Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Seattle Fire Department Building Code Revision Records, 1977-1983
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Seattle (Wash.). Fire Dept.
- Title
- Seattle Fire Department Building Code Revision Records
- Dates
- 1977-1983 (inclusive)19771983
- Quantity
- 1.2 cubic feet, (3 boxes)
- Collection Number
- 2810-07
- Summary
- Records from the Fire Marshal's Office related to the update and revision of Seattle’s high rise building codes.
- Repository
-
Seattle Municipal Archives
Seattle Municipal Archives
Office of the City Clerk
City of Seattle
PO Box 94728
98124-4728
Seattle, WA
Telephone: 2062337807
Fax: 2063869025
archives@seattle.gov - Access Restrictions
-
Records are open to the public.
- Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- Funding for processing this record series was provided through a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
Historical NoteReturn to Top
A Fire Department was established by City Charter in 1883. It provided for equipment purchases, but not for hiring of firefighters. Following the Great Fire of 1889, a professional fire department was created with five district fire stations and purchase of a fire boat. The first Fire Chief of the professional department was Gardner Kellogg who served 1890-1892 and 1895-1901. A Board of Fire Commissioners was established by the 1890 City Charter to prescribe rules and regulations for the Department. The Board's responsibilities included enforcing rules violations, and appointing the Fire Chief and all subordinate officers. The Board was abolished with passage of a new City Charter in 1896. The position of Fire Marshal was established in 1901 with responsibility for inspecting buildings to insure they were in compliance the ordinances related to building construction and fire protection. The Fire Marshal also inspects all fires and reports on the causes. The Department's mission is to curtail loss of life and property by fire through inspection and certification of building safety systems, public education, regulation of hazardous material storage, and fire suppression.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Records from the office of the Fire Marshal related to the update and revision of Seattle’s high rise building codes in the early 1980s. On November 21, 1980, the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, was destroyed by a fire that resulted in the deaths of 85 people. Due to a lack of sprinkler systems throughout most of the casino and other factors pertaining to the local building code exemptions, the fire spread within the hotel in anywhere from one to ten minutes, according to the initial report given by SFD Chief B. L. Hansen in his memorandum to SFD Chief R. L. Swartout. As a result of this fire, the City of Seattle together with the Fire Department drafted and passed Ordinance 110299 adding Article 93 to the Uniform Fire Code, to the Seattle Fire Code in order to facilitate improved safety conditions to building occupants. Included in the collection are drafts of the Ordinance and Article 93, reports, research notes and memoranda. Also in the collection are letters from business owners and citizens concerning the effect the new codes would have on low-income residents, as well as reports and other details concerning the financial impact on low-income housing. Records related to the changes made to the State Building Code are also included, as is information about the MGM Grand Hotel fire.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Preferred Citation
[Item and date], Seattle Fire Department Building Code Revision Records, Record Series 2810-07. Box [number], Folder [number]. Seattle Municipal Archives.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
2810-07: Seattle Fire Department Building Code Revision Records, 1977-1983Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1/1 | Article 93 - Common Ground
Reports on Low-Income Housing and High Rise Building Codes |
1981-1982 |
1/2 | Article 93 - High Rise
Minimums Drafts |
1980-1981 |
1/3 | Article 93 - High Rise
Minimums Drafts |
1981 |
1/4 | Article 93 - Notes on Draft
Sent to City Council October 20, 1982 |
1982 |
1/5 | Article 93 - Building Code
Advisory Board - Research and Notes |
1981-1982 |
1/6 | Article 93 - Building Code
Advisory Board - Research and Notes |
1981-1982 |
1/7 | Article 93 - Building Code
Recommended Changes |
1980 |
1/8 | Article 93 - Building Code
Recommended Changes |
1980 |
1/9 | Article 93 - Building and
Fire Prevention Code Advisory Board - Minutes and Notes |
1981 |
1/10 | Article 93 - Building and
Fire Code Proposed Revisions - City Council Briefing |
1980 |
2/1 | City Council Meeting -
October 20 and 25 - Captain Fletcher's Notes |
1982 |
2/2 | Correspondence - Building
Owners and Managers Association re: Article 93 |
1982-1983 |
2/3 | Correspondence - Effect of
Article 93 on Low-Income Housing |
1982 |
2/4 | Definition and Fire Loss
History |
1977-1980 |
2/5 | Article 93 - Draft of Uniform
Fire Code - October 28, 1981 |
1981 |
2/6 | Article 93 - Draft of Uniform
Fire Code - October 12, 1982 |
1982 |
2/7 | Article 93 - Draft of Uniform
Fire Code - November 2, 1982 |
1982 |
2/8 | Article 93 - Fire Prevention
Code Advisory Board - Minutes |
1982 |
2/9 | High Rise Fire Alarm
Systems |
1980 |
2/10 | International Conference of
Building Officials - Notes |
1981 |
2/11 | Article 93 - Low-Income
Housing Committee Meeting - Minutes |
1982 |
2/12 | Article 93 - Low-Income
Housing Committee Meeting - Minutes and Notes |
1982 |
2/13 | Article 93 - Low-Income
Housing Committee Meeting - Minutes and Notes |
1982 |
2/14 | Memorandum - Article 93
Report - Chief Swartout to Mayor Royer |
1982 |
2/15 | Memorandum - Meeting Minutes
SFD/DCD - Low-Income Housing and Article 93 |
1983 |
2/16 | M. G. M. Grand Hotel Fire -
Press Release Notes |
1980 |
2/17 | New York Process for High
Rise Buildings Equal to 1807 |
1981 |
2/18 | New York Equivalency for
Alternatives - Local Law 5 |
1980 |
2/19 | Press Release - Funds for
Updating Fire Codes in Low-Income High Rise Buildings |
1983 |
2/20 | Report and Materials Related
to M. G. M. Grand Hotel Fire - Building and Fire Code Revisions |
1980 |
2/21 | Report and Materials Related
to M. G. M. Grand Hotel Fire - Building and Fire Code Revisions |
1980 |
3/1 | Article 93 - Seattle High
Rise - Minimums and Equivalency Survey Wrap Up |
1981 |
3/2 | Article 93 - Seattle High
Rise - Minimums and Equivalency Citizens Recommendations |
1980 |
3/3 | Article 93 - Seattle High
Rise - Minimums and Equivalency Informatinon on Exisiting Codes |
1981 |
3/4 | Article 93 - Seattle High
Rise - Minimums and Equivalency Hotel/Lodging Association
Correspondence |
1981 |
3/5 | Article 93 - Seattle High
Rise - Minimums and Equivalency Input from Owners and Industry |
1980-1981 |
3/6 | Article 93 - Seattle High
Rise - Minimums and Equivalency Input from Owners and Industry |
1980-1981 |
3/7 | State Building Code
Changes |
1980-1981 |
3/8 | State Code Advisory Committee
- Chief Fletcher's Notes |
1981 |
3/9 | State Code Advisory Committee
- Minutes and Notes |
1981 |
3/10 | State Code Advisory Committee
- Revisions and Notes |
1980 |
3/11 | State Fire Chief Committee
Hours - Captain Fletcher |
1981 |
3/12 | Washington Administrative
Code and Article 93 Comparisons |
1981 |
3/12 | Submitted Building Code
Change |
1981 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Building laws--Washington (State)--Seattle
- Fire prevention--Washington (State)--Seattle
Corporate Names
- Seattle (Wash.). Fire Dept.
- Seattle (Wash.). Fire Marshal
Geographical Names
- Seattle (Wash.).