New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-27
FIRE DEPARTMENT
! MODFIES RULING
Action Relates to Capacity
of Water Tanks in
Apartment Houses.
CHANGE RESULT OF
r. E. BOARD EFFORTS
No Separate Tank Connections
Needed for Standpipes in
Up-to.Date Apartments.

Owners Of apartment houses and
buildings equipped with sprinklers will
be interested to learn of an important
ruling just made by the board Of stand
ards OF the Fire Department modifying
the requirements for water tanks.
The present regulation requires that
not less than $500 gallons be always
on the fire lines. When the existing
tank has a maximum capacity Of $500
gallons new or additional tank has
70 be supplied and new pipe connec'
tions
Some time ago the Real Estate Board
took up with the Fire Department this
question Of requirements for water
tanks. A communication was forward
ed to the department, Of which the fol-
lowing is part;
!. With respect to sprinklered build
ingsS the Fire Department makes the
further requirement Of separate tank
supply be waived and connection with
standpipes.
Where sprinklers have been installed
+ to the satisfaction of the Fire Depart.
ment ana conditions in other respects
warrant what is here suggested, could
not the requirement for 4 separate tank
supply be waived and connection with
the house supply be accepted as suf.i
Gent?
,. In imany Instances the rigid re-
quirement fQf "a 3 ,o00-gallOn tank sup
ply in mOdeIn tireproof apartment
houses places an unnecessary burden OF
expense upon owners Many, OF these
houses now have tanks with . capacity
not exceeding $500 gallons. The re-
quiremept referred, sotmeans an add
tional tank and new Connections.
Might rot the department waive this
requirement. in iireproof houses not eX-
ceeding $50 feet in height, accepting as
sufficient reservation for standpipe
supply of the existing house supply,
, unless such reservation be obviously
! inadequate?
The Real Estate Board has since aeep
informed. through Assistant Corpora
tion Counsel Albert dc Roode. Of tho
legal division Of the Fire Department,
: that at meeting Of the board of stand
ards held on September Is the follow
ing resolution was adopted:
I Resolved, That in all buildings
equipped with an approved automatic
sprinkler system standpipes need not
be connected TO q separate tank, but
may be connected to the house supply
tank without any separate reservation
for the standpipe supply; and, further,
Resolved, That IN lirepIoof apart-
ment houses not exceeding $50 feet in
height the standpipes may DC connected
to the house supply tank, provided
separate reservation Of twO-thirds Of
such supply mot less than 1900 gsl
Ions, however, be made for the stand
pipe in such a manner as shall DC sp-
proved by the Fire Department, thc
house connection being made on the
outside of the tank Where the house
supply in such apartment houses j.
furnished by satisfactory pump
equipment, capable of delivering $50
gallons a minute at a pressure u fifty
pounds at the topmOst outlet, the con-
nection of 5tandipe 10 the pump sup
ply, provided there is no house supply
tank with which the standipe may be
connected. shall be sufficient
Mr.. de Roode adds:
Il hope that this action Of The Fire
Department may serve 20 strengthen
still further the entente cordisle nov
existing between the Fire Department
and the real estate owners, az 90 hap
PLY represented by your Organization"
As result Of this resolution the
Real Estate Board is asking It's mem
bers to send it, 70 be forwarded 70 the
Fire Department, lists cf such Grcproof
apartment houses IN their charge or
owned by them.