Evening star., 1947-09-05
Easier Fire Code
Backed for New
bui|dingsHere
Permanent Committee
Urged to Consider
Changes as Needed

Proposals OF 19-man commits
tee modifying District fire-safety
regulations for new nonresidential
construction received unanimous
Endorsement today at a public hear
ing from various Washington blsi.
ness and professional groups.
The proposals, all technical, are
said to be less severe than the
regulations originally promulgated
by the Commissioners under the
so-called Egress Act more than q
year ago.
These covered such aids to pub
lie fire safety in buildings as guide
signs, exit lights, standpipe (to
facilitate fire hose operations on
upper foors), extinguishers, alarm
gongs and covered Stairways.
Plans to modify the safety rules
as they affect new buildings, how
ever, have been far less contro-
versial during the long committee
study than the rules affecting ex-
isting buildings. Rules for existing
builders are still under study for
probable softening and effective
date of their enforcement has been
postponed until April l, 1948. The
committee is headed by Assistant
Engineer Commissioner Kenneth E.
Madsen.
Permanent Group Urged.
Elo,,r r,ifpoccoc ornoorinU before
the engineer commissioner, Brig.
Gen. Gordon r. Young, today urged
that the committee be made perma-
nent and meet once a month with
the fire marshal and building in
spector to suggest changes as fu-
ture needs and requirements dictate.
The proposal was made first by
President Frank Weakley of the
Washington Hotel Association. 1t
WAS indorsed by A. Hamilton Wilson
of the Washington Building Con-
gress, Monte Sanger of the Assoc1a-
ton of Oldest Inhabitants and WAL
ter Jarvis of the Washington Real
Estate Board.
Today's hearing dealt solely with
changes affecting new structures,
such as Office buildings, schools,
warehouses, garages, hotels and
theaters. Gen. Young announced at
the conclusion that the COMMITTEES
hoped to come up soon with salts
factory rules.
To Be Enforced Soon.
He emphasized that notifications
proposed for new buildings would DO
enforced very soon, but such mat
tiers affecting existing buildings, re-
quiring far more expense, do not
become enforceable until 1948.
Except for few minor changes
suggested, the businessmen testify
ing were in complete agreement
that the committee proposals are
satisfactory.
In addition to the four named.
the other witnesses were Alvin l..
Aubinoe, president OF the Home
Builders Association; President A.
Julian Brylawski of the Motion
Picture Theaters Owners, Ringgold
Hart, attorney for the Merchants
& Manufacturers Association; Ber-
nard A. Savage, acting executive
director of Boca & Building OIL
Gals Foundation; Leroy Werner.
architect for the Cafritz Co.; Paul
j. Miller, president of the WASH
ington Guest House Association;
Wesley D. Hamilton, vice president
of International Steel Co., revolv-
ing door division, and j. B. Black
burn, manager of Insulation Board
Institute.
Others Heard.
Also Watson B. Rulon, Washing
ton Restaurant Association Arthur
]. Harnett, Washington Hotel Asso-
citation; Joseph H. Abel, Washington
Chapter of the American Institute
of Architects; A. Julian Brylawskl.
Motion Picture Theater Owners AS
ISOLATION; Calvin c. LAUDER, Ma
tional Board of Fire Underwriters;
Guy Timer, Federation Of Civic AS
sociations; Rufus S. Lusk, Building
Owners and Managers Association;
Alvin Aubinoe, Home Builders Asso-
citation; Joseph H. Backman, WASH
ington Board of Trade: J. M. Heiser,
Federation of Businessmen's Asso-
Citations, and Thomas E. Lodge, Fed
Grafton of Citizens Associations.
Enforcement of the safety rules
on existing buildings has been post
poned since January because OF
cost in carrying them out and the
shortage of labor and materials.
Builders had estimated the structu.
raj chanpes would cost 500. 600 900,