Evening star., 1947-04-17
Reports Asking
10 Fire Law
Changes sSfudied
Egress Committee
Action on Protests
Slated April 80
By Henry A. Muslin

Fully . third Of the 12o most I'M
portant new District flre safety
regulations being studied by the
Commissionefs' Egress Committee
would be changed by recommends
tions under consideration By the
group today.
The recommendations, submitted
yesterday by five subcommittee
covering the various types Of build
ings involved, added up TO the
dropping, rewriting or suggested re-
study Of about 40 Of the regulations
under scrutiny.
Col. Kenneth e. Madsen, Assistant
Engineer Commissioner and ERress
Committee chairman, said. the rec
concentrations would be acted on at
9 meeting Of the full committee on
April 80.
Committee Not Bound.
He offered no comment beyond
emphasizing that the recommends.
tions did not commit the full com.
mittee In any way. The group is
examining the fire safety laws, en-
bodied In the so-called Egress Act.
with q view to possible changes.
They were adopted . year ago In
March, but enforcement was post
poned to next July /.
Regulations most sharply criticized
BY the subcommittee, each headed
BY Q representative Of the local
buildings interests, were those re.
quiring inclosed stairways and SELF
closing, fireproof doors In hotels; q
second inside stairway for ONCE
buildings higher than i've stories;
fire alarm systems for restaurants
OF more than one story accommo.
dating more than 200 persons; pro-
hibiting boilers under places, Of
assembly and indoor fire stairs In
theaters.
The subcommittee on hotels and
apartment and rooming houses
asked changes in 8 Of 10 reg,ila-
tions studied. It suggested outright
elimination Of those requiring self
closing, freproof doors and asked
for further recommendation COM
mensurate with ability to pay" on
that requiring inclosed stairways On
nonfre-resistant buildings Of no
more than three stories.
Cost Burden Cited.
due to the character Of these
smaller places and their small earn
ings, the expense involved would
close 5000 businesses" the group
declared.
The hotel group also asked that
the inclosed stairway provision be
waived for four-story structures in
which the windows open on fire
escapes on each floor and have
metal window frames and sashes
and fire-resistant wired glass. The
same should hold for five-story
buildings put up before 1925, 1t was
suggested. .a.
The subcommittee covering once
buildings approved Is Of 20 regula-
tions. Two were opposed fatty, and
amendments Of varying degree were
put forward for the others.
This group found most fault with
the regulation requiring that . SEC
ond inside inclosed stairway be pro-
vided In Office buildings over fivs
stories high without fire escapes.
The hardship it would work on own
ers is not justified in view Of the
low daytime fire hazards associated
with this type Of building. 1t was
held.
Danger Of Panics Seen.
The restaurants group said boilers
or other heating plants In structures
erected before October is, 194l,
should remain where they are pro-
vided they are inclosed In q separate
room and meet other requirements.
The group asked that this amend
ment be tackled onto the regulation
prohibiting boilers Immediately
under a dining room or exit passage.
It opposed private IRE alarm sys-
TENS as a possible cause Of panic.
The Theater subcommittee termed
the indoor fire stairs requirement
Impractical" and recommended re-
tention Of outdoor IRE escapes, pro-
vided they are metal-inclosed.
The group covering hospitals and
convalescent homes recommended
changes in only 3 of 26 regulations.
all minor In nature.