Continued from New Housing Catalogue – Part 1 of 2
There is a second aspect that needs to be looked at. While the catalogue may help speed the approval process, simple housing construction needs to take community-level risks into account. In addition to basis structural designs, this catalogue should also include requirements for the following to be included within development processes:
- Appropriate space between housing units or appropriate fire dividers to prevent the spread of fire across multiple structures.
- Appropriate drainage and water removal to prevent significant pooling or flooding.
- Appropriate transportation routes into and out of the space so that residents moving into the area have at least two safe directions to evacuate the area. This should also include appropriate design of routes and spaces so that emergency services can move quickly through areas.
- Appropriate connections to the power grid so prevent a single line failure from collapsing all services to the area.
- Appropriate fire suppression infrastructure such as the inclusion of hydrants and pipes that can be flooded quickly to allow for a more ready supply of water into certain areas.
This list is not exhaustive. The developer should be required to consult with the Emergency Management Office to determine if there are additional considerations to be made as part of the design process.