HI HCR66

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.

Point access blocks are compact single-stair buildings with dwellings centered around a central stairway and elevator core, providing greater floor plan efficiency and flexibility compared to double-loaded corridor buildings.

Highlight benefits of point access blocks including better natural lighting and cross-ventilation, higher proportion of larger units (two to four-bedrooms), lower construction costs, and environmentally friendly design that maximizes use of limited land.

Note that the City and County of Honolulu has already amended its building code to allow point access block construction up to six stories, and that countries with widespread use of this design (Austria, France, Germany) have lower fire death rates than the United States.

Transmit a certified copy of this concurrent resolution to the Chairperson of the State Building Code Council.