BUILDING LAWS TO SAFEGUARD AGAINST FIRE.

BUILDING LAWS TO SAFEGUARD AGAINST FIRE.

Former Superintendent of Buildings Rudolph P. Miller, who is revising the building code for New York City, has issued a preliminary draft of the revised Article 18, under which it is proposed to safeguard buildings in the city against fire. One section of the article, the first, is devoted to fire walls, shafts and self-closing doors. Fire walls are treated on the theory that they should be constructed like exterior walls. In non-fireproof buildings fire walls must be continuous from the foundation to a point three feet above the roof. Openings in fire walls are restricted to 80 square feet in area, and the width of all openings at any one level is limited to 25 per cent, of the width of the wall. In the first story of buildings which are equipped with sprinklers larger openings may be made if the permission of the Building Department is obtained. Fire partitions, according to this article, must be constructed, first, of approved masonry; second, with thickness, however, increased above what is provided there for an ordinary partition. The minimum thickness specified for the different materials arc 8 inches for brick, 6 inches for stone or cinder concrete or hollow blocks of terra cotta, concrete or gvpsum, reinforced at the openings with adequate steel shapes, and 4 inches for reinforced stone or cinder concrete. It is also provided that any material and form of construction that will pass the fire test prescribed in Section 355 of the Building Code for partitions may be used, with the approval of the Superintendent of Buildings, provided that the duration of the test is three hours instead of one hour, and further provided that no partition construction shall be less than 4 inches thick. Fireproof shafts are required for any series of two or more floor openings in successive floors, counting the roof as a floor, whether the space thus inclosed is used for the purpose of light, air, elevator or anything else. The walls of the shafts that are open at the top are considered as exterior walls, but in case the walls do not exceed ten feet in length the thickness may be reduced to considerably less than provided for exterior walls. Dumbwaiter shafts must be provided with self-closing doors, and shall have no other openings. Any shaft that extends into the top story of a nonfireproof building must be carried through the roof and three feet above it. In such cases it must be provided with a fireproof roof. With shafts that do not extend into the top story they must be covered with fireproof material. Fire doors or shutters or fire windows are required on all openings above the first story in fireproof and non-fireproof business buildings of more than forty feet in height, unless any such openings are more than thirty feet from any other exterior opening or more than fifty feet above the adjoining roof, and they must be constructed as required by the rules of the Superintendent of Buildings or, in absence of such rules, the rules of the National Board of Fire Underwriters, or any devices that will pass a test. Wire glass, when permitted or required, must be used in panes not greater than 720 square inches, and must be at least one-quarter inch thick.

Former Superintendent of Buildings Rudolph P. Miller, who is revising the building code for New York City, has issued a preliminary draft of the revised Article 18, under which it is proposed to safeguard buildings in the city against fire. One section of the article, the first, is devoted to fire walls, shafts and self-closing doors. Fire walls are treated on the theory that they should be constructed like exterior walls. In non-fireproof buildings fire walls must be continuous from the foundation to a point three feet above the roof. Openings in fire walls are restricted to 80 square feet in area, and the width of all openings at any one level is limited to 25 per cent, of the width of the wall. In the first story of buildings which are equipped with sprinklers larger openings may be made if the permission of the Building Department is obtained. Fire partitions, according to this article, must be constructed, first, of approved masonry; second, with thickness, however, increased above what is provided there for an ordinary partition. The minimum thickness specified for the different materials arc 8 inches for brick, 6 inches for stone or cinder concrete or hollow blocks of terra cotta, concrete or gvpsum, reinforced at the openings with adequate steel shapes, and 4 inches for reinforced stone or cinder concrete. It is also provided that any material and form of construction that will pass the fire test prescribed in Section 355 of the Building Code for partitions may be used, with the approval of the Superintendent of Buildings, provided that the duration of the test is three hours instead of one hour, and further provided that no partition construction shall be less than 4 inches thick. Fireproof shafts are required for any series of two or more floor openings in successive floors, counting the roof as a floor, whether the space thus inclosed is used for the purpose of light, air, elevator or anything else. The walls of the shafts that are open at the top are considered as exterior walls, but in case the walls do not exceed ten feet in length the thickness may be reduced to considerably less than provided for exterior walls. Dumbwaiter shafts must be provided with self-closing doors, and shall have no other openings. Any shaft that extends into the top story of a nonfireproof building must be carried through the roof and three feet above it. In such cases it must be provided with a fireproof roof. With shafts that do not extend into the top story they must be covered with fireproof material. Fire doors or shutters or fire windows are required on all openings above the first story in fireproof and non-fireproof business buildings of more than forty feet in height, unless any such openings are more than thirty feet from any other exterior opening or more than fifty feet above the adjoining roof, and they must be constructed as required by the rules of the Superintendent of Buildings or, in absence of such rules, the rules of the National Board of Fire Underwriters, or any devices that will pass a test. Wire glass, when permitted or required, must be used in panes not greater than 720 square inches, and must be at least one-quarter inch thick.