solutions
Division B
9.5.3.2. Mezzanines
1) The ceiling height above and below a mezzanine floor assembly in occupancies other than residential
occupancies shall be not less than 2.1m.
9.5.3.3. Storage Garages
1) The clear height in a storage garage shall be not less than 2m.
9.5.4. Hallways
9.5.4.1. Hallway Width
1) The unobstructed width of a hallway within a dwelling unit shall be not less than 860 mm, except that the
hallway width is permitted to be 710mm where
a) there are only bedrooms and bathrooms at the end of the hallway furthest from the living area, and
b) a second exit is provided
i) in the hallway near the end farthest from the living area, or
ii) in each bedroom served by the hallway.
Table 9.5.3.1.
Room Ceiling Heights
Forming Part of Sentences 9.5.3.1.(1) and (4)
Room or Space
Minimum Ceiling
Height, m
Minimum Clear
Height, m
Minimum Area Over Which Minimum Ceiling Height Shall Be Provided
(1)
Living room or space 2.1 Lesser of area of the space or 10.0 m
2
Dining room or space 2.1 Lesser of area of the space or 5.2 m
2
Kitchen or kitchen space 2.1 Lesser of area of the space or 3.2 m
2
Master bedroom or bedroom space 2.1 Lesser of area of the space or 4.9 m
2
Other bedroom or sleeping space 2.1 Lesser of area of the space or 3.5 m
2
Unfinished basement including
laundry area therein
2.0
Clear height under beams and in any location that would normally be used
for passage
Bathroom, water-closet room or
laundry area above grade
2.1 Lesser of area of the space or 2.2 m
2
Passage, hall or main entrance
vestibule
2.1 Area of the space
Habitable rooms and spaces not
specifically mentioned above
2.1 Lesser of area of the space or 2.2 m
2
Notes to Table9.5.3.1.:
(1) Area of the space shall be measured at floor level.
Revision 2.01 British Columbia Building Code 2018
Division B: Acceptable Solutions Part 9 – Housing and Small Buildings
British Columbia Building Code 2018 Revision 2.01 Division B
9.5.5. Doorway Sizes
9.5.5.1. Doorway Opening Sizes
1) Except as provided in Articles9.5.5.3.,9.9.6.2. and9.9.6.3., doorway openings within dwelling units and
within houses with a secondary suite including their common spaces shall be designed to accommodate at least the
door sizes given in Table9.5.5.1. for swing-type and folding doors.
2) Reserved.
9.5.5.2. Doorways to Public Water-Closet Rooms
1) Doorways to public water-closet rooms shall be not less than 810mm wide and 2 030mm high.
9.5.5.3. Doorways to Rooms with a Bathtub, Shower or Water Closet
(SeeNoteA-9.5.5.3.)
1) This Article applies where a hallway of not less than 860mm wide serves one or more rooms containing a
bathtub, shower or water closet.
2) At least one doorway in a hallway described in Sentence(1) shall be constructed
a) so that access is provided to not less than 1 of each type of fixture described in Sentence(1), and
b) to accommodate a door not less than 760mm wide.
Table 9.5.5.1.
Size of Doors
Forming Part of Sentence 9.5.5.1.(1)
At Entrance to: Minimum Width,mm Minimum Height,mm
Dwelling unit or house with a secondary suite including common spaces
(required entrance)
810 1 980
Vestibule or entrance hall
Stairs to a floor level that contains a finished space
810 1 980All doors in at least one line of passage from the exterior to the basement
Utility rooms
Walk-in closet 610 1 980
Bathroom, water-closet room, shower room
(1)
610 1 980
Rooms located off hallways that are permitted to be 710 mm wide 610 1 980
Rooms not mentioned above, exterior balconies 760 1 980
Notes to Table9.5.5.1.:
(1) See Article 9.5.5.3.
Division B: Acceptable Solutions Part 9 – Housing and Small Buildings
British Columbia Building Code 2018 Revision 2.01 Division B
9.5.5. Doorway Sizes
9.5.5.1. Doorway Opening Sizes
1) Except as provided in Articles9.5.5.3.,9.9.6.2. and9.9.6.3., doorway openings within dwelling units and
within houses with a secondary suite including their common spaces shall be designed to accommodate at least the
door sizes given in Table9.5.5.1. for swing-type and folding doors.
2) Reserved.
9.5.5.2. Doorways to Public Water-Closet Rooms
1) Doorways to public water-closet rooms shall be not less than 810mm wide and 2 030mm high.
9.5.5.3. Doorways to Rooms with a Bathtub, Shower or Water Closet
(SeeNoteA-9.5.5.3.)
1) This Article applies where a hallway of not less than 860mm wide serves one or more rooms containing a
bathtub, shower or water closet.
2) At least one doorway in a hallway described in Sentence(1) shall be constructed
a) so that access is provided to not less than 1 of each type of fixture described in Sentence(1), and
b) to accommodate a door not less than 760mm wide.
Table 9.5.5.1.
Size of Doors
Forming Part of Sentence 9.5.5.1.(1)
At Entrance to: Minimum Width,mm Minimum Height,mm
Dwelling unit or house with a secondary suite including common spaces
(required entrance)
810 1 980
Vestibule or entrance hall
Stairs to a floor level that contains a finished space
810 1 980All doors in at least one line of passage from the exterior to the basement
Utility rooms
Walk-in closet 610 1 980
Bathroom, water-closet room, shower room
(1)
610 1 980
Rooms located off hallways that are permitted to be 710 mm wide 610 1 980
Rooms not mentioned above, exterior balconies 760 1 980
Notes to Table9.5.5.1.:
(1) See Article 9.5.5.3.

In Plain Language

This part of Section 9.5 continues the Code's rules for designing rooms and spaces in houses and small buildings, covering topics like minimum room and ceiling heights, required room areas for specific uses (such as bedrooms and kitchens), window and lighting requirements for habitable spaces, and basic layout requirements that affect everyday liveability rather than structural strength.

This is a plain-language overview of the British Columbia Building Code 2018 text on this page, for general understanding only and not a substitute for the Code. Always confirm current requirements against the official BC Codes text or a qualified professional before construction.