There are no legal provisions regarding fire-fighting apparatus, the outward opening of doors, exit lights, the construction of stairways, or the lighting of halls and stairways. The enforcement of the law, as quoted above, is charged to county and municipal authorities. The State factory inspection department is given no authority and is charged with no responsibility in this matter. CONDITIONS FOUND. Of the 47 establishments visited, 44 had buildings 3 or more stories in height. Two of these 44 were constructed partly of brick and partly of frame; the remaining 42 had external and dividing walls of brick, concrete, or other incombustible material, although in most cases floors, partitions, doors, etc., were of wood; 4 of these latter were reported as being "fireproofed." The following table classifies the 44 establishments 3 stories or more in height by height and material of construction, and shows the number of each group having certain important means of fire protection: KIND OF FIRE PROTECTION, BY HEIGHT AND CHARACTER OF CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS-ILLINOIS. [Each entry represents 1 building. When an establishment has more than 1 building and the several buildings are not uniform as regards fire protection, the principal building has been selected as representative. A building constructed partly of wood is classified in the table as a frame building. Figures for fire escapes wholly or partly of wood are not shown in the table.] This table shows that with two exceptions each of the scheduled buildings 4 or more stories in height had at least 1 incombustible fire escape, thus fulfilling in substance the first section of the law as quoted above. The exceptions were two 4-story buildings, 1 of which had no fire escape, and 1 a "fire escape" of wood. The second section. of the law requires at least 1 fire escape for each 50 persons employed above the second floor of buildings used for manufacturing purposes. Information upon this point was obtained in only a very few cases, and the only definite statement that can be made is that in 4 instances at least the proportion of 1 fire escape to each 50 employees was not observed. Details as to these 4 instances are as follows: Establishment 24.-Occupies fourth floor of a 4-story building; 78 employees; only 1 fire escape. Establishment 33.-Occupies whole of a 5-story building; 290 employees above second floor, 118 of whom are girls under 16; 2 fire escapes; a proportion of 145 employees per fire escape. Establishment 34.-Occupies third and fourth stories of a 4-story building; 100 employees; 1 fire escape. Establishment 37.-Occupies 5 upper stories of a 7-story building; 455 employees; 6 fire escapes; a proportion of 76 employees per fire escape. INDIANA. SUMMARY OF LEGISLATION. The State law relating to fire escapes on factories and other establishments is very complete as regards the subjects referred to and very detailed in many of its requirements. In its enforcement it places a broad discretionary power in the hands of the department of inspection of factories, workshops, etc. The more important provisions of the law are as follows:1 SECTION 1. Every building in which persons are employed above the second story in a factory, workshop, or mercantile or other establishment * ** and every [such building] * ** of more than two stories in height shall be provided with proper ways of egress or means of escape from fire, sufficient for the use of all in such building. And such ways of egress * * * shall be kept free from obstruction, in good repair, and ready for use at all times. persons * * * And all rooms above the second story ** * * shall be provided with more than one way of egress or escape from fire, placed as near as practicable at opposite ends of the room and leading to fire escapes on the outside of such buildings or to stairways on the inside, provided with proper railings. 1 Acts of 1903, ch. 222, secs. 1, 2, 3, 6, and 7 (22d An. Rept. Com. of Labor, pp. 406408). A new fire-escape law was passed and approved a few days before the field work of this investigation was completed in Indiana. Acts of 1909, ch. 118. Approved Mar. 6, 1909 (Bulletin of the Bureau of Labor, No. 85, pp. 567, 568). This new law does not change materially any of the provisions of the former law as quoted above, except that it substitutes local fire chiefs in place of the State factory inspector in sections 1 and 2 of the law-i. e., the sections relating to the issue of exemption certificates, etc. The State department of inspection, however, is still required to see that the provisions of the act are everywhere enforced. All external doors open outward or upward. The certificate of the chief inspector of the department of inspection of the State shall be prima facie evidence of a compliance with such requirements. * * * shall open outward, and all windows SEC. 2. In addition to the foregoing means of escape from fire, all such buildings * * * as are more than 2 stories in height shall have 1 or more fire escapes on the outside * * * as may be directed by the chief inspector aforesaid, except in such cases as the said chief inspector may deem such fire escapes to be unnecessary * * * and in such cases of exemption the said chief inspector shall give * a written certificate to that effect and his reason therefor. * * And such fire escapes as are provided for in this section shall be constructed according to specifications issued or approved by the department of inspection and shall be connected with each floor above the first, well-fastened and secured, and of sufficient strength; * * * shall have landings or balconies guarded by iron railings not less than 3 feet in height, and embracing 1 or more windows at each story, and connecting with the interior by easily accessible and unobstructed openings; and the balconies or landings shall be connected by iron stairs, placed at a slant of not more than 45 degrees, protected by a well-secured handrail on both sides, with a 12-inch-wide drop ladder from the lower platform, reaching to the ground; except in cases of school buildings, iron stairs shall extend to a ground landing, and no telegraph, telephone, electric-light poles or wires, signs or other obstructions shall interfere with the construction and use of any fire. escape. SEC. 3. Any other plan or style of fire escape shall be sufficient, if approved by the chief inspector. ** * The windows or doors to each fire escape shall be of sufficient size and be located, as far as possible, consistent with accessibility from the stairways and elevator hatchways or openings, and the ladder thereof shall extend to the roof. Stationary stairs or ladders shall be provided on the inside of such establishment from the upper story to the roof * * *. Penalty. For neglect or refusal to comply with any of these provisions, not exceeding $200 and imprisonment 1 to 2 months; and also additional penalties in cases of a fire occurring in absence of such escapes as provided by law. In addition to the fire-escape law referred to above there are specific legal requirements as to the provisions of handrails on stairways, the screening of such stairs, the outward opening of doors and the fastening of doors. These requirements are in full as follows:1 Proper and substantial handrails shall be provided on all stairways in all establishments above enumerated [i. e., manufacturing or mercantile establishment, laundry, renovating works, bakery, or printing office]. 1 Ann. Stat. of 1894, Rev. of 1901, secs. 7087f and 7087g (22d An. Rept. Com. of Labor, pp. 398, 402). And where in the opinion of the chief inspector it is necessary, the steps of said stairs * shall be substantially covered with rubber, securely fastened thereon. * * * The stairs shall be properly screened at the sides and bottom. All doors leading in or to such establishments aforesaid shall be so constructed as to open outwardly where practicable, and shall be neither locked, bolted, nor fastened during working hours. Penalty. First offense, not more than $50; second offense, not more than $100, to which may be added not more than 10 days' imprisonment; third offense, not less than $250, and not more than 30 days' imprisonment. The enforcement of all the provisions quoted above-regarding fire escapes, stairways, doors, etc.—is charged in full to the State department of inspection of factories, workshops, etc.1 CONDITIONS FOUND. Of the 47 establishments visited in Indiana, 36 had buildings 3 or more stories in height, the material of construction being brick, with inside floors, doors, etc., usually of wood. The following table classifies the buildings of these 36 establishments by height, and shows the number in each group having certain important means of fire protection. KIND OF FIRE PROTECTION, BY HEIGHT AND CHARACTER OF CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS INDIANA. [Each entry represents 1 building. When an establishment has more than 1 building and the several buildings are not uniform as regards fire protection, the principal building has been selected as representative. Figures for fire escapes wholly or partly of wood are not shown in the table."] 1 Acts of 1903, ch. 222, sec. 7, and Ann. Stat. of 1894, Rev. of 1901, sec. 7087v (22d An. Rept. Com. of Labor, pp. 402, 408). 2 Data not reported for 1 establishment. * In 3 cases the water was kept in barrels, with buckets close by. Examination of this table shows that in 14 of the 36 buildings 3 stories or more in height, no incombustible fire escapes were provided; no report being received from 1 establishment. In 3 of these cases no persons were regularly employed above the second floor. In each of the remaining 11 buildings, 7 of which were 3 stories and 4 four stories in height, it was reported that persons worked above the second floor. The law authorizes the chief inspector to exempt by written certificate any building from the requirement of outside fire escapes if he considers the other means of escape sufficient. In none of the 11 cases cited were exemption permits on file. Fire escapes constructed of wood were found in 2 establishments. MICHIGAN. SUMMARY OF LEGISLATION. The Michigan law requires fire escapes on factories, etc., when the State factory inspectors regard such escapes as necessary. The kind of fire escape to be used is also left to the discretion of the inspectors. The law reads: 1 Fire escapes shall be provided for all manufacturing establishments, hotels, stores, theaters, schools, halls, apartment houses, and public buildings 2 or more stories in height, if in the opinion of the factory inspector it is necessary to insure the safety of persons in such places. Said fire escapes or means of egress, or as many thereof as may be deemed sufficient by the inspector, shall be provided, and where it is necessary to provide fire escapes on the outside of such buildings, they shall consist of landings and balconies at each floor above the first, to be built according to specifications provided by the factory inspector. Factory inspectors shall, in writing, notify the owner, agent, or lessee of such [buildings] * * * of the required location and specifications of such fire escapes as may be ordered. Penalty.-$5 to $100, or imprisonment 10 to 90 days, or both. The law also contains certain provisions regarding the construction of stairways and the outward opening or sliding of doors. These provisions are as follows:2 * * * Stairways with substantial handrails shall be provided in manufacturing establishments, and where in the opinion of the factory inspector it is necessary the steps of such stairs shall be substantially covered with rubber, securely fastened thereon, for the better safety of persons employed * * * 1 Acts of 1901, act No. 113, sec. 6, as amended by act No. 140, Acts of 1907, and idem, sec. 18 (22d An. Rept. Com. of Labor, pp. 659, 662). The act of 1909, act No. 285, which consolidates and revises the labor laws, does not make any changes in the sections regarding fire escapes (Bulletin of the Bureau of Labor, No. 85, p. 658). 2 Idem, sec. 7; and idem, sec. 18 (22d An. Rept. Com. of Labor, pp. 660, 662). |