Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-19
NEED FOR DISCRETION.
New Fire Escape Law Too Broad In
It's Requirements

II notice that there is considerable dis
cussion In Washington over the fire-escape
law recently enacted" an official of the
building department of New York who is
at present visiting friends here remarked
to Star reporter this morning; land, judg-
ing from what I have read In the local
press, it seems to me that Congress made
the provisions of the act too broad, partic-
ularly in Its application to modern office
structures
"Of course. as is well known, the metrop-
oils is 'plastered over with fire escapes
For tenements, manufacturing establish
ments. the old-style combustible stores and
other buildings they are essential, but you
do not see them on the modern freproof
structures on lower Broadway and Wall
street, which are given over to office pur-
poses.
1T would strike me that an amendment
along these lines would be fitting to the
general question of the egress from build
Ing In the event of a fire as applied to the
general run of buildings. / have been
through several of the modern fireproof Of
flee structures in Washington, and cannot
see the utility Of placing fire escapes upon
them any more than upon some Of the big
office structures which surround Trinity
Church in my city.
IT have also noted In this city that sew
eral of the more modern structures are not
only Of freproof construction, but that they
have wide halls and staircases at the main
entrance, and also staircases in the rear,
which lead into the street. The staircases
in these instances are Of stone and Steel
are absolutely noncombustible and are
much safer than exterior fire escapes on
the walls of structures, forming a double
means Of egress.
From my experience in this matter
fail to see the utility OF fire escapes upon
buildings Of this class; in fact. they should
not be placed thereon at all, for they
would not only be very disflguring. but
would be misleading as to the real con-
struction OF the building itself The San
gument and that is that buildings OF the
steel frame. terra Gotta and cement con-
struction not only withstood earthquake,
but the most disastrous fire Of modern
times as well
THE records OF your building depart
ment show what buildings In Washington,
whether used for Office purposes or other
wise. are OF the steel frame, fireproof char
acter. It seems to me that 1t was an over
sight In the drafting Of the original act
of fireproof structures from buildings not
possessing these characteristics and permit
the local authorities having charge Of this
matter some discretion In ordering the
erection OF an exterior means Of escape IN
the event OF q fire.
ut would seem to me that the owners of
these high-grade buildings are justified In
urging upon Congress an amendment ex-
cepting their structures from the operation
Of the law. In the original plans Of these
other Cities the primary thought is the re-
sistance OF fire by the most modern means
available. Many owners, taking pride
In their buildings have gone to extraordi-
question to arise In New York. an organ
lied effort on the part OF property holders
would be made and the question carried to
It's logical issue.