How would an open rooftop of a stairway look like?

[sunyaer]

In this BC building code interpretation: https://boabc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/File-No-18-0100.pdf (File No: 18-0100), it says " The intent of an exit fire separation is to protect the exit from a fire in the building, but an open rooftop is an exterior area of a building",

my question: How would an open rooftop of a stairway look like? Would the stairway need to be protected from weather if the rooftop is open?

 

[Jay Smith]

The topic of the interpretation is not an open stair. It is the enclosure of a stairway to an open occupied roof.

 

[tmurray]

In this ruling, the stair is enclosed. The question is whether the exit enclosure that extends above the roof needs to maintain the fire separation when there is a rooftop occupancy.

The ruling is soundly bound in the code, however, I would question if it remains consistent with overall intent of the code to separate occupancies from an exit enclosure.

A code change proposal may be brewing...