Morning Menu: How changing building codes can help create affordable housing

With high construction costs, every square foot matters in the battle to produce affordable housing. This presentation will introduce the building code requirements currently in effect in several U.S. jurisdictions, their intended application to address life-safety risks, and how they enable the creation of more cost-efficient buildings, such as single-egress stair (SES) buildings. Small, single-egress stair (SES) buildings up to six stories are currently a hot topic in the housing industry. Housing advocates and community leaders are advocating for them as a solution to build more affordable housing. Other entities, often including fire officials, have concerns that these SES buildings are not as safe and may compromise occupants’ and firefighters’ safety. Simpson Gumpertz & Heger’s Associate Principal Joshua Greene’s presentation will address key life-safety considerations for residential buildings and how they can be used to maximize housing. Questions and discussion during the presentation are encouraged. This event is sponsored by Norway Savings Bank.