HR 60: requesting the state building code council to adopt, amend, or update the STATE building code to authorize point access block construction for residential buildings up to six stories in the state.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

requesting the state building code council to adopt, amend, or update the STATE building code to authorize point access block construction for residential buildings up to six stories in the state.

     WHEREAS, existing building code requirements effectively mandate a double-loaded corridor building, where two stairways both access a corridor in the middle of the building with units built on both sides; and

     WHEREAS, this generally results in most dwelling units in a double-loaded corridor building being single aspect, meaning daylight only comes from the single exterior wall with little to no cross ventilation; and

     WHEREAS, buildings with point access blocks are compact single stair buildings with dwellings that are centered around a stairway and elevator core and have a single point of access vertical corridor leading to the upper levels; and

     WHEREAS, point access blocks provide compact, low-carbon, and livable multifamily housing and offer a greater variety of architecture, as well as unit types and sizes, even on small urban lots; and

     WHEREAS, dwelling units in buildings with double-loaded corridors typically have smaller units, whereas floor plans for buildings with point access blocks tend to be very flexible, with a higher proportion of units ranging from two- to four-bedrooms; and

     WHEREAS, point access blocks offer greater floor plan efficiency, allowing developers to use a greater proportion of the structure for housing units and save money on the construction of extra stairways and connecting hallways; and

     WHEREAS, buildings with point access blocks provide better lighting and ventilation because dwelling units in these buildings tend to be situated either on a corner or have windows on opposite sides of the unit, which can reduce the use of air conditioning; and

     WHEREAS, with modern fire suppressant technology such as sprinklers, the devastating residential fires that prompted the building code to require a second access point decades ago are increasingly rare; and

     WHEREAS, nations with widespread use of point access blocks, such as Austria, France, and Germany, have much lower fire death rates than the United States; and

     WHEREAS, the City and County of Honolulu amended its building code to allow for point access block construction up to six stories; and

     WHEREAS, developing buildings with point access blocks presents an innovative solution to increasing the housing supply and can efficiently utilize the State's limited land area by creating compact buildings with environmentally friendly floor plans; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, that the State Building Code Council is requested to adopt, amend, or update the State Building Code to authorize point access block construction for residential buildings up to six stories in the State; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the State Building Code Council.

Report Title: 

Point Access Blocks; State Building Code; State Building Code Council

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1561

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   H.R. No. 60

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Housing, to which was referred H.R. No. 60 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE STATE BUILDING CODE COUNCIL TO ADOPT, AMEND, OR UPDATE THE STATE BUILDING CODE TO AUTHORIZE POINT ACCESS BLOCK CONSTRUCTION FOR RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS UP TO SIX STORIES IN THE STATE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request the State Building Code Council to adopt, amend, or update the State Building Code to authorize point access block construction for residential buildings up to six stories in the State.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii and Housing Hawai‘i's Future.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the American Institute of Architects, Hawaii State Council.

     Your Committee finds that existing building code requirements effectively mandate a double-loaded corridor building, where two stairways access a corridor in the middle of the building with units on each side.  This can result in the dwelling units in these buildings having daylight come from only one single exterior wall, with little to no cross ventilation.  Your Committee further finds that buildings with point access blocks are compact single stair buildings with dwellings that are centered around a stairway and elevator core and have a single point of access.  Dwelling units in buildings with point access blocks tend to be very flexible, with a higher proportion of units ranging from two- to four-bedrooms.  Your Committee believes that the State would benefit from allowing the residential buildings to be constructed to allow for point access blocks, which could alleviate the State's severe lack of housing by reducing construction costs.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 60 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Housing,