Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-19
NEW LAW
THE ERECTION AND MAINTE-
NANCE OF FIRE ESCAPES.
Draft Submitted to Corporation Coun-
sci for Observation-Disclosures
Of the Measure.

The draft of proposed new law TO gov
ern the erection and maintenance of fire
escapes on apartment houses and other
buildings in the District Of Columbia.
which has just been prepared by Snowden
Ashford District building inspector, was
today referred by the Commissioners to
the corporation counsel for consideration
and report as to the legal questions in
volved. The corporation counsel for sew
eral weeks past has had under considera-
ton proposed amendments to the local
building laws, looking toward better pro-
lection from fire in the buildings of the
city.
The proposed fire escape regulations pro-
vide in substance that the owner or man
ager of any building in the District, three
stories or more in height, or more than
thirty feet high, used as a tenement or
apartment house, fat hotel, office building,
department store hospital, seminary, acad-
envy, school, college, institute, dormitory,
asylum, sanitarium, hall, or place of
amusement, shall cause to be erected on
such building iron or steel fire escapes of
the type approved by the Commissioners.
Fire escapes shall also be erected on any
workshop, factory or mandatory, or other
building in which ten or more persons are
employed or at work above the second
story. and on any building used for any
other purpose not mentioned in the act
except private resdences), which are more
than three stories high and in which there
are not provided at least two stairways
each three feet or more WIDE and sepa-
rated from each other by a distance of at
least thirty feet.
Guide Signs Required.
The owners or proprietors of the build
ings previously mentioned are also required
by the proposed law, to install in the
buildings guide signs and lights, exit, hall
and stairway lights, fire hose and extin-
guishers. gongs, etc, and in all buildings
occupied at night the Railways and stairs
shall be properly lighted from sunset to
sunrise.
The inspector of buildings and the chief
engineer of the fire department are en-
powered by the regulations to designate the
location of fire escapes, and the inspector
of buildings shall have the authority to
require alterations in buildings now or
hereafter erected in order to properly To-
cate the escapes and to facilitate their USE
The regulations further provide that Ion
such buildings as the Commissioners shall
determine to be flreproof and on such
buildings as are now determined to be fire.
proof as shown by the records of the build
ing department, the requirements as to
fire escapes, guide signs and alarm gongs
may be waived, provided such building is
constructed or altered within the time
given for the erection of fire escapes, so
that when wall of such fireproof building
is within thirty feet of a combustible build
ing, every window or opening in said wall
shall be protected by automatic iron shut
ters or wire glass in fireproof sash and
frame.
Shafts and Stairways.
"All elevator shafts and stairways ex-
tending to the Easements of such buildings
shall terminate in fireproof compartment
or Enclosure, separating the elevator shafts
and stairs from other parts of the base
mo nd hal he
in said partitions, except self-closing fire
proof DOORS.
The inspector of buildings is charged with
supervision of the fire escapes lights etc.
and the chief of the fire department is
charged with supervising the installation of
stand pipes, hose and fire extinguishers and
the latter official may also, in his Judgment
condemn any appliances unfit for use, and
require their replacement by others in good
condition
The penalty for violation of the proposed
law is a fine of not less than $40 nor more
than 500 for each day the offender fails to
comply with the law, or Imprisonment in
the District workhouse.
In the event the Commissioners approve
the regulations upon their return from the
corporation counsel the draft of the bill will
be sent to Congress, with request for IA
vorable action.
Regarded as Source Of Danger.
In connection with the draft of the pro-
posed new hire escape law Mr.. Ashford SUBJ
mits report relative to request for ten
ant of the Iowa apartment house that the
proprietor of that building be required to
erect fire escapes on the structure Mr. Ash
FORD states that he cannot recommend the
standard fire escape of the present type for
hreproof apartment houses such as the
Iowa. He says he is of the opinion that the
standard escapes on eight-story buildings
would be great source of danger or acct
W. 80
might attempt to use them under stress of
excitement when no imminent danger ex-
listed.
The officials of the fire department. In re-
portihg on the same subject, recommended
that a fire escape should be erected on the
iowa, ana also that on every floor of the
building there should be placed a twelve
inch fire alarm gong
col. john Biddle Engineer Commissioner,
has approved Mr.. Ashfords report