Evening star., 1948-10-20
MAKING Buildings Safer

II Is EVIDENT tnat the commissioners
Committee on Egress Regulations has made
a painstaking effort to bring new era
of safety to Washington without imposing
on building owners requirements likely to
be unreasonably burdensome or unenforce-
able. Every one affected by the new
building code should read carefully the
explanation of the code and its history
inspection. The problem which confronted
the citizens group in devising workable
code is well set forth in the pamphlet
There is no gainsaying that it will take
time and money to effect the changes in
old buildings demanded by the safety
regulations. That means trouble and, in
some cases, it may mean real hardship.
But the fact stands out that every one
of the new requirements was designed to
meet certain tragic deficiencies which, in
a series of fire disasters, caused heavy
losses of life and property. The regulations
which go into effect next January l will
not guarantee maximum protection, by
any means. They have been considerably
modified from the original code proposed
on March 8, 1946. The aim has been to
obtain as much protection for occupants
Of old buildings as could reasonably be
expected, keeping in mind construction
difficulties, costs and other factors.
The code was drawn from lessons learned
by official investigations of such grim
tragedies as the Coconut Grove night club
fire in Boston in November, 1912, when
more than 500 persons lost their lives from
flames and suffocation; the La Sale Hotel
fire in Chicago, on June 5, 1s46, in which
81 persons died. the Garfield Hotel fire
In Dubuque, Iowa, on June 8, 1946, in
which the death toll was 49, and the
burning of the "hreproof" Winecoff Hotel
in Atlanta, Georgia. on December 7, 1916,
with loss Of 119 lives. The Coconut
Grove fire exposed the perils of single
revolving doors and inflammable dec
orations. The La Sale, Garfield and
Winecof hotel fires showed the tragic
consequences of open stairways and ele-
vator shafts. The danger of transoms and
Slated doors was cited in the La Sale and
Winecof cases. The futility of outside fire
escapes unless windows and other open
ings below are made fire-resistant was
pointed out. by several investigators.
Other fire hazards were disclosed by the
night club and hotel fires of recent years.
An aroused public opinion after the
Coconut Grove catastrophe obtained pas
sage of the District Means of Egress Act
of 1912 War conditions permitted adop-
tion of only few temporary revisions of
the code until 1916. The new code was
made Immediately effective with regard to
new construction, but was postponed,
pending further revision, insofar as old
structures were concerned. The modified
regulations for old buildings will mean
costly remodeling or additions for many
owners. 1t is estimated that at least half
million dollars will be required to bring
old school buildings into line But the
public repeatedly has demanded safer
hotels, office buildings, schools and other
places of public assembly. The public
should understand that adequate safety
Insurance costs money. AS between cost
In dollars and cost In human lives, there
can be no question as to the proper choice