THE PUBLIC MIND: FIRE CHIEF: ADOPTION OF CODE WOULD ENHANCE SAFETY OF CITIZENS

To the Editor:

Kudos to ~Southeast Missourian~ reporter Jay Eastlick for the excellent series dealing with building codes (~Questions of Codes) that ran in this publication recently. The series was well researched and fairly presented, and served to enhance the knowledge of those who took the time to follow this important topic. However, there is another aspect of the property maintenance code that has yet to be addressed, and that is the issue of public safety.

As currently being considered by City Council, the 1990 Building Officials & Code Administrators (BOCA) Property Maintenance Code would provide major improvements in fire safety requirements for structures within the City of Cape Girardeau. In fact, the major intent and focus of the five major building codes in use throughout the United States is to provide minimu~m fire and life safety standards for structures.

A partial list of improvements in fire safety features that could be realized if some type of building maintenance code were to be adopted includes:

Providing a safe, continuous and unobstructed means of egress from the interior of a structure to safety (in other words, a way out of the building in the event of fire).

Insure that an adequate number of both exits and exit signs of sufficient size are provided, given the size, use and occupancy of the structure.

Insure that corridors are properly enclosed to prevent smoke contamination, while "dead end" corridors (long hallways without exits to safety) would be banned.

Provide every sleeping room located in a basement area with at least one openable window for emergency escape.

Insure that rubbish and garbage not be allowed to accumulate in stairways and hallways where it could contribute a fire hazard as well as block the way out to safety.

Ban the accumulation and storage of hazardous materials within structures.

Require that all existing firewalls, doors, ceilings and related hardware be maintained in good working order.

Maintain all existing fire protection systems, detectors, fire extinguishers, etc. in good working condition.

Require the installation of smoke detectors for all residential occupancies, and provide penalties for anyone tampering with the effectiveness of the detectors.

~~While the above list is by no means all inclusive, it provides a sampling of the real gains that stand to be made in the areas of fire and life safety if some form of property maintenance code is ultimately adopted. Other articles of the maintenance code provide basic lighting, ventilation and electrical requirements for structures, as well as provisions for administration and enforcement of its provisions.

A property maintenance code is designed to "protect the public health, safety and welfare in all existing structures, residential and nonresidential, ... by establishing minimum requirements and standards ..~.." As such, adoption of a maintenance code would not create a financial hardship for property owners who maintain their properties in a reasonable condition. In fact, as borne out by the "Questions of Codes~" series previously noted, properly maintained properties would have the effect of both increasing and stabilizing property values in the city.

To summarize, I applaud the efforts currently being expended by the City Council toward the adoption of regulations that would improve fire and life safety features in existing structures. Without adoption of the fire safety provisions, some of our citizens especially those living in older rental properties will not receive the benefits of the fire and life safety provisions as noted above. Many of these people are senior citizens, or are otherwise unable to afford better housing. Adoption of a property maintenance code will have the effect of improving the quality of life within the City of Cape Girardeau.

R~~~~obert L. Ridgeway

Fire Chief

City of Cap~e Girar~deau