Chap. 381.—An, ACT to amend and re-enact section 671 of the Code of Vir-
_, ginia as, enacted into law by chapter 471 of the acts of 1928 commonly
_’ known as the school Code, relating to school houses and the construction
thereof, and providing for fire drills, fire exits and escapes, and making
the violation of this section a misdemeanor. [H B 367]

Approved March 24, 1930

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That section
six hundred and seventy-one of the Code of Virginia, as enacted into
law by chapter four hundred and seventy-one of the acts of nineteen
hundred and twenty-eight, be amended and re-enacted so as to read
as follows:

Section 671. No 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 superintendent 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 school building or addition thereto shall be approved,
unless the sate 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 1s
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 independent 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 school houses, as aforesaid, shall provide for the admission 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 out-
houses or water closets for each of the school houses under its control,
unless the said school houses have suitable, convenient and sanitary
water closets erected within same. Said outhouses 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 school buildings and additions shall have all halls, doors, stair-
ways, seats, passage-ways and aisles, and all lighting and heating ap-
pliances and apparatus, arranged to facilitate egress in case of fire or
accidents, and to afford the requisite and proper accommodations for
public protection in such cases. All exit doors in any 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 school
house hereafter erected, of two stories or more, shall be equipped with
an adequate number of fire-escapes, or with internal fire-proof stair-
ways, the number thereot to be determined by the division superin-
tendent and approved by the superintendent of public instruction. No
public school shall be allowed in any building which is not in such
condition and provided with such conveniences 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 thence-
forth 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. (Code six hundred and seventy-three,
six hundred and seventy-four and six hundred and seventy-five. )

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 school buildings within the State, and shall have the power to
close any school that the State board of education considers a fre
hazard, and also shall have the power to recommend such changes in
construction as shall make said building reasonably safe in the opinion
of the State board of education.