While buildings codes have reduced the risk of dangerous fires in multifamily homes over time, some common aspects of fire codes, such as requiring two staircases in buildings taller than three stories, may unnecessarily restrict the development of affordable, well-designed multifamily housing.
Seva Rodnyansky, research manager at The Pew Charitable Trust’s Housing Policy Initiative, will discuss a forthcoming report that compares fire safety by building type and age, and finds that multifamily buildings built since 2000 have the lowest fire death rates. He’ll also discuss research that shows no difference between fire death rates in single-stair and other residential buildings in New York City and Seattle, two cities that have long allowed single staircases in buildings with as many as six stories.
Tim Love, a Lecturer in Real Estate and Urban Planning at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, will join him for a discussion.