Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1952-02-14
An ORDINANCE

An Ordinance Providing For Fire Escapes
and Fire Towers on Certain Buildings
Within The Town of Smyrna and Es-
tablishing Regulations Therefor.
Be it ordained by the Council of the
Town of Smyrna in Council Met:
Section l. That from and after the pass
age and approval of this act by the Town
Council of The Town of Smyrna the owner
or owners of any building now erected or
hereafter to be erected. and being more
than two stories in height above the base
ment which shall be used in the third or
any higher story in whole or in fact as a
college, seminary, schoolhouse. hotel. hos
pital, asylum, almshouse, a factory or
workshop, or as an apartment house, or
when rooms are let to families or dodgers,
or for the accommodation of organized as
Sociations of any description, shall be re-
quired to furnish such building with suf-
ficient permanent fire-escapes from the
third and all higher stories and which es-
capes shall be kept and maintained in good
order. Such fire escapes may be by means
of stairways or ladders outside the build
ing, or by stairways in a separate tower or
structure furnished with safe and easy
communication with such building. Pro
vided that Section l to 8. inclusive, of this
Ordinance, shall not apply to any building
whatever that is already supplied with two
or more Independent stairways leading
from the highest story to the ground floor,
if said stairways shall not be nearer to
each other at any point than distance of
sixty feet.
Section 2. The Mayor and Town Council
will appoint the Fire Chief or some other
competent person to make periodic inspec-
tions of any such buildings, to examine
such fire escapes as to their suitableness
and suffciency, whether as to quality, To-
cation, number or necessity. If upon such
examination such escapes be found to be
sufficient and suitable, the person examin-
ing shall give the owner of such building
or some enc of them, if more than one, a
certificate stating such examination and his
approval, which certificate shall be good for
two years, at the expiration of which time
another examination shall be had and a
like certificate given. Such certificate of
approval shall be evidence of sufficient COM
pliance with the requirements of Sections l
to 8, inclusive, of this Ordinance, and shall
protect such owner from any penalty
therein prescribed during the time for
which it may have been given. The fee for
such examination shall be one dollar.
Section 8. All buildings or structures
within the provisions of this Ordinance
shall be equipped with an exterior fire es-
cape or fire tower built of incombustible
materials. either free-standing or supported
by the walls of the building. The con-
struction of such fire towers or fire es-
capes shall be in accordance with the Build
ing Code as recommended by the National
Board of Fire Underwriters, except where
stipulated provisions of this ordinance are
in contradiction thereto. in which case the
provisions of this ordinance shall apply to
the construction.
Section a. The following provisions shall
control in the erection or construction of
an exterior fire escape or fire tower re-
quired under the provisions of this ordin-
ance:
(a) At every floor above the first floor
adequate provision for access to the fire
escape or fire tower from the building
proper shall be constructed in accordance
with the approval of the enforcement Of
ficer appointed by the Town Council.
(b) All such fire escapes shall be or
sufficient strength to sustain a live load
of 100 pounds per square foot on ball
comics, passageways and stair landings
and a concentrated load of 400 pounds
on stair treads.
(c) Fire escapes or fire towers shall
be placed so that they can be readily and
safely reached by the occupants of the
building. They shall be located SO that
the foot of the tower or fire escape shall
have free access to an open yard, alley
way or street..
(d) Fire escapes or fire towers shall
be spacious enough that the movements
of those using them shall not be re-
tarded.
(e) The access way to the fire escape
or fire tower at each floor shall connect
with a portion of the building where no
accumulation of materials or furniture is
allowed to remain in a position where it
can interfere with the rapid exodus of
persons through the access way.
Section 5. No accumulation or storage
of materials of any kind shall be permitted
on any portion of the fire escape or fire
tower at any time.
No accumulation of materials of any
kind shall be permitted on the ground near
the foot of the fire escape or fire tower
where it can interfere with the safe and
rapid escape of persons using the fire es-
cape or fire tower.
No parking of vehicles shall be permitted
at any time within ten feet of any portion
of the foot of the fire escape or fire tower.
Section 6. Where fire escapes suspended
from the side of the building are located
on the street side of the building, the low
est section of the fire escape shall be of the
counter balanced type, hanging normally
with its foot eight feet above the sidewalk
or street and so balanced that the weight
of person descending the fire escape will
automatically lower the counter balanced
section so that the foot is on the ground.
Section Z. All buildings to which this
ordinance applies shall have fire escapes or
fire towers erected in accordance with the
provisions of this ordinance within ninety
days next after the Town Council of the
Town of Smyrna has adopted this ordin-
ance.
Section 8. Any person, firm, association
or corporation violating any of the pro-
visions of this ordinance shall upon con-
viction thereof be fined not less than Five
(s5.O0) Dollars and each dayEshall be con-
sidered and treated as a separate and dis
tinct offense. Hs,e ~ y x AN.-& q
If Adopted by the Town Council
# of the Town of Smyrna Il f& ! III
- February 8, 1852.