The owner, agent, occupant or person charged with the custody of any public building, auditorium, hotel, theater, lodge hall or church, and in the case of a school, the president of the board of education or the person in charge thereof and owning the same, shall be held liable for the equipment and maintenance of the apparatus as is required in this Chapter for the maintenance and safety of all exits, stairs, doors, windows or passageways.
('68 Code, § 72.01)