Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-29
NEW FIRE ESCAPE LAW
MANY DWELLINGS AND BUSI-
NESS HOUSES AFFECTED.

The building inspectors Office is possibly
the busiest bureau under the District gov
eminent at the present time. and will be
for several weeks. inasmuch as the new
fire escape law which went into effect last
spring Is to be put into active operation
within few days
The provisions Of this act will make 1t
necessary for the owners of many buildings
and residences in the District to either
erect fire escapes or alter the buildings to
conform with the law. For several months
inspectors have been systematically exam
lining buildings. and according to their find
ings 1t IL likely that in the business Sec
ton Of the city nearly 90 per cent Of the
structures do not conform with the new
law and will have to undergo changes.
As yet no one has been notified by the
Commissioners whether or not they will
have to erect fire escapes or make other
changes. but according to the building in
spector It is likely the issuance OF these
notices will be commenced next week. The
law provides that the owner or tenant Of q
building affected will be given ninety days
after the time of notification to comply
with the regulations.
curing additional labor on the part Of the
employees Of the building inspectors Office
fs the issuance of the yearly licenses to
the owners of hotels, theaters and public
halls in the District. Under the law they
are required to run under a speclai license,
which has In former years been issued on
the first day of November. but lnis year 1t
will be determined If they comply with the
new fire escape regulations before these
licenses can be issued, and it is necessary
for new FERNS of application to be made
and sent to the owners of these buildings.
Inspector Ashford does not believe that the
rrysl1 ~ 1lr h1f., Ia
latter part of November this year because
of these changes in the work.
Rush in Inspectors Office.
With this rush on fire escapes and the
erection of other devices for the prevention
of and protection from fire. the Commission
ers have been flooded with circulars. letters
and advertisements, from the various man.
ufacturers of fire escapes. Most Of the lat
ter are DESTROYS of knowing what type of
escape will be adopted by the Commission
ers. The terms of the new law provide that
this shall remain within the discretion of
the Commissioners.
1t has been moved ty Col Bddie, the
Engineer Commissioner, that the fire escape
manufacturers applying for Information be
informed that in carrying out tine act of
Congress requiring fire escapes on such
buildings some within the terms of the
law, it is the intention of the Commission
ers to serve notices directing the erection
of such fire escapes as may be accepted as
complying with the law
Col. Biddle stated further on this SUBJ
ject: THE question of which particular
fire escape may be installed is one that
the Commissioners viii not consider, pro-
vided that the fire escapes proposed fulfill
the requirements. The question of the Sc
lection of a particular make Is one to be
determined by those on whom the notice
is served. and the Commissioners do not
believe it is advisable, even if it were
practicable. which 1t is not that the man
ufacturers should be informed of the no.
tices sent out. 1t would appear that a
proper advertisement of the merits of any
particular fire escape should bring 1t to
the attention OF those Interested.