The Washington herald., 1907-08-19
COMMISSIONERS NOTICE.

OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONERS or THE
District Of Columbia Washington. Ang. I6, l5i.-
Ordered: That the order Of January a. 1891 rela-
tive 20 the election q ere escape sUpiiances, IS
hereby amended 20 read as lollovs. That fIe es-
capcs % be installed n accordance with The act ot
Congress approved March %. It5 entitled. IN
act 10 require the erection II trc ESCAPES ~ certain
buildings In the District Of Columbia. and Tor ttEer
purposes, as amended by act Of Congress approved
March 3 1907. shall be u the type shown by draw
ings Gle IN The cfce 0f the Inspector q Build
mss In certain cases. however hereinafter speei-
ned. chain or endless ladder types n me taealea
may be used. % Fire escapes must be 30 located
that q person IN ans rart II a building can Ieacn
without having 90 pass a stair well or elevator
shaft Chain OF endless ladder types Of tre escapes
may be used on buildIngs parts 0t buildings, 50
constructed that the standard platform ire escape
cannot bc applied without obstWctlEg window 0g
door openings OF without giving the ladders pitch
q more than 60 degrees. In sach cases balconies Of
the standard type must be provided and the chain
endless ladder escape must be suspended over
the middle q the space between tiers Of windows
3l The FIRE escape on each floor must be 50 located
as to be readily accessible and must Tee kept free
from Instructions. In case sccess 90 an escape IS
had through a room either the toor Of the ruoIn
must be removed or an UnptErucrcd passage ~
least two and half feet wide must b. provided
from the corridor Or the hallway 20 the hre escape
Access % nre escapes mag be had through wiudoFs
il case the siIls are not mere than two feet six
indies above rhe hoor and the windows are so con-
structed % provide clear opening at least three
feet high and Two and onoha8 feet wide. IN build
iugs where certain rooms are always rented e suite
and affidavit Is furnished % tLlt cnel, ile ehLIt
sIite viii be considered having proper access %
a fire escape II ans room iu Il has Access as re-
gulred above 81 Landing or drop ladders 0i Afe
escapes must be provided with counter i2ianc-d
weight suspended by a bronze OF ccpper cattf. ctia-
BE ot sustaining weight 0i twelve hundred pounds.
In all cases whore chain endless ladder FIRE e'-
capes are used taey must be So arranged as 10 re
readily prepared Tor operation by treIen -iQin le
ground The wire for operating the ESCAPES must
I De n nCu-c1TCsle metal at least oue-ttIh Vi an
! inch in diameter Zach standard platform tS-at-
should BE- provided with gooscuecA tTllnans lAi-
der eXteuded from Tie uprlr platform 90 e IlidJ 4t
least three feet above the roof. I'D All lalis- et
rdars. passage-vays stairs. and exits % IRE escapes
/ "a buildings used and occupied at night must fe
lighted from suuzt % sunrise. as follows; Nlitc
/ light at head and foot II each flight oi siAiTs.
Same at intersection oi halls corridors or passase-
WAYS. ard az least one slch light near tle celiei
Gf each hallway when same j. more Than icrty ieet
I iaus. and one at each gIide siga a Eed hE7t 70
be placed 81 each bali. corridor. cr Ias-ase-"s} az
! each arTTcaCh 20 a fire escape, except Uhen il-e
I fiFe escape is designed % serve 0llr the rocn u
suite which has direct aCcss % DO. 5' ln ail steep
I iBg ro7ms the following notice In red letters one
quarter of an iIcl bgh. s--~-ite caro-, s-ah oe
corspicloasly placed. -Notics. Red lights iudicate
I l0cati1a of FiIe Escapes such notice ulh ret De
required IN rooms which are never rented 90 ueHA-
tents. .7 At the intersection q a hall app1oacils
! fire escape and rle corridor ca each nCal Slsn
/ shah be placed With letters 1870 inches hich. % Dc
rad from either side. with the words. FIRE rs
CAPE" In cross halls a s3sn shah De pac5d, win
! letters Two inches high. with the words. 70 Ihh
[ FIRE ESCAPE and printed az painted Eti'H
I indicating the direction q the same Near ile
/ center Of the main corridors and halls staudpipes
az least two inches 10 diameter slEl be- placed With
sufficient hose of the same diameter a. reach either
end 0f the corridor az hallway and With satisfactory
connections % The City water service, lhia " nlt
/ apply % halls theaters. Cr plsc5s O. amusement
in which UaLdUfpgs az least three inches ID diameter
shall be Installed required az present. uar VII II
apply 70 any buildings already ERECTED ln "aica fk-
isti1g sIau1pipe systems prove satstlcIoT in easll
/ hallway On each Ao0r and IN the public Kitchen, Il
] there DC one. shah be pilord 90 lfas' ore H'Te
gallon fire extiucuistec. Iu treEroot buildings ana
| buildings o. moderste size ssauIVips, VII rot De
required provided ire catinEli-hcs installed as
required above lsI Elevator shafts and stairway $
/ ln Easements shall BE- iucC-e1 WITH nre-IeslsllIs
material u slch manner IS to make tle same smoke
proof. This mclosIe Cr compartment to have s-ii-
closing frvproof Doors which must De kept closed az
OH times uhen not being used. el All balls, pas
saE-Ways. corridors. and openings ta IRE escapes
and stairs must be kept free fr1D t1ggse, i3iri-
ture ears or any ether distinctions Uh1tsoe'eT.
/ All Openings 70 IRE escapes must he So arranged
that they can br operated without krv other ST.
I stumeut. 80 Fire alarm g1ngs shall b Installed
In all buildings c0mIuE within fhe FUYlew ci ti'
act q March ls 1876 which are used ard occupied
for sIeauiuz purposes One eight-Ich alarm gong
4 shah De placed near the ouJ6r Il each hallway %
/ corridor on each h0CT- Golcs are 20 t5 Operated
from automatic striking stations placed as follows
one near the front door; enc az the head oi TIE
/ stairs on each noQr, one IN the o.hce OF HTllQI
. room. and one iu the public kitchen. i tltre ha
] such O room. AL shall be pacei on one circuit
and all gongs shall operate simultaneously rroJs any
and an stations Al operating switches are % be
protected by glass casas The alarm gong system
| shall be supplied with an approved type 90 DRY cell
battery which supplies current for 70 other purpose
and which shall be renewed az least once a year.
i Tclerhoues viii not oe considered a substitute
for alarm gongs. HENRY l. WEST, JAY J. NOR
ROW Commissioners ID C.