> The story of their decline is a fascinating case study in how building codes actually work. I’m Grady and this is Practical Engineering.

... who else immediately heard the signature melody of his intro after reading these words?! I certainly did.

> When New York City updated their building codes in 1968, exterior exits were officially prohibited for new construction.

Fascinatingly in Germany it is just the other way around. If you have an old building that was built before fire codes mandated two independent exits for every residential room, and the window cannot be reached by a fire ladder, you are mandated to retrofit an escape ladder if you do a renovation of the building.

> Fascinatingly in Germany it is just the other way around.

You're contrasting rules for new construction with rules for existing buildings during renovation.

It's difficult and often impractical to retrofit a protected stairway into an existing building, but it's not a major hardship to include in new construction (although requirements can substantially change layouts)