New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-13
THE DANGER FROM SMOKE.


.erhoro IS however one danger that must be con-
.idored The outbreak of fire In the Offices on one
floor would naturally result in the combustion reach
ing other floors The fire would follow the steam
heating pipes and spread in that way Now smoke
is as dangerous to life as fame Is. and suppose a
fire I'm one of tho top stories OF one or these TAN
buildings to have gained some headway one OF the
mos, imnortant things to do would be reach the
roof and open vcntilators let the smoke escape.
II would not be easy to reach the roof Of
a twenty-fve-story structure with the elevator
service cut off by dense smoke above. .
THE elevator shafts themselves would be a
of danger in case of fire: as they wouid ACT
simply nues or conductors FOR smoke. ana IS
the stairways in mostly all the tall buildings are
constructed close to the elevator Snads ahu pS
stairs would become impossible as well as the
shafts Smoke from fire IN lower stories MIu aa
quickly reach the upper ones IN TINS way, ana as
elevators and stairs are the only means OF escape
from those floors that are above the reach OF . tn
is Obvious In our opinion the tall buildings should
have it's stairways constructed as far away from
the elevator shafts rs possible there shou i,d, o
two distinct avenues OF escape from the Duliuhg
I'm case OF fire.
MERCANTILE Use INCREASED RISKS.
'I have said that the term 'hreproof may fairly
apply I'm the case of buildings occupied only as Of
fees But suppose that the constant increase IN
tho hummer OF skyscrapers causes diminution In
the number Of available tenants who want Office
room only? This / think Is very possible result
and IT will naturally have the effect of filling many
rooms in the buildings with tenants ems engaged In
tenants as they can secure Thus there Will De
quantities OF infammable materials stored within
the walls and outbreak OF IRE mace more proo-
able and vastly more serious .. .,n..,,. ,,,,.,,
up their ground floors 10 mercantile business, ana
tho tendency in this direction seems TO grow II
is entirely different TO have hre break ou among
merchandise than to nave one III an t on.oe, M''di
its few desks and chairs. In IN" torHat case q
degree Of heat may be- genera,ed am indc 20
a COLLAPSE or the builulhs- r., l., ,.,,. oro j.,
yond the reach OF the Fire DepartmentS pest
efforts In opinion rs feet IS the limit of height
continue to soar higher and higher. law should
be passed making it mandatory for tho owners to
furnish their pulldinss win lS'-o,,9 Ma
for eXtinguishing hres ana 10 MAINTAIN skillsu
men 70 operate IT, II mas been S'l'i, anu uuas
tect property from fire. But. as say. there is
limit 10 our powers
LAWS NECESSARY FOR SECURITY.
AT present there is no law to compel owners
Of skyscrapers to provide apparatus on their prem
ises II Is only when a modification OF the original
building plans is applied for that the Board Of
Examiners of the Building Department exacts. as
q qud pro quo stipulation that the building
shall be equipped with fire apparatus. But we do
not believe that such stipuatons are compiled
with I'm the sense in which they are meant. nor
can the Board Of Examiners enforce them. as
there IS no law covering the case 1t IL merely
question Of good faith on the part Of the owners.
Such appliances provided are not. we be-
licve nrst-class nor do they receive any regular
care BESIDES they merely In charge OF tho
ianiior or his stan who not trained or skilled
i'm their manipulation Hence they would prove
practically useless in emergency.
What the Department considers necessary I'm
his c@nnecton in view Of the existing and future
probable height of 'skyscrapcrs.' IS that "A law
should be passed containing the following provi-
siOus
AN present Office buildings tho height of which
exceeds feet should he required be provided
with steam pumps. stand pipes, hose and hose
connections. There should be a sufficient pressure
OF steam up at all hours day and night TO force
the water the upper floors. and to run at least
one clcVator-car at night. The owners OF the build
INK should employ experienced men to work the
machinery. These men. who should be continually
on duty would be able to check fire pending tho
arrival Of apparatus. The danger OF smoke
cutting on the elevator shaft would thus he mini
mizcd and the fromcn enabled To ascend quickly to
those parts Of the building which otherwise would
| practically ho inaccessible.
THE power to Insist upon these precautions be-
Ing observed should be vested In the Board OF
Examiners of the building Department The Fire
Department should have In It's discretion the APP
proval of IN" appliances when put in place. and
II should also hc vested with the right of periodical
Inspection OF them. As long these precautions
AIRY ARRANGEMENTS are lacking In building above
the height have mentioned. consider that II
constitutes 4 menace to surrounding property and
that II may Justly be regarded In the light Of a
public nuisance.