States and cities are loosening building code requirements in an effort to lower construction costs and boost affordable housing.
Some of these changes include allowing low-rise apartment buildings to have just one stairway, reducing how often building codes are updated and rolling back specific electrical or fire safety standards.
But critics have raised safety concerns, noting that existing rules were
shaped by past tragedies and aim to prevent future harm.
For example, having only one staircase could allow a developer to add
another unit or expand the size of units, said Nicolle Aube, principal
and founder of Civex, a planning and civil engineering consulting
firm, and an American Planning Association board member...
Leo's notes: Fire and life safety requirements have long been viewed as essential public protections, but they also influence the cost of every new housing development. This current debate illustrates the difficult balance communities face: how to reduce unnecessary construction costs without compromising occupant safety. The issue is less about eliminating safety standards and more about identifying where regulations can be modernized without increasing risk. Advances in building materials, construction methods, and fire detection technologies may create opportunities to achieve comparable safety outcomes at lower cost.
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- - Volume: 26 - WEEK: 27 Date: 6/29/2026 6:42:01 PM -