Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-07-03
BUILDING CODE OF
STATE is IGNORED
Irvington School Board to Make
Test Case in Building Be-
ing Constructed.

Indignant at what they contend is
an unnecessary precaution against fire
hazards in a building wholly concrete.
the members Of the Irvington Board
of Education decided last night to ig-
more the State building code SO far as
it relates to the school under con-
struction in Chancellor avenue. The
secretary of the board was instruct
ed to notify the State school archi-
tect that the kalsomine doors re-
quired by the building code to be
placed at the head of the stairs on
the second floor would not be in
stalled.
This collision with the State au-
thorities is the outcome of futile
attempt made some three months ago
to have the doors eliminated in the
plans of the new school, For five
years Irvington has been erecting
schools which are solid concrete from
basement to roof. The only wood in
these structures is in the pupils desks
and the doors. In such a building.
the school commissioners argue, the
fire hazards are nil and consequently
the kalsomine doors, which are a
great inconvenience to pupils march
ing up and down the stairs, should
be omitted.
The provisions of the State build
| ing code came before the school COM
missioners last night when George
H. Smalley, chairman of the new
building committee, recommended
that the doors be placed in position
as required by the State authorities.
The recommendation evoked an inn
medite protest from DR.. Albion C.
Christian. These DOORS" objected
DR. Christian. "are an abomination.
They are menace to the children
in the other schools in which they
have been placed. I do not feel like
concurring in recommendation of the
new building committee. Let us re-
fuse to put the doors in and let us
see what the State will do about it
if we refuse"
Commissioner Edwin Kulp advised
that the doors be placed where the
law required them installed. TT is
the law" he maintained, land we
should comply. 1t will only mean an
unpleasant fight if we join issue with
the State authorities"
President Uriah McClinchie insist
ed that the code. which applied, made
no distinction between concrete struc-
cures and other types of construc-
ton, and that 1t was point upon
which the board could well afford to
make an issue.
1.-THE State authorities are con-
tinually encroaching upon the juris-
diction of local boards" he averred,
and it is time to call a halt. This is
splendid opportunity to resist the
arbitrary actions of the State officials.
Here is a building which could not
be burned if it were soaked in gaso-
line-in which the fire hazards are
so below the average that the insur-
ance companies have recently reduced
our premiums; and yet the State is
determined that no modification be
made in our favor. Let us make a
fight of it for common sense is all
on our side
DR.. Christian again interviewed to
declare that the doors should not
only he omitted but that the secre-
tary be instructed to write at once
to the State authorities and inform
them that the board did not propose
to put on the doors.
The motion in its strengthened form
was passed unanimously.
The doors over which the contro-
versy has arisen cost only $3.50. There
are only two of them. They were put
in the other concrete schools at the
insistence of the State inspector but
have proved such a nuisance that the
school commissioners decided to leave
them out of all buildings hereafter,
unless absolutely required by the ac-
ton of the highest State school Of
fetal