Evening star., 1948-10-17
Eqress Code High Lights

On January !, the new fire pro-
lection regulations, better known as
the "egress regulations" will 60 into
effect in the District.
The regulations cover buildings In
existence on March 8, 1916, with
the exception of private dwellings,
which are three or More stories or
over 80 feet high or any building
used as a hospital, school, asylum
sanitarium, convalescent home, place
of amusement, public assembly, res
taurant or any building similarly
used
Highlights of the code follow:
Egress stairs must be inclosed in
each story in such a way that con-
tir1uous passage within the enclosure
is provided from the uppermost
story to the outside, or to an exit
passageway leading to the outside
Stairs not required as a means of
egress must be entirely inclosed or
closed on alternate stories. There
are few special exceptions to this
requirement.
Stairway to Roof.
In most buildings affected by the
act, one stairway must extend to
the roof.
Closets installed before March 8
1916, in non-fire resistive stair in
closures must be fire-protected on
the inside. The door jambs and trim
on the interior must be metal-cov-
cred and the door must be self
closing. In fire-resistive stairways
the same Is true.
Fire escapes are permitted on all
existing buildings regardless OF
height except schools, theaters. hos
pitals, institutions for the infirm
convalescent homes or buildings
used for similar purposes. An ex-
ception Is made in the case OF
schools used for adults meeting the
requirements for Office use, which
may use fire escapes.
AL fire escapes on buildings above
five stories in height must be in
closed above the fifth floor with
solid, Slated or grilled metal on
the sides. This Is to prevent a fall
from dizziness.
Where outside fire escapes are
permitted, the window sash and
frames or door and door frame
opening to or under such escapes
must be of incombustible material!
or covered on the inside with metal
This regulation applies to fire es'
capes whether they are new installa'
tions or were in existence prior Il
March 8, 1916.
Door Requirements.
Doors are divided into Glass A, z
and C doors according to, require
ments OF the Underwriters Labora-
tory. Glass A doors are heavy, meta
covered, automatic closing doors
without glass. They are used in
openings in party walls or in walls
separating fire areas and in openings
to garages and other high hazard
areas. The other doors are USED
under different conditions in variou,
parts Of a building.
Transoms in doors which connect
rooms with public corridors must be
closed permanently and reinforced
Slat doors or lowers are not per.
mitted in openings between public
corridors or sleeping rooms as they
would allow smoke and fumes II
pass.
Windows in openings between
rooms and public corridors must be
protected in a similar manner.
Revolving Door Rules.
Revolving doors may not be used
In any hospital, sanitarium, insti.
tutional building, asylum, theater
moving picture theater, school lex.
cept adult school, factory or any
room seating more than 100 persons
with some few exceptions under
special circumstances.
Revolving doors may be used ir
dwellings. fats. apartment houses
tenement houses. rooming houses
lodging houses, hotels and private
clubs II they are not considered
required exists for their stories, ex.
cept where the stairs open into q
fire -resistive lobby, IN which cases
they may be between the lobby and
the outside. There are other spe.
cial cases in this category where
they cannot be used.
Generally, revolving doors are
prohibited in any room seating
more than 100 persons.
Continuous Passageways.
Safe and continuous passageways
leading directly to every exit must
be arranged conveniently acces.
sible to every occupant and must be
kept clear at all times.
Emergency lights, exit lights. fire