TAG debates statewide single-exit requirement, tables action to develop fire‑department criteria

Members of the Building Code Council's Single Exit/Multiplex Housing TAG met June 26, 2025, and debated whether single‑exit provisions required by the legislature must be incorporated as mandatory language in the statewide building code or could be implemented as an appendix that jurisdictions adopt locally. The TAG tabled further action and asked staff and fire‑service volunteers to draft specific fire‑department and water‑supply criteria for the next meeting.

Why it matters: the legislature directed the TAG to prepare code language allowing a single exit to serve multifamily residential structures up to six stories in some form. TAG members agreed the RCW requires the council to provide a statewide mechanism but disagreed over how to balance life‑safety protections, local firefighting capacity, and the bill's cost‑reduction intent.

Most urgent decisions and next steps: the TAG voted to table the single‑exit discussion and directed volunteers from the fire service and code officials to develop proposed criteria on professional fire‑department presence, response times, water…