The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1904-01-29
WHAT The Law PROVIDES
How Buildings are to be Rem
dered Safe.
FIRE ESCAPES AND EXITS
Doors Must Swing Outward From
Halls and Buildings Where Meet
inos are Held-HeaVy Penalties for
a Violation of the Laws,

ings are Hed--tIeaVy Penalties for
Violation Of the Laws.
The state laws making provision
for the safety of people in public and
scmi.public buildings in the event of
fire are just now of general interest
and the following is taken from the
copy prepared by city Attorney koe-
nigstein for the use of the council in
vcstigatng committee;
"AIl buildings in this state which
are four or more stories in height
excepting such as are used for pri-
yate residences exclusively but in.
Guiding flats and apartment buildings,
shall be provided with one or more
metallic ladders or stair fire escapes
attached to the outer walls thereof
and provided with platforms of such
size and dimensions and such proN-
unity to one or more windows OF cach
story above the first, as to render aC-
cess to such ladders or stairs from
each such story easy and safe, ana
shall be provided with one or more
automatic metallic fire escapes, or
other proper device, to be attached
to the inside of such buildings so as
to afford an effective means of escape
to all occupants who, for any reason,
are unable to use said ladders or
stairs; the number, material loca-
ton, and construction of such escapes
to be subject to the approval of the
commissioner of labor or his deputy;
provided, however, that all buildings
more than two stories in height used
for manufacturing purposes, or for
hotels. dormitorios, schools, semin-
aries. hospitals or asylums shall have
at least one such fire escape for every
fifty persons, and one such automatic
metallic fire escape for every twenty
five persons for which working, sleep
ing or living Accommodations are pro-
vided above the second stories of
said buildings: and that all public
halls. which provide seating room
above the first or ground story, shall
be provided with such numbers of
said ladders or other fire escapes as
said commissioner of labor or his
deputy shall designate"
The commissioner of labor or his
deputy is required to serve written
notice on the owners or lessesS OF
such buildings as come under this
law, giving thirty days in which to
comply with the law. The grand jur-
les of the several counties are also
given jurisdiction in the matter.
rT,o,, r,o,, ,,,olya innIiriaC rpDDrt
such inquiries, together with recon-
mendations, to the district court
The district court empowers the sher-
if to serve notice where buildings
are found not to be provided as re-
Quired by law. Persons who have
been notified to provide fire escapes
and shall neglect to do so for sixty
days are subject to fine of from $25
to 5000, and a fine of $50 for each ad
ditional week of neglect to comply
with the law.
The labor commissioner or his
deputy shall have direct supervision
over the erection and construction OF
fire escapes, and firms erecting such
fire escapes must have the writer
approval of the commissioner which
permit shall prescribe the materia
and manner of erection.
This law has been in effect since
1899, but the one that more immedi
ately concerns the general public is
a law passed in 1877, which provides
that all public buildings which ma!
or shall be used for churches, schoo
houses, operas, theaters, lecture
rooms, hotels, public meetings, tow
halls, or which may or shall be useC
for any purpose whereby a collection
of people may be assembled tOgethe
for religious worship amusement, in
struction or other purpose, shall be 81
built and constructed that all tn
doors leading from the main hall o
place where said collection of peopl
may be assembled, or from the prir
cipal room which may be used fO
any purpose aforesaid shall be S
swung upon their hinges and cor
structed that they shall open outward
and that all means of egress for tn
public from the main hall or principa
room and from the building, shall b
by means of doors which shall ope
outward from the main hall or builC
ing" The only exemption made b
the law makers was that schools an
churches that had been erected i
rural districts previous to the passag
of the law which was in 1877.
The penalty for violating this la
is a fine of not less than 500 nc
more than $1,000.
In cities of 1000 or more the mayo
is authorized to close and prohibit tn
use of public buildings which have NJ
complied with the provisions of I'll
law.
A law passed in 1883 makes the fc
lowing provision; "All hotels or lod
ing houses hereafter constructed
this state over two stories in heigl
and over 100 feet in length shall |
constructed so that there shall be
F,t,, l,n