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Technical advisory group narrows single‑exit appendix, ties use to professional fire departments
Summary
The advisory group refined a statewide appendix allowing single-exit designs for certain R‑2 multifamily buildings, agreeing to keep the appendix in the state building code (not duplicate in the IFC) and to require conditions such as a local 'professional fire department,' full NFPA 13 sprinklers, upgraded alarms and limits on occupied roof decks and building size.
The Single Exit/Multiplex Housing Technical Advisory Group on Dec. 2 refined language for a statewide appendix that would allow single-exit designs in limited multifamily (Group R‑2) buildings, and agreed the appendix should be retained in the state building code rather than duplicated in the International Fire Code.
The appendix will be presented to the State Building Code Council (SBCC) for inclusion in the rulemaking (CR‑102) process, with public review and listening sessions to follow. The TAG said the appendix should be available statewide only for jurisdictions that meet the appendix's definition of a "professional fire department" and related section 101.1 requirements; the committee tasked drafters to add a clarifying user note explaining that condition.
Why it matters: the appendix would permit single-exit solutions in constrained multifamily projects while setting compensating safety measures. Members said keeping the text in the building code avoids having similar language in two places that could diverge in future updates.
Key provisions and decisions included: - Appendix placement: members recommended keeping the appendix in the building code appendices and not duplicating it in the IFC, while ensuring any terms such as “fire chief” or “fire code official” are defined or referenced so they are enforceable (Ken Burlette, Seattle Fire, raised a definitions gap). - Conditions tied to local capacity: the draft will state that the appendix applies or is implemented statewide "in jurisdictions with a professional fire department meeting the requirements of section 101.1." The TAG agreed to reword that user note for clarity before the next meeting. - Coverage and limits: the group limited single-exit applications to Group R‑2 apartment houses (R‑2), capped the scenario to six stories (top five stories served by the single exit with the lowest story counted as the sixth), and set a working cap of 20 dwelling units served by a single exit. - Fire‑safety compensations: the TAG confirmed a full NFPA 13 sprinkler system is required for buildings using the appendix (a motion to permit NFPA 13R had failed), upgraded fire-alarm and smoke-detection expectations were discussed (including unit-level visual notification in some drafts), and stair pressurization and required connection to legally mandated standby power were retained. - Occupied roofs and access: members sought clearer language to prohibit common-use occupied roof decks being served by the single-exit stair; private roof decks (individual unit roof decks) up to 750 sq. ft. were discussed as a possible limited exception provided they are not used as the required means of egress.
Quotes capturing the discussion: "Welcome, everybody, to the 12/02/2025 meeting of the single exit multiplex housing technical advisory group," the chair opened the session. "If we keep it as is right now, we don't have the definition supporting the way it's drafted in the building code," said Ken Burlette of Seattle Fire, urging that definitions for "fire chief" and "fire code official" be present or properly referenced so enforcement is clear. "There will be a public, an opportunity for the public to review and comment," the chair said, describing the CR‑102 and listening‑session timeline.
What the TAG will do next: drafters (staff) will post an updated working copy of the appendix that 1) adds or cross‑references required definitions, 2) refines the user note about statewide implementation tied to a professional fire department, and 3) incorporates the agreed technical concessions (sprinkler and alarm language). The TAG plans to reconvene to finalize wording and take a formal vote to transmit to the SBCC.
