The Washington herald., 1907-08-20
COMMISSIONERS NOTICE.
OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF THT

OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE
District Of Columbia. Washington, Aug 6. H@
Ordered; That the order Of January q. 1901, Tea-
tive 10 the erection Of fire escape appliances, Is
hereby amended 10 read as follows: That ere es-
eapes to be installed in accordance with the set Of
Congress approved March -, 1906. entitled. An
act 10 require the erection Of fire escapes IL certain
buildings IN the District Of Columbia. and ion other
purposes" amended by act Of Congress approved
March 2 1907 shall be Of the type shown by draw
inss on file in the Office Of the Inspector Of Build
ings In certain cases. however hereinafter speci-
fed. chain or endless ladder types Of IRE escapes
may be used. % Fire escapes must be so located
that a person in any part Of a building eau reach
one without having to pass stair well or elevator
shaft Chain OF endless ladder types Of fire escapes
may be used on buildings parts Of buildings 50
constructed that the standard platform fire escape
cannot be applied without ObstTucting window or
door openings or without giving the ladders ptch
Of than 60 degrees. In SGch cases balconies ~
the standard type must be provided and the chain
CT endless ladder escape must be suspended ever
the middle Of the space between tiers Of windows
80 The FIRE escape on each floor must be 50 located
as to be readily accessible and must be keTt iree
from Instructions. Ia case access 20 escape IS
had through a room either the door Of the room
must be removed or an unobstructed passage at
least two and one-hah feet vide must be provided
from the corridor the hallway % the fire escape.
Access 10 IRE escapes may be had through windows
in case the sills are net more than two feet SIX
inches above the floor and the windows are 50 con
structed 20 provide clear OPENING at least three
feet high and to and one-han feet wide. In bald
iugs where certain rooms always rented eli suite
and affidavit Is furnished TO that effect the entire
sHite sill be considered having proper access 20
FIRE escape if any room in il has access as re-
quirud above li Landing or drop ladders Of nre
escapes must be provided With a c0Unter-balanced
weight suspended by a bronze copper cable, caIa-
be Of sustaining a weight Of twelve hundred pounds
In al cases where chain OF endless ladder FIRE e.
raf "A ~ errsrl ed
readily prepared for operation by hrcmcn from ms
ground The wire for opeTating the escapes must
be Of nOn-coT0s'e metal az least onehsth O. an
inch in diameter Zach standard platform escape
should BE- provided with goose-neck fireman iso-
der extended from the upper platform 10 a point At
least three feet above the roof. ,5 All halls, cor
rid0rs. passage-ays stairs. and exits 60 hre escapes
IN Buildings used and occupied at night must nc
lighted from sunset to sunrise. as follows Nh.te
/ Light at head aud foot Of each fight Of stairs
Same at intersection Of halls corridors. or passage
ways and al least one such light near the center
Of each hallway when same is more than forty ieet
| iouz. ard az each guide sign red hght 70
be placed in each hall, corridor, or passageNay AZ
each approach % q FIRE escape. e1oept when the
I IRE escape is designed 20 serve only the room oI
suite which has direct Access % q. t6 In al sleep
ing rooms the following notice in red letters one
quarter q an inch high. a white card, shah De
couspacu0usiy placed: Notice; Red lights indicate
location q Fire Escapes such notice VIII not be
! EtfNTtA IN fNflih WHICH hIt irANl -tiiAtA ~ AAe-
tents. (7 At the intersection Of hal approaching
/ a FIRE escape and the corridor each fo0r sgn
shah be PLACID with letters two inches high. 70 DE-
read from either side, Nth The words. flhE To-
CAPE" In cross halls sign shall be placed, VIII
/ letters tEO inches high with the words TO IhE
/ FIRE ESCAPE" and a TTiuted OF painted hand
| indicating the direction q che same. Near me
ceuter of the main corridors and halls. standppes
az iva-t inches n diameter shall be placed win
Sufficient hose q the diameter "a reach either
naf ~
connections 90 the city water service This VIII n9i
! apply % halls theaters. places of amusement
IA which stRndpipes least three inches IN diameter
shall BE- installed required az present. nor VIII u
apply to any buildings already erected IN which ex
isiing sandpre systems prove satisfactory. In each
hallway On each floor and IN The psblic kitchen 7
] there be one shall be plcccd al least one three
gallon fire extinUIsher. In nrcpro0f buildings and
buildings q moderate size standpspcs VIII not D.
required provided IRE eTtnguishers are Installed a
required above. ~ Elevator shafts and statrway'
IN Easements shall BE- iuclosed Win hfs-reslstils
material in such manner As % make the same smoke
po0f. This inclosUre OF compartment % have sell
closing frerr0of doors which must be kept closed Al
| al times when not being used 81 All balls. pas
/ sagc-Ways corridcrs, and openings 20 IRE escapes
and stairs. must be kept free from baggage. iurni
ture. cans or auy other distinctions whatsoever
! All openings 10 TIRE escapes must be 80 arranged
that they be operated without key CT other in
| strumeut 00 Fire slam gongs shall be InsialleC
| IN eli buildings coming within inc puTNieN OF tL'
act of March I9 1876. which arc used and oCcupie,
| Cor slesping purposes. One eight-nch alarm EUui
| shall De placed near the center of each hallway o.
corridor on each floor Gongs are TO be operate,
from automatic striking stations placed as follows
One near the front door; one az the bead Of I'd
stairs ca each floor; one n the oice OF ]anItoT
room: and one in the public kitchen, there b
such a room All shall be placed enc crCII
and al gongs shall operate simultaneously from an
and all stations All operating switches are % b
protected by glass cases. The alarm gong system
shah be supplied with an approved type q dry cei
battery which supplies current fof no other purTos
and which shau be renewed at least once year
Telerhones Will not - considered as a substItut
for alarm gongs. HENRY L. WEST, JAY ]. NOR
/ ROW Commissioners ID. G..