New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-16
ATTACKS PROPOSED CODE
Report of Committee Of Safety
Finds Alleged GIaring Defects.
SECTION ON EXITS ASSAllED
Modified Fire Division Partl-
ton" Urged for Buildings Made
to Withstand Flames.

Many alleged glaring defects in the pro
nosed building code have been discovered
nv the Committee Of Safety and its engl-
neers in their report just adopted by tiie
Citizens Union and the City Club. acting
as a committee for the Joint civic Or
ganizations" that are considering the code
The most pronounced criticism IL ahleu
q, Section o. Paragraph l, providing for
exits and stairways in loft buildings Inc
report condemns it as illogical because II
is based on figures given by the Board Oh
Education for emptyinS school hulIdihsS
In times of danger To apply these
rules TO loft buildings would. the report
states, result In horrible loss of life IN
time OF fire.
I'VE believe in providing safety for all
occupants and not depending on OBTAINING
any portion of them while another por-
ton is passing an exit. While school chill
dren are well versed in fire drills. workers
In lofts particularly cutters of garments
are not. and. what is worse. they are
equipped with knives and shears on which
they can rely to cut their way out is the
language of the engineers.
Revolving doors in department stores and
In fact. in all heavily populated buildings
are condemned. and their use should be
prohibited. the report says. Stairways' 1t
says, induce drafts and should be inclosed
else they are a waste of money. The re-
port covers scores of recommendations
1t demands that the Enclosure walls Of
elevators and stairways shall be equally
Ere resisting with the floors in non-fre
proof buildings.
II condemns exterior stairways exposed
to the ice and snow of winter. and de-
clares that smokeproof towers in non
freproof buildings with fire walls, are no
better than Enclosed fireproof stalrways'
because the snow and ice will gather In
the yestjbules and endanger the lives Of
women and girls.
1t condemns the attempt TO SUBSTITUTE
.prinklers for necessary exit facilities. and
recommends that after full and proper pro-
visions are made for fireproof window con-
ttruction. owners Of lofts should install
.prinklers to increase floor area between
freproof walls and TO reduce cost OF IN
turance and further protect their properly.
II calls for fireproof window frames anu
kashes, with wire glass in all hotels ana
pfice buildings, but condemns its use IN
the openings In fireproof partitions point
Ing out that the Nauondl bodIu VI HiAe
Underwriters instances case where heat
from a burning building thirty feet away
was conducted through the wire glass
and ignited a wooden partition three Ieet
AWAY on the inside Of an adjoining build
Ing
If points out the impracticabiity of
tmptying buildings more than ten stories
nigh with large population TO each floor.
and advocates increased efficiency OF the
fire division partition" which may be OBJ
tained with a slight additional expense
,yer the cost Of fire division partitions
contemplated in the proposed code And
these, it points out. should be placed and
approved by the Superintendent of Build
. lnes.
II urges wire glass for exterior win
lows on all sides of hotels as the best
known practical protection, but points out
that this glass fuses at 1000 Fahrenheit,
whereas the heat in burning clothing
establishment often attains 1850 Fahren-
heit.
Lastly, It strongly condemns fire di-
vision partitions" in non-hreproof build
lngs as being man traps and likely TO
cad TO frightful disasters. AT best. they
are only temporary protectors of life and
inspire feelings of false security the re-
port declares.