Evening star., 1948-10-27
Rent Increases
MayBearCosts.
0f'Egress' Edict
1900 Buildings
Facing Alterations
Under New Fire Code
By Colt HendIey, Jr

A furry of new rent increases
probably will take care of the
cost of the major alterations
needed on many buildings here
to meet the Districts new fire.
prevention regulations, accord
ing to Robert F. Cogswell, rent
control administrator.
The new code, better known as
the "egress regulations" will 60 in
effect January l and will apply to
all buildings in existence on March
8, 1916. All construction since that
date has been subject to similar
but stricter-regulations.
Estimates of how much the
changes will cost District property
owners start at $4,000, 900 and 60 up
and up. The exact amount of the
cost is not known.
1900 Buildings Affected.
About 1900 buildings in the Dis
tTlcC Will De aueCCeQ,
Alterations expected to be neces-
sary include inclosing stairwells in
f1reproof compartments, adding adj
ditional exits inclosing elevator
shafts, installation of five resistlve
doors and installation of emergency
lights, exit lights and fire alarm
apparatus.
Hospitals, apartment houses,
stores, hotels and all places of pub
lie amusement or assembly are in
cluded.
Much of the cost of these i'm
provements can be passed on to
tenants under present rent-control
laws of the District, Mr.. Cogswell
said. He pointed out that all prop
erty owners have the right to file
petitions for rent increases based
on the cost of capital improvements
to their property.
Undoubtedly there will be furry
of such petitions after the regula-
tions 60 into effect, he added.
Landlords also are allowed to Pc
tition for rent boosts-or minimum
service charges-to take care of SUBJ
stantial increases in taxes or in
maintenance costs as well, he
pointed out.
Each case will have to be decided
on its own merits-as now-by the
examiner conducting the hearing"
MIR. Cosswell said.
Category tn Re Problem
The biggest argument will be in
deciding what constitutes a capital
improvement, he pointed out.
Many of the alterations called for
by the egress regulations may fall
into the category of regular main
tenance repairs which normally are
not taken into account by examiners
in deciding the amount Of rent in
creases to recommend. Many of the
alterations may not be substantial
enough to merit a rent increase.
I'm any case, the construction
would have to be completed, or very
substantially completed, before the
examiners would consider it at ALL"
Mr.. Cogswell declared. Rents can't
be increased on what the owners
expect to spend"
The egreSs regulations covers all
buildings three or more stories high
or 80 feet high with the exception
of private homes or any building
used as hospital, school, asylum.
sanitarium, convalescent home.
place of amusement, public assem-
bly,, restaurant or any building SIM
ilarly used.
Inspections Being Made.
Inspections of all these buildings
are being made now by inspectors
from the Office Of Building Inspec-
tor Robert H. Davis, assisted by men
from Fire Marshal Raymond c.
Roberts Office.
Notices telling owners just what
they will have to do will be sent out
and they will be given 80 days from
January 1, or from date of receipt
of the notice, whichever is later, in
which to have the work completed.
Extensions up to so days more may
be granted by Mr.. Davis, but after
That any extension OF time VIII have
to come by special order of the
Commissioners.
Upon conviction of failing to have
the work done, a fine of not less
than $40 or more than 500 day for
each day over the time limit may be
levied by the courts.
The new egress regulations-sub-
ject of much debate since 1942-
are the result of an act of Congress
in December, 1912.
The act gave the Commissioners
authority to set up regulations gov
erning safety from fire in both ex-
listing buildings and in newly con-
structed ones.
Numerous hearings were held and
proposed regulations were changed
many times before their adoption
last May 27 by the Commissioners.