TX 916 .T2 fl4 1911 z::z::z::z:;:z::z:;::z::z::;z::z::z::z;;:z:;:z::;z:;:z::z;::z::z::z::z::z:p Copy 1 I I Tennessee Hotel Inspection Law II I II I I II II inn nil RULES AND REGULATIONS STATE OF TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF HOTEL INSPECTION Lucius P. Brown STATE HOTEL INSPECTOR of i^o ^PR 24 t9^^ Tennessee Hotel Inspection Law CHAPTER G3, PUBLIC ACTS OF 1911 AN ACT to provide for the protection of and to safeguard the health of guests of hotels; to require hotels to be equipped with fire-escapes, elevators, etc., to be con- structed in a certain manner; to provide for the sanitation and disinfection of hotels; to regulate the kind and character of articles to be furnished gu,ests in their sleeping apartments and the public washrooms; to define "hotels" as used in this Act; to create the office of State Hotel Inspector, and to define his powers and duties, and to provide penalties for all violations of this Act. Section 1 . Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ten- nessee, That any building kept, used or maintained as, or advertised as or held out to the public to be, a place where sleeping accommoda- tions are furnished for pay to transients or travelers, whether meals are served therein or not to such transients or travelers, shall, for the purposes of this Act, be defined to be a hotel, and whenever the word "hotel" shall occur in this Act, it shall be construed to refer to and mean only such buildings as are described in this section. FIRE EXTINGUISHERS MUST BE PROVIDED. Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, That each and every hotel shall be provided with at least one efficient chemical or other efficient fire extinguisher on each floor for every fifteen hundred square feet or less of floor area. On each floor such extinguishers shall be placed in convenient location in the public hallway outside of the sleeping rooms, and shall always be in condition for use; or in lieu thereof such hotels located in cities having waterworks shall be equipped with not less than a two-inch standpipe with two-inch hose connection on each floor and with two-inch hose on each floor of sufficient length to reach and throw water into all rooms and on all parts of such floors, which hose shall always be attached to such standpipe, and which standpipe shall always be connected with city water mains with water turned on or supplied with other adequate pressure. HALLS AND FIRE ESCAPES. Sec. 3. Be it further enacted, That every hotel of two or more stories hereafter constructed or remodeled shall be provided with a hall on each floor extending from one outside wall to the other, and each end of such hall shall be equipped with an ample opening and with an iron 4 HOTEL INSPECTION LAW fire-escape on the outside of the building, connected with each floor above the first, and at each opening to such fire-escape a red light shall be placed and kept burning during all hours in the night time. And in all hotels containing fifty or more rooms a competent night watchman shall be kept on duty from 9 p. m. to 6 a. m., whose duty it shall be to patrol the house not less than once every hour, and each hotel proprietor shall provide such watchman with a timekeeper, or some suitable device made to insure the punctual performance of his duty. Each fire-escape shall be well fastened and secured, and shall have a landing not less than four feet in length and two feet in width, guarded by an iron rail not less than thirty inches in height at each floor above the ground floor. Such landings shall be connected to each other by iron stairways not less than two feet wide, placed at an angle of not more than forty-five degrees and protected by well secured handrails on both sides of such stairway and reaching to the first floor above the ground floor, and with a drop-ladder twelve inches wide reaching to the ground from the lower platform. Such fire-escape shall be sufificient if a perpendicular iron ladder be used between the platforms instead of the stairways, provided such ladder is placed at the extreme outside of the platform and at least two feet from the wall of the building, and provided said ladder is equipped with iron rounds not more than fifteen inches apart and not less than three- fourths of an inch in thickness. The way of egress to such fire-escapes shall at all times be kept clear and free from all obstructions of every nature and kind. Storm doors and storm windows shall be consid- ered obstructions for the purpose of this Act, and such way of egress shall at all times be kept unbolted. There shall be posted and main- tained in a conspicuous place in each hall a printed notice, in charac- ters not less than three inches high, calling attention to and directing the way to such fire-escapes. ELEVATOR SHAFTS. Sec. 4. Be it further enacted, That the shaft of each passenger and freight elevator in each hotel equipped with such passenger or freight elevator hereafter erected or remodeled shall be enclosed with a sheet- ing of iron, brick or stone, as nearly airtight as practicable, and with tight doors to such shaft-way, or there shall be automatic trap-doors at each floor in such shaft, either of which appliances shall be built in the most approved m.anner for the prevention of the spreading of fires by means of shaft. STATE OF TENNESSEE SEWERAGE SYSTEM. Sec. 5. Be it further enacted, That each hotel located in any town or city having a system of sewerage shall be well drained, constructed and plumbed according to approved established sanitary principles, and all hotels shall be kept clean and in a sanitary condition through- out and free from efifluvia arising from any sewer, drain, privy or other source within the control of the owner, manager, agent or other per- son in charge of such hotel, and shall be provided with water-closets or privies, properly screened with wire at the entrance and in the rear and of sanitary design, for the separate use of males and females, which water-closets and privies shall be cleansd and disinfected as often as may be necessary to keep them at all times in a sanitary con- dition; provided, however, that in all cities, towns or villages where waterworks have been established and are being conducted, it shall be lawful only to install and use water-closets in connection with such hotel, and any other form of accommodation in such cities, towns or villages is hereby expressly prohibited. BEDDING. Sec. 6. Be it further enacted, That each hotel shall hereafter pro- vide each bed, bunk, cot or other sleeping place for the use of the guests, with clean sheets of sufficient length and width to reach the entire length and width of the bed, and with the upper sheet to be of sufficient length to fold back over the bedding at the upper end or head of such bed, bunk, cot or other sleeping place, twleve inches or more, and no sheets or pillow cases used thereon for a guest shall be used for another guest until they ha\-e been washed and dried thor- oughly. CLEAN TOWELS TO BE PROVIDED ROLLER TOWELS ILLEGAL. Sec. 7. Be it further enacted, That each hotel shall furnish the guest or guests in each room with clean towels, and fresh towels shall be placed in each room on the arrival and installation of each new guest. All towels in the public washrooms maintained for all the guests shall be clean and sanitary, and no towels of the so-called roller or endless towel type shall be furnished for the use of guests in such public washrooms. 6 HOTEL INSPECTION LAW ALL PARTS OF HOTEL TO BE KEPT CLEAN — DISINFECTION. Sec. 8. Be it further enacted, That all parts of each hotel, including outbuildings, shall be kept clean and free from dust and deposits of dirt of all kinds, and all doors and windows shall be properly screened to prevent flies and insects of all kinds from getting into the building ; and all beds, bunks, cots and other sleeping places, and all sleeping rooms in which transients or travelers are accommodated, shall be thoroughly disinfected at least once in every three months, and as much oftener as may be required by the State Hotel Inspector, as provided for by this Act. Such disinfecting shall be done in accord- ance with rules to be prescribed by the Secretary of the State Board of Health and the State Hotel Inspector. RULES AND REGULATIONS. Sec. 9. Be it further enacted, That the State Hotel Inspector, as hereinafter provided for, and the Secretary of the State Board of Health, are hereby directed, authorized and empowered to make all reasonable rules and regulations for the purpose of carrying this Act into effect. STATE HOTEL INSPECTOR AND ASSISTANTS. Sec. 10. Be it further enacted. That the Pure Food and Drugs In- spector of the State is hereby constituted ex-ofificio State Hotel Inspector and the duly appointed Assistant Food and Drugs Inspec- tors of the State and the County Health Officer of each county in the State, and the City Health Officer of each city in which such office now exists, or may hereafter be created, are hereby constituted ex-officio Assistant Hotel Inspectors, and such assistants shall be under the exclusive direction, supervision and control of the State Hotel Inspector. Each hotel in this State shall be inspected at least once in each year and as much oftener as the State Hotel Inspector may deem necessary and advisable. The State Hotel Inspector and assistants, as provided for, are hereby granted police powers for the purpose of enabling them to enter any hotel at reasonable hours to determine w^hether the provi- sions of this Act are being complied with. The State Hotel Inspector shall keep a complete set of books for public use and inspection, showing the condition of each hotel so in- spected, together with the names of the owners, proprietors and managers thereof, the sanitary condition thereof, the number and con- HOTEL INSPECTION LAW / dition of its fire-escapes, elevators, etc., and any other information that the State Hotel Inspector may deem advisable for the betterment of the hotel service in the State. All statutes and municipal ordi- nances or regulations providing for the inspection of hotels, and which are now enforced by certain State or county officials, shall hereafter be enforced exclusively by the State Hotel Inspector and his assistants. No extra compensation shall be allowed the State Hotel Inspector or his assistants for performing the duties imposed on them and each of them under the terms and provisions of this Act. CERTIFICATES MUST BE DISPLAYED. Sec. 11. Be it further enacted, That each Inspector, upon inspect- ing any hotel, shall report the condition of such hotel to the State Hotel Inspector, who shall, if such inspection shows the hotel has complied with this Act, and with the rules and regulations hereinbefore authorized to be made by the State Hotel Inspector and the Secretary of the State Board of Health, issue a certificate to that effect and de- liver the same to the owner, manager, agent or person in charge of such hotel, which certificate shall be displayed in a conspicuous place in the office of such hotel and shall show the date of such inspection. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, association or corporation to operate, keep open or use any hotel for travelers or transients unless a certificate of inspection as provided for in this Act, and by the rules and regulations herein authorized, shall have been issued to such per- son, firm, association or corporation. VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES. Sec. 12. Be it further enacted, That every owner, manager, pro- prietor, agent, lessee or other person in charge of and conducting any hotel who shall fail to comply with any of the provisions of this Act, or with the rules and regulations promulgated by the State Hotel Inspector and the Secretary of the State Board of Health, as herein- before provided for, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be fined not less than SIO.OO nor more than $100.00 for each offense, and each day after sufficient notice has been given that such hotel is being carried on and conducted in violation of any of the terms and provisions of this Act shall constitute a sep- arate ofifense. 8 HOTEL INSPECTION LAW PENALTY FOR INTERFERENCE WITH INSPECTORS. Sec. 13. Be it further enacted, That any person who shall obstruct or hinder an inspector in the proper discharge of his duties under this Act, or the rules and regulations adopted under the terms of this Act by the State Hotel Inspector, and the Secretary of the State Board of Health, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not less than $10.00 nor more than $100.00 for every such offense. FAILURE OF ASSISTANT INSPECTORS IN DUTY. Sec 14. Be it further enacted, That it shall be a misdemeanor for the State Hotel Inspector or the Assistant Inspectors, as provided for in this Act, to fail to perform the duties required and exacted of them under the terms of this Act or the rules and regulations promulgated by the State Hotel Inspector and the Secretary of the State Board of Health, and upon conviction such inspectors shall be fined not less than $10.00 nor more than $100.00 for every such offense. ■ fines to be used towards enforcement OF ACT. Sec 15. Be it further enacted, That all fines collected under the provisions of this Act shall be paid to the State Treasury and shall be used and applied in assisting the carrying out of the full purpose and intent of this Act. Such funds shall be paid out by warrants of the State Comptroller upon certified bills being filed, approved by the State Hotel Inspector. EACH SECTION TO BE VALID. Sec 16. Be it further enacted. That each section of this Act is hereby declared to be separate and independent of all other sections hereof, and the invalidity of any section shall not impair or destroy the other sections hereof, as they would have been passed by the Gen- eral Assembly if such invalid sections had been stricken out at the time of the passage of this Act. Sec 17. Be it further enacted. That this Act take effect from and after January 1, 1912, the public welfare requiring it. Passed July 5, 1911. A. M. Leach, Speaker of the House of Representatives. N. Baxter, Jr., Speaker of the Senate Approved July G, 1911. Ben W. Hooper, Governor. STATE OF TENNESSEE 9 CHAPTER 178, ACTS 1S99. AX ACT to provide for the better protection of life against fire in hotels and lodging houses in the State. HOTELS AND LODGING HOUSES TO PROVIDE ROPE OR ROPE LADDER. Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ten- nessee, That it is hereby made the duty of every keeper or proprietor of every hotel or lodging house in the State over two stories in height to provide and securely fasten in every lodging room above the second story which has an outside window, and is used for the accommoda- tion of guests, or employes, a rope or rope ladder for the escape of the lodgers therein in case of fire, of at least one inch in diameter, which shall be securely fastened within in each room, as near a window as practicable, and of sufficient length to reach therefrom to the ground on the outside of such hotel or lodging house, and made of strong ma- terial, and as secure against becoming inflamed as practicable. Such rope or rope ladder shall be kept in good repair and condition. In lieu of a rope or rope ladder there may be substituted any other ap- pliance that may be deemed of equal or greater utility by the fire department or other authority as ma\ have control of fire regulations in the city or town where such hotel or lodging house is located, but such appliance shall in all cases be so constructed as to be under the control and management of any lodger in such room. IRON BALCONIES AND STAIRS. Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, That every hotel or lodging house in this State, over three stories in height, shall be provided without delay with permanent iron balconies, with iron stairs leading from one bal- cony to the other, to be placed at the end of each hall above the third story in case such hotel is over one hundred and fifty feet in length, and in other cases such number as may be directed by the fire de- partment or such other authority as may have the control of fire regu- lations in city or town where such hotel or lodging house is located. Such balconies and iron stairs shall be constructed at the expense of the owner of such hotel or lodging house. GUESTS TO BE INFORMED OF ESCAPES. Sec. 3. Be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of every such proprietor or keeper of any hotel or lodging house to call attention to the fact that this act has been complied with, and the part of such room where such coil of rope or rope ladder is fastened. 10 HOTEL INSPECTION LAW VIOLATION AND MISDEMEANOR PENALTY. Sec. 4. Be it further enacted, That any violation of any of the pro- visions of this Act hereinbefore contained shall be deemed a misde- meanor, and indictable as such; and any person convicted thereof shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars nor less than fifty dollars. NIGHT WATCHMAN. Sec. 5. Be it further enacted, That in all hotels or lodging houses containing more than fifty rooms, and being four or more stories high, the proprietor or lessee of each hotel or lodging house shall employ and keep a competent night watchman. Sec. 6. Be it further enacted. That every proprietor of such hotel or lodging house who shall fail to comply with the requirement of Section Five of this Act shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction, shall be punished in the same manner as pro- vided in Section Four in this Act. given IN CHARGE TO GRAND JURY. Sec. 7. Be it further enacted. That this Act shall be given in charge to the grand jury at each session, and they shall make due inquiry and indict and bring to trial all parties found guilty of violating any of its provisions. Sec. S. Be it further enacted. That all fines imposed and collected for any violation of the provisions of this Act shall be paid to the trus- tee of the county where such offense is committed, and for the use and benefit of the public common schools thereof. TWO STAIRWAYS. Sec. 9. Be it further enacted, That all hotels or lodging houses hereafter constructed in this State, over two stories in height, and over one hundred feet in length, shall be constructed so that there shall be at least two stairways for the use of guests leading from the ground floor to the upper story. Sec. 10. Be it further enacted. That this Act take effect sixty days after its passage, the public welfare requiring. Passed March 18, 1899. Seid Waddell, • Speaker of the Senate. Joseph W. Byrns, Speaker of the House of Representatives. Approved March 25, 1899. Benton McMillin, Governor. STATE OF TENNESSEE 1 1 Department of Hotel Inspection RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR INSPECTION OF HOTELS. As required by law, the following rules and regulations are made by the Secretary of the State Board of Health and the State Hotel Inspector, for the enforcement of Chapter 63, Acts of 1911, and all other statutes pertaining to the inspection of hotels. These rules and regulations take effect January 1, 1912. Due notice will be given of changes. J. A. Albright, Secretary Tennessee State Board of Health. Lucius P. Brown, State Hotel Inspector of Tennessee. REGULATION 1. inspection. By Section 10, of the Hotel Inspection Law, each County and City Health Ofificer is ex-ofKicio an Assistant Hotel Inspector under the direction and control of the State Hotel Inspector. Such sani- tary officers are hereby charged with the inspection of hotels in ac- cordance with the law, and the regulations hereinafter set forth, and shall make inspections and certify same to the State Inspector prior to the issuance of certificates to the hotel. The Food and Drug Inspectors are charged with the inspection of all hotels, as they go from place to place in the performance of their duty under the Food and Drugs laws. The Food and Drug Inspectors shall check the inspection made by the local officials, observe if hotel has a certificate of inspection properly posted, and perform such other duties as the law and the State Hotel Inspector may direct. REGULATION 2. certificates. The issuance of a certificate for conducting the business of a hotel, as required under the pro^•isions of this law, shall be conditioned upon the compliance with the law, rules and regulations as certified to by the local inspectors aforesaid, and the approval of said inspec- tion by the State Hotel Inspector. 12 RULES AND REGULATIONS REGULATION 3. TRANSIENT GUESTS. A transient guest, within the meaning of the law, shall be defined as a guest who is not a constant and continuous occupant of such hotel, or room therein, for more than a month, or not boarding by the month, or taking board and room for less time than by the month. All hotels or public lodging houses or places where sleeping accommo- dations are furnished for pay to transient guests conforming to the definition herewith, shall be construed in the definition of hotel in accordance with Section 1 of Chapter 63, Acts of 1911. FIRE PROTECTION. REGULATION 4. LIGHTS. At each opening to fire escapes^ both those now existing and all hereafter installed, there shall be placed a red light, which shall be kept burning during all hours in the night time. If electric, such red lights shall be on an independent and distinct circuit, separate and apart from all other electrical circuits in the building. Oil lamps may be used, provided the same are equipped with a metal bowl. No other form of light is permitted to be used. The provision of such light will in all cases be insisted on, and will be considered as a compliance as to requirements for fire-escape lights, with the pro- visions of Section 3, Chapter 178, Acts of 1S99. REGULATION 5. WATCHMEN. The time recording device to be used by the night watchman, re- quired to be used in hotels of fifty or more rooms, must be a standard device approved by the National Board of Fire Underwriters, or have the written approval of the local fire marshal or fire chief. No portion of the hotel, from the basement to the top floor, shall be visited less frequently than once every hour from 9 p. m. to 6 a. m. REGULATION 6. FIRE-ESCAPES. Fire-escapes shall be well fastened and secured and shall be of such number and of such material, design and construction as shall DEPARTMENT OF HOTEL INSPECTION 13 receive the written approval of tlie local fire marshal or the fire chief, and shall have a landing not less than four feet in length and two feet in width, guarded by iron rails, not less than thirty inches from platform. An iron grille or heavy screen wire may be added, such grille or screen to be securely fastened to platform and rail. Such landings shall be connected with each other by wrought or malleable iron or steel stairways not less than two feet wide with' steps of not less than six inches tread, placed at an angle of not more than forty- five degrees, protected by tw^o or more well-secured guard rails on both sides of such stairways, and reaching to the first floor above the ground floor, and with a drop-ladder not less than tw^elve inches wide from the lower platform reaching to the ground. Such fire-escapes shall be sufficient if a perpendicular wrought iron or steel ladder be used between the platforms instead of the stairways, provided such ladder is placed at the extreme outside of the platform and at least three feet from the wall of the building, and provided said ladder is equipped with iron rounds not more than fifteen inches apart and not less than three-fourths inch in thickness and the side rails of which are not smaller than three-eighths by two inches if rectangular, or one and a half inch gas-piping if round. In all cases there shall be a ladder extending from the topmost platform to at least three feet above the fire wall or coping on the roof. In no event shall ladders pass directly in front of an opening in the wall, nor shall stairways pass in front of an opening in the wall, unless it is structurally impossible to avoid it. The provisions of the law as to obstructions to egress and the posting of notices must be literally observed. Fire-escapes must be kept adequately painted at all times to preserve the metal parts from rust. Every hotel now existing in the State of over three stories in height must have iron fire-escapes in accordance with Section 2, Chapter 178, Acts of 1S99, which must conform to above specifications. Each hotel over two stories in height, which is at the same time over one hundred feet in length, must have two stairways for the use of guests from the ground floor to the top story, in accordance wath Section 9, Chapter 178, Acts of 1899. Such stairways must be con- veniently situated and of sufficient width to afford ready passage along them. REGULATION 7. ROPE FIRE-ESCAPES. All hotels, over two stories in height must have a rope fire-escape in each room, in accordance with Section 1, Chapter 178, Acts of 1899. 14 RULES AND REGULATIONS This applies, necessarily, to all hotels in existence on January 1, 1912, the date on which the Act of 1911 goes into effect. Such rope fire- escape shall be not smaller than one inch in diameter, attached to an iron chain, the chain long enough to reach outside the window sill, which chain shall be securely fastened to the casing of wall at a point not lower than three and one-half feet above the window sill, the rope to be of sufficient length to reach the ground. Such rope must be free of knots. In lieu of the above described rope and chain there may be used any form of rope fire-escape device or portable ladder approved by the State Hotel Inspector. Such chain and rope or escape device shall be kept in plain sight at all times, and shall not be covered by curtains or other obstructions. Rope must be so reeled as to insure freedom from tangle or knots, when put to use and be kept within easy reach. A card bearing the words "Fire-escape," in letters not smaller than three inches high and printed in capitals, calling atten- tion to such rope and chain or other escape device, shall be posted in a conspicuous place in each bedroom or sleeping apartment. Such rope fire-escapes will not be required in existing hotels over three stories in height which are over one hundred and fifty feet in length, provided such hotels are equipped with halls, and iron fire- escapes conforming to Regulation 6 above, and to hotels equipped therewith as provided in Section 2, Chapter 178, Acts of 1899. REGULATION 8. FIRE EXTINGUISHERS. Each and every hotel, regardless of size, is required by law to be provided with at least one efficient chemical fire extinguisher of ap- proved pattern to every 1 ,500 square feet or less of floor area on each floor. The only type of chemical fire extinguisher approved by the State Hotel Inspection is the carbonic acid gas hand fire extinguisher, which bears the label of approval of the Underwriters' Laboratories, Incorporated. Neither chemical extinguishers of the breaking bottle type, dry powder type, or hand grenades will be approved. Such extinguishers shall be kept in convenient permanent locations in the public hallways, outside of the sleeping rooms and within easy reach, and shall be charged at intervals of not more than six months. Ex- tinguishers shall be provided with a tag, which tag shall bear the date on which the extinguisher was last charged, written in ink, and by whom charged. Hotels equipped with standpipe and hose, of not DEPARTMENT OF HOTEL INSPECTION 15 less than two inches in diameter, attached to a wet pipe, or hotels equipped with a standard automatic sprinkler system which is kept up to the requirements of the National Board of Fire Underwriters are not required to have chemical extinguishers. REGULATION 9. BLIND ROOMS. The maintaining, letting or renting for sleeping purposes of a so- called blind room, or room without at least one direct exit to the out- side of the building or light-wells, air shafts or courts, is absolutely prohibited. REGULATION 10. ELEVATOR SHAFTS. Passenger or freight elevators hereafter remodeled or erected shall be enclosed with an iron sheeting, or brick or stone, as nearly air- tight as possible and with tight doors to shut shaft, or there shall be automatic trap doors in each floor of said shaft; provided, that in hotels more than three stories in height such elevator shafts shall be enclosed in brick or stone unless otherwise specifically agreed to and approved in writing by the local fire-marshal or fire-chief and the State Hotel Inspector. REGULATION 11. GAS STOVES. Wherever gas stoves are used, either for cooking or heating, they shall be supplied with permanent iron piping and vented into a prop- erly constructed brick flue. SANITATION. REGULATION 12. SEWERAGE, DRAINAGE, ETC. Each hotel is required to comply literally with Section 5 of the law, which section is self-explanatory. REGULATION 13. INDIVIDUAL TOWELS, SHEETS, ETC. Section 7 and Section 9 of the law require than hotels shall pro- vide each bed, bunk, cot, or other sleeping place for the use of each 16 RULES AND REGULATIONS guest with clean sheets and clean pillow slips; also provide clean individual towels. The upper sheet provided for each bed, bunk, cot or other sleeping place shall be of sufficient width and length to reach the entire width and length of the bed and to fold back over the bedding at the upper end or head of such bed, bunk, cot or other sleeping place at least twelve inches, so as to afford protection from possible infection of the blankets or other permanent bedding by former occupants. The provision of law requiring the use only of clean sheets, and pillow cases, the providing of clean towels in the public washrooms and the disuse of roller-towels, must all be literally complied with. REGULATION 14. DISINFECTION. Section S of the Act requires all sleeping rooms to be thoroughly disinfected at least once in every three months. Rooms that have been occupied by any person or persons having an infectious or con- tagious disease, including the disease of tuberculosis are required to be thoroughly and efficiently disinfected before being again occupied. Disinfecting shall be carried out in the following manner: (a) Preparation of Room. The windows, doors (with the excep- tion of the one which is to give exit to the operator), registers, open- ings into keyholes, and all other apertures through which air can pass, must be sealed ; in other words, the room must be made as near air-tight as possible. Gumm.ed paper, put up in rolls, is made for this particular purpose; in lieu of it, however, common newspaper, cut into narrow strips and thoroughly wet, may be used, as it will remain in position long enough for the purpose. The paper used for sealing the cracks, whether gummed or not, should be wet with a solution of formaldehyde in order to disinfect the surface upon which it is to be pasted. All surfaces must be exposed as much as possible; closet doors opened and their contents, tog.ether with the contents of drawers, removed, scattered about and the drawers left open; mattresses set on end; pillows, bedding, clothing, etc., suspended from lines stretched across the room, or spread out on chairs or other objects, so as to ex- pose all sides; books opened and the leaves spread — in short, the room and its contents so disposed as to secure free access of the gas to all parts as fully as possible. Upon this preparation largely de- pends the thoroughness of the disinfection. DEPARTMENT OF HOTEL INSPECTION 17 {b) Disinfectants. The approved disinfectant is formaldehyde gas. 1. Disinfection by Formaldehyde {or Formalin). Three methods of procuring the formaldehyde are at present in quite general use, to-wit — the lamps which form formaldehyde gas by heating solidfied formaldehyde; the lamps which evaporate the solution of the gas and water (commercially known as formalin); and the sheet method, in which the solution of formalin is sprayed upon suspended sheets, from which it evaporates and diffuses throughout the room. These methods will all be recognized where proof shows they have been applied in a thorough manner, but the standard method of the State Board of Health, as described in Bulletin of Directions for Room Disinfection, Oct. 20, 1908, is recommended and preferred. In this, the formaldehyde gas is liberated from the solution (liquor formalde- hydi, U. S. P., or "formalin" containing about 37 per cent of gas, is usually used), by means of potassium permanganate. The process may be carried out as follows: One and one-half pints of formalin should be used for each 1,000 cubic feet of air space, and to each pint of solution use eight ounces of potassium permanganate crystals. Earthen jars or tin containers should be used and for the one and one- half pints of liquid above mentioned these should be of a capacity of not less than three gallons, for one or two quarts of liquid not less than five gallons. These large sizes are necessary because of the vigorous chemical action produced, with consequent frothing. After the room has been thoroughly prepared in the manner indicated, these jars should be placed on the floor in the center of the room, with a suffi- cient amount of powdered permanganate in them, the requisite amount of formaldehyde liquor added, and the person operating should im- mediately beat a hasty retreat, closing the door and sealing it. The chemical action generated by this process produces sufficient heat to thoroughly vaporize or liberate all the formaldehyde gas contained in the formalin solution. The room to be fumigated should be warmed to about 70 degrees F., and the air as moist as possible; the earthen jars or tin containers should be also warmed or wrapped with asbestos or some material to retain the heat generated by the chemical action, as heat is an important factor in completing the liberation of the gas in order to get the maximum quantity. After the room has remained closed for five or six hours, it should be opened up as freely as possible to admit light and air. In case of disinfection after diseases, the following precautions as to clothing, beds, etc., are to be observed: 18 RULES AND REGULATIONS Heavy woolen clothing, silks, furs, stuffed bed covers, beds and woolen articles which cannot be treated with disinfectants must be hung in the room during fumigation, their surfaces thoroughly ex- posed and their pockets turned inside out. Afterwards they should be hung in the open air, beaten and shaken. Pillows, beds, stuffed mattresses, upholstered furniture, etc., must be cut open and their contents spread out and thoroughly fumi- gated. Carpets are best fumigated on the floor, but they should be after- wards removed to the open air and thoroughly beaten. Further, in the routine room disinfection, the above precautions must be taken as to bed clothing, pillows, mattresses, upholstered furniture and carpets. Formaldehyde gas is the most efficient known disinfectant when used as above, and is absolutely without harmful effects on furniture and fabrics, so that no damage may be feared from its use. Fumigation (so-called disinfection), with burning sulphur will not be recognized by this Inspection as complying with the law. It may be used for the destruction of insects, but the user should bear in mind its bleaching action on fabrics and its bad effect on metals. In cases in which it is proven to the satisfaction of the State Hotel Inspector that persons occupying rooms in hotels as permanent board- ers for a period of three months or more are not affected with conta- gious diseases of any character, permission may be extended to the managers of hotels to omit disinfection of such rooms during their occupancy by such permanent boarders. REGULATION 15. TOILETS. Water-closets and privies shall be disinfected at least once every week, or sufficiently often to prevent obnoxious odors or effluvia aris- ing therefrom. A simple and inexpensive solution may be prepared from chlorid of lime, one pound, water, three gallons. This solution is to be used freely in all closets, privy vaults, sinks, drains, etc. REGULATION 16. SANITARY CONDITION OF FOODS. The Sanitary Food Law, Chapter 473, Acts of 1909, governs the sanitary condition of foods served at hotels, and of the kitchens and dining rooms. This law will be rigidly enforced. ^ DEPARTMENT OF HOTEL INSPECTION 19 Places and receptacles where food is kept or stored are required to be kept mouse and rat proof and properly screened. Serving tables, trucks, trays, boxes, buckets, knives, saws, cleavers and other utensils and machinery used in moving, handling, cutting, chopping, mixing or serving foods are required to be thoroughly steril- ized daily by hot water or steam and thorough cleansing, and the clothes and hands of cooks, stewards and waiters must be clean and sanitary. No person suffering from any contagious disease including tuberculosis, shall be employed in the handling of food. Canned goods, w^hen opened, or prepared foods containing any of the fruit acids, are not permitted to be stored in tin or zinc containers. REGULATION 17. SCREENS, The wire window and door screens provided for by Sections 5 and 8 must be of not coarser than 16 mesh wire gauze, except where screens have already been installed, in which case a 14 mesh wire gauze will be allowed. But all renewals of screens must be of 16 mesh size. REGULATION 18. LAW ENFORCEMENT. All local health officers are hereby charged with the enforcement of this law, filing complaint with the District Attorney in case of violation of the law or the rules and regulations adopted thereunder, and notifying the State Hotel Inspector of such action. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 014 759 244 9 • i«?'«V 0. e ei4 ^Tfff§ll^