The Washington herald., 1908-08-01
new THEATER LAWS
Building Regulations Pro-
vide for Public Safety.
RULINGS TO AFFECT FUTURE
-AIi Construction shall Be FIreprOOf,
and Interior Finish shall Be of the
Best Type OF Fire-reststing Wa
teriaI-ProvIsiOn Has Been Made
for spaces Between buildings

Provision FOR public safety IN every
possible degree in theaters is one Of the
most valuable clauses IN the new build
ing regulations. which have thus far been
finally approved by the Commissioners
Replacing articles 173 % Us OF the old
regulations. the new rulings VIII affect
only theaters erected in the future
Theaters must have frontage Of al
least one street which run5 parallel 10
the proscenium wall, and in tnat front
/ shall be a main entrance and exits Other
sides not facing a public street or alley
must be separated from the building next
| by a clear race Of not less than eight
/ feet. where the seating capacity Is not
more than loo. and the width Of the
space must be increased In ratio Of
two and a half inches for each additional
hundred in the capacity
Must Connect with Street.
/ These o1cn spaces must connect with
the public street from the rear line of
the auditorium. by direct open alley
ways or fireproof passaEeways through
a dreproof building. and such passage
ways shall be kept free from obstruc-
ton There shall be no connection what
IrIEE between q lLEA Na--lAA--a- e--aAA 49,
lother building which IS susceptible To
the transmission OF fire
Al theate- buildings shall be built
entirely OF dreproof material construc'
tion and shall be of the first class Al
interior finish shall be Of the best TYP.
tof Increasing materials. includins
trimmings. doors. windows. gallery, and
) box fronts and all architectural ans
decorative features.
; All floors shall he constructed 50 a.
10 be capable OF carrying superficia
. distributed load exclusive OF all con
struction, Furnishings, and fittings ot u
pounds per square foot
The main floor shall not be, at 10
. highest level more than seven iucne
- above the street level az the buldin
e line. and = on account Of grade % stree
la should be necessary % introduce step.
then the floor shah start at the high
; est point Of The main entrance
u A solid brick or concrete wall Of
T thickness OF not less than seventee
I inches. must separate the stage from th
auditorium. and a steel curtain extend
q ing at least a foot beyond the edge Of n
! wall on each side shah be provided 70
n FIRE emergencies
n Two separate and distinct exits fS
s each section Of the auditorium above .
e first floor are ordered. these % be al
b. ranged on the sides OF the building
= Exits and stnirways-
Emergency exits and ssairways sha
NJ be provided separately for each floor az
IS balcony. box or gallery on each side
J. the AUDITORIUM Each section Of the a
.e diforiurn shall have two separate stat
Il cases communicating directly with q
E. street. WIadiug stairs shah not be use
-- Not more than thirteen seats slau
placed ia any one TOW between aisles. a.
e. no seat shall be placed more than s
seats removed from an aisle
The number OF banks Of seats in q
'l balcony or gallery shall not exceed G
u unless an intervening OF cross aisle
as provided between each ten bank of sea
y OF an Independent series Of exits Provid
. for each bank Il ten seats
The minimum width Cf aisles shall
three feet at one end near the stage e
trance. increasing one and One-Ealf inch
in width for every hve feet i1 length
ip Other sections OF the new building reg
lati0ns are in the hands Il the Comm
sioners. and these viii be considered
y the board. and promulgated as fast
% they are approved