[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6231937,"mediaKeyId","3427093-116988c83116576a57be68988ec1600d","parentId",3427093,"title","TAG begins multiplex-housing work; members favor appendix approach, seek risk limits and affordability metrics","audioSeconds",3140,"startMs",6726000,"endMs",9866000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3427093-116988c83116576a57be68988ec1600d&start=6726&end=9866","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3427093-116988c83116576a57be68988ec1600d/thumbnail_6726000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6231937/Washington/TAG-begins-multiplex-housing-work-members-favor-appendix-approach-seek-risk-limits-and-affordability-metrics","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6231937-a7f6c5841b42be0ea6e02fed0f8e3b92/orig.mp4?Expires=1770575302&Signature=IqmTvLYnFc-ENy1-84YK9xyk6~XgY2SyOT-veKyQ2N7Dx8YpgEb5XMkoyIVeY4dwAl-iOeoypYSYSN8na-E4gUMXcRO29gPUrz69Y52u83DClw8hzNEmJ20uK0SaXDx4Ip9egapCnNx-ULqxJBY5O0IMVuN2Lv1OtPnLoEj42XygmRsBjPNONbQ7zGhm2NEQQSZtTNlG6J3ERz0-ZeJufGvLaPwJPUk~E11p7yNgibzAuU03DfMH0bsHk40t6UU2hYRUNKVSqWx~rNt1INSvbwZ4yJt3Hb0~ZlOcLoQmEtwtAFigKqdcKw4BNp65jm9cEInI80zZGhqecGh8lsKKxQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Building Code Council","date","2025-05-21T17:55:06.14Z","article","TAG members spent the second half of the meeting on multiplex housing, parsing four proposals and asking staff and the chair to clarify legislative intent and produce data to measure whether IRC-based multiplex provisions would reduce construction costs.

Why it matters: RCW 19.27.800 directs the State Building Code Council to allow certain multiplex/middle-housing types to be built under the International Residential Code (IRC) to \"make housing more affordable.\" TAG members scoped the issue: the work aims to enable multiplexes (triplex through sixplex flats) under residential rules rather than routing designs to the International Building Code (IBC), but members want clear limits on size, unit count, fire protection and accessibility so safety and practicality are not compromised.

Key discussion points
- Procedural approach: Several members, including John Goldsmith and John Hall, favored a stand-alone appendix rather than wholesale edits to the IRC body. They said an appendix allows a self-contained, state-level path that references IRC chapters where appropriate and adds targeted exceptions.
- Legislative intent: Chair Roger Haringa and staff summarized RCW 19.27.800, which finds that allowing multiplexes to use the IRC \"will result in housing being easier to build and more affordable without sacrificing quality and safety.\" The chair said he will confirm with the bill sponsor whether the TAG must make a statewide-required appendix or may recommend an optional appendix.
- Risk stratification and performance targets: Several participants urged the TAG to define discrete risk tiers (low/medium/high) or equivalent categories for multiplexes and then set technical criteria (egress, smoke control, sprinkler thresholds, maximum building or footprint sizes, and elevator requirements) for each tier. Todd and others suggested that pre-certified assemblies or repeatable systems (panelized or factory-built solutions) could lower costs at scale.
- Affordability and market uptake: Members noted that moving a building type into the IRC does not in itself guarantee lower rents; subsidies or other mechanisms may still be needed for truly affordable units. TAG members proposed modeling a small set of representative building types and comparing IBC vs. IRC construction cost estimates.

Proposals and next steps
- Staff reported four proposals: a WABO appendix-style submission, two proposals from Marcus Johnson (one addressing elevators and one proposing broader IRC modifications), and a Spokane appendix draft. Marcus said he uploaded a revised version after the prior meeting and provided a track-changes file.
- The TAG asked staff to post any late proposals and public comments immediately and to circulate survey results on member availability for scheduling. Chair Haringa set a tentative next meeting for June 9 and asked members to submit redlines and any cost-comparison data in advance.

Quotes and technical concerns
- \"The intent of the bill is for us to allow multiplex housing that is built under residential requirements,\" Roger Haringa said, reading the statute's finding that the change should \"make housing more affordable.\" He added the TAG must ensure affordability goals do not \"sacrifice quality and safety.\"
- John Goldsmith and others recommended an appendix approach: writing a self-contained multiplex appendix that says \"build to the IRC except as modified by this appendix,\" to avoid wholesale IRC edits that could create unintended conflicts.
- Fire service and building-official participants urged explicit limits on occupant exposure and smoke control. Several TAG members asked for measurable performance targets for smoke migration and stair protection and questioned whether elevator/stretcher-size requirements could be relaxed for certain lower-risk multiplex types.

The TAG closed the session with instructions to post all submitted proposals and comments, for members to review the WABO and other drafts before June 9, and for staff to distribute a scheduling survey. Chair Haringa said the TAG will return to the multiplex proposals at the next meeting with cost-comparison materials and clearer sponsor direction about statewide versus optional adoption.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","SBCC SEMH TAG Meeting - May 19, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The TAG opened a substantive discussion of how to incorporate multiplex housing into the residential code, with multiple proposals circulated and broad agreement that a stand-alone, state-level appendix is the cleaner path while members develop limits and performance targets to preserve safety and reduce cost.","taxTitle","Building Code Council, Governor's Office - Boards & Commissions, Executive, Washington","taxId",24233,"location","Washington","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6231941,"State TAG adopts WAVO single-exit draft as working baseline after extended safety debate",5446,1154000,6600000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3427093-116988c83116576a57be68988ec1600d&start=1154&end=6600","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3427093-116988c83116576a57be68988ec1600d/thumbnail_1154000.jpg","/articles/6231941/Washington/State-TAG-adopts-WAVO-single-exit-draft-as-working-baseline-after-extended-safety-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6231941-7c6059ab6ad4400a0734263a848b9c2e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770575302&Signature=U5RUOah1xM1T5QwoJG7Fr4fZwgeyOVvE8NfQKUWB6QkdlDGOKBnFj0RAmjeT3EO~xLAcAJGrWVPx5JEY8B50ya5dRyqIryUNOctNdFUMWZXeRbH6T9tkxK~g6OhNSp~7qdxmGfJc3ydUGW84ndXUx5xTZs~gN-9WDSqWk5vxv96RYKjFYTlwfrv~RKc4sl~TJC~ozWSebBGe7CbduO5PSyVHuxB~shokrZ0ZM2ynVwBJaK2x4QEaSE-ZPopox~jsMzlgK9JW~~U0tPTtU9IgwW41FgB8oi20wx9P1tqWNJ~TWBxSBHRr2dPeaOrqcef1zYCCbjat4SExpwUol0M7QQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Single Exit/Multiplex Housing Technical Advisory Group voted to adopt the Washington Association of Building Officials (WABO) single-exit appendix (file 24-SEP-0001) as the TAG\u0000\u0000\u0000working baseline, after several hours of technical discussion and firefighter and building-official cautions about life-safety tradeoffs.

The vote followed extended debate about how the Legislature intended the provisions to be adopted and whether the single-exit allowance should be optional (an appendix) or mandatory statewide. Chair Roger Haringa said the group must still clarify \"whether it is meant to be adopted statewide or not\" with the bill sponsor and noted he would seek that clarification.

Why it matters: TAG members said the single-exit proposal seeks to expand where a single stair can serve multifamily residential buildings beyond current limits, allowing up to five stories served by one stair (with a sixth podium level permitted where the ground story does not communicate with the stair). Supporters described the appendix as a prescriptive path modeled on Seattle practice; opponents and several fire officials warned that raising maximum single-stair heights raises smoke, rescue and evacuation risks.

Key facts and outcome
- The group approved as its working document WABO\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000proposal 24-SEP-0001 (filed as the WAVO/technical committee appendix in meeting materials). TAG members agreed the document will be the baseline for redlines, comments and future motions.
- Chair Roger Haringa said the TAG is \"not under the normal 3-year cycle rulemaking\" and that the group must reconcile process questions (CR-102 timing and whether adoption should be statewide) before finalizing recommendations.
- Technical limits discussed in the appendix and during debate included: single-stair service for up to five stories (allowing a podium story below that does not share the stair), a maximum of four dwelling units per story, a 20-foot limit from unit door to protected corridor, corridor fire resistance, stair pressurization, emergency standby power for pressurization, and NFPA 13 sprinkler requirements for covered spaces.

What members said
- \"We are not under the normal 3 year cycle rulemaking,\" said TAG Chair Roger Haringa, explaining the group's constrained schedule and need for procedural clarity.
- John Hall (WABO / architect primary on the TAG) described the proposal as modeled on Seattle practice and noted the appendix\u0000allows five stories of single-stair service and explained, \"the single exit can serve no more than five stories, but the building can be six stories tall\" when a podium is used.
- Fire officials repeatedly urged caution. Mike Messer, county fire official, and alternates said the provision should be limited to jurisdictions with sufficient local fire capabilities; TAG members referenced aerial apparatus, on-duty staffing and water supply as evaluation criteria.

Discussion versus decision
- Discussion: Members debated the safety implications of increasing single-stair heights, whether to permit 5-over-1 podium arrangements, and how to measure local fire capability. Several raised the need for clear performance criteria for smoke control and pressurization maintenance and noted big differences between urban jurisdictions (Seattle) and rural counties with volunteer departments.
- Direction: The TAG took the interim procedural step of designating the WABO draft (24-SEP-0001) as its working document to collect redlines and proposed amendments.
- Formal action: The TAG held a roll call and approved the motion to adopt the WABO draft as the working baseline; a formal motion and roll-call vote were recorded and the motion passed. The TAG recorded several \"Aye\" responses during roll call and proceeded to the next agenda item.

Next steps and caveats
- Chair Haringa said he will contact the bill sponsor to confirm legislative intent (appendix optional versus statewide mandatory adoption) and asked TAG members to submit proposed text edits keyed to the adopted working document.
- TAG members asked staff to post any proposals and public comments not yet published; staff indicated late submissions would be uploaded for review.

The TAG left the single-exit item open for further technical refinements and for clarifications about whether the provision must be adopted statewide or can remain an optional appendix for local adoption.","The Building Code Council\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000Single Exit/Multi plex Housing TAG voted to use the Washington Association of Building Officials\u0000(WABO) single-exit appendix (file 24-SEP-0001) as the working document while members continue technical review and seek legislative clarity on statewide adoption.","actionData","errors"]

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TAG begins multiplex-housing work; members favor appendix approach, seek risk limits and affordability metrics

State TAG adopts WAVO single-exit draft as working baseline after extended safety debate