Point Access Block Building Design: Options for Building More Single-Stair Apartment Buildings in North America

Stephen Smith
Center for Building in North America

Eduardo Mendoza
Livable Communities Initiative

Because of historical circumstances, building codes in the United States and Canada have stricter provisions around the number of stairways required in multifamily buildings above certain building heights than codes in other countries. Most building codes in the United States, with some exceptions, require multiple stairways and exits in multifamily buildings with four stories or more. These requirements pose a problem for smaller scale developments, particularly on small infill lots and when trying to build family-sized apartments. Within the United States, the cities of Seattle, Honolulu, and New York already have more flexible exit rules for mid-rise buildings, allowing “point access block” (sometimes referred to as “vertical shared access”) buildings of up to six stories with a single stairwell, with additional fire and life safety restrictions not otherwise required for buildings of such size. Legislation has also been introduced or passed in several states to study the issues involved.