The stairways shall be placed at an angle of not more than sixty degrees, with steps not less than four inches in width and twenty inches in length, and with a rise of not more than nine inches.

The balcony on the top floor, except in case of a front fire escape, shall be provided with a goose-neck ladder leading from said balcony to and above the roof.

The balconies shall be not less than three feet two inches in width, and placed where directed by the superintendent of buildings, at each story above the ground floor. They shall be below and not more than one foot below the window sills and extend in front of and not less than nine inches beyond each window.

There shall be a landing not less than twenty-four inches wide at the head and foot of each stairway.

The stairway opening on each platform shall be of a size sufficient to provide clear headway. Except that on existing buildings as much headway shall be provided as possible.

The floors of balconies shall be of wrought iron or steel slats not less than one inch by one-quarter of an inch, placed on edge not more than one and one-half inches from center to center, and well secured to balcony framework, and have at least two rows of separators on three-eighth-inch rod. The openings for stairways in all balconies shall be not less than twenty-one inches wide and such openings shall have no covers of any kind.

The platforms or balconies shall be constructed and erected to safely sustain in all their parts a safe load at a ratio of four to one, of not less than eighty pounds per square foot of surface.

The outside top rail shall extend around the entire length of the platform and in all cases shall go through the wall at each end, and be properly secured by nuts and four-inch square washers at least three-eights of an inch thick, and no top rail shall be connected at angles by cast-iron. The top rail of balconies shall be one and three-quarter inches by one-half inch of wrought iron, or one and a quarter inch angle iron three-sixteenths inch thick. The bottom rails shall be one and one-half inches by three-eights of an inch wrought iron or steel, or one and a half inch angle iron, one quarter inch thick, well leaded into the wall. The standards or filling-in bars shall be not less than one-half inch round or square wrought iron or steel, well riveted to the top and bottom rails and platform frame, or such other system of diagonal filling as shall be acceptable to the superintendent of buildings. Such standards or filling-in bars shall be securely braced by out

side brackets at suitable intervals, and shall be placed not more than six inches from centers, except in cases where diagonal filling is used; the height of railings shall in no case be less than three feet.

The stairways shall be constructed and erected to fully sustain in all their parts a safe load at a ratio of four to one of not less than one hundred pounds per step, with the exception of the tread, which must safely sustain at said ratio a load of two hundred pounds. The treads shall be flat open treads, not less than four inches wide and with a rise of not more than nine inches. The stairs shall be not less than twenty inches wide. The strings shall be not less than one-quarter by four-inch bars of iron or steel, or other shape equally strong. The strings shall be securely fastened to the balcony at the top and bottom, and the steps in all cases shall be double-riveted or bolted to the strings. The stairs shall have handrails of three-quarter inch round, or three-eighths by one and one-quarter inch flat wrought iron, or three-sixteenths by one and one-quarter inch angle iron, well braced.

The brackets shall be not less than one inch square wrought iron, or one and three-quarter inch angle iron, one-quarter inch. thick, well braced; they shall be not more than four feet apart, and shall be braced by means of not less than three-quarters of an inch square wrought iron, and shall extend the full width of the respective balconies or brackets. The brackets shall go through the wall and be turned down three inches, or be properly secured by nuts and six-inch square washers at least one-half of an inch. thick.

On new buildings the brackets may be set as the walls are being built.

When brackets are put on buildings already erected, the part going through the wall shall be not less than one inch in diameter with screw nuts and washers not less than six inches square and one-half inch thick.

A proper wrighted drop-ladder or stairs shall be required in all cases from the lower balcony when the floor of such balcony is more than seven feet above the sidewalk or ground.

Nothing embodied under this title shall prohibit the selecting and erecting of a different stair pattern, or any other and differ ent device, design or instrument, which upon tests made under the rules and regulations of the bureau of buildings, prove equally

as efficient, permanent and safe external means of escape from fire and smoke as the devices described above.

All buildings requiring fire escapes shall have stationary iron. ladders leading to the scuttle opening in the roof thereof, and all scuttles and ladders shall be kept so as to be ready for use at all times.

If a bulkhead is used in place of a scuttle, it shall have stairs with sufficient guard or handrail leading to the roof.

Outside iron stair fire escapes or inside fire stairways herein specified shall be constructed in or upon every building more than two stories in height, and not having more than one means of egress, used as a hotel, tenement house, apartment house, lodging house, factory, mill, office building, hospital, asylum, school or public building. The number and location of such fire escapes and fire stairways shall be governed by the location of the building, its style of construction, size, constructed means of egress, number of inmates and the purpose for which it is used.

When inside fire stairways are adopted they shall be constructed entirely of fireproof material, enclosed with fire walls, and shall connect with a passage-way leading directly to the street, without any connection whatever with the basement. They shall have standard fire doors, self-closing, at every landing, which doors must never be blocked or fastened.

When outside fire escapes are adopted they shall consist of open iron stairways of not more than forty-five degrees slant, with steps not less than six inches in width and twenty-four inches in length and protected by a well secured handrail on both sides. They shall be connected with each floor above the first, well fastened and of sufficient strength and shall have landings or balconies not less than six feet in length and three feet in width, guarded by iron railings not less than three feet in height, and embracing at least two windows at each story, connected with the

exterior by easily accessible and unobstructed openings. The windows or doors to such fire escapes shall be located as far as possible consistent with accessibility, from the stairways and elevator, hatchways or openings and the ladders thereof shall reach to the roof. Drop stairs shall reach from the lowest platform to the ground and shall be hinged and hung with a counterweight suspended to chain or cable with the said weight entirely enclosed in an iron pocket, in which it shall move freely up and down, and the weight of all fire escapes now existing shall be enclosed in such iron pockets. Any other plan of outside iron fire escapes substantially as above required, shall be sufficient, if approved by the fire marshal. Fire escapes shall be kept painted and in good repair and no person shall place any incumbrance whatsoever before or thereon.

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§ 10. All buildings of Classes I and II,* not fireproof and more than three stories high, shall be provided with suitable and sufficient fire escapes and means of egress, to be approved by the board of fire commissioners, and to be erected and placed where and as directed by the chief and assistant engineer of the department; and any owner who shall hereafter erect any building of the classes specified in this section, without complying therewith, shall forfeit and pay a penalty of not less than $25 nor more than $100 for each and every offense; and every owner of such building heretofore erected and used for any of the purposes herein specified, shall, on direction from the board of fire commissioners, cause suitable fire escapes and stand-pipes, to be approved by said board, to be erected and placed on such buildings as and where directed by the chief or assistant engineer of the department, and in default thereof shall forfeit and pay a penalty of not less than $25 nor more than $100 for each and every month after such direction by said board.

17. The owner or owners of any building in the city of Buffalo, upon which any fire escapes may now be, or may hereafter be erected, shall keep the same in good repair, and no person

Class II embraces lodging houses, hospitals, asylums, etc.

shall at any time place incumbrance of any kind whatever before or upon any fire escapes from any building in said city.

§ 18. It shall be the duty of all firemen, policemen, and of every officer of this department, who shall discover any fire escape, balcony or ladder of any fire escape incumbered in any way, to forthwith verbally notify the occupant of the premises or apartment to which said fire escape, balcony or ladder is attached, or for whose use the same is provided, to remove such incumbrance and keep the same clear. If said notice shall not be complied with by the removal of such incumbrance, and keeping said fire escape, balcony or ladder free from incumbrance, then it shall be the duty of said policeman, fireman or other officer of this department, to apply to the nearest magistrate for a warrant for the arrest of the occupant or occupants of said premises or apartments of which the fire escapes form a part, and the said parties shall be brought before the said magistrate, and upon conviction, the occupant or occupants of said premises or apartments shall be fined not more than $10 for each offense.

§ 125. All buildings over two stories in height shall have scuttles or bulkheads on the roof covered with incombustible material and with ladders or stairs leading thereto from the floor. below. No scuttle shall be less in size than two by three feet. The lid to any scuttle or the door to any bulkhead shall not be locked in any way except with an ordinary bolt, which can be withdrawn without the use of a key.

In buildings over four stories in height the ladder or stairs leading to the bulkhead or scuttle shall be constructed of iron with an iron railing and secured permanently in place.

§ 173. It shall be unlawful under any circumstances to close up or obstruct the stairs or fire escapes or the approaches leading thereto in any building, and no change in the position or construction of either shall be made, unless the permission so to do shall first have been obtained from the deputy building commissioner.