ARCHITECTURAL IMPACT of 19th-CENTURY FIRE REGULATIONS: A Case Study of New York Tenement Houses

Year 2023, Volume: 1 Issue: 1, 57 - 74, 20.11.2023

Burçin Yenice Ezgi Korkmaz

Abstract

The primary concern for fire safety is the correct design of fire escape routes that enable users to safely exit in case of a fire. Besides cultural, social, and economic influences, the impact of historical fires and regulations established over time should also be considered in architectural design. The term “tenement house” refers to rental worker housing that emerged during the Industrial Revolution, particularly in England and other industrial cities. These structures initially spread without proper planning, resulting in overcrowded living conditions for large families in inadequate spaces. Moreover, the 19th-century fires caused substantial damage and loss, necessitating a design re-evaluation. Fire data related to worker housing underscores the risks of living in crowded spaces without fire escape routes and inadequate fire-resistant materials, which can lead to severe damage and fatalities in potential fires. The scope of the study involves examining the fires that occurred in 19th-century New York rental worker housing and exploring how changes in municipal construction laws due to these fires have influenced architectural design. The study examines reports from municipal inspection commissions, construction laws and regulations, books by social journalists and documentarians of the era (such as Jacob Riis), and historical newspapers like The New York Times to reveal changes in architectural design. It aims to highlight the impact of mandatory laws and standards during the building design phase. This article provides a foundation for future research, assessing how regulations and laws have influenced architectural design over approximately 100 years.

Keywords

New York Tenement Houses, fire-safe design, 19th-century fire regulations, tenement housing acts.

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