Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-06-03

shoulders of Fire Chief w. 3. Cum
mings
He declared that the matter was en-
tirely up to the fire chief, and accused
Cummings OF playing politics in trying
to make the office of the building in
spector prosecute the parties falling to
comply with the ordinance so that he
(Hayes) would get the "cussing out"
and the fire department would get the
credit
Mr. Hayes declared that he and the
chief were at loggerheads as TO what
buildings should be equipped with these
automatic ceiling sprinklers. He as
serted his belief that only manufactu'-
ing plants were required to put in this
extra equipment on all floors and that
the mercantile establishments were
compelled to have them only in the
Easements, while Chief Cummings
wanted the sprinklers installed in all
uptown buildings where he considered
them necessary for proper protection of
the imperilled workers
Law Proves Chief Right.
This difference between the building
inspector and fire chief was apparently
settled when Mr.. Hayes was asked for a
copy Of the law governing the installa-
ton Of sprinklers When he looked the
ordinance up he found, to his surprise
that Chief Cummings was right in his
opinion.
The law follows.
In such buildings $ are used or oc
cupied for mercantile and manufacture
ing purposes there shall be provided in
addition to said standpipe or standpipes
an approved system of automatic sprir-
klers placed at the ceiling of each story
below the first or grade floor and ex-
tending to the full depth and breadth
Of the building
Buildings of large area. which are
cccGpled for mercantile or manufacture
ing purposes. WHEN LOCATED
WITHIN contested DISTRICT.
FORMING, IN THE OPINION OF
THE INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS
OR CHIEF OF FIRE DEPARTMENT
'CONFLAGRATION BREEDERS
SHALL BE PROTECTED THROUGH.
OUT THE ENTIRE BUILDING WIFE
AUTOMATIC SPRINKLERS."
When Mr. Hayes was asked todav if
he would prosecute parties violating
that ordinance. he declared that he
would not take the lead in such prose-
cutions, but added that he would back
Chief Jennings up if the chief started
Too Busy, He Says.
Mr. Hayes said:
In the first place. ] haven't got the
time to be looking after fire preven-
tion-that is UP to the chief of the fire
department. l am the building in
spector. and while the ordinance Jointly
connects my Office with that work it
is directly IN the fire chiefs line and
other duties Of my office keep me too
busy to give it much attention
Il am afraid that the fire chief has
exaggerated the conditions somewhat.
He wants those sprinklers installed in
every building and the ordinance
doesn't give him that power The ordi-
nance applies only to manufacturing
plants
Chief Cummings wants my office to
do all of the prosecuting of these par
ties, SO that I'll get the 'cussing out
and he'll escape with the credit. OF
course. if he goes ahead and prose-
cutes those who fail to comply with the
law, my office would naturally coop
crate with him and back him up. but
don't want to be put in the attitude of
doing the prosecuting
Il want to avoid the sensational no.
touety of compelling these property
owners to install this equipment That
is in line with the fire chiefs work.
and he should shoulder it.
Il do know Of severa buildings where
these sprinklers should be installed.
tHere the building inspector gave the
names of several prominent property
owners) But Id rather let the fire
chief make them comply with the law.
do not wish TO antagonize them"
When the building inspector had look
ga MP the ordinance on the subject and
/ found that he. as vel a. the fre chief
was clothed with authority to demand
that these sprnklers be installed in
"condsgrauon breeders" and that the
ordinance covered an mercantile as well
as manufacturing houses that in his or
the orc chiefs opinion needed this ar
paratus for the protection az the iu
mates. ne admitted that h was part Of
the duu of his once TO look into thess