Efforts currently underway to amend existing building and construction codes in order to create more affordable housing could soon be boosted via the removal of a long-held and potentially outdated requirementthe need for two egress routes in multifamily buildings with heights up to six stories.At least ten states and a number of other larger cities are considering such reforms as we enter the new year, armed with the confidence that better fire safety technology and building materials can eliminate the sometimes costly code requirement at a crucial time.In the Texas state capital ofAustinfor example, the city council has already approved a code change that allows for single-stair construction in new multifamily buildings up to six levels.The "unbounded" change, which was immediately opposed by public safety officials, will be critical as developers there are planning to bolster housing stock by at least 60,000 new planned units to match its expanding population. A final appr...