by JONATHAN LEMIRE
The FDNY Wednesday proposed a sweeping modernization of the city's fire code, the first such overhaul of the regulations in nearly a century, officials said.
The suggested changes to the code - which establishes standards for fire safety throughout the city - will be centered on new guidelines for the handling of hazardous materials and evacuation plans for crowded public places, Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta said.
"It's about modernizing the code and clarifying what is or is not permitted," said Scoppetta. "It's about improving safety for the public and for firefighters."
The reform, which started soon after Mayor Bloomberg took office, will create a 471-page document to replace the original code that was first enacted in 1913 and has only been periodically updated, Scoppetta said.
Citing lessons learned from the fatal Happyland club fire in 1990 that killed 87 people, Scoppetta said any place of assembly - like a restaurant, store, or club - that holds more than 75 people will now have to create its own fire safety plan.
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