Sec. 103. Federal guidelines for point-access block buildings
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/bill/119/hr/6644/pcs/section-103A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall issue guidelines to provide States, territories, Tribes, and localities with model code language, best practices, and technical guidance that could be used to facilitate the permitting of point-access block residential buildings. When developing the guidelines under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consider— fire safety considerations, including sprinkler coverage, smoke detection, ventilation, and building egress performance; construction costs and potential impacts on housing affordability, including the potential for increasing housing supply in high-cost jurisdictions; flexibility for diverse consumer needs, including family sizes, unit configurations, and accessibility; examples of single-stair codes adopted or considered by States and cities in the United States; examples single-stair codes used in relevant international standards; research and model language relating to single-stair codes produced by organizations that focus on point-access block building design and building-code reform; consulting with experts, including developers, architects, fire marshals, researchers, economists, housing authorities, and officials in States that have enacted or piloted single-stair codes; and alternative methods of safety compliance, including options that utilize additional passive or active safety features.
The Secretary shall coordinate with the International Code Council to encourage the International Code Council to incorporate provisions about point-access block buildings into the International Building Code. The Secretary may establish a program to award competitive grants to eligible entities to implement pilot projects that evaluate, demonstrate, or validate the safety, feasibility, or cost-effectiveness of point-access block residential buildings. The program established under paragraph
(1)shall terminate on the date that is 7 years after the date of the enactment of this subsection. Nothing in this section may be construed to preempt a State or local building code. In this section: The term eligible entity means a State, unit of local government, Tribal Government, public housing agency, nonprofit housing organization, community development organization, private developer, construction firm, qualified design firm, engineering firm, academic institution, research institution, or any partnership or consortium comprised of 2 or more such types of entities. The term point-access block building means a Group R–2 occupancy residential structure, as such term is defined by the International Building Code, in which a single internal stairway provides access and egress for all dwelling units in a building that is not greater than 6 stories in height.