State advisory group caps units for single-exit buildings at 20, narrows appendix to R-2 apartments

SEATTLE 94 The Building Code Council9s Single-Exit Multiplex Housing Advisory Group on Tuesday advanced a draft state building-code appendix that would allow certain multifamily residential buildings to use a single exit under strict conditions, and it approved two formal changes to the draft.

The committee voted to replace a provision that limited the design to "no more than four dwelling units on any story" with a cap that "there shall be no more than 20 units served by the single exit." The motion was made during the Nov. 4 meeting by advisory group member Spencer Gardner and seconded by Derek Huegel; a roll-call vote was recorded and the motion carried. The committee subsequently voted by voice to limit the appendix to R-2 apartment houses (boarding houses were explicitly excluded).

The changes come as the group completes language requested by the Legislature to enable some multifamily projects to reduce construction costs by allowing one protected exit when certain engineering and operational safety measures are met. During the meeting, drafting lead Mike Nasser told members the appendix is intended to use existing statutory definitions: "A professional fire department shall be defined by RCW 35 103020, RCW 52 33 020," and the draft ties the appendix99s operational requirements to those definitions and national apparatus standards.

Why it matters: The 20-unit cap is intended to limit the number of residents relying on a single protected exit while still giving developers flexibility to design 4- or 5-story…