Point Access Blocks and Life Safety | Tom Jaleski, AIA

Single-stair apartment buildings can match or beat two-stair fire safety. A fire science case for Point Access Blocks, with a proposed IBC code change.

Point Access Blocks and Life Safety by Tom Jaleski, AIA, makes the fire life-safety case for single-stair apartment buildings on urban lots. Using fire modeling, smoke propagation field data, egress research, and NFPA response benchmarks, it argues Point Access Blocks provide equivalent or better safety than large two-stair buildings by limiting smoke spread and occupant exposure time. It includes a proposed IBC Section 1006.3.4 revision allowing single-exit R-2 buildings up to six stories. Written for architects, developers, building and fire officials, and policymakers working on missing middle housing.