Chap. 375.—An ACT to amend and re-enact section 671 of the Code of Virginia,
as heretofore amended, in relation to plans and requirements for the con-
struction of public school buildings, condemnation of unsafe or unfit buildings,
fire escapes and exits, and fire drills, so as to authorize the State Board of
Education to require such changes in public school buildings as may be
necessary for safety against fire and panic hazards, and to withhold from
any county, city or town failing to meet such requirements certain State
school funds. [H B 477]

Approved March 28, 1936

1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia, That section
six hundred and seventy-one of the Code of Virginia, as heretofore
amended, be amended and re-enacted so as to read as follows:

Section 671. No public school house shall be contracted for,
erected, or added to, until the plans and specifications therefor shall
have been submitted to and approved in writing by the division super-
intendent of schools and the plans and specifications for said building
or addition have been approved by the State superintendent. No
plans for the erection of any public school building or addition
thereto shall be approved, unless the same shall provide at least fifteen
square feet of floor space and a minimum of one hundred and
seventy-five cubic feet of air space for each pupil to be accommodated
in each study or recitation room therein, and no such plans shall be
approved unless provision is made therein for assuring at least thirty
cubic feet of pure air every minute per pupil, and the facilities for
exhausting the foul and vitiated air therein shall be positive and inde-
pendent of atmospheric changes; provided, however, that a system
of ventilation requiring less than thirty cubic feet of pure air per
minute per pupil, but in no case less than three air changes per hour
may be adopted by the State Board of Education in any single case,
subject to the approval of the State Board of Health. All ceilings
shall be at least twelve feet in height.

All public school houses, as aforesaid, shall provide for the admis-
sion of light from the left, or from the left and rear of the pupils, and
the total light area must be at least twenty per centum of the floor
space. Every school board shall provide at least two suitable and
convenient outhouses or water closets for each of the school houses
under its control, unless the said school houses have suitable, con-
venient and sanitary water closets erected within same. Said out-
houses or water closets shall be entirely separated, each from the
other, and shall have separate means of access. School boards shall
see that said outhouses or water closets are kept in a clean and
wholesome condition.
All public school buildings and additions shall have all halls,
doors, stairways, seats, passage-ways and aisles, and all lighting and
heating appliances and apparatus, arranged to facilitate egress in case
of fire or accidents, and to afford the requisite and proper accom-
modations for public protection in such cases. All exit doors in any
public school house of two or more stories in height shall open
outwardly. No staircase shall be constructed except with straight
runs, changes in direction being made by platforms. No doors shall
open immediately upon a flight of stairs, but a landing at least the
width of the doors shall be provided between such stairs and such
doorway. Every public school house hereafter erected, of two stories
or more, shall be equipped with an adequate number of fire-escapes,
or with internal fireproof stairways or with other adequate means
of exit on a ground level, the number thereof to be determined by
the division superintendent and approved by the Superintendent of
Public Instruction. No public school shall be allowed in any build-
ing which is not in such condition and provided with such conveni-
ences as are required by a due regard to decency and health; and
when a school house appears to the division superintendent of schools
to be unfit for occupancy, it shall be his duty to condemn the same
and immediately to give notice thereof, in writing, to the members
of the school board, and thenceforth no public school shall be held
therein, nor shall any part of the State or county fund be applied to
support any school in such house until the division superintendent
shall certify, in writing, to the board that he is satisfied with the
condition of such building and with the appliances pertaining thereto.

In every public school in Virginia there shall be a fire drill at least
once every week during the first month of each term, and oftener,
if necessary, in order that pupils may be thoroughly practiced in said
drills. During the remainder of the term fire drills shall be held at
least bi-monthly,

The State Board of Education shall make a survey of all non-
fire-proof public school buildings within the State, and shall have the
power to close any school that the State Board of Education con-
siders a fire hazard, and also shall have the power to enforce such
changes in construction, including alterations, erection of fire escapes,
additional safety exits, and such other internal or external altera-
tions as in the opinion of the State Board of Education are necessary
to make the: building reasonably safe to occupants against fire and
panic hazards. For failure on the part of the school board of any
county, town or city to comply with the recommendations and re-
quirements of the State Board of Education to make corrections, erect
fire escapes, provide safety exits and such alterations as may be
deemed necessary for the safety of the occupants concerned, the State
Board of Education, in its discretion, may withhold from such county,
town or city such State school funds allotted to said county, town or
city, except such part thereof as is required by the Constitution of
Virginia to be paid such county, city or town, until the recommenda-
tions and requirements of the State Board of Education have been
complied with.