Evening star., 1941-10-21
New Orders
Listed on School
Fire Hazards
Inspection Rules
Tightened;; Defects
To Be Corrected

The Commissioners yesterday
scrapped previous regulations anc
issued new order covering annua
inspection of public schools for fire
hazards.
In addition to establishing pro-
cedures for inspection. the order
also called for:
I. Correction at the earliest posi-
BILE moment of the unsafe condi.
ton" at Calvin Coolidge Senior High
School girls gymnasium.
2. Provision in the 1943 budget
and annually thereafter of a $4,000
item for the correction of defects
until such time as all public school
buildings are in compliance with
the standard of fire protection es-
tablished by the fire marshal.
Situa ton Not Alarming.
The new order was prepared for
the Commissioner by a special con-
ference of District school, fire, con-
struction and repair officials after
publication of the recent fire mar
shal's report. The group was head
ed by 1t. Col. Beverly c. Snow. the
Assistant Engineer Commissioner
and District construction officer.
1t was agreed by the conference
that the school fire protection situa-
ton is not alarming and that proper
measures are being taken within
available funds to remedy existing
defects. Several hundred thousand
dollars would be required to make
all the schools completely satisfac-
tory from safety standpoint, it
was said.
The conference also agreed that
Fire Department standards should
not be lowered, but that the annual
report should make clear there was
nothing alarming in the conditions
reported if such were the case. Plans
for new schools drawn up by the
municipal architect provide ade-
Quate fire protection, it was decided.
so Lack Modern Systems.
In the recent report of the fire
marshal so schools were declared
without modern interior fire alarm
systems, although all have some
sort of alarm system. Only about
80 buildings met the department
standards as completely satisfactory.
1t was indicated some of the $4,000
would be used to bring alarm sys-
TENS up to date.
Under the new procedure the
fire hazard inspection will be made
shortly after the opening of schools
each fall, the tests to include actual
trial of the fire hose and careful
examination of extinguishers and
other equipment.
Inspectors, in preparing their re-
ports, however. will consult with the
fire marshal and eliminate defects
reported in the previous annual in
spections except for defects con-
sidered urgent by the first marshal.
Custodians to Report on Doors.
The report will be forwarded to
the director of construction, who
will check with the engineer in
charge of the District Repair Shop
as to what defects can be corrected
with available funds.
The director of construction will
report to the fire marshal within
80 days after the beginning of each
fiscal year on action taken during
the preceding year to remedy de-
fects.
Also under the order, the Board
of Education was asked to make
custodians of school buildings re-
sponsible for the care and opera
ton of egress doors, reporting daily
to principals that the doors are
in workable condition. Principals
should be required to report to the
first assistant superintendent of
schools Immediately any abnormal
conditions reported to them by Gus
todians, it was said.
School Board members were asked
to require the first assistant super
intendent of schools to report to the
fire marshal within 80 days after
the beginning of each fiscal year,
action taken to correct fire hazards
other than that done by the repair
shop.
1t was indicated the Commission
ers had been considering eiminat-
ing the $4,000 asked by the Board
of Education in the repair fund to
take care of some of the hazards,
until the conference recommended
it be retained in tie 1943 estimates.
The repair fund has been slashed
annually over the protests of school
officials who contend it is impos-
sible to maintain the more than ITO
buildings and prevent them from
depreciating on the amount allotted
them. This year the allotment for
repairs to buildings and grounds is
$4,000. The Board of Education
originally asked S750,000.