The Metro Council passed legislation that allows certain residential buildings to be constructed with a single staircase. The initiative aims to ease affordability challenges in Nashville’s increasingly competitive housing market. The update aligns with the national and international building codes.
Highlights
- Metro Council passed Smart Stair Reform last week.
- In line with the building code, the new update will reduce construction costs.
- The new code will allow heightened safety standards.
Nashville Council Approves Single-Staircase Buildings
The new construction model was pitched by lead sponsor District 20 Councilmember Rollin Horton with 22 others. Horton cited research indicating that single-staircase designs can lower construction costs while maintaining safety standards.
On his official website, Horton explained that the reform allows buildings up to six stories to have a single-exit staircase. The updated code is expected to reduce construction expenses, potentially leading to more affordable rents. The current Nashville buildings have two staircases, which may look like a long hallway with apartments on either side, explained Horton.
Shared walls between units often limit natural light and airflow, resulting in fewer windows and reduced ventilation.
Within the heightened security requirements, there will be provision of pressurization requirements on the staircase, sprinkler standards, and each floor will be limited to 4 units per floor, Horton said.
Nashville is the third-largest city to adopt the code for building up to six stories. Major cities such as New York and Seattle have already implemented similar single-staircase regulations. Other cities like Memphis, Knoxville, and Jackson have also adopted a similar code in the previous year.
The Metro Council passed the Smart Stair Reform, legislation that allows certain residential buildings to be constructed with a single staircase. The initiative aims to ease affordability challenges in Nashville’s increasingly competitive housing market.
