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SECTION II
FIRE PROTECTION AND PREVENTION
This Government activity is situated on a plot of ground
of about fifteen acres bordering on the high value district of
Washington to the east. It consists of a group of three
buildings with the longer axis parallel to and about 300 feet
south of Pennsylvania Avenue. The Executive Mansion is on line
with the Jefferson Memorial to the south and 16th Street to
the north, and is flanked by the Executive Office Building
and the East Wing.
The past fire record has been excellent, the last fire
of any consequence being in 1929 when the Executive Offices
were involved. This excellent record is due to the careful
and constant supervision that is given this Activity and the
high general standards of order and neatness that are main-
tained.
EXPOSURE
The principal exposure to fire from outside sources is
from the State Department Building across West Executive
Avenue. This exposure hazard is considered moderate. No
special treatment for the Executive Office Building against
this exposure is considered necessary since there is open
space of 100 feet between buildings.
CONSTRUCTION
ARCHIVES
STATE
A. EXECUTIVE MANSION
The oldest of the group of buildings is the Executive
Mansion which is 4 stories and attic in height, locally
referred to as 3 stories, attic and basement, because of
the fact that the rear of the building is lower than the front.
The exterior walls are of masonry and the floors and roof of
ire-resistive construction except the second floor which is
of the quick-burning type. There is an inherent defect in the
design of the building in that the stair shafts which form
vertical flues are not cut off from the floors SO that a fire
originating on a lower floor might spread unobstructedly
throughout the entire building. This condition, combined with
inadequate exit facilities, introduces a life hazard to those
occupying the 2nd and 3rd floors.
Fortunately many of the common hazards do not exist as
the building does not have its own heating plant, steam being
supplied from the outside. Gas is no longer available, as
electricity is used for illumination and cooking. The various
maintenance shops have been placed outside in a detached
building. There is no storage on lower floors.
C-69090
4
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"ocrText": "SECTION II\nFIRE PROTECTION AND PREVENTION\nThis Government activity is situated on a plot of ground\nof about fifteen acres bordering on the high value district of\nWashington to the east. It consists of a group of three\nbuildings with the longer axis parallel to and about 300 feet\nsouth of Pennsylvania Avenue. The Executive Mansion is on line\nwith the Jefferson Memorial to the south and 16th Street to\nthe north, and is flanked by the Executive Office Building\nand the East Wing.\nThe past fire record has been excellent, the last fire\nof any consequence being in 1929 when the Executive Offices\nwere involved. This excellent record is due to the careful\nand constant supervision that is given this Activity and the\nhigh general standards of order and neatness that are main-\ntained.\nEXPOSURE\nThe principal exposure to fire from outside sources is\nfrom the State Department Building across West Executive\nAvenue. This exposure hazard is considered moderate. No\nspecial treatment for the Executive Office Building against\nthis exposure is considered necessary since there is open\nspace of 100 feet between buildings.\nCONSTRUCTION\nARCHIVES\nSTATE\nA. EXECUTIVE MANSION\nThe oldest of the group of buildings is the Executive\nMansion which is 4 stories and attic in height, locally\nreferred to as 3 stories, attic and basement, because of\nthe fact that the rear of the building is lower than the front.\nThe exterior walls are of masonry and the floors and roof of\nire-resistive construction except the second floor which is\nof the quick-burning type. There is an inherent defect in the\ndesign of the building in that the stair shafts which form\nvertical flues are not cut off from the floors SO that a fire\noriginating on a lower floor might spread unobstructedly\nthroughout the entire building. This condition, combined with\ninadequate exit facilities, introduces a life hazard to those\noccupying the 2nd and 3rd floors.\nFortunately many of the common hazards do not exist as\nthe building does not have its own heating plant, steam being\nsupplied from the outside. Gas is no longer available, as\nelectricity is used for illumination and cooking. The various\nmaintenance shops have been placed outside in a detached\nbuilding. There is no storage on lower floors.\nC-69090\n4"
}