New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-15
GUARDS AGAINST
SPREAD OF FIRE
oeouirements Set Forth in
nraft on Revised Code
Article.
REGULATION AS
TO VARIOUS SHAFTS
AZ Fire Shutters Must Readily
Be Opened from the
Outside.

g. .ontinuation OF the work on the
-, ~ the Building Code, sRudolph
wusr expert 20 the Building Com
-. ~ the Board Of Aldermen. has
- q preliminary draft of the re-
- Article Is, which ne entitled
'S.s.rnsras Against the Spread of
replaeing the old title Of Fire
- "a Shafts" as the article also
,,ssts Of fire doors ana WINDOWS ana
WOULD seem that the proposed title
little more comprehensive than the
P'S Ss e. first section Of the article GER
terms which appear are Defined,
an ,lv fire walls. ERE partitions, shaft,
-. .baft. vent shaft, elevator smart,
ypg..hTsiter shaft, self-closlng me door
"a automatic FIRE door.
ATT ~ rext section treats Of FIRE walls,
~ an account Of their Importance,
- r-s,suired 10 be constructed in as
Ns s,.s,t;al manner as the exterior
sLy ~ This is or the theory that
val serves practically the same
l1...oses ss party wall. In non-iire-
~ buildings fire walls must be con-
i-rous from The foundation TO a point
s,ss feet above the roof.
0ospings In FIRE walls are restricted
-. n sorsre feet in area, and the ag-
.,s+e width Of all the openings at
one leve. 20 25 per cent OF the
- Of the wall. In the first story
= buildings that are equipped with
..-.,7-atic sprinklers larger openings
- greater percentage may be used,
= ,be written permission of the Su-
.,-;nterdert Of Buildings is obtained.
r. reasons for granting any such per
-,s,ior must be stated. Openings IN
=, walls must be provided on each
- Of the wall with approved auto
-,.;e fre doors. In case a fire wall
,.ryes also as g fire partition IN pro-
~;irr the necessary exit facilities
i,,- & building. then no other than
5,o- opeu:nCs are permitted, and one
y the automatic fire doors at each
,,,-inr must be replaced by a self
.,s;rc fire door. Ii should be stated
we hat a self-closing fire door IS one
vl,,b IS normally kept closed by some
-sAan;cal device, and must be opened
- ,.r,a IL is used. On the other
l,,d. an automatic fire door is one that
3 rOfI-..N At-A NlNtlf tAt+Ns tt
b. fusIb.e link, and closes automau-
ally in case OF fire. ....-
T.re partitions, which are partitions
-.or the purpose of protecting life by
,oy.dinr an area Of refuge shall be
instructed in one of several ways;
tv,. Of any approved masonry that
H. IN the same manner that exterior
r,us are constructed; second, Of any
form Of t.reproof partition constructed
crowded in the article on freproot
obstruction, with the thicknesses,
however. increased above what is pro-
1ded there for an ordinary partition.
The minimum thicknesses specified Tor
The different materials are eight
inches for brick, six inches for stone
cr c,nder concrete or hollow blocks OF
ezra Gotta. concrete or gypsum, rein
.5lced al the openings with adequate
teel shapes, and four inches for rein
forced stone or cinder concrete.
i is also provided that any material
nd form Of construction that will
ass the fire test prescribed In Sec
Ion $50 Of the Building Code for par
u.ions may be used with the approval
q the Superintendent Ct Buildings,
provided that the duration of the test
three hours, instead of one hour,