material inclosed with fire walls and shall connect with a passageway 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 locked 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 twentyfour inches in length, and protected by a well secured hand rail 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 interior by easily accessible and unobstructed openings.

The windows or doors to each fire escape shall be located as far as possible, consistent with accessibility, from the stairways and elevator hatchways or openings, and the ladders thereof shall extend 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 inclosed in an iron pocket, in which it shall move freely up and down; and the weights of all fire escapes now existing shall be inclosed in such iron pockets.

Any other plan of outside iron stair fire escape, substantially as above required, shall be sufficient if approved by the bureau. Fire escapes shall be kept painted and in good repair, and no person shall place any incumbrance whatsoever before or thereon.

If any person shall neglect or refuse for thirty days after notice in writing from the bureau to construct such outside stair fire escapes or inside fire stairways as this ordinance requires, and the bureau shall direct, said bureau may cause such fire escapes or stairways to be constructed, and the expense thereof, and ten per cent. in addition, shall be collected from such person by an action brought by the Corporation Counsel in the name of the City of Troy, and this shall be in addition to the other penalties provided in this ordinance.

The owner of all buildings mentioned in this section shall have scuttles on the roofs, and shall cause to be constructed and

maintained stationary iron stairs or ladders leading to said scuttles, which scuttles and stairs shall be kept ready for use at all times.

UTICA.

(Utica has no building laws or code relating to the protection of institutions.)

YONKERS.

(No ordinances specifically regulating the matter of fire protection in charitable institutions.)

REQUIREMENTS OF THE STATE BOARD OF CHARITIES AS TO FIRE PROTECTION IN CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.

The State Board of Charities in considering the question of proper fire protection for the inmates of institutions, bases its requirements upon the following:

1. The general laws of the State dealing with the matter.

2. The building laws and ordinances of the respective localities and the requirements of local fire commissioners, departments of public safety, and similar regulations.

3. The necessity for reasonable protection of inmates, particularly young children and sick and aged persons, in institutions not affected by the foregoing laws and ordinances.

When making an inspection of an institution subject to the jurisdiction of this Board the inspectors of this department are instructed to examine with care the facilities provided for the protection of buildings and inmates, in the event of fire, and to ascertain the extent to which the law is complied with and the buildings and inmates protected against fire. Examination is made and data secured upon the following points, which cover the more important provisions of the laws and ordinances in regard to the matter, in force in this State at the present time:

1. The neighboring hazard.

2. Height and material of buildings and whether of fireproof construction or not.

3. Number and location of exits, interior stairways and elevator shafts and whether fireproof.

4. Number, location and construction of outside stairways* and fire escapes, and if same can be reached easily.

5. Fire alarm connection, and date of last inspection by local fire department.

6. Number and location of hydrants and standpipes; length and condition of hose, and how often tested.

7. Number and location of portable fire extinguishers, hand grenades and fire pails.

8. Organization and practice of fire drills.

9. Whether night patrol service is established with use of watchman's clock.

10. Protection given swinging gas jets and other heating or lighting fixtures in proximity to woodwork.

11. Presence of rubbish, particularly in attics, cellars, etc., or of oils and inflammable liquids, and care given same.

An institution found to be complying with the law and satisfactorily equipped in the above particulars, and whose officers give due attention to fire drills, night patrol service, care of oils, inflammable liquids and the disposal of rubbish, is considered by the Board to be adequately protected.

SUGGESTIONS FOR PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS AND INMATES AGAINST FIRE.

1. Buildings of charitable institutions should be of fireproof construction if possible.

2. Interior stairways and elevator shafts should be made fire proof, and in the case of the stairs, sufficiently broad to permit all persons on floors above to pass down without delay.

3. Outside iron stairways of easy descent and connecting with each dormitory should be provided to furnish means of escape in case the interior stairways and elevators are cut off by fire.

Chapter 381 of the Laws of 1895 requires all hospitals over two stories in height and not of fireproof construction to be provided with outside iron stairways, the design being to afford means for the removal of surgical or bedridden patients on stretchers, when any other method of handling would be dangerous,

For safety these should be inclosed with heavy wire netting and provided with iron hand rails.

4. Direct fire alarm connection is most desirable. Telephone is not considered as satisfactory as an electric alarm connection. 5. Interior facilities should include a sufficient number of portable fire extinguishers, hand grenades, and fire pails, and in buildings of more than two stories, standpipes with sufficient hose attached to reach every part of each floor. The hose should be tested every three months, the fire pails kept filled and the extinguishers recharged annually, the date of recharging being shown on a tag attached to the extinguisher.

6. Regular fire drills both for employees, and, where their physical condition permits, for inmates as well, should be held in order to accustom them to the work of rapid removal from the buildings and thus prevent confusion or excitement in case of a real alarm.

7. A night watchman should patrol the building during the entire period when the day employees are off duty, and should be required to register his visits to different parts of the institution by means of a watchman's clock.

8. Stationary gas jets should be protected by globes or wire screens, and all swinging jets made stationary. All woodwork

in proximity to stoves should be protected by sheets of metal.

9. All parts of the building, particularly cellars and attics, should be kept free from rubbish, and rags used in oiling floors, etc., should either be destroyed after using or kept in metal cans or boxes.

10. Great care should be exercised in the storage and handling of paints, oils and other inflammable liquids. Oil stoves and lamps should not be used if avoidable and should never be filled or trimmed after dark; if oil is used it should be of the highest fire test.

11. A high grade of safety or sulphur matches should be used. 12. Ashes should never be collected in wooden barrels or boxes, but in metal cans.

13. Fire escapes, stairways, halls, passageways, windows or doors should never be encumbered with boxes, barrels, etc., as in the event of fire these would interfere with the escape of the inmates and hinder the firemen in their work.

SUGGESTIONS FOR SUITABLE FIRE ESCAPES.

In view of the recent losses of life in fires in charitable institutions by reason of the absence of escapes or because the escapes provided were defective or unsuitable, the following suggestions as to what kind of escapes are best adapted to charitable institutions are submitted:

1. FOR HOMES FOR CHILDREN, INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS, REFORMATORIES, ETC.

Outside iron stairways not less than twenty-four inches wide, guarded by hand rails and preferably inclosed with wire netting. Such escapes to connect with all the dormitories and all approaches to escape to be kept free and clear.

Stairs to be placed at an angle for easy descent (not to exceed 55 degrees; preferably from 45 degrees to 50 degrees).

Treads to be not less than six and one-half inches wide and preferably from seven and one-half to nine inches wide.

Spaces between treads to be not more than ten inches.

Ladder escapes are of little value except for the larger boys, and as a means of ingress for firemen.

Stairway escapes may be broken into a number of short flights or may extend the full length of each story of the building.

2. FOR HOSPITALS, HOMES FOR THE AGED, ETO. Stairway escapes as above but of greater width-not less than three feet are recommended.

Platforms, approaches, etc., to be wide enough to permit handling an operative case on a stretcher or mattress without injury, in case the interior stairs and elevators were cut off by flames or smoke.

Such escapes to connect with all wards and be accessible from all private rooms. Approaches to the escapes to be through doors which should open freely (rather than through windows which make exit difficult at best). Both approaches and escapes to be kept free and clear.