Call to Action Protect Firefighters by Opposing Single-Stair Buildings in H.R. 6644

The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) urges all members to take immediate action regarding H.R. 6644, the Housing for the 21st Century Act, currently under consideration in the U.S. Senate.

As written, the House-passed bill includes provisions that would promote single-stair residential buildings up to five stories – a design concept that directly conflicts with established fireground safety practices.

The IAFC strongly opposes single-stair buildings above three stories due to the serious risks they pose to both occupants and firefighters.

The IAFC Government Relations (GR) Department has launched a national advocacy campaign through the IAFC Action Center, asking Senators to remove the single-stair provision from H.R. 6644.

Through the Action Center:

• Members can send a message directly to their Senators
• A prewritten message is provided for efficienty
• Users may customize the message to reflect their experience and perspective

Background:
The IAFC previously secured removal of the single-stair provision when the bill was first considered in the Senate. However, the provision was reinserted by the House, making immediate member engagement critical as the Senate again deliberates the legislation.

We ask every IAFC member to:

• Use the IAFC Action Center to contact your Senators immediately
• Oppose the inclusion of single-stair provisions in any Senate-passed version of the bill
• Reinforce that buildings over three stories require multiple means of egress
• Support the established model code development process for building safety standards

Single-stair buildings force firefighters and evacuating occupants to rely on the same stairwell during emergencies, creating dangerous congestion, delaying rescue operations, and increasing exposure to smoke, heat, and fire conditions.

These risks are well understood across the fire service and they are why the IAFC maintains its position.

Federal policymakers need to hear directly from fire service leaders who understand the real-world consequences of building design decisions. Your outreach reinforces that life safety must remain the top priority.

Use the IAFC Action Center to send your message and ensure the Senate removes the single-stair provision from H.R. 6644.