In a guest letter, Stephen Smith, the Executive Director of the Center for Building in North America, discusses the potential for building code reform to unlock housing construction in the United States. Specifically, Smith argues for the legalization of single-stair multifamily buildings, a common practice in Europe and Asia. He highlights the historical origins of current egress regulations and their impact on design and affordability. Smith suggests that the current requirement for two stairs in American buildings above three stories limits efficiency and makes it difficult to recreate traditional apartment building designs. He emphasizes the need for more rational building codes in the US.
https://www.thesisdriven.com/p/the-case-for-single-stair-multifamily