SHB 2228
SignedHouse
Scissor stairs
Concerning scissor stair regulations in the state building code.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill requires the State Building Code Council to study and recommend changes to allow scissor stairs—a specific type of dual-stair system—in certain multi-unit residential buildings. It aims to improve fire safety and construction flexibility while balancing cost and safety concerns.
- Directs the State Building Code Council to form a technical advisory group to study and recommend changes to the International Building Code allowing scissor stairs in certain residential buildings.
- Requires the advisory group to consider public health, safety, and welfare, as well as construction costs in its recommendations.
- Limits the use of scissor stairs to buildings with more than two sleeping units per occupancy where occupants are primarily permanent residents (e.g., apartments, condos).
- Mandates that any code changes be adopted in the first substantive update to the state building code after January 1, 2027.
- Defines scissor stairs as two interlocking stairways with separate exits, enclosed and separated by fire-resistance rated walls.
Who is affected
- Residential builders and developers — Builders and developers of multi-unit residential buildings (e.g., apartments, condos) with more than two sleeping units per occupancy, as the bill could expand design options for stairwells and potentially reduce construction costs.
- Design professionals — Architects and engineers who design buildings, as they would need to follow new code guidance on scissor stairs for qualifying buildings.
- Local building code enforcement staff — Local building inspectors and code enforcement staff, who will need to verify compliance with updated state building code provisions.
- Residents of multi-unit housing — Residents of multi-unit housing (e.g., apartment dwellers), as improved stairwell designs may enhance emergency egress and fire safety.
Pro/Con Analysis
Potential Benefits (3)
Allowing scissor stairs — two interlocking, fire-separated stairways with dual exits — can improve emergency egress in multi-unit residential buildings, especially in fire scenarios where one stair may be blocked, potentially saving lives and reducing evacuation time.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(1)By permitting scissor stairs in qualifying buildings, the bill may reduce structural footprint and construction costs for developers, potentially lowering rents or purchase prices for moderate-income households in new developments — though savings are likely modest and not guaranteed.
HousingLean peopleRef: Sec. 1(1)Design professionals and builders gain greater flexibility in stairwell design, which may reduce need for larger footprints or additional elevators — supporting more efficient, mid-rise developments that align with regional growth goals and could create modest local construction jobs.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 1(1)
Potential Concerns (4)
The bill’s requirement to consider construction costs alongside public health and safety may lead to code recommendations that prioritize cost savings over optimal egress capacity or fire resistance — potentially weakening fire safety outcomes if cost-cutting drives compromises in materials or design.
Public SafetyLean peopleRef: Sec. 1(1)Local building code enforcement staff will face added complexity in interpreting and verifying compliance with the new scissor stair provisions, especially during the initial rollout, increasing administrative burden without additional funding.
Local GovernmentRef: Sec. 1(1)The mandate to adopt changes only in the *first substantive code update after January 1, 2027* creates uncertainty and delays implementation — potentially leaving current buildings with suboptimal egress systems longer than necessary, especially if code updates are postponed.
Local GovernmentLean peopleRef: Sec. 1(2)Scissor stairs, while offering two exits, may reduce clear egress width compared to separate stair towers — increasing congestion during emergencies — and the bill does not require comparative performance testing or simulation to validate safety gains over conventional stair configurations.
Public SafetyLean peopleRef: Sec. 1(1)
Who Is Most Affected
Residents of multi-unit housing are the primary intended beneficiaries — improved egress design may enhance fire survival odds, especially in high-rise or dense mid-rise buildings. However, benefits depend on actual code implementation quality and building age (retrofits not required).
Developers and builders gain design flexibility and potential cost savings on stairwell systems, but only if scissor stairs reduce overall structural footprint or mechanical requirements — savings may be offset by engineering review and compliance costs.
Architects and engineers gain a new code-compliant option, but must learn new design parameters and coordination requirements; this may increase project complexity for smaller firms without dedicated fire-safety specialists.
Local code enforcement staff will need training and guidance to verify compliance with the new scissor stair provisions, especially during the first code update cycle — adding workload without new funding, per fiscal note.