75.2 High-Rise Buildings
Whereas, We have been made aware of the risks of fire of tragic scale which exists in ALL Canadian cities with high-rise
buildings, whether residential or commercial;
Whereas, Contrary to the claims of promoters, high-rise buildings are not adding to the economy of any community and
since tax-payers must absorb the high cost of providing adequate fire protection;
Whereas, The usual characteristics of high-rise buildings are:
a. They are beyond the reach of fire department aerial trucks;
b. They are a potential for significant stack effect; and,
c. They require unreasonable evacuation methods;
Whereas, It is generally conceded by international fire authorities that a complete automatic fire sprinkler system is the
accepted overall solution in limiting fire spread and minimizing smoke movement in high-rise buildings;
Whereas, The high cost of the installation of sprinkling systems would be offset in part by the saving in construction materials
not needed to make the building fire-resistant and by the saving to the taxpayer through the reduction in fire
equipment and men necessary to provide adequate fire protection; and,
Whereas, There is a wide variance in Building Codes from province to province across Canada, therefore be it,
RESOLVED, That the National Council of Women of Canada request the Provincial and other Councils to urge their governments
to adopt and to enforce the implementation of the National Building Code of Canada.