Chapter 2566. To amend an Act entitled “An Act to require the erection of fire escapes in certain buildings in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes,” approved March nineteenth, nineteen hundred and six
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CHAP. 2566.— An Act To amend an Act entitled “An Act to require the erection of fire escapes in certain buildings in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes,” approved March nineteenth, nineteen hundred and six. March 2, 1907. [[H. R. 19524](/us/bill/34/hr/19524).] [[Public, No. 225](/us/pl/34/225).] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, That sections one, two, three,District of Columbia.Fire escapes for tenement houses, etc., in. five, eleven, and thirteen of an Act entitled “An Act to require the erection of fire escapes in certain buildings in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes.” approved March nineteenth, nineteen hundred and six are hereby amended as follows:
Amend section one so as to read: " “Sec. 1. That it shall be the duty of the owner, entitled to theDuty of owner. beneficial use, rental, or control of any building three or more stories in height, or over thirty feet in height, constructed or used or intended to be used as a tenement house, apartment house, flat, hotel, hospital, seminary, academy, school, college, institute, dormitory, asylum, sanitarium, hall, or place of amusement, or office building or“Office building or store” added.*Ante*, p. 70, amended. store not exempted as in this Act hereinafter provided, to provide and cause to be erected and fixed to every such building, connecting with each floor above the first floor by easily accessible and unobstructed openings, one or more suitable fire escapes, in such location and numbers and of such material, type, and construction as the Commissioners of the District of Columbia may determine.
” " Amend section two so as to read: " “Sec. 2. That it shall be the duty of the owner entitled to theBuildings occupied by ten or more persons above the second stories. beneficial use, rental, or control of any building already erected, or which may hereafter be erected, in which ten or more persons are employed at the same time in any of the stories above the second story, except three-story buildings used exclusively as stores or for officeBuildings excepted.Stairways with fire escapes.*Ante*, p. 70, amended. purposes, and having at least two stairways from the ground floor each three or more feet wide and separated from each other by a distance of at least thirty feet, from one of which stairways shall be easy access to the roof, to provide and cause to be erected and affixed thereto a sufficient number of the aforesaid fire escapes, the location and number of the same to be determined by the said Commissioners, and to keep the hallways and stairways in every such building as is used and occupied at night properly lighted, to the satisfaction of the Commissioners of the District of Columbia, from sunset to sunrise.
” " Amend section three so as to read: " “Sec. 3. That it shall be the duty of the owner entitled to the beneficialGuides, signs, etc., for fire escapes.*Ante,* p. 70, amended. use, rental, or control of any building used or intended to be used as set forth in section one of this Act, or any building in which ten or more persons are employed, as set forth in section two of this Act where fire escapes are required, also to provide, install, and maintain therein proper and sufficient guide signs, guide lights, exit lights, hall and stairway lights, fire hose, and fire extinguishers in such location and numbers and of such type and character as the Commissioners of the District of Columbia may determine.
” " Add to section five the following: " “That such buildings as are used solely for office buildings aboveCertain fireproof buildings exempt. the second floor and defined under the building regulations of the District of Columbia to be fireproof are exempted from the requirements of this Act as to fire escapes, guide signs, and alarm gongs; butAutomatic iron shutters, etc.*Ante,* p. 71, amended. when the face of a wall of any such fireproof building is within thirty feet of a combustible building or structure, or when the side or sides, front or rear of such building or structure faces within thirty feet of a combustible building, or contains a light or air shaft or similar recess within thirty feet of a combustible building, then each and every window or opening in said wall or walls shall be protected from fire by automatic iron shutters or wire glass in fireproof sash and frames.
” " Owner responsible.*Ante.* p. 72, amended.Amend section eleven by striking out the words “lessee, occupant, or person having possession, charge,” in the proviso of said section, and substitute in lieu thereof “entitled to the beneficial use rental.” Amend section thirteen so as to read: " “Sec. 13. Repeal.That all Acts or parts of Acts inconsistent herewith be, and the same are hereby, repealed.” " Approved, March 2, 1907.