Bill > HR6345

This bill requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to develop comprehensive federal guidelines for point-access block buildings within 18 months of enactment. A point-access block building is a residential structure up to five stories tall where all units are accessed by a single internal stairway. The guidelines will address fire safety considerations, construction costs, housing affordability, and design flexibility, and will be developed through consultation with experts including developers, architects, fire marshals, and researchers. The bill mandates that HUD consider factors such as sprinkler coverage, smoke detection, building egress performance, and potential impacts on housing supply. Additionally, HUD will coordinate with the International Code Council to encourage incorporating point-access block building provisions into building codes and may award competitive grants to eligible entities to pilot and validate these building designs. Importantly, the bill explicitly states that these guidelines do not supersede existing state or local building codes, preserving local jurisdictions' regulatory authority. Eligible entities for potential grants include state and local governments, tribal governments, housing agencies, nonprofit organizations, developers, design firms, and academic institutions.

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https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/6345/all-info