

After that, factories and residential buildings started installing sprinkler systems as it is one of the most efficient ways to prevent fire damage and save lives. The developers started making fire escapes in every building until 1968. In 1927, the government introduced Building Exits Code that made it obligatory for newly constructed buildings to build fireproof interior stairs. The New York City Fire Prevention Bureau was founded after this new law. This law enforced the installation of fire sprinkler systems through factories and buildings in New York City. The government passed Sullivan-Hoey Fire Prevention Law in October 1911. When the fire broke, people weren’t able to escape the building easily.Īfter this tragic incident, more than 80,000 people protested at Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue. The factory only had two exits, but one of those exits was locked by the management to avoid theft. That day, about six hundred workers were locked in a building. The authorities made building safety precautions mandatory after the death of 146 garment workers at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company. However, after new regulations, building management didn’t follow the fire safety code and the poor fire safety went on for 50 years.

Soon authorities released new building codes that allowed landlords to install exterior staircases made with wood or iron. Furthermore, it also reduced rental space. Major challenges included the cost of building interior staircases. However, there were numerous challenges in installing a fireproof staircase inside the building. According to the law, building construction companies were responsible to build fireproof exits in a building with eight or more families. The law was passed soon after an incident that took place in a street-level bakery and killed 20 people. ( Source) Deadly Fires and Fire Protectionĭue to the rise in fire emergencies in New York City, authorities passed a law in 1860 regarding fire protection. Because of overly crowded areas, fire emergencies were a common occurrence. They started living in notoriously cramped tenements and crowded apartment buildings. Many of those immigrants started low-paying jobs in the numerous factories that occupied early New York. In the 1800s, European immigrants settled in New York City in search of opportunities. Having enough of these escapes means that New York has seen enough fire emergencies in the past. Fire escapes provide a safe route to exit in case of a fire. When you are moving around in NYC, you will notice fire escapes on almost every building. Not to mention, the fire escape is also a common sight in New York City.

Want to know a quick history of building fire protection in NYC? Some of the most common imagery we associate with New York City is yellow taxis, subways, and skyscrapers.
