(A) Required. Buildings of three stories or more in height now or hereafter erected in the city shall be provided with sufficient well-constructed, easily-accessible fire escapes or other suitable means of exit. All fire escapes shall be kept clear of all obstructions whatsoever. They shall be placed at the ends of halls or passages with a door or window on each floor to each fire escape in the building. All halls and passages must extend to outer walls of buildings hereafter built. The doors and windows leading to fire escapes above the first story shall be provided with fastenings that can be easily opened.
(B) Specifications.
(1) Material. All fire escapes shall be constructed entirely of iron.
(2) Side rails. The ladder shall have side rails of three-eighths inch by one-half inch wrought iron, placed not less than 14 inches apart.
(3) Rounds. The rounds shall be five-eighths inch diameter, placed 14 inches apart and well secured to rails.
(4) Height. The ladder shall extend from a height of ten feet above the sidewalk or ground to a distance of 2 feet above and over the fire wall.
(5) Hinged extension. There shall be a hinged extension to all ladders where the first balcony is more than 12 feet from the ground and is so situated that a fixed ladder would not interfere with doors or windows below; this extension shall reach from within six feet of the ground to the first balcony.
(C) Balcony.
(1) Required. A balcony not less than two feet and six inches wide by a length equal to the full width of the window or door and width of ladder space shall be constructed on each floor at each ladder.
(2) Floor. The balconies shall have floors made strong enough to carry a load of 100 pounds to the square foot, and as approved by the Chief of Fire District I.
(3) Ladder openings. Ladder openings in the floor of balconies must not be less than 20 inches by 20 inches.
(4) Floor rail. The floor rail of all balconies shall be of three-eighths inch by two-inch wrought iron or its equivalent, and shall be supported by strong braces of three-fourths inch by two-inch wrought iron at an angle of 45 degrees.
(5) Handrails. Handrails of balconies shall be made of solid square or flat iron not less than one-half inch by one and one-half inch, securely fastened together and to the walls. Space from handrail to floor to be filled in with grille work or additional rails and uprights.
(6) Fastening to building. All balconies and ladders shall be securely fastened to brick buildings by means of bolts or rods not less than five-eighths inch diameter and not less than four inches long.
(D) Markings of fire escapes. It is hereby made the duty of every person owning or having control of any public hall, office building, hotel, school building, factory, or other structure where fire escapes are required to be kept under the laws of the state to keep red lights burning in such manner so as to indicate the place of such escape at all hours during the night, in such manner that they may be easily indicated to the occupants of such buildings in case of fire.
(E) Violation. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be subject to penalty as provided in § 10.99 of this code of ordinances.
(Prior Code, § 9-6-2) Penalty, see § 153.999