Pam,

Wouldn't count on vinyl asbestos floor tile to slow down a fire very much.  The vinyl would probably accelerate more than the asbestos would decelerate the flame spread.

As for the Zoning Dude, we in Joisey refer to such persons as Zoning Officials.  Maybe they dress better in Noo Yawk.  His failure to object to the ricekty-looking scaffold may have been a matter of "means-and-methods," or that it really wasn't so rickety, or that it didn't fall under his responsibility as The Zoning Dude.  Or he didn't give a rat's ass, or that he hates the window guy.

Ralph

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