Evening star., 1948-10-19
|FireCode toCut
Public Seatinq
Ado. Schools
Egress Law Limits
Use of Auditoriums
And Gymnosiums
By Colt HendIey, Jr.

Seating capacities in public
school auditoriums, cafeterias
and gymnasiums may be reduced
materially when the new District
fire prevention regulations for
existing buildings 60 into effect
on January l.
For the first time, these places
OF public assembly" in the schools
will be subject to a check for seat
Ing capacity by the building in.
spector's Office. Previously, in many
instances, the only time the capac-
ity was figured was when the
building was constructed in con-
.formity with existing building codes.
The school checkup has first pri-
orlty in the inspections being made
of more than 10000 structures here
preparatory to enforcement of the
new fire prevention and fire control
laws. On January / the new code.
generally known as the "egress reg
ulations," goes into effect for build
lngs in existence before March 8.
1916.
May Cost S50O,OOO.
The code Is expected to cost the
school system at least $500,00O to
bring the older buildings into line.
Just what the exact cost will be is
not certain at present because the
compilation of all that Is wrong has
not been completed
The schools have been inspected
yearly by men from Fire Marshal
Raymond c. Roberts Office, but
these inspections never have in
cluded computing the capacity of
the auditoriums, cafeterias and
gymnasiums.
Mr.. Roberts said his inspections
were made on the order of the
Commissioners and were to check
maintenance of fire protection
equipment. Normally the inspec-
tors note any major building code
violations that should be remedied,
he added, although he has no juris-
diction over such matters.
This was why many egress viola-
tions-which require expensive
structural changes-appeared on
his annual report on the schools,
Mr.. Roberts said.
Mckinley an Exception.
The Building Inspectors office
said the school auditoriums, cafe
terias and gymnasiums were not
checked for capacity in the past
and that rated capacities, generally,
were the same as when the build
ings were, constructed.
One example to the contrary Is
the Mckinley High School gym
nasium, Mr.. Roberts pointed out.
| An inspector from the Fire De-
partment last May noted that the
gymnasium had bleachers installed
which brought the cacapity Of the
hall to 1900 which apparently was
too high for the number of exits.
Consequently, a memorandum was
sent to the Building Inspectors Of
flee.
The formula for determining the
seating capacity practically the
same as it will be in the new regu-
lations) showed that no more than
about TOO persons should be seated
in the gym to be safe. AS result.
McKirley's gymnasium now IS oper-
ating with only a TOO capacity on
order of the Building Inspectors
office. The only way to raise it
would be to add new exits.
Four Auditoriums Closed.
In a similar manner four school
auditoriums were closed during the
last school year.
These four, all located on third
floors, were at the old Bell Voca-
tional High School (now the Bell
Annex at Seventh and o streets
N.W.), Terrell Junior High School.
Hine Junior High School and Sum-
ner Elementary School.
The fire marshal noted on his
report that they did not have sut-
fcient fireproof exits. School Of
ficials closed them on advice of the
Commissioners, who acted on the
recommendation of the building in
spector'S office.
AS a result. of the annual inspec-
ton reports of the fire marshal,
School Supt. Hobart M. Corning and
the Board of Education asked for
Sill 500 in the 1850 school budget,
which now is in the hands OF the
Commissioners. This sum would
take care of the most urgent struc-
tural changes needed to correct vio-
lations and would be the first one
fifth of a five-year program to cost
more than $500000.
This figure may go up when Dl-
rector of Inspections Robert H.
Davis makes his final report on the
schools needs in the way OF in
closing stairways. fireprooflng halls.
cutting extra exits and installing
fireproof doors, modern alarm sys-
TENS and emergency exit lights and
signs.
Mr., Roberts said the amount "un-
doubtedly" would increase, but he
1See FIRE REGULATIONS, A-40