Evening star., 1941-07-24
D. {. Fire Law
Substitute Given
House Group
Fixed Regulations
Are Avoided in
New Measure

dry ClldllScS III VdSIlIllStOlI oo'
year-old fire prevention law woulc
be preferable to the fixed regulations
proposed in an earlier bill, the Com
lpissioners today submitted to Spe.
cial subcommittee Of the House Dis
trict Committee a substitute meas
give the Commissioners general au-
thority to set standards for fire
escapes and other safety devices in
the Nations Capital.
The new proposal received the
approval of representatives of the
Washington Building Congress, the
Washington Housing Association
the Washington Real Estate Board
and other persons who appeared al
an open hearing.
Subcommittee Chairman Harris
indicated at the conclusion of the
hearing that the subcommittee prob
ably would accept the new substi-
tute measure. with certain addi.
tions, and report TO the District
Committee in about two weeks.
Specifications on Escapes.
Additions that the subcommittee
will make. he said. in all probability
will specify that buildings three
stories or more in height and hav-
ing a floor area of $1,000 or more
square feet will be required to have
fire escapes and fire alarms con-
nected with the municipal alarm
system.
Corporation Counsel Richmond
Keech, presenting the substitute bill
for the Commissioners. pointed out
that it did not give the local body
limitless and sweeping powers. He
cited that it required the Commis-
sioners to confine their regulations
to certain general classification
of building problems.
Specifically, the proposal would
empower the Commissioners. after
public hearing, to promulgate regu-
lations covering means of egress
from buildings, guide and exit lights
hall and stairway lights, fire ex-
tinguishers, alarm gongs and other
appliances deemed necessary to pro-
tect life and property.
Congress Might Object.
Subcommittee Chairman Harris
expressed the opinion that Congress
might object to granting the Com
misioners broad regulatory powers
and that policy limitations would
be desirable.
In this connection, Robert F.
Beresford of the Building Congress
Code Committee pointed out that
the Commissioners already have
even broader powers regarding en-
gineering requirements for struc-
lures.
Mr.. Beresford explained that, I'M
der present building codes. the
Commissioners can regulate stand
ards on wall thickness, weight load of
walls and many other structural
details that are more important to
safety of human life" than fire
escapes.
AS an example of the adolescence
of existing fire prevention laws, MI
Beresford asserted that it would be
permissible-So far as statutes are
concerned-to build a hospital OF
wooden frame construction so long
as the building was under four
stories high.
Urges Commissioners Powers.
Pleading for allowing the Com
missicners discretionary authority
in changing safety regulations
Charles J. Rush, executive secretary
of the Washington Real Estate
Board, declared that local authori-
ties should be permitted to control
such matters as is done in other
municipalities throughout the couh-
try
Give the Commissioners authority
to regulate fire prevention stand
ards Mr. Rush asserted. IF they
are unfair. then the people of Wash
ington can appeal to Congress. If
their subordinates, the enforcement
officers, are unfair, the people can
appeal to the Commissioners. ~
M S. Rich of the building Con-
eress. declared that the more flexible
procedure was desirable, particularly
for low cost housing purposes. Too
rigid standards, written into law by
Congress. would be handicap in
new building procedures that might
be developed in the future, he said.
Fire Chief Stephen A. Porter told
the subcommittee t.. It the new
regulations will be bel. -cial espe-
cially in view of the m. - addi-
tional buildings going up for tense
workers and the conversion OF 4. >re
private homes into boarding house.
Don't Realize Hazards.
Chief Porter said also that many
building owners apparently do not
realize the existence of fire hazards
He cited the case of one rooming
house operator who objected to in
stallation of outside fire escapes ano
inside alarm bells on the ground that
they would mar the appearance oi
her house.
Asked about the danger that occu-
pants would be subjected to in case
of fire if the precautions were not
taken, the woman replied, "Oh, the
people in my house don't sleer
sopndly. They could get out al
right"
Charles Pratt, employe of the Ag-
riculture Department, urged that
the Commissioners be permitted tc
regulate installation of window
gri1ls in upper floors. He told of the
burning to death of two close friends
in a downtown fire here two years
ago, and said they could have
escaped except for window grilling
on the third floor, where they were
trapped.
Speaking in behalf of the more
flexible operation that the sub
stitute bill would allow, Fire Mar
shal Calvin LAUDER stressed that the
law must be enforced with common
sense and that latitude should be
given to provide for extraordinary
cases.
sIf tight restrictions are fixed
now by Congress" the fire marshal
declared, within two years there
would be so many amendments
necessary that there would be vir-
tually no bill left" He agreed
u H.