HomeMy WebLinkAboutO-1954-476
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ORDINANCE NO. 476
AN CRDDlANCE PROVIDING FOR F.lRE LOOTS AND RlIDULATIONS GOVERNlliG THE CONSmUC-
TION, ALTERATION, EQUIPMENT, OR REMOVAL OF BUILDINGS CR STRUCTURES, AND PROVID-
ThfG FCR THE FOLLaNING: (A) A PERSON WHO SHALt VIOIATE A PROVISION OF THIS
ORDDiAN CE OR FAIL TO COMPLY THEREWITH m WITH ./\,NY OF THE REQUIREMENTS THEREOF,
OR WHO SHALL ERECT, OONS'lliUCT, ALTER CR REPAm, CR SHALL CAUSE TO BE ERECTED,
CONSmUCTED, ALTERED CR REPAJRED A BUILDOO m smucTURE IN VIOLATION OF A
DETAILED STA~T en PIAN SUBMITTED AND APPROVED THEREUNDER, m OF A PERMIT
OR CE1TIFICATE ISSUED TImREUNDmt, SHALL BE GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANm PUNISHABlE
:BY A FINE OF NOT LESS THAN '!EN DOLLARS NOR MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED DOLIARS. (B)
rHE OiiNER OF A BUILDING, STRUCTURE OR PREMISES, WHERE ANYTHING IN VIOLATION
OF THIS CRDINANCE SHALL BE PLACED OR SHALL EXIST, AND AN ARCHITECT, BUILDER,
GON'ffiACTffi, AGENT, PERSON CR CCRPORATIdN EMPLOYED IN CONNECTION TImEVlITH AND
WHO MAY HAVE ASSISTED IN THE COMMISSION OF SUCH VIOLATICE SHALL EACH BE mED
AS THEREIN PROVIDED. (C) THE IMPOSITION OF THE PENALTIES IiEREIN PRESCRIBED
SHALt NOT PRECLUlE THE CCRPCRATION COUNSEL FROM mSTITUTlNG AN APPROPRIATE
ACTION OR PROCEEDnm TO PREVENT AN UN~WFUL ERECTION, CONSmUCTION, RECClN-
SmUCTION, .~TERATIClN, REPAm, CdNmSION, MAINTENANCE CR USE, OR TO RES'mA.m,
CORRECT CR ABA!E A VIOLA.TIW, OR TO PREVENT THE OCCUPANCY OF A BUILDING,
S'lRUCTURE OR PREMISES, OR TO PREVENT AN ILLEGAL ACT, CONDUCT, BUSINESS CR USE
:IlY m ABOUT ANY PREMISES.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE:
Section 1. Purpose of this Qrdincnce.
This Opdinanc~ is hereby adopted by the City of La Parte, for the
purpose of establishing rules and regulations for the construction, alterat.ii..on,
removal, demolition" equipment;, use and occupancy, locat.ii..on and maintenance
c>f buildings and structures, including permits and penalties, and from t he date
ClIl which this Ordinance shall take ,effect, the provisions h~eof' shall be con-
t.rolling in the construction of' all buildings and other structures therein con-
t.ained within the fire limits of the City of La Porte, as hereinafter described~
Section 2.. Defini tions.
(a) Wherever the word "Municipality' is used in said Ordinance, it
: ~e sh~l be held to mean the Cityof' La Porte.
......,..;----.. " (b) W1lErever the term "Corporation Counsel" is used in said Ordinance,
it shall be held to mean the Attorney for the City of La Porte..
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Section :3. Fire Lind. ts Established.
The Fire LiE. ts of the City of La Porte are hereby established as
follows :
Beginning at a point on the farmer city limit line)m Tenth
Street in tne center of the Alley of Block No. 46~f the Town
of La Porte; ,
Thence in an easterly direction along the center of the Alley
to t he center of South Third Street j Thence south along the
center of South Third street to a ,point in the center of South '
"AIt Street;
Thence in an easterly direction along the center of South ItA",
Street to a point opposite the Alley in Block No. 36 of the
Tmm of La Porte; Thence South along the center of the Alley -
through said Block No. 36 to' a point in the center of South
"BIt Avenue j
Thence :Ln an easterly direction along the center of South"
"B" Avenue to a point opposite the Alley in Block No. 201,
T~m of La Porte,;
Thence in a northerly direction along the oenter of the Alley
through said Block No., 201, to a point in th3 center of South
"A" Street; Thence, in an easterly direction along the center
of South "AIt street to a point in the center of South Virginia;
Thence north along the center of South Virginia to a point
in the center of the alley in Block No. 197 of the Tarn of
La Porte;
Thence in an easterly direction along the center of the Alley
to a point in the center of South Utahj Thence in a ncrtherly
direction along the center of South utah across East Main
Street and along the center of Ncrth utah to a point in the
center of the Alley through Block No. '184 of the Town of La-
portej i
Thence in a westerly direction ~ong the center of the Alley
to a point in the center of Sout~ Virginia; Thence in a
northerly direction along 'the center of ~outh Virginia to a
point in the center Qf Polk; Thence in a westerly direction
along the center of Polk to a point opposite the Alley in
Block No. 60 of 'the Tam of La. Porte;
Thence jn a southerly direction 'aloDS the center of said
Alley in Block No. 60 to the ~e:nter of the intersecting
Alley in said block;
'rmnce in a w!9Sterly direction along the center of the Alley
to the fermer city l3.m:Lt line on Tenth Street; Thence in a
southerly direction along said city limit line on Tenth street
to the place of beginning.
Section 4. Scope.
No building or structure shall hereafter b~ constructed, altered,
or removed, nor mall."the equipment far the operation of a building, structure
or prenri.ses be constructed, installed, altered or removed, except in conform.-.
i ty with generally accepted good practic'e and the provisions of this Ordinal ce ·
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Section 5. Building Official.
1. Appo:in7.ment.
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(a) The office of building official is hereby created and the executive
official in charge shall be mown as the building official.
(b) The b'J.i.lding official shall be appointed as required by law. His
appointment shall continue during good behavior and satisfactory service. He
shall not be removed from office except for cause after full opportuni. ty has
been given him to be heard on specific charges.
(c) DUI:'ing temporary absence or disability of the building Clfficial
the appointing authority shall designate an acting building official.
2. Duties.
It shall be the duty of the builctlng official to enforce all laws re-
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lating to the construction, alteration, removal, and demolition of buildings
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and structures
3. Rules.
(a) the building official shall promulgate rules as prescribed in this
ordinance and consistent therewith, it being the intent of this requirement that
the standards of federal or state bureaus, national technical organizations or
fire 1.IDderwriters, as the same may be amended from time to time" shall serve as
a guide in fixing the minimum rules of practice Wlder this ordinance.
(b) For the purpose of securing for ~e public the benefits of new
developments in the building industry and yet insuring public safety" the
building official shall make or cause to be made investigations, or may accept
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duly authenticated reports from recognized sources, of new ma teriaJ.s or modes
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of construction" intended for use in the constroction of buildings or structures
in the municipality,rdlich are not provided for in this ordinance" and shall pro-
mulgate rules setting forth the conditions Wlder which such materials or modes
of construction, may be used.
(c) No rule of the building official shall become effective 1.IDtil
four weeks after notice of intention to enforce it shall have been given through
the publication in a newspaper in general circulation in the municipality and 1.IDtil
a, public hearing on the same shall have been held; provided that said public
hearing shall not l:e necessary unless a request sha]J1- have been made for such
h.earing during the said period of publication. Such rule shall be drawn in its
tJ, proposed form and open to public inspection at the time the notice to enforce
i,s published.
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(d) Rules promulgated as herein provided shall have the same force
~nd effect as provisions cl this Ordinance.
, e. (e) Any rule may be amended or repealed by the same procedure pre-
s:n-ibed for the adoption of new rules. '
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Secti~ 6. PERMITS, INSPECTI ONS, AND POSTING OF UVE WADS.
(a) No building or structure shall hereafter be built, enlarged,
altered or moved without a permit from the building official, who may require
a pl~ of the proposed wat'k" together with a statement of the ma terials to be
used.
(b) The building official shall inspect all buildings at" st rtlctures
d".1l'ing construction to see that the provisions of law are complied wi. th and that
ct:>nstruction is prosecuted safely. Whenever in his opinion, by reason of defec-
t:Lve or illegal work in violation of a provision cl this Ordinance, the continuance
of a building operation is contrary to public welfare, he may order all further
vl()rk to be stopped and may require suSpension of work until the condition in
v:Lolation has been remedied.
(c) The live load fat" which each float'" or part of a noor, of a
b"lsiness building or storage building is designed and approved shall be con-
spicuously posted in that part of the story to which it applies.
Section 7. SUPPLEMENTARY REQumEMENTS.
The 1949 Edition' of the National Building Code reconnnended by the
National Board of Fire Underwriters shall be deemed to be t~e generally accepted
g':>od practice fat" all matters not covered by this Ordinance.
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(a) A. building or structure that may be or shall be fomd upon in-
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SECTION 8. UNSAFE BUILDINGS.
SJ~ection to have become dangerous or unsafe, shall, unless ~e safe and so
c,artif'ied by the building official, be taken down and. removed..
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(b) A building or structure declared \msafe by duly constituted
ailthority set up by the municipality may be restored to safe condition; provided
that if' the damage or cost of reconstruction or restorati on is in ex cess of 50%
of th e value of the building or structure" ex clusi ve of foundations, such building
at" structure, if' reconstructed or restored, shall be made to conform with respect
to materials and type cl construction, to the requirements for buildings and ,
structures hereafter erected; but no change of use or occupancy shall be compelled
bY'reason of such reconstruction or restoration. The term UIlsafe building shall
include buildings structurally UIlsafe, \mstable or \msani tary; inadequately provided
with ex it facilities; constituting a fire hazard; \msuitable or improper for the
u,se of occupancy to which they are put; constituting a hazard to health or ,safety
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bE~cause of' inad equate maintenance, dilapi~ation, obsolescence, or abandonment;
or otherwise dangerous to life or property.
SECTION 9. PENALTY FOR VIOLATIONS.
(a) A person who shall violate a provision of this Ordinance or f ail
tc:> comply therewith or with a:ny of the requirements thereof, or who shall erect,
ct,pstruct, alter or repair, or has erected, constructed, altered or repaired a
building or structure, in violation of a detailed statement or plan submitted and
approved thereunder, or of a permit or certificate issued thereunder, shall be
guil ty of a misdemeanor punis~able by a fine of not less than ten dollars nor
moore than one hundred dollars.
(b) The owner of a building, structure or premises, where anything
i.:n violation of this Ordinance shall be placed or shall exist, and an architect,
builder, contractor, agent, person or corporation employed in connection therewith
a:nd who may have assisted in the commission of such violation shall each be guilty
o.r a separate offense and upon conviction thereof shall be fined as therein provided.
(c) The imposition of the penalties herein prescribed shall not preclude
the corporation counsel from instituting an appropriate action or proceeding to
prevent an unlaw.f'ul erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration, repa:ir,
conversion, maintenance, or use, or to restrain, corre,ct or abate a violation,
o:r to prevent the occupancy of a building, structure or premises, or to prevent
a:n illegal act, conduct, business or use in or about any premises.
SECTION 10. DEFlNITIONS.
ALTER!TI:ON, as applied to a building or structm-e, means a change or
rearrangement in the structuraJ. parts m: :in the ent facilities; or an enlargement,
y,rhether by ex tending on a side or by increasing in height; or the moving from one
location or position to another; the term "alter" in its various moods and tenses
and its participiaJ. forms, re.ters to the making of an alteration.
AMUSEMENT DEVICE means a mechanically operat~d device which is used to
convey persons in any direction as a form of' amusement.
APARTMENT means a room, or a suite of two or more rooms, in a residence
building occupied as the home or residence of an individual, family or household.
APPROVED, as applied to a material, device or mode of construction,
means approved by the building official lUlder the provisions of this Ordinance,
or by other authority designated by law to give approval in the matter in question.
AREA, as applied to the dimensions of a building, means the maximum
horizontal projected area of the building at grade.
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AUTOMATIC FJRE ALARM SYSTEM means a system whiC?h automatically detects
a, fire condition and actuates a fire alarm signal device.
BASEM:ENT means a story with floor level 2 feet or more below finished
grade.
BRICK means a solid masonry unit having a shape approximating a
rectangular prism, not larger than 12 by 4 by 4 inches. A brick may be made of
burned clay or shale, or lime and sand, of cement and suitable aggregates, or
elf fire clay or other approved materials.
BUILDING means a combination of materials to form a construction thai;;
i.s safe and stable, and adapted to permanent or oontinuous occupancy for public,
i.nstitutional , reSidence, business or storage purposes; the term "buildingll
s:hall be construed as if followed by the wards "or part thereof.1I For the
purposes of this Ordinance" eB;ch portion of a building separated from other
portions by a fire wall shall be considered as as eparate building.
BUILDOO OFFICIAL means the officer or other designated authority
charged with the administration and enforcement of this Ordinance, or his duly
authorized representative.
lJi'JELLING means a building occupied exclusively for residence
purposes and having not more than 'bIro apartments, or as a boarding or rooming
h.ouse serving not more than 15 persons with meals or sleeping accommodations
or both.
FmE RESISTANCE RA.TlliG means the time in hours that the material
or construction will withstand the standard fire exposure as determined by a
fire test made in conformity with the "Standard Methods of Fire Tests of
E:uilding Construction and Materials," ASTM El19-41.
FmE RETARDANT CEILOO means a ceiling construction which has been
proved by test as satisfactory for use as ceiling protection for a floor or
roof construction which has a fire resistance rating of not less than one hour.
FIRE RETARDANT TREATED LUMBER means lumber which has been treated
'by a pressure impregnation process to give a flame spread classification of
5'0 or less according to the' method for the "Fire Hazard Classification of
Building Materials" of Unde!'\'IlTiters t Laboratories, Inc., and which is shawn
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to be so classified by a certificate or label 'issued by underwriters f Labor-
atories.
GARAGE means a ~uilding" shed or enclosure" or a part thereof, in
which a motor vehicle containing a flammable fluid in its fuel storage tank,
is stored, housed" kept or repaired.
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GRADE, with reference to a building, means, when the curb level has
been established, the mean elevation of the curb level opposite those walls
that are located on, or parallel with and within 1.5 feet of, street lines; or,
. Vi'hen the curb level has not been established, or all the walls of' the building
elI'e more than 1.5 feet from street lines, "gradellmeans the mean elevation of' the
grmmd adjoining the building on all sides.
HABITABLE ROOM means a room occupied by one or more persons for liVing,
l~ating or sleeping; and includes ldtchens serving apartments or individual
households, but does not include bathrooms, toilet compartments, laundries,
:3erving and storage pantries, corridors, basement and other spaces that are not
used frequently or during extended periods.
HEIGHT as applied to a building, means the vertical distance from
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grade to the highest finished roof surfac e in the case of flat roof's, or to
a point at the average height of roofs having a pitch of more than one foot
in 4i feet; "height" or a building in stories does not include basements, ex-
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cept that in school buildings of ordinary, noncombustible or wood frame con-
struction, the basement shall be deemed a s tory when used for purposes other
than storage or heating.
HEIGHT as applied to a wall, means the vertical distance to the
top measured from the foundation wall, or from a girder or other immediate
support of' such VIall.
HOLLON MASONRY UNIT means a masonry unit whose net cross-sectional
area in any plane parallel to the bearing surface is less than 7.5 per cent
of its gross cross-sectional area measured in the same plane.
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LOT means a portion or parcel of land considered as a unit, devoted
to a certain use or occupied by a building or a group of buildings that are
united by a common interest or use, and the cust,o,ID.ary' accessories and open
spaces belonging to the same.
LOT LmE means a line dividing one lot from another, or from a
street or other public space.
MASONRY means brick, stone, plain concrete, hollow brick, solid
block or other similar building units or materials" or combinations of them,
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bonded together ",lith mortar. 'Reinforced concrete is not classed as masonry.
MULTIFAMILY HOUSE means a building occupied as the home or residence
of' individuals, families or households living independently of each other, of
which three or more are doing coolci.ng wi thin their apartments; including tene-
, ment house, apartment house, flat.
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HUNICIPALITY means the governmental unit which has adopted this
CiI'dinance under due legisla"ti.. ve authority.
PLACE OF ASSEMBLY means a room or space in which provision is made
for the seating of one hundred or more persons for religious, recreational,
E!duca"ti..onaJ., political, social or amusement purposes or for the consumption of
food or drink. Such room or space shall include any occupied connecting room
()I' space in the same story, or in a story or stories above or belOW', where en-
1~ance is common to the rooms or spaces.
PREFAIRICATED means composed of sections or panels fabricated
prior to erection on the building foundation.
SHAFT means a vertical opening or passage through two or more
floors of a building or through floors and roof.
SOLID MASONRY means masonry consisting of solid masonry units laid
f::ontiguous~ with the joints between the :wuts filled with mortar, or consist-
:i.ng of plain concrete. '
SOLID MASONRY UNIT means a masonry unit whose net cross-sectional
,area in every plane parallel to the bearing surface is 15 per cent or more of
:its gross cross-sectional area measured in the same plane.
SPRJlUcr.JmED means equipped with an approved automatic sprinlder
system properly maintained.
S'IREET mears any public thoroughfare, street" avenue, boulevard, park,
lane, terrace, concourse or space 20 feet or more in width which has been ded-
icated or deeded to the public for public use.
WALtS:
BEARING WALL means a w~l which supports any 1ertical load in addition
to its awn weight;
CAVITY VIALL means a wall built of masonry units or of plain con-
crete, or a combination of these materials, so arranged as to provide an air
space within the wall, and in ,which the inner and outer parts of the wall are
tied together with metal ties;
FACED WALL means a wall in which the masonry facing and bacldng are so
bonded as to exert common action under load;
FIRE PARTITICii means "a partition constructed in accordance with section
31, for the purpose of restricting the spread of fire or to provide an area of
refuge" but not necessarily continuous through all stories nor extended through
the roof.
FIRE ViALL means a wall constructed in accordance with section 29, for
the purpose of subdividing a building or separating buildings to restrict the
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spread of fire and 1.'Thich starts at tIle foundation and extends continuously
.- through all stories to and above the roof, except where the roof is fireproof
__ at' semifireproof and the wall is carried up tightly against the under side of
the roof slab.
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PANEL WALL means a non-bearing wall built between columns or piers
and wholly supported at each story;
PARTY WALL means a wall used or adapted for joint service between
t"ro buildings;
VENEERED WALL means a wall having a facing which is not attached and
bonded to the bacldng so as to form an integral part of the wall for purposes
of load bearing and stability.
SECTION 11. CLASSIFICATION OF OCCUPANCIES.
1. CLASSES DESIGNATED. For the purposes of this ordinance, buildings
are classified, with respect to occupancy and use, as public bUildings, institu,,:,
tional buildings, residence bUildings, business buildings and storage buildings.
(a) PUBLIC BUILDING means a building in which persons congregate for
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civic, political, educational" religious, social or recreational purposes; in-
cluding among others, armories, assembly halls, auditoriums, bath houses, bowl-
ing alJ.eys, churches, city halls, club rooms, colleges, court houses" dance haJ.1s,
exhibition buildings, grandstands, gymnasiums, lecture halls, libraries, lodge
rooms" motion picture theatres, museums, passenger stations, recreation piers,
restaurants, schools, skating rinks, stadiums and theatres.
(b) INSTITUTIONAL BUILDDlG means a building in which persons are
harbored to receive medical, 'charitable or other care ortreatment, OJ: in which
persons are held or detained by rea30n of public or civic duty, or for correc-
. tional purposes; including ~ong others, asylums, homes for aged, hospitals"
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1.utions, reformatories, and sanitariuns.
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tit ~_____ Jc) RESIDENCE BUILDING, excnpt when classed as an institutional build-
:Lng, means a building in which sleeping accommodations are provided; including
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.3mong others, apartments, club hous e:3, convents" dormitories, dwellings, hotels,
lodging houses, multifamily houses, s'~udios and tenements.
(d) BUSINESS BUILDllJ'G mean.3 a building occupied for the transaction
.:)f bJ. siness, for the rendering of proCessional services, for the display or sale
~f goods, wares, merchandise, or for the performance of work or labor; including
among others, bakeries, banks, barber shops, chemical laboratories, creameries"
electric substations, factories, gasoline service stations, ice plants, labor-
atories, laundries, markets, office buildings, open air stores, power plants,
radio stations, smoke houses, stores, telephone ex changes, television stations
and work shops.
(e) STORAGE BUILDllJ'G means a building for the hOUSing, except for
purely display pwposes, of airplanes, automobiles, railway cars, or other
vehicles of transportation, for . the sl:eltering of horses, live stock or other
animals, or exclusively for the stor~.ge of goods, wares" or merchandise, not
excluding in <my cas e offices incide,ntal to such uses; including among others,
barns, cold storage, freight depots, garages, gasoline bulk stations, grain
eleva.tors, hangars and storage warehouses.
2. MIXED OCCUPANCY. WherE! a minor portion of a building is used
for office, study, studio or other s:.milar purpose". the ~uilding shall be
classified as to occupancy on the bauis of the major use. In other cases where
a building is occupied :tor two or more purposes not included in one class, the
provisions of iihis ordinance applying to each class of occupancy shall apply
to such parts of the building as come within that class; and if there should
be conflicting provis:Lons, the requi;:,ements securing t he greater safety shall
apply.
3. . 'DOUBTFUL CLASSIFICATI CDT . In case a building is not specifically
provided for, or where there is any uncertainty as to its classifica'tLan, its
status ~ha:)..l be fixed by a duly promulgated rule giving due regard to safety.
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SECTION 12. CIASSIFICATION JF CONS'lRUCTION.
1. T.vPes designated. For the purposes of this ordinance~ construc-
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tion as used in buildings shall be classified as follows:
(a) Fir eproof Construction.
(b) Semifireproof Construction.
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':; SECTION 13. RES'lRICTIClN'S ON CrnSTR UCTION WITHm THE FIRE LIMITS.
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1. GENERAL RES'lRICTIONS. Ex:cept as otherwise provided in sub-
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
Ordinary Construction.,.
Heavy Timber Construct.ion.
Noncombustible Cons tr'uction.
Wood Frame Construction.
Unprotected Metal ConHtruction.
section 5 of this section" no building or structure of wood frame construction
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". or of unprotected metal construction shall be erected within the limits es-
tablished by l~ as the Fire Limits.
2. ALTERATIOllS.,
(a) Within the .:fire limits no building or structure of'woodframe
construction or of unprotected metal construction shall be hereafter increased
in height.
(b) Within the fire limits no building or structure of wood frame
construction or of unprotected metal. construction shall be hereafter extended
on any side; unless the constructior::. of such ex tension conforms to the re-
quirements of ibis ordinance for neil' construction; and provided that the total
area of the building including extension shall not exceed the allovlable area
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for wood frame construction.
(c) Within the fire limi1.s no other building or structure shall be
hereafter extended on ~ side by WI)od frame construction or unprotected metal
construction.
(d) Nothing in this section shall prohibit other alterations within
the fire liln:i. ts; provided there is ::10 change of occupancy to a class of occupancy
otherwise prohibited.
3. MOVING BUILDINGS. Ne building of wood frame construction or un-
protected metal construction shall h~eaf'ter be moved from without to within the
fire lindts or 'Within the fire limi.ts.
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4. DOUBTFUL LOCATIm. J, building or structure shall be deemed to be
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within the fire limits if one-third or more of the area of such building or
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structure is loca.ted therein.
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5. EXCEPTIONS. Nothing in this section shall prohibit within the
fire limits and subject to the specified limitations, the erection of new
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buildings or structures, nor the extension or enlargement of heretofore erected
buildings or structures, of 'WOod frame construction or unprotected metal con-
struction, as follows:
(a) A building of wood frame construction or of unprotected metal
construction occupied exclusively as a private garage or stable, not more than
one story in height ,nor more than 750 square feet in area, located on the same
lot with a dwelling; provided that such buil~g shall be placed at least 3
feet from the lot lines of adjoining property.
(b) Greenhouses not more than 15 feet in height erected on the
same lot with and accessory to a dwelling or a store.
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(c) Builders r shanties for use only in cOlUlection with a duly
authorized building operation and located on the same lot with such bUilding
operation, on a lot immediately adjoining, on an upper floor of the building
under construction, or on a sidewalk shed.
(d) Piazzas or balconies on dwellings, not exceeding 10 feet in
1.Yidth nor ex tending more than 3 fee.t above the second story floor beams;
provided that no such structure shall be located nearer than 3 feet to an
adjoining lot line or be joined to a similar structure of another building.
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(e) Fences not exceeding 10 feet in height.
(f) Display signs as provided in Section 15-8(a) and Section 47.
SECTION 14. SPECIAL OCCUPANCY REQUIREMENTS.
1. lNSTITUTIONAL BUILDlNGS.
(a) Ins titutional buildings f-or occupants involuntarily detained
or bedridden shaD. be of fireproof construction or semifireproof construction.
(b) Institutional buildings for occupants which are not involuntarily
detained or bedridden, when of other than fireproof construction or senri.:rireproof
construction, shall not exceed 2 stories in height and shall have floors 'and
partitions with fire resistance ratings of not less than one hour and with fire
retardant ceilings under roofs J and if of wood frame construction shall not
exceed 1 story in height nor 2500 square feet in area; provided that buildings
converted from aJ. other occuI?ancy to such occup ancy shall be exempt from. these
" restrictions if spr:lnklered.
2. THEA'lRES AND MOTI: ON PICTURE THEATRES.
(a.-) Theatres and motion picture theatres shall be fireproof con-
s truction or semifireproof construction except that portions of such build-
ings not oV'er 1 story or c:Ner 45 feet in height may have combustible roof con-
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struction if protected by fire retardant ceilings.
(b) No theatre or motion picture theatre shall be located within or
__ attached to a builcling of other occupancy unless it is separated from such other
,:>ccupancies by vlalls and floors of noncombustible construction having fire res-
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istance ratings of not less than 3 hours.
3. SCHOOLS, COLLIDES, ASSEMBLY HAllS, DANCE HALLS, OO'iJ!JltG ALLEYS
P.ND AtIDITCRIUMS, over one story in height, shall have floors of not less than
one-hour fire resistance.
4. WALL AND CEILING FlNISH. In public buildings and institutional
buildings, and in all places of assembly and ex it "vays therefrom, no combust-
ible material s hall be used as interior wall or ceiling finish which is of
such a nature that flame will spread over its surface more rapidly than over
one-inch (nominal) wood boards covered with ordinary paint or varnish.' ,
5. BUSINESS 100) RESIDENCE SEPARATIW. In buildings of other than
fireproof or semi.fireproof construction portions classll'ied as of business
occupancy shall be separated from portions classified as of residence occupan;'
cy by partitions having a fire resistance rating of not less than one homo and
by fire retardant ceilings, unless the business portion is sprinklered.
6. SEP..\RATIOO OF mELLn~GS. Walls or partitions separating 2 or
more dwellings of other than fireproof or sendfireproaf' construction shall
consist of a form of constImction having a fire resistance. rating of not less
than 1 hour.
7. PARTITIONS IN MULTIFAMILY HOUSES. In multifamily houses, par-
titions separating apartments or apartments from hallways or apartments from
other occup ancies and partitions separmting stores from hallways or other
occupancies sha1.l have a fire resistance rating of' not less than one hom'" with
openings equipped with approved fire doors or with substantial metal or metal
covered doors or mlid wooden doors of' the nush type of nominal thiclmess not
less than 1 314-inch~
S:mTION 15. HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS.
1. NEVi BUILDINGS. Ex:cept as may be otherwise provided in sub-
section 8 of this-..,.gection, ~no--building' hereafter erected shall exceed in
height the limits fixed in this section.
2. ALTERATIONS. No building shall hereafter be al teredso as to
exceed the limits of height fixed by this section.
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3. PUBLIC BUILDlliGS. For public buildings semifireproof construe-
.~ion shall not exceed 75 feet, except that public buildings which have an
I:>ccupancy of less than 100 persons above the 75 foot level may be unlimited
in height; heavy tinber construction, 4 stories nor 55 feet; ordinary con-
,struction and non-combustible construction 3 stories nor 35 feet, except that
,ohurches of such construction may be 45 feet but not more than 2 stories, and
'that schools of such construction shall be not more than 2, stories high.
4. mSTlTUTIONAL BUnDINGS. For institutional buildings semifire-
proof constrllllction shall not exceed 75 feet; ordinary constt'uction, heavy
timber construction and noncombustible construction shall not exceed 2
stories nor 35 feet.
5. RESIDENCE BUILDmGS. For residence buildings" heavy timber
construction shall not exceed 75 feet; ordinary construction and noncombust-
ible construction shall not exceed 3 stories nor 1.6 feet; provided that when
tpe floors immediately over basements are of noncombustible construction hav-
ing a fire resistance rating of not less than 2 hours, ordinary construction
mew exceed these 1lD.~:!-gh.ts but shall not exceed 4 stories nor 55 feet; and when
in addition, in multifamily houses 'which are subdivided by fire partitions
into floor areas no"c exceeding 3,500 square feet, all other floors have a
fire resistance rating of not less than one hour, ordinary construction may
be, but shall not exceed, 5 stories nor 65 feet. Wood frame construction
and unprotected metal construction shall not exceed 2 stories nor 35 feet;
except that dwellings other than prefabricated dwellings shall not exceed
3 stories.
a
6. BUsmESS BUILDmGS. Far business buildings semifireproof c.on-
struction ani heavy timber oonstruction shall not exceed 75 feet except that
for office buildings semifireproof construction shal.l be unlimited; ordinary
constt'uction and noncombustible construction shall net exceed 4 stories nor
50 feet; and wood frame construction and unprotected metal construe tion
shall not exceed 2 stories nor 35 feet.
7. STCRJIGE BUILDmGS. For storage buildings semifireproof con-
struction shall not exceed 50. feet; ordinary construction" heavy timber con-
struction and noncombustible construction shall not exceed 35 feet; provided
that in buildings which are sprinklered, semifireproof and heavy timber con-
struction shall not ex ceed 15 feet and ordinary construction and noncombus-
tible construction shill not exceed 50 feet; and wood frame construction.
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8. EXCEPTICJlJS.
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(a) For the purpose of this section" the following appurtenances
. shall not be deemed parts of' buildings: Church spires" tanks and their supports,
roof structures, chimneys, signs, attached to the building, radio masts, water
cooling towers for air conditioning or other apparatus, and parapets that do
not extend more thah 4 feet above the roof' surface at their point of contact.
(b) outside the fire limits, public buildings" business buildings"
or storage buildings may, in the discretion ot the governing body of the
nnmicipality" be erected to greater heights than fixed by this section.
SECTION 16. AREA RES'IRICTIONS.
1. NEN BUILmNGS. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 4
of this section, the building area permitted without suitable subdivisions
.-.... by fire walls shall be limited as follows:
(a) For fireproof construction and semifireproof construction,
unlimited.
(b) For h eav:,r timber construction, the area of buildings shall
not exceed 6,~OO square feet if fronting on one street, nor 8,000 square
feet if frontin~ on two streets" nor 10,000 square feet if' fronting on three
or more streets.
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(c) For ordinary construction, m d for noncombustible construction,
the area of one-story buildings shall not exceed 6,000 square feet if' fronting
on one street, 7,500 square feet if fronting on 2 streets, 9,000 square feet
if fronting on .3 streets and 10,,500 square feet if fronting on 4 streets;
provided that outside the fire limits the area of one-story buildings of non-
combustible constroction shall not be restricted. The permitted areas for
buildings exceeding. one story shall not exceed 5,000, 6,000, 7,500 and 9,000
square .feet, men .fronting on one, 2, .3, and 4 streets, respectively.
(d) For wood frame construction the area of buildings shal1 not ex-
ceed 5,000 square .feet.
(e) For unprotected metal construction the area of one-story build-
ings is not restricted; buildings exceeding one story shall not exceed the area
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limits speci.fied .for nonconibustible construction.
2.. S'lREET. under this section a street shall be deemed to include
any avenue, boulevard, street, alley or lane, 20 feet or greater in width, or
any court, parking spa~e or yard" with direct connection to a street, and not
less than 20 feet wide. Such court, parldng space or yard shall be property
of the owner of the building and shall not be enclosed or roofed over.
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3. ALTER..lTION. No building shall be hereafter altered so as to
exceed in area in any story the limits fixed in this section.
4. AREA MODIFICATION.
(a) The limiting areas fixed in this section may be increased by
100 percent when the building is sprinklered" and by 200 percent when the
building is sprinklered and does not exceed one story nor an average of 25
feet in height to the roof, or to a fire retardant ceiling through which
there shall be no openings except openings into shafts or duC?ts, the enclosing
walls of which are of construction equivalent to the ceiling.
(b) OUtside the fire limits the area of one-story buildings of
heavy timber construction, ordinary construction and wood frame construction
may be increased 33 1/3 per cent above the areas otherwise fixed in this
section, when aD. wood struc tural members" including columns, waD. and
partition studs and Sheathing, and floor and roof construction, are of
approved fire retardant treated lumber as defined in section 7.
(c) ,Outside the congested areas of the municipality" when a hazard-
ous condition is not created thereby, the area of a public building, a business
building or a storage bUilding, not over tHo stories high, may be increased in
excess of the areas fixed by this section" in the discretion of the governing
body of the municipality; provided that a building of combustible occupancy"
or involving considerable combustible material in its structural parts, shall
be sprinklcred, and also curtain 1x>ards or draft stops shaD. be installed as
required by the building official.
SECTION 17. LIGHT AND VENTILATI ON .
1. HABITABLE ROOMS.
(a) Every habitable room shall be provided with natural light and
ventilation by one or more windows, openin~ directly on a street or on a court
conforming to subsection 5 of this section.
(b) Such rooms shaD. be not less than 7 feet wide in any part, and.
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shall contain not les~, than 70 square feet of gross floor area. SUch rooms
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shall have a clear height of not less than 7 feet 6 inches for at least 60
square feet of floor area.
2. OTHm ROOMS. Every room, other than a habitable room, used or
occupied by persons, except s"torage rooms with infrequent occupancy, shall be
provided with one or more lrd.ndOWS or ventilating skylights opening directly on
a street or on a court conforming to subsection 5 of this section; or such rooms
shaD. be trovided with an approved means of mechanical ventilatiOIl:.
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3. ACCESS TO ROOMS AND WATERCLOSETS.
(a) In mu.ltifamily houses hereafter erected or cil. tered access shall
~Je had to living rooms, ldtchens, and bedrooms without passing through a bedroom.
(b) Access without passing through a bedroom shall also be provided
to at least one water closet, unless every bedroom has direct cOILl'lection with a
water closet or a bathroom having '\Vater closet accommodation.
4. V1INOOJS.
(a) The aggregate glass area of windows required by this seation
shall not be less than 1/10 of the floor area of the room served by them; pro-
vided that in habitable rooms such glass area shall be not les~ than 10 square
feet, and in bathrooms it shall be not less than 3 square feet.
(b) Windows or other openings required for ventilation shall have
an aggregate openable area of at least 50 per cent or the glass area required
for lighting.
5. COURTS. Every c ourl or yard if light and ventilation are depen-
dent on such, required by this section to serve habitable rooms, shall have a
width, B:t m.y given level, of not less than 1/3 of the heights of such court,
but not 1 ess than 6 feet.
SECTION 18. MEANS OF IDRESS.
1. APPLICATION OF SECTION. Buildings hereafter erected, except
dwellings, shall be provided .with ex it facilities in accordance with the
requirements of this section. No building shall be altered so as to reduce
the nlPnber or capacity of exits to less than required for JEW buildings.
2. EXIT WAY DEFINED.
(a) IlExit waylt means the exit doorway or doorways, or such doorways
together with cormecting hallways or stairways, either interior or exterior, or
fire escapes, by means of which persons may pr oceed safely from a room or space
to a street or to an open space 'Which provides safe access to a street. EJd..t
ways from any room may lead through other rooms of the same tenancy.
(b) Two or lDlOre separate exit ways may us e the sane COITidor or hall-
way; provided that such COITidor or hallways is enclosed by and separated from
exit stairways and other parts of the building by partitions having a fire resis-
tance rating of not less than one hour.
3. NIDLlBEROF OCCUPANTS.
(a) The dimensions and capacity ~f exit w~s shall be proportioned
to the number of persons to be accommodated.
(b) lXqen the number of persons to be accoIn.'llodated by the exit ...vay
is not stated in the application for a permit or is not otherwise fixed, it shall
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be decided on the qasi8 of the gross area of tho space devoted to a particular .
purpose and shall be asswned to be as follows:
OCCUPANCY
GROSS .AREA.
PER PERSrn
Dance hall" lodge room" or place of assembly ------------ 15 Sq. Ft.
store - street floor and sales basement --------------------- 30 Sq. Ft.
other floor s --------..----------------------- 60 Sq. :Ft.
Space used for occupancies not listed above:
Public -- ~~---------- ------------ uO Sq. Ft.
Institutional -~ ----------------------- 150 Sq. Ft.
Residence -------------------------------------------- 125 Sq. Ft.
Business ------------------------------------~------- 100 Sq. Ft.
storage -----------~---------------------------------- 300 Sq. Ft.
4. NUM:BJ:R OF EXITS.
(a) FROM ROOMS. Every room having an area exceeding 1,,000 square
feet or occupied btJ more than 100 persons shall have at least two exit ways.
(b) FROM srC/fl.IES" Every story shall have at least one exit way and
every story that exceeds 2,,500 square feet in area shall have at least tl'TO
separate ax:it ways.
(c) APAR'llmNm: In multifamily houses exceeding two stories above
the basements" and in every two-story multifamily house having more than 6
apartments using a common e:x:i.. t way" every apartment that has not direct exit
to a street or to a court opening on a street" shall have access to at least
one additional exit wa~ separated from and independent of the primary interior
stairvray or fire tower.
5. LOC.\TI:ON OF EXIT DOORWAYS. Exi.t doorways shall be so located
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that no point in a floor area, room or space served by them is more than 100
feet distant from an exit doorway, measured along the line of travel; excap~
that when a floor area is subdivided into smaller areas" such as rooms in hotels,
multifamily houses" and office buildings" the distance from the door of any room,
aloDg an unobstructed hallway, to an exit doorway" shall be not more than 125 feet"
except that hallways above .the first artory shall not extend beyond an exit as a
dead end more than 50 feet. Where the building is fireproof oonstruction or semi-
tirepr~of construotion, ,m. the building is sprinklered" the above distances may be
increased 50 per cent.
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6. ENCLOSURES OF INTERIOR STAIRWAYS.
(a) All interior stairways in buildings eonnecting two or more stories"
whether required as exits or not" shall be enclosed, except as otherwise provided
in paragraph (d).
(b) In unsprinklered buildings which exceed 30nfeet to the floor of
the topmost story" or are occupied by more than 75 persons above.. or 40 persons
below" the first story above grade, not counting those in the first story, and in
multifamily houses 4 stOries or more in height" interior required stairways shall
be enclosed with fire partitions.
(0) In other buildings interior sta:bhvqs shall be enclosed in par-
titions having a fire resistance rating of not less than one hour. In buildings
of fireproof construction and semifireproof construction such partitions shall
be noncombustible.
(d) An enclosure shall not be required for:
(1) A flight of stairs from the main entrance floor to the
floor next above when such stairs are not a part of a required
stairway.
(2) A flight of stairs in a building of fireproof con-
struction" semifireproof construction" or a sprinklered
building of heavy timber construction or ordinary construction
or nonoombus tible construction.. when suoh stairs connect only
one story with one c:t her story immediately above or below it.
In such case the upper end of. the .stairway shall not connect to
a hallw~ ~ am an exit except through a fire door.
(" A flight of stairs from a balcony or mezzanine having
an area not exceeding 25 per cent of that of the floor inDnediately
belav.
(e) OPENINGS. No openings except the necessary doorways" and
windows opening to the exterior of t he building" shall be permi. tted in a stair
enclosure re:Quir:ed by this section. Such doorw~s shall be equipped with
approved self-closing doors.. except that when fire partitions are not required
for the enclosure" substantial self~closing metal or metal covered doors or
solid wooden doors of the flush tYl2 of nominal thickness not less than I 3/4
inches may be used. In school buildings.. doors on openings in stair enclosures
may have wired glass panels) the area of such glass in anyone door shall not
exceed 720 square inches.
1. WIDTH OF mTmIm STAIRWAYS. The minimum \mobstructed width of
a stairway serving as a required exit shall not be less than 44 inches; provided
that in multifamily houses and storage buildings" and in other buildings occupied
by a single tenant and limited in occupancy to 40 persons" such vd.dth may be 36
inches. The width of stairs shall be measured between hand rails ex cept where
hand rails project not more than 3i inches into such width.
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'!READS AND RISmS.
(a) Treads and risers or required stairs shall be so proportioned
that the product of the width of tread, exclusive of nosing, and the height of
riser, in inches, shall be not less than 70 nor more than 75; but risers shall
not exceed 7 3/4 inches in height, and treads, exclusive or nosing, shall be not
less than 9-! inches wide; ex cept that in schools the proportion and dimensions
of the treads and riseJ:"s may, in t he discretion of the building official, be
adjusted to suit the age of the pupils for -which the school is intended. Treads
and risers shall be of uniform width and height in anyone story.
(b) The use of winders is prohibited in required stairwB\Y's.
9. LANDllias.
(a) No flight of stairs shall have a vertical rise of more t han
12 feet between floors or landings; except that in stairways s~rving as exits
in public buildings such vertical rise shall not exceed 8 feet.
(b), The length and width of landings shall not be less than the
width of stairways in which they occur.
10. HANDRAIIS .
(a) Except for steps in aisles, stairs shall have walls or well
secU1'ed balustrades or guards on both sides. '
(b) Such stairs when less than 44 inches in w.i.dth shall have hand.-
rails on at least one side.
(c) SUch stairs when required to be 44 :inches or more in width shall
have handrails on both sides.
(d) When the required width of a flight or stairs exceeds 88 inches,
an intermediate handrail, cont:inuous between landings, secU1'ely supported and
termin:inating at ih e upper end in newels or standards at least 6 feet high, with
no projections, shall be prov;i.ded.
11. EnT HALnVAYS. 'L'heclear width of every hallway or passage
leading to a required exl..t shan be 'not less than at the rate of 12 inches for
every 100 persons to b e accommodated by the hallway but not less than 44 inches;
proVided that in nmltifamily houses or in case less than 40 persons are to be
accomodated, the mi.ni.mu.m clear widith may be 36 inches.
12. WIDTH OF mORWAYB. ~e aggt'egate clear width of doorw'ays serving
as requ:ired exl..ts shall be .not less than at the rate of 22 inches for every 100
persons to be acconunodated. No exit doorway serving as an exit for more than
40 persons shall have a clear width of less than 34 inches (nominal 36-inch door.)
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13 . HANGING OF OOORS.
(a) The doors of required doorways shaJ.l be so hung and arranged
. that ,men fully opened they will not in any way d:i.m:i.nish or obstruct the re-
quired vridth of hallvlay, stair, or other means of exit.
(b) Doorways opening onto a street or to a court or open space
conmnmicating with a street, and serving as a required exit way for more than
40 persons, shall have the doors, including the doors of vestibules, so hung
as to swing open in the direction of ex it traVel; but this requirement shall
not be construed to prohibit the use of sliding doors in stabiles, garages, or
shipping and receiving rooms of wsiness buildings and storage buildings.
(c) All ex it doors in rooms occupied by 40 or more persons and aJ.l
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exit doors in exit i-vays from places of assembly shall be hung to svdng open in
the dii'ection of exit travel.
(d) No eXit door shall open immediately on a flight of stairs, but
a landing the length and width of which are not less than the width of such door,
shall be provided between such door and such stairs.
(e) Where the size of the exit doorway requires two doors in the
same opening, the doors shall be so hung as to require no center post in the
opening for the doors to close against.
14. LIGHTING. Required stai.rways, hallways and other means of exit,
including exterior open spaces to or through which exi ts lead, shall be kept
adequately lighted at all times that the building served thereby is occupied.
SECTION 19. FIREPROOF', SEMIFmEPROOF AND HEAVY TIMBERC<DNSTR UCTION.
Fireproof, semifireproof and heavy timber construction shall conform
to generally accepted good practice. The 1949 Edition of The NationaJ. Building
Code recommended by the National Board of Fire Underwriters shall be deemed the
generally accepted good. practice for these types of construction.
SECTION 20. ORDINARY CONSTRUCTION.
i. DEFINITlOO. Ordinary cons'lruction, as applied to buildings J means
that in vnich exterior walls and bearing walls are of masonry or of reinforced
concrete J and i.n Wl ich the stiruct'lU'aJ. member s J including columns J floors and
roof construction, are vlholly or partly of wood of smaller dimensions than re-
quired for heavy timber construction" or of steel or iron not protected as re-
quired for semi.f'ireproof construction.
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2 . WALLS .
(a) Exterior walls and aU bearing walls shall l::e of masonry or of
reinforced concrete.
(b) Exterior walls which are wi thin 3 feet of a lot line along an
adjoining area which is or nay be built upon or which are within 6 feet of another
building of other than fireproof or semifireproof construction on the sane lot"
shall have a fire resistance rating of not less than 3 hours; except that where
the total area of the buildings does not exceed Ii times the allowable area for
anyone of the buildings considered such fire resistance rating shall not be
required.
3. BEAJLS, GJRDmS AND JOISTS.
(a) Vfooden beams and joists" except headers and tail joists" and
except for bearings at joints limited within the allot'l/'able stresses provided
in this Ordiname, shall have bearings of at least 3 inches in length.
(b) Vlooden trimmers, headers, and tail joists over 6 feet in length,
unless supported on walls or girders, shall be hung in approved metal stirrups
or hangers. IflT oed girders are set flush with the noor joists, the joists
shall rest :iJi approved IIetal stirrups or hangers. The ends of joists against
the girders shall be securely nailed to the girders.
(c) Except in the case of pitched roofs" wooden floo!' and roof
joists having spans in excess of B feet shall be rigidly braced with contin-
uous rOW's of bridging at intervals not exceeding B feet.
(d) Joists shall becbubled under partitions which run over and
parallel to the joists, or shall l::e designed for the load.
(e) The ends of wooden beams and joists resting on masonry shall be
cut to a bevel of 3 inches in their depth.
(f) Wooden joists, beams and girders resting on opposite sides of a
masonry waJl shall be separated from one another by at least 6 inches of solid
masonry.
(g), When a i'V' ooden girder rests on masonry an air space of i inch
shall be provided on the sides and end of such girder for ventilation, and each
wall bearing end of a girder shall be cut on a bevel.
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4. ANCHOilAGE.
(a) All trimmers and at least one beam or joist in every six feet
resting on masonry -.valls, shall be secured to such walls by approved metal
anchors attached at or near the blbttom in a manner to be self-releasing. Each
end of a trimmer, beam or joist that is supported by a girder, shall be secured
or tied in an approved manner :to such girder or t 0 a. triIlllIler, beam or joist
correspondingly supported f rom the opposite side ~ su ch girder. 4n.ch.o:t:s and
ties shall be so axranged as to form continuous ties between opposite masonry
w~s.
(b)
.
Where floor or roof joists or beams run parallel to masonry
walls such walls shall be secured to 4 or more joists of t he floor or roof
construction by approved metal anchors at ma.xi.mum intervals of 8 feet for
dwellings and 6 feet in other buildings.
(c) Wall plates ~d roof construction shall be anchored to the
walls at least every 6 feet.
(d) Wooden girder.s shall be anchored to the walls and fastened
to each other with suitable steel straps placed near the bottom ~ the girder.
5. LOAD-BEARnlG PARTITIONS.
(a) Load-bearing partitions shall be the equivalent of 2 x 4-inch
studs, nominal dimensions, spaced not to exceed 16 inches on centers with the
larger dimension perpendicular to the wall. All openings shall have studs
doubled on each side and if more than 3 feet and 6 inches wide they shall be
trussed over or shill have lintels of ~slif.ficient size to carry the load.
(b) Load-bearing stud partitions shall ha.ve mp plates not smaller
than double 2 x 4-inch, nominal dimensions, and shall be set over girders or
other parti. tions belav, with th e s pace between the ceiling and the fioar above
firestopped with solid 2-inch, nominal thickness plank, or with nOJllComustible
material.
6. WOODEN COLUMNS.
(a) Wooden columns in the several stories of a building, shall
be set directly above ane another, on top of the column belOW'.
(b) The loads on wooden columns shall be transmJ.tted to the columns
below through reinforced eancrete or metal caps with brackets, or through metal
caps and bases with pintle connections or other approved column connections; pro-
vided that wooden bolsters may l:e used to support roof girders.
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(c) Wooden colunms shall not rest directly on floor joists.
(d)' ,Then supported by masonry, suitable stone or metal bases shall
be set between the column and the masonry.
7. FIRESTOPPDlG.
(a) When thew'alls are furred, thefPace created by the furring shall
be firestopped with noncombustible material at floors, ceilings and roofs. The
firestopping shall b~ the full thiclmess of the furring and extend from the ceil-
ing to the underside of the flooring or roof.
(b) When joists run parallel to the wall the space between the wall
and nearest joist shall be not less than 1 inch and shall be solidly filled
with masonry or approved noncombustible material.
(c) Interior stud partitions shall be firestopped at the floors
and ceiling of ea.e.h stary by a 2 inch nominal. dimenSion, wood plate, the width
of the stud, or the equiyalent.
(d) When sliding doors are pocketed in partitions, such pockets
shall be completely firestopped at the top:, bottom and ends, with noncombustible
materiaJs or 'Nith wood not less than 2 inches :in thic1mess nominal dimension.
(e) Joists shall be firestopped at the ends and over supports for
the full depth of the joists with noncombustible material or with wood not less
than 2 inches in thickness, nominal dimension.
(f) No firestopping shall be covered' or concealed until inspected
by the building official.
8. BAY \mDOIiIS AND SHON WINDOI1S. Bay windows and show windows
that extend beyond exterior walls' shall be constructed of noncombustible
material:s; except that show windows that do not extend above the second story
floor level and bay windows on dwellings may be constructed of wood; W1 en such
l;Iay lrindmvs of wood are more than 10 feet in width they shall be covered on the
exterior surfaces with metal or other approved noncombustible, weatherproof
materials.
9. MANSARD ROOFS. Mansard or other slanting roofs having a pitch
of more than 600 from the horizontal, hereafter placed on a building over 40
feet in height, shall be 'offireproof construction or semifireproof construction.
10. DRAFT STOPS ]Ii ATTIC SPACES. Attic spaces shall be divided :into
areas of 3,000 square feet or less by tight draft stops; these shall be of 2
thicknesses of I-inch lumber with joints broken or the equivalent, with access
doors of similar construction.
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SECTICN 21. NONCOMBUSTIBLE CONS'lRUCTION.
1. DEFINITION. Noncombustible construction" as applied to buildings"
means that in 'Which all structural members" inaluding floors, roofs and their
supports, are of steel" iron" concrete, or of other noncombustible materials,
and in which the exterior wall.s are of noncombustible construction having a
fire resistance rating of not less than two hours.
2. WALLS. Exterior -enclosure walls shall provide a durable and
stable weather proof ex terior.
3. S'lRUCTURAL MEMBERS. All structural members shall be of st7el,
iron, reinforced concrete, or of other approved noncombustible materials.
4. PARTITIONS.
(a) If combustible material enters into the construction of par-
_ titions, they shall be built to have a fire resistance r ating of not less than
one hour; but this shaJJ. not prohibit the use .of wooden doors, door casings,
frames" jambs, and bucks" windOW' and transom frames and casings, unless the
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partitions are required to b e fire partitions.
(b) Nothing in this section shall. prevent the erection of temporary
partitions of wood and glas~ or of metal and glass within the rooms or spaces
occupied by a single tenant.
( c) All pet"manent partitions shall rest on noncombustible ma terial3 .
SECTION 22. WOW FRAME COOS'1RUCTION.
. .
1. DEFDUTION. Wood frame cons~ruction, as applied to buildings"
means that in which wallis and interior construction arewholly or partly of
wood.
2. WALLS.
(a) Framing for exterior walls shall be constructed to develop a
strength and rigidity equivalent to wooden studding, not less than 2 by 4 inches,
nom:inal dimenSions, spaced 16 inches on centers with the larger dimension perpen-
dicular to the wall, and braced with sheathing or diagonal bracing at t he comers
to secure the necessary rigidity; except that in one-story buildin~s studs not over
10 feet in length may be spaced not to exceed 24 inches on centers.
(b) In buildings except private garages, an exterior wall which is
less than 3 feet distant from the lot line along an adjoining area 'Which:iis or may
.' be built upon shall be of noncombustible consl;ruotion having a fire resistance
.... ,J rating of not less than two hour,S; except that the material of the weather sur-
face mBj1 'be similar to that of other exterior walls of the building.
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(c) An extericr wall which is less than 6 feet distant from a wall
of a nother building of wood frame construction on the same lot, shall be non-
combustible construction having a fire resistance rating of not less than two
hours; except that the material of the weather surface may be similar to that
of other exterior walls of the building; and except that wh:m the aggregate area
of the wo buildings does not exceed Ii times the limiting area fixed by this
ordinance for either building, such fire resistance rating shall not be required.
3. STUCCO.
(a) stucco shall consist of portland cement mox:tar or other approved
mortar, on approved metal lath, or other approved bacldng.
(b) stucco shall be kept at least 8 inches above adjacent ground
smrfaces, with Sills, coping and other projecting courses provided with drips.
(c) Corrosion-resistant flashing, to prevent moisture from penetrating
behind the stucco, shall be provided over wall openings and over projecting
courses.
4. SILLS. Sills shall be anchored to the foundation walls at inter-
vals not exceeding 6 feet by anchors equivalent to bolts not less than i inch
in diameter with proper washers, embedded at least 6 inches in the foundation.
5. ANCHORAGE.
(a) In all buildings 20 feet or more in wi. dth where joists run
at right angles to the rafters, the rafters shall be tied to the ceiling joists
with i'food or metal ties nailed to the foot of alternate rafters and extending
across 4 joists well nailed to each joist.
(b) All joists shall be well lapped and nailed across 1he building
to form ties between outside walls.
6. BEA.AS, GmDmS AND JOISTS shall conform to ~e requirements of
section 20-3" paragraphs (a) to Cd) inclusive. Where ledger or ribbon boards
are used to st.'Pport joists, such boards shall be not less than I x 4 inch,
nominal dimensions, shall be cut into the studs and securely nailed with not
less than 2 tenpenny nails to each stud, and the joists shall be spiked to the
studs.
7. LQAD-BEARlliG PARTITIONS shall conform to the requirements of
Section 20-5..
8. 'VIroODEN COLUMNS shall conform to the requirements of section 20-6.
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FJRESTOPPING.
(a.) Ex ter.iDr. wall.s of wood frame construction shall be prqzperly
firestopped at each fioor level, at the top story ceiling level, at the roof
level in the case of flat roofs, and at the :toot of roof rafters in the case
of sloping roofs.
(b) Joists shall be firestopped at the ends and over supports for
the full depth of the joists.
(c) Interior stud partitions shall be firestopped at the noor and
ceiling of each story by a 2-inch, nominal dimension" wood plate, the 1IVidth of
the stud, or the equivalent.
(d) When sliding doors are pocketed in par~ tions, such pockets
shall be completely firestopped at the top, bottom and ends.
(e) Firestopping shall b e of noncombustible material or of wood
not less than 2 inches in thicKness, nominal dimension. No firestopping shall
be covered or concealed until inspected 't:u the building official.
16. !RAFT STOPS IN ATTIC SPACES. Dl'aft stops shall be provided in
attic spaces as required by Section 20-10.
SECTION 23. UNPROTECTED MEl'AL CONS'lRUCTION.
Unprotected IlE!tal consl:iruction, as applied to buildings, means that
in which the structural supports are unprotected metal and in which floors and
roofs are of noncombustible construction, and the exterior 'V'Talls are of non-
combustibJ.e constt'uction having a fire resistance rating of less than 2 hours.
SECTION 24. WORKMANSHIP AND MATERI.AI5 .
All building material;; shall be of good quality. Worlananship in the
fabrication, preparation and installation of materials shall conform to generally
accepted good practice.
SECTIOl.J 25. DESIGN LOADS, STRESSES AND WIND PRESSURE.
Buildings or structures, including tanks" towers, end signs, hereafter
erected and all new construction 'in the alteration of heretofore erected buildings
or structures shall be disigned and constructed for live and dead loads and. wind
pressures in accordance 'With the National Building Code, 1949 Edition, recommended
by the National Board of Fire UnderwI.'iters, and with resulting stresses not in ex-
cess of those permitted by said code.
SECTION 26. FOUNDATIONS.
Except when erected upon hardpan or solid rock or upon walls or piers
on the water front, foundation walls or other permanent supports shall be carried
not less than one foot below frost line and shall rest on solid ground or on
leveled rock, or on piles <I' ranging timbers when solid earth or rock is not found;
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provided that when one-story buildings or wood frame construction" ordinary con-
13'truction, noncombustible construction or unprotected metal construction do not
13xceed 150 square feet in area, such foundation walls or other permanent supports
shall not be required.
SECTION 21. MASONRY.
1. COOSTRUCTION.
(a) All maso~ shall be protected against freezing for at least 48
hotU's after teing placed. Unless adequate precautions against freezing are taken,
no masonry shall be built when the temperature is belaY' 320 Fahrenheit on a rising
temperature or below 400 on a falling temperature, at the point where the work is
in progress. No frozen materials shall be built upon.
(b) Ex: cept when' carried mdepeniient],y by' girders at each floor, no
wall shall be built up more than 25 feet in height in advance or other walls of
the building.
(c) Masonry walls that meet or intersect shall be adequately bonded
or anchored. Piers having less than 4 square feet of cross-sectional area when
located at an intersection with a wall shall be bonded into and built as part of
that wall.
(d) Except for window-paneled backs and permissible chases and
recesses, walls shall not vary in thiclmess between their lateral supports.
TFJhen a change in thiclmess" due to minimum thickness requirements, occurs between
floor levels, the greater thickness shall be carried up to the higher floor level.
(e) Isolated piers or posts on the interior of buildings shall not be
built of stone. The unsupported height or piers shall not exceed 10 times their
least dimension. Hollow masonry units shall not be usedf or isolated piers to
support beams and girders unless solidly filled with concrete or Type A mortar
in which case the allowable load mEW' be increased 25 per cent.
(f) Door and 1I'rindovT openings in walls shall be spanned by well
buttressed arches, or by lintels having bearings proportioned to their loads but
not I ess than 4 inches.
(g) No masonry" ~xcept for interior partitions" shall be supported
on wooden girders or other form of wood construction.
(h) 111 0 timber, other than nailing blocks not exceeding 2 by 4 by 8
inches in size, shall be placed in masonry '\-'Talls; except that in buildings of
ordinary construction, timber lintels may be placed over openings, on the inside
of t he wall, resting at each end not more than two inches on the wall, and cham-
fered or cut to serve as centres for masonry arches; and with the ftU'ther exception
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'lihat timber members usedf or decorative purposes may be set against the masonry,
'. or may be set into the masonry wtlBre the wall exceeds 8 inches in thickness.
(i) Dut-ing erection, walls shall be adequately braced and arches
temporarily supported.
t Hyd rated
Lime or
Cement Lime Putty
A. 1 (Portland) atoi
B 1 (Portland) a to 1i
B 1 (Mas onry
Type 11*) a
a 1 (p cftland) 2 to 2t
a 1 (Masonry
Type 1*) a
D a to l (Port-
land) 1 to l~
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2. Mm TA.:.'1.
(a) Mortar used in masonry construction shall be proportioned in
accordance with the following table:
MORTAR PROPORTIONS
Proportions by Volume
Mortar Type
Aggregate,
measured in a
damp and loose
condition
Not over 3 parts
Not over 6 parts
Not over 3 parts
Not over 9 parts
Not over 3 parts
Not over 3 parts
* As de1'ined in Federal Specification 55-0-181 b, Masonry cement.
(b) Type of mortar required. Masonry shall be laid in Type A, Type
B or Type a mortar" except as follows:
Type A, mortar shall be used in foundation walls of hollow masonry
units" and in nominal la-inch cavity walls.
Type A or T,ype B mortar shall be used in footings, foundation walls or
solid masonry units, isolated piers, load bearing or exterior walls of 'hollow
masonry units, hollow walls and cavity walls exceeding 1Q-inch nominal thickness.
Type D mortar may be used in solid masonry walls" other than parapet
vralls or rubble walls, not in contact with the soil and not ~ss than 12 inches
thick nor more than 35 feet in height, provided the walls are laterally supported
at intervaJs not exceeding 12 times the wall thickness.
Gypsum partition tile and block shall be laid in gypsum mortar. Non-
bearing partitions and fireproofing of structural clay tile may be laid in gypsum
mortar. Fire brick shall be laid in fire cla;r mortar.
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3. SOLID MASONRY 1rfALIS I EXCEPT. STONE VfALLS.
(A) Thickness of Bearing WaJ.ls.
(I) Elccept as otherwise provided in paragr'aphs (2) to (6) below"
the minimum thiclmess of solid masonry bearing walls other than fire waJ.ls
and party walls shall be not less than 12 inches for the uppermost 35 feet
of the:ir height" and shall be increased 4 inches for each successive 35 feet
or fraction thereof measured downward from the top of the wall.
(2) Where solid masonry bearing walls are stiffened at distances
not gr'eater than 12 feet apart by cross walls, or by internaJ. or external
offsets or returns at least 2 feet deep, or 12 feet vertically by reinforced
concrete floors or roof, they may be 12 inches' thick for the uppermost 70
feet, measured downward from the top of the wall, and shaJl be increased 4
inches in thickness for each successive 70 feet or fraction thereof.
(3) In residential buildings not more than 3 stories in height"
solid masonry bearing walls may be 8 inches thick when not over 35 feet in
height. W'alls in one-story dwellings and 0 ne-story private garages may be
6 inches thick when not over 9 feet in height, except that the height to the
peak of a gable may be 15 feet~
(4) Outside solid masonry bearing walls of business buildings and
storage buildings not more than one-story high, may be 8" thick for areas not
in ex cess of 750 square feet. '
(5) Outside of the .fire limits solid masonry bearing balls, 8
inches thick, may be used for buildings not exceeding 30 feet nor 2 stories
in height, the waJ.ls of 'Which, under this ordinance, could be of wood frame
construction; provided they do not exceed 50 feet in length between cross
walls, piers, or buttresses. ~
(6) Solid masonry bearing walls above roof levell 12 feet or less
in height, enclosing penthouses or roof structures may be 8 inches thick and
may be considered as neither increasing the height nor requiring any increase
in the thickness of the wall below, provided the requirements for allowable
stresses are met.
Cb). Thiclmess of Nan-bearing Exterior walls. The thickness of non-
bearing exterior walls, except fire 'w'alls and party walls, shall be not less
than 8 inches for the uppermost 15 feet, and shall increase 4 inches in thick-
ness for each successive 35 feet or fraction thereof measured downward from the
top of the wall.
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(c) LATERAL StPPO~. Solid masonry walls shall be supported at
right angles to the wall face at intervals not exceeding 20 times the nominal
wall thiclmess if laid in Type A, B, or C mortar" and not exceeding 12 times
the nominal wall thiclaless if laid in Type D mortar. Such lateral support shall
conform to subsection 10 of this section.
(d) Bond. Tm facing and gacking of solid masonry bearing walls shall
be bonded so that not le.3s than 4 percent of the wall surface is _composed of
full Je ngth headers. Thel distance between adjacent full length headers shall
not exceed 24 inches either vertically or horizontally. In solid brick walls
more than 12 inches thick the inner joints of header courses shall be covered
vdth another header COUI'fle which shall break joints with the course belOW'. The
facing and baCking of solid mas onry walls shall be bonded as required above
for bearing walls or shall be bonded with corrosionresistant metal ties spaced
not .t'.arther apart than Ie inches vertically and 24 inches horizonta:I.J.y.
(e) Other requirements.
(1) Under-burnei clay bricks shall not be us ed in any part of a
building or structure whe:~e exposed to the weather J nor in isolated piers,
.
nor in such part. of a bea::-ing 1"Tall above which the wall extends more than
40 feet.
(2) Clay or sha:~e brick laid in Type A. or Type B mortar shall be
lret immediately before be:.ng leid, except that very hard ar vitrified brick
need not be wetted.
(3) Horizontal ~lIld vertical joints in brick masonry shall be filled
wi th mortar.
(4) Except in dwrellings interior bearing walls that are less than
12 inches in thiclmess and. support wooden floor or roof joists, shall be
corbeled not less than 3 inches to receive such joists, unless approved metal
joist hangers are used.
4. STem trAILS.
(a) Thiclmess.
(1) The minimum. 'thiclmess of walls of stone ashlar shall be not
less than that required for s oUd masonry walls in S1 bsection 3 of this section.
(2,) Rubble stone walls shall be 4 indhea thicker than is' required for
solid masonry walls in subuection 3 of this seotion, but shall. not be less than
16 inches thick" and shall nal:i exceed 40 feet in height.
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(b) Lateral s'.1pport. stone walls shall conform to the requirements
for lateral support of o'~her solid masonry walls in subsection 3 of this section.
,(c) Bond.
(1) In ashlar masonry" bond stones uniformly distributed shall be
provided to the extent 0.1' not less than 10 percent of the area and having not
less than 4 inches of bond into the backing masonry.
(2) Rubble stc.ne masonry 24 inches or less in thickness shall have
bond stones with a maximum spacing of 3 feet vertically and horizontally" and
if the masonry is of greater thiclaless than 24 inches shall have one bond stone
for each 6 square feet of wall surface on both sides and no heBder stone shall
be less than 12 inches 10:J.g measured at right angles to the face of the masonry.
(d) Natural be is. All stones showing pronounced cleavage shall be
laid on their natural bed" except for cornices and other projecting members
w'hich shaJ.l have the grain or bedding planes verticaJ. and at right angles to
the face of the masonry.
5. VTALlS OF HOlJ..ON MASONRY UNITS.
(a) Thickness end height.
(1) The minimun. thiclaless of walls of hollow masonry units shall be
not less than that required for solid masonry waJ.ls in subseotion 3 of this sec-
tion.
(2) '\'falls of hollow masonry '\mits shall not exceed ~O feet in height.
(b) LateraJ. sup:?ort. V(alls of hollow masonry units shall be supported
at right angles to the wall face at invervals not exceeding 18 times the nominal
wall thiclaless. Such late]~al support shall conform to subsection 10 of this
section.
(c) Bond.
(1) Hollow masonry units shall have full mortar coverage of the face
shells in both the horizont.al and vertical joints-.
(2) Where tVlO or more hollow units are us ed to make up the thickness
of a wall" the inner and outer courses shall be bonded at vertical intervals"
not exceeding 3 feet, by lapping at least 4 inches over the unit below or by
lapping with units at least 50 per cent greater in thickness than the unit below
at vertical intervals not exceeding 17 inches.
(3) Brick facing or lining (vrhich does not include veneering when
used in hollow block wal1s 13hall be bonded to the backing in accordance with
paragraph (d) of subsection 3 of this section.
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(4) Where walls of hollow masonry units are decreased in thickness,
a course of solid masonry l3hall be interposed between the wall below and the thinner
wall above, or the hollow llnit~ in the top course of the thicker wall shall be filled
solidly with mortar or masonry.
(d) Bearing: In walls and piers of ho:l;lCl'N masonry units, suitable pro-
vision shall be made for proper bearing at the ends of all beams and at points of
load concentration.
6. CAVITY WALLS AND HOLLCJ1 \VALIS.
(a) Height and thickness.
(1) Cavity walls and hollow walls shall not exceed 35 feet in height.
Gavity walls, exclusive of .he cavity, and hollow walls shall not be less in thick-
ness than required for solid masonry walls in subsection 3 of this section.
(2) In cavity waJls, neither the facing nor backing shall be less than
;1 3/4 inches in nominal thickness and the cavity shall be not less than 2 inches
nor more than 3 inches in width.
(b) Lateral support. Cavity walls shall be supported a.t right angles
to the wall face at intervalB not exceeding 14 times, and hollow walls at intervals
not exceeding 18 times the nl)minalwall thiclmess. Such lateral support shall con-
I',orm to subsection 10 of thin section.
(c) Bond.
(1) In hollow walls the parts of same shall be connected by bonds
of brick, stone or the ma~erial of the walls, placed not mer e than 24 inches
apart in either direction; but the parts shall not be deemed to act together in
th.e support of loads unless such bonds are of a size and design to fully develop
the strength of either pa rt.
(2) In cavity wall:3 the facing and backing shall be securely tied
together with suitable bonding ties of ad~quate strength. A 3/16 inch diameter
stt~el rod or metal tie of equ:.valent stiffness coated with a noncorroding metal
or other approved protective coating shall be used for each 3 square feet of wall
surface. 'ffuere hollor. masoIlI'jo units are laid with the cells vertical, rectangular
tie!s shall be used; in other 'Wa~ls the ends of ties shall be bent to 90 degree
angles to provide hooks not less than 2 inches long. Ties shall be embedded in
horizontal joints of facing ani backing. Additional bonding ties shall be pro-
vid.ed at all openings, spaced :lot more than 3 feet apart around the perimeter and
TIithin 12 inches of the opening. Cavity walls of plain concrete shall be reinforced
as provided for solid '\'Talls of plain concrete in subsection 9 of this section.
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(d) Bearing.
(1) In hollOt.,. walls or cavity walls suitable provision shall be made
e at each line of floor beamn ahd wherever load concentrations occur, to insure
proper bearing.
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(2) V/hen cavity walls or hollow walls, in which the cells of hollow
units are laid vertical arE' decreased in thickness, the units in the top course
of t he thicker walls shall be filled solidly with mortar or masonry or the exposed
openings in such top course shall be covered with slabs of hard burned tile or
concrete at least one inch in thickness or the openings may be stopped in some
other approved manner.
(e) Dt-ainage. In cavity walls the cavity shall be kept clear of
.
mortar droppings during construction. Approved flashing shall be installed and
adequate drainage provided to keep dampness away from the backing.
7. FACED 'l"lALLS.
(a) Material. M9.terials used for facing shall be not less than 2-1 inches
thick, and in no case less :in thickness than 1/8 of the height of the unit.
(b) Allavrable st::-esses. Where bonded to the backing as prescribed be-
low, the full cross section of both facing and the backing may be considered in
I::omputing the stresses.
(c) Thickness. raced walls shall be not less in thickness than is
required for masonry ''falls of either of the types fxxrming the facing and the b ack-
:Lng. \There bonded to the backing as prescribed belm'J the facing may be considered
a part of the wall thickne::ls.
(d) Bond.
(1) Brick facing shall be bonded to the backing as pres cribed for
solid masonry vralls in subsection 3 (d) of this section.
(2) Ashlar facing of e:i. ther natural or cast stone shall have at least
~~O per cent of the superficial area ex tending not less than 4 inches into the
backing to form bond stones~ which shall be uniformly distributed throughout the
wall.
(3) f1hen \TalIs of hollow masonry l.U1its are faced ,'lith hollow units, the.
facing l.U1its shall be bonded to the backi.ng as required for walls of hollow masonry
units in subsection 5 (c) of this section.
8. Attaclunent of ,3tone facing. Every projecting stone, and, except when
alternate courses are full b)nd courses, every stone not a bond stone Shall be
securely' anchored to the bac:dng with corrosion resistant metal anchors 'with a cross
section of not less than 0.2 square inch. There shall be at 1e ast I anchor to each
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stone and not less than 2 anchors for each stone more than 2 feet in length and 3
square feet in superficial area. Facing stones not over 12 square feet in area shall
have at least I anchor to each 4 square feet of superficial face area.
9. SOLID \VALIS OF PLAIN CONCRETE.
(a) Thickness. Th~ minimum thickness of walls of plain concrete may be
2 inches less than that required for solid masonry walls" but not less than B inches"
except that 6-inch walls maY' be used where specifically permitted by subsection 3
(a) (3) of this secti. on.
(b) Lateral supp:>rt. Solid vlalls of plain concrete shall be supported
at right angles to the w~l face at intervals not exceeding 20 times the nominal
'wall thickness. Such later 9.1 support shall conf orm to subsection 10 of this section.
(c) Reinforcemen.~ around openings. Reinforcement symmetrically disposed
in the thiclmess of the wall shall be placed not less than 1 inch above and 2 inches
below openings and extend nl,t less than 24 inches each side of such openings or be
of equivalent length with hooks. The reinforcement both above and beloW shall con-
sis t of one SIB-inch .round rod for each 6 inches ill wall thickness or fraction
"thereof.
10. LATERAL SUPPORT. The lateral support required by subsections 3" 4"
~)I 6 and 9 of this 'section f:hall be either vertical or horizontal. It may be ob-
.~ained by cross walls, pierE, or buttresses, when the limiting distance is measured
horizontally, or by floors end roofs when the limiting distance is measured verti-
G:eJ.lY. Sufficient bonding or anchorage shall be provided between the walls and the
supports to resist the assumed 'V'dnd force, acting either inward or outward. Piers
or buttresses relied upon fer lateral support shall have sufficient strength and
stabili ty to transfer the ,rind force, acting in either direction to the ground.
When '\'lalls are dependent upcn floors or roofs for their lateral support, proviaion
shall be made in the building to transfer the lateral forces to the gro1.Uld.
SECTION 28. REmFQRCED CONCRETE.
(a) Average concrete for reinforced concrete shall consist of 1 part
portland cement and not more than 6 parts aggregate, by vol~e measured dry, and not
more than 7} gallons of water per sack, 94 pounds of cement. The ageregate shall be
mixed in an approximate ratio of 2-l parts fine aggregate and 3i parts coarse aggregate.
(b) The National Building Code, 1949 Edition, Recommended by the .National
Board of Fire Underwriters, shall be deemed to be the generally accepted good prac-
t~ce in reinforced concrete construction.
SECTION 29. FJRE '!fALLS AND PARTY WALIS.
1. CQIistruction.
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(a) Fire walls <.lIld party walls of masonry shall be laid in Type A or
It
Type B mortar.
(b) Fire ?lalls end party walls shall be constructed of solid masonry
units, or of hollow masonrjl' units faced on each side wi.th brick, or of reinforced
concrete.
(c) Where structural members project into hollOW' masonry units the
ho11O'<I space shall be fille:! with noncombustible material the full thiclmess of the
'vrall and 4 inches or more a:>ove, bet\veen and belm" such members.
2. THICKHESS OF an.ID MASONRY WALLS EXCEPT PANEL 1'VALLS.
(a) For b'ls1ness buildings and storage buildings, fire walls and party
l'falls of solid masonry unitH shall be not less than 16 inches thick for the upper-
--', , most !io :reet and increase 4 inches in thielmess :ror each additional 3!i :reet or f'rac-
tv .~ion thereof measured dowmverd from the top of the wall; except that where the walls
are non-bearing, or where beams or girders are supported on the vvall by approved
Iletal hangers and do not enter the wall the minimum thiclmess may be 16 inches for
ihe uppermost 70 feet.
(b) For other buildings, fire walls and party walls of solid masonry
units shall be not less than 12 inches thick for the uppermost 35 feet and increase
4 inches in thickness for ea::h additional 35 feet or fraction thereof measured dmm-
'\Irard from the top of the wal:L.
3. TEICKN1SS OF BlUCK-FACED HOLLaV MASONRY VfALLS. Fire walis and party
,
walls of hollow masonry unitB faced on each side with at least 4 inches of brick
shall have a total thiclmess including the facing not less ~an 4 inches greater >,.
than specified in subsection 2 above f or so~id masonry walls. t
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4. THICKNI::SS OF Rl!:mFORCED CONCRETE W'ALLS EXCEPT PANEL WALLS.
(a) For business 't:uildings and storage buildings, fire walls and party
wcLlls of reinforced concrete shall be not less than 11 inches thick for the uppermost
3~: feet and increase 2 inches in thiclmess for each successive 35 feet or fraction
tt..ereof measured downward from the top of the wall.
(b) For other buil:lings, fire walls and party walls of reinforced con-
crete shall be not less than 9 inches thick for the uppermost 35 feet and increase
2 inches in thiclmess for eac:1 successive 35 f'eet or fraction thereof measured
dO'l'IIlward from the top of the lVall.
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5. EXCEPTION TO THICKNESS REQUmEMENTS FCR PANEL \VALIS. 'Where fire vlallS
or party walls are constructec~ as panel walls in a framew'ork of colu.ms and girders
protected as required for fireproof construction and no panel has a height between
supports greater than 12 feet, they may be of solid masonry not less than 12 inches
thi.ck or of re:i.nforced concrete not less than 8 inches thick.
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6. TO BE: CAR.1UEI: 'ID OR ABOVE THE ROOF. Fire walls and party walls shall
extend at least 3 feet above the roof; except imere the roof is of fireproof or
semifireproof construction in which case the fire walls ~ party walls shall be
carried up tightly against '~he ~derside of the roo! slabs.
7. SIZE AND PROT]CTION OF OPENmGS.
(a) Except in sprinldered buildings, no opening in a fire wall shall
l~xceed 120 square feet in area with no dimension greater than 12 feet, and the
aggregate width of ell openings at any level shall not exceed 25 per cent of the
length of the wall.
(b) Every opening in a required fire wall shall be protected on each
side of the wall with an approved automatic or self-closing fire door; provided
that when a fire wall serves also as a horizontal exit it shall have no openings
other than door openings not exceeding 48 square feet ~ area, and one of the fire
d:>ors at each opening shall be a self-closing fire door.
SECTION 30. PARAPl~S.
(a) Ex:cept as lisiied below" parapets shall be provided on all fire .
l'lCllls, party walls, and ex terior walls ofmasonry or reinforced concrete. Parapets
are not ~equired on:
(1) Walls connecting with roofs of fireproof construction or semifire-
proof construction;
(2) A wall of a bu:Llding the roof of which is at least three feet
lower than the roof of, or any opening in" an adjacent building
wall;
(3 ) Walls facing 011 a street having a width of 30 feet or more;
(4) Walls of a bui:.ding wllui.ch is 30 feet or more distant in all
directions fron' property lines and from other buildings on
the same property;
(5) Walls of a building which is 30 feet or more distant in all
directions from prapel:'ty lines but less than 30 feet distant
to one or more buildings on the same property" where the
total area of the buildings vvithin 30 feet of each other does
. not exceed Ji times the allowable area for anyone of the
buildings considered; .
(6) Walls of a deta~hed &velling, or of a building not exceeding
1,000 square fe:!t in area;
(7) Walls of a building where the roof has an angle of more than
200 loti th the horizontal.
(b) . In dwellings and in buildings in which 8-inch walls are permitted,
such parapets shall be not leS~1 than 8 inches thick and carried at least tlvo feet
abo're the roof.
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(c) In all other buildings such parapets ,shall be not less than 12
inches thick" and carried not less than 3 feet above the roof.
(d) Parapets sha:~l be properly coped with noncombustible, weatherproof
:naterial and nashed with the flashing ex tending through the parapet wall under the
t~oping. All corners of all parapet walls shall be reinforced with at least one i
:Ll'lch round bar in every third joint" continuous around the corner and extending into
1ihe masonry at least 3 feet from the corner.
SECTION 31. FIRE PARTITIONS.
1. Construction..
(a) Fire partitions shaJ.l have fire resistance ratings of at least
two hours. They sh all be constructed of mas onry or reinforced concrete, or other
approved form of constructio::l of noncombustible materials. Fire partitions used
for load bearing shall confo::-m to the requirements for bearing walls in sections
27 & 28, in addition to meet:ing the requirements of this section.
(b) Fire parti tiollS shall b e supported in each story on construction
h.9.ving a fire resistance rat:.ng of not less than 2 hours; provided that when they
a.].s 0 are load bearing, the supporting construction shall have a fire resistance
rating of not less than 4 hOl;rs in case the building is of fireproof construction
or semifireproof construction, and not less than 3 hours in case of other con-
s1:it"uction.
(c) The maximum lU'lsupported height of a fire partitiop. shall not exceed
lE: times its total thiclmess unless suitably reinforced and. anchored at floor and
ceiling or unless substantially secured to vertical supports at int;ervals of not
ov'er 18 times the thiclmess.
(d) Fire partition:3 shall be deemed continuous, even though the several
pa.:rts are not ctir ectly over one another in successive stories if the intervening
pa:rts of the floors at the leyels where offsets occur, are unpierced and of fire-
pr':>of construction or semifirElproof construction and all parts not supported directly
on the foundations are carried on f~reproof construction.
2. OPENINGS.
(a) Required fire p~rtitions shall have ~o openings other than required
dOClr openings, or properly prctected duct openings.
(b) Each opening in a required fire partition shall be equipped with an
approved fire door set in an approved door frame.
(c) Ea.6h opening in a fire partition serving as a horizontal exit shall
be protected by an approved self-closing fire door.
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SECTION 32. PROTl~TI ON OF EXTERIOR OPENnms.
Every bUilcling" e:ccept dwellings, churches" buildings of wood frame
I~onstruction and of unprotec:tcd metal construction, and open at r parld.ng garages
:shall have approved fire vlindOW's or other approved protectives, in every opening
in the exterior vTalls when e:uch opening faces on a street and is less than 30 feet
from the opposite building line, or 'When such opening is less than 30 feet distant
jJl a direct unobstructed line from an opening in en other bUilding, or when such
opening is above and not more than 30 feet distant from any part of a neighboring
l"oof of combustible construction, or any roof' having openings ,rlthin this distance;
provided that 51 ch protectio::J. shall not be required for show windOW's facing on a
street which do not extend a':>ove the first full story above grade; and provided
further that such protection shall not be required when the opening to be pro-
tected and the opening againnt vhich it is to be protected are situated in walls
in the same plane or in para.:.1el planes and are facing in the same direction.
SECTION 33. SHAFT~:.
1. Protection required.
(a) Every series cf openings above one another in two or more success-
ive floors or noors and roof, hereafter placed or constructed in a building or
he!I'eafter enlarged or altered to change the use of the shaft, shall be so protected
as to prevent fire in any story from communicating to any other story; provided
that in buildings of heavy timber construction there shall be no floor open:i..ng
that is not protected as pres ::ribed in this section or in some other approved
manner .
(b) The provisions of this section shall apply to all shafts used for
ventilation" light, elevator, pipes, or other purpose; except stairways" air ducts,
indnerator flues, shafts in buildings of "ood frame construction, shafts in dwell-
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ings, and ramps in garages eJCeanpted by Secti on 40-6.
2. SH.U'T ENCLQSUR~i. The enclosing walls of shafts in residence build-
ings of ordinary construction or noncombustible construction or unprotected metal
construction shaD. have a fire resistance rating of not less than 1 hour. The en...
clc1sing VlaJ..lS of shafts in other buildings shall be noncombustible construction having
a j:ire resistance rating of not less than 2 hours.
3. OPENINGS. Shaft enclosures shall have no openings other than those
nec,essary for the purpose of the shaft; provided that in elevator shafts there shall
be at least one door in every 30 feet of the height of Slch shaft. Such openings
shall be protected with approv3d fire doors, approved fire shutters or approved fire
v1indOll'[s.
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4. ENCLOSUHE AT . 'lOP .
(a) Shaft enclosurl~s extending through the roof 'Which are to be en-
closed at the top, shall be provided with a skylight of at least 10 per cent of
the area of the shaft in the "jOP story and glazed with plain glass liB-inch in
thickness; provided that the :Jkylightmay be replaced by a window of plain glass
of equivalent area in the sidH of the shaft if the sill of such window is not less
than 2 feet above the roof and the "dIldOVI' does not f ace a lot line wi thin 10 feet,
or may be replaced by approved means of ventilation.
(b) A shaft that does not extend through the roof shall have the top
enclosed with a form of const!:-uction having a fire resistance rating equal to
that of the walls of the shaf"~.
5. ENCLOSURE AT BO~rTOM. A shaft that does not extend to the bottom
of the building shall be encl.)sed at its lowest point with a floor construction
of the same type as that required for the lowest floor to or through which it
passes, but such shaft floor t~onstruction shall have a fire resistance rating
of not less than one hour.
6. ELEVP.Tffi MACHlN:m.y COMPARTMENT. Compartments aontaining machinery
for operating elevators shall be separated from the elevator shafts by noncom-
bustible construction having .3, fire resistance rating of not less than 2 hours,
wi'th door openings equipped w:Lth approved fire doors.
7. NUMBER OF Er,E,VK~m S IN SHAFT. Not more than 3 elevators shall be
placed hereafter in one shaft.
SECTION 34, ROOFING. .
(a) Every roof herB~ter placed on a building shall be covered
with an B:pproved roofing of b::'ick, concrete, tile, slate, metal, asbestos, pre-
pared asphalt asbestos-felt s:1ingles, or of built-up roofine finished with asphalt,
slag or gravel, or other appr:>ved material, except that dwellings, private gar'ages,
and barns separated by at least twelve feet from other buildings may be roofed with
a good grade of wood shingles.
(b) Except lmere r:>ofing is of a character permitting atta.chment direct
te, frame 'Work, it shall be Bf>:?lied to a solid or closely fitted deck. (c) Roofings which are listed as Class A or B roof covering materials
by' Underwriters r Laboratories, Inc., shall be accepted as meeting the requirements
of this section.
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(d) Roofings vrhich are listed as Class C roof covering materials
by Underwriters r Laboratori.es, 'Inc., shall be accepted as meeting the require-
ments of this section on bt:i1dings as follows:
(1) Dwellings. .
(2) Buildings of' wood frame construction.
(3) Buildings lClcated outside the fire limits which do not exceed
2 stories or 30 feet inheight, nor 2500 aq. ft. in area, and
are not occt~ied as stores, factories or warehouses.
(4 ) Buildings which under this ordinance could be of wood frame
construction.
(e) The use of c:ork, fiber board or other approved insulation is
permitted on top of the roof deck provided such insulation is covered ,rd.th an
approved type of fire resiE:tive roof covering applied directly thereto.
(f) No roofing (In an existing roof shall be renewed or repaired to
a greater extent than one-t.enth of the roof surface, except in conformity with
the requirements of this se'ction.
SECTION 35. sm.IGHTS
(a) Skyliehts plaaed over shafts, vent shafts and stair enclosures
shall be glazed with plain glass not more than 1/8 of an inch in thiclmess.
(b) Skylights 0ther than as specified above, which are inclined
less than 600 from the hOI'izontal, r.ereafter placed on a building shall have
the sashes and frames thereof constructed of metal and glazed with wired glass;
except that skylights in f clundries or buildings where acid fumes are present,
may be of wood by special 1=ermission of the building official.
(c) Every skyliGht in which plain glass is used shall be protected
by a substantial wire screen with wire not lighter than number 12 gauge and
having a mesh not less then 3/4 of an inch nor larger than 1 inch, placed not
less than 4 inches nor more' than 10 inches above the glazed portion of the sky-
light at all points. Such screen shall extend beyond the glazing on all sides
a distance not less than the height of the screen above the glazing.
(d) When a slWli,ght is located over a stairway, public hallway or a
place of assembly, a simUl:r screen shall also be placed below' the skylight,
unless there is an intermeciate ceiling light.
SECTION 36. BASU,{ENT CEILINGS.
In liIuildings ex cept dwellings and one-story buildings outside of the
fire limits, the ceilings (lver basements shall be fire resistant ceilings unless
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SECTION/37 . CIIDNEYS, FLUES AND VENTS.
I. - Flue connecti ons 'required. Every heating apparatus or heat
,.
.4t producing appliance requiring a flue connection shall be connected with a flue
conforming to the provisior..s of this section or of section 38. This shall not
include electric ~ppliancef'; gas appliances, except as specifically required
in section 38, nor oil firE~d appliances especially designed for use without
flue comection.
2. USE OF NONCONFORMING FLUES. Flues not conforming to the re-
quirements of this section for chinmeys, nor with generally accepted good
practice for metal smokestacks, nor VIi. th section 38, vents f or gas appliances,
shall n,ot be used unless l:_sted by Underwriters r Laboratories, Inc., and in-
,
stalled in full compliance with the lis~ing and the manufacturer 's instructions,
and such use is approved b:{ the bUilding official.
3. CONSmUCTION .
(a) Chimneys sh,ul extend at least 3 feet above the highest point
where they pass through thB roof of the buil~ng and at least 2 feet higher
than any ridge within 10 ft:!et of such chinmey.
(b) No chinmey .3hall be corbeled from a wall more than 6 inches;
nor s hall a chinmey be cor")eled from a wall which is less than 12 inches in
thiclmess unless it projects equally on each side of the wall; provided that
in the second story of 2-story dwellings corbelling of chinmeys on the exterior
of the enclosing walls may equal the l'lJ'all thicmess. In every case the cor-
,
beling shall not exceed on3 inch projection !:or each course of brick projected.
(c) No change i:1 the size or shape of a chinmey, where the chiIlxney
passes through the roof, s:J.all be made within a distance of 6 inches above or
below the roof joists or rafters.
4. CHIMNEIS FOR HEATING APPLIANCES, LON HEAT INDUSTRIAL APPLIANCES
AND FOR TABLE INCDJmA roRS.
(a) Chimneys for stoves, coolci.ng ranges, warm air, hot water and
low pressure steam. heating furnaces,' fireplaCes" and low heat industrial appli-
ances, other than chimneys for incinerators of nonportable type, shall be con-
struction of solid masonry' units or of reinforced concrete. The walls shall be
properly bonded or tied with corrosion resistant metal anchors. In dw'ellings
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and buildings of like heating requirements the thickness of the chimney vfalls
shall be not less than 4 inches. In other buildings the thickness shall be mt
less than 8 inches, except that rubble stone masonry shall be not less than 12
inches thick.
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(b) Every such chimney hereafter erected' or altered shall be lined
with a flue lining confornrlng to the requirements below.
(c) Flue lining::; shall be made of fire clay or other refractory
clay 1'J'hich will withstand t.he action of flue gases and resist 'Wi. thout soften-
ing or cracking, the tempel'awes to l'lhich they vd.ll be subjected, but not
less than 2,0000 Fahrenhei1" or of cast iron of approved quality, form and
construction.
(d) Required clcY flue linings shall be not less than 518 of an
inch thick for the smaller flues and increasing in thickness for the larger
flues.
(e) Flue lining::: shall be installed ahead of the construction of the
chimney as it is carried up, carefully bedded one on the other in Type A, type
B or fire clay mortar with close fitting joints left smooth on the inside.
(f) Flue lining::: shall start from a point net less than 8 inches
below the intake, or, in tt,e case of fireplaces, from the throat of the fire-
place. They shall extend, as nearly vertically as possible, for the entire
height of the chimney and he extended 4 inches above the top or cap of the
chimney.
(g) Cleanouts for f lues or fireplaces shall be equipped 'With cast
iron doors and frames arranged tOI\3main tightly closed when not in use.
(h) When tvro or more flues are contained in the same chinney, at
least every third flue sha:l be separated by masonry at least 4 inches thick
bonded into the masonry wa.:!.l of the chimney. Where flue linings are not so
separated, the joints of adjacent flue linings shall be staggered at least 7
inches.
.5. USE 01" FLUES" Chimneys or flues installed for the use of gas
appliances but which are not suitable for solid or liquid fuels, shall be
plainly and per~ntly labeled, IITHLS FLUE IS FOR THE USE OF GAS ;mJRNING
APPLIANCES ONLY." The lab~l shall be attached at a point near where the vent
pipe enters the chinmey, or VIIi th a type B gas vent used in place of a chimney,
at a point where the type :3 gas vent enters a 'wall, floor or ceiling.
6. FIREPLACES.
(a) The back and siCl.es of fireplaces hereafter erected shall be of
solid masonry or reinforced concrete, not less than 8 inches in, thic1mess. A
lining of fire brick at le9.st 2 inches thick or other approved material shall be
provided unless the thiclmess is 12 inches.
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(b) Fireplaces ahall have hearths of brick, stone, tile or other
approved noncombustible ma"jerial supported on a fireproof slab or on brick
trimmer arches. Such hear'~hs shall ex tend at least 20 inches outside of the
chimney breast and not les:3 than 12 inches beyond each side of the fireplace
opening along the chimney breast. The combined thiclmess of hearth and support-
ing construction shall be not less than 6 inches at any point.
(c) 'iooden form:J or centers used in the construction of that part
of the supporting construc':;ion which is below the hearth of the fireplace shall
be removed when the suppor":;ing cons truction of the hearth is completed.
and
(d) Spaces betw een the chimney and joists, beams or girders any
com bustible materials shall be fires topped by filling with noncombustible
material.
SECTION 38. FLUI:S AND VENTS FOR. GAS APPLIANCES.
1. FLUE CONNECT~:OOS REQUIRED. Every gas appliance shall be cOImected
to an effective flue extencling to the outer air and conforming to the provisions
or subsection 2 of this sec:tion, if it is included in any of the following class-
ifications, provided that fluch connections shall not be required for industrial
appliances of such size of character that the absence of a connection does not
constitute a hazard to the occupants:
(a) Domestic appliances with input rating in excess of 50,,000 Btu
per hour" except domestic gas ranges.
(b) Automatically controlled appliances "vith input rating in excess
of 5,,000 Btu per' hour, excElpt automatic instantaneous water heaters of the single
faucet type" where the sin€:le faucet is attached to and made a part of the
appliance.
(c) Automatical:.y controlled appliances with input rating less than
$,000 Btu per ho'll!', unless equipped with an automatic device to prevE'.nt the es-
cape of unburned gas at thE! main burner or burners.
The term Itautomatically controlled appliances" used in paragraphs
(b) and (c) refers to appli.ances to which the gas supply is automatically turned
on and off in accordance w:i.th the demand for heat, but does not include
appliances equipped ....r.i.th dflvices or controls governing the supply of gas to the
main burner or burners ~Nhic:h cannot automatically reduce the g as supply below
30 per' cent of the input rat~.
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Cd) Appliances installed in the same room, which if not vented would
make the total input rati:lg of unvented gas appliances, not including domestic
gas ranges, as great as }) Btu per hour per cubic foot of room content.
(e) Water heate::-s installed in bath rooms, bed rooms, or any occupied
room normally kept closed.
(f) Space heate:~s in sleeping quarters for use of transients.
(g) All house h,:!ating sji"eam and hot water boilers and warm air fur-
naces including floor furnaces.
2. TYPES OF FLm~~.
(a) Type A fluen: Chimneys or metal smokestacks. Type A flues are
required for: (1) all inc:inerators; (2) All applianc.es which may be con-
verted readily to the use of solid or liquid fuel; (J) all boilers and fur-
naces, other than attic furnaces, e..."tCept where specific approval is obtained
from the building officia. for the use of type B gas vents; (4) all other
appliances except approved appliances which produce flue gas temperatures not
in excess of 5500 F. at the outlet of the draft hood vlhen burning gas at the
manufacturers input rating.
(b) Type B gas vents: Approved vent piping of noncombustible,
corrosion-resi~tant material of adequate strength and heat insulating value,
and having bell and spigot or othe-r acceptable joints. TyPe B gas vents shall
be used on~ with approved gas appliances which are not required by paragraph
(a) above to be vented to type A flues, except that they mB\Y' be used when ex-
tended through an existing non-used chillDley, whether the chimney is lined or not
lined.
(c) Type C gas vents: Vent pipes of sheet copper of not less than
24 u. S. gauge or of galvalized iron of not less than 20 U. S. gauge or of
other approved corrosion-resistant material, may be used for runs direct~ from
the space in l'lhich the, appliance is located through a r.oof or ex: terior wall to
the outer air. Such vent pipes shall not pass through any attic or concealed
space nor thr ough any floclI'. This shaJJ. not be construed as prohibiting the use
of such vent pipes to vent, attic furnaces installed in accordance :vi th the pro-
v isions of this ordinancEl. Installation with reference to clearance from com-
bustible material and pas::;age through wall or roof shall comply with the pro-
visions of subsection 4 of this section.
3. INSTALLATION OF TYPE B GAS VENTS.
(a) Type B gas vents shall be made up with tight joints.
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(b) Type B ga.3 'vents shall be installed with a clearance to
e combustible material or construction whether:- plastered or unplastered, of
not less than one inch, provided that for vents of floor furnaces such clear-
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ance shall be not less thaJl 3 inches for a distance of not less than 3 feet
from the outlet of the draJ~t hood, measured along the center line of the vent
piping.
(c) Suitable pl'ovision shall be made to prevent mechanical in-
jury to type B gas vents where they extend through walls, floors, or roofs.
(d) Type B gas vents shall not be used with solid or liquid
fuel burning applie.nces.
4. :mSTP.LLATION OF GAS VENTS OTID!R THAN TYPE B.
(a) Gas appliance vent piping other than approved type B gas
vents shall not pass through ;my attic (][' concealed space nor through any
combustible floor, and sha]l no~ pass through any combustible roof ex cept
as specified in subsection 2(c). Where passing through combustible roofs
in accordance with subsection 2(c) they shall be guarded at the point of
passage as specified for pl:.ssage through combustible walls or partitions
in paragraph (b) belOW'. Vent piping may extend through any existing chiJn...
ney vlhether the chimney is lined or not.
(b) Gas appliar.ce vent piping other than approved type B gas
vents shall not pass throUE:h combustible walls or partitions unless they
are guarded at the point of' passage (1) by metal ventilated thimbles not
less than 6 inches larger in diameter than the pipe, or (2) by metal
thimbles not less than 4 iI..ches larger in diameter than the pipe with the
annular space fill cd Vii th ndneral wool or other approved noncombustible in-
sulating material; or in lieu of such protection all combustible material
in the wall or partition Ehall be cut away from the vent pipe a sufficient
distance to 'provide the clE arance required from such vent pipe to combustible
material - any material UE ed t 0 close up S1ch opening shall be noncombus-
tible.
(c) Clearances from combustible material to gis appliance vent
piping other than approved type B gas vents mall be in accordance with stan-
dard practice for safe ins1.allation and use as required by secti. on 39.
5. FLUE MORTAR ,. All flue mortar for flues or vent pipes from
gas-burning appliances sha.:l be acid resisting.
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6. DR4,ii'T Hoom.. Every flue connected appliance except an incin-
e erator, unless its construc:tion serves the same purpose, shall be equipped
v1i.th an effective draft hood which either (I) has been approved as part of
the appliance or (2) compl:i.es with nationally recognized standards for draft
hoods. The draft hood ma:l be attached to the flue c ollar of the ap~liance
or as near to the applianCE! as conditions permit and in a position for which
it is desisned. with reference to horizontal and vertical planes. The draft hood
shall be so loo.atod that the relief opening is not obs tructed by any part of
the appliance or adjacent l:onstl'uction.
7. INTLRCONNEC~~ON OF VENTS. No vent pipe from a gas appliance
,
shall be inter-connected w:i.th any other. vent pipe;; smoke pipe, or flue, un-
less such gas appliance is equipped 'Wi. th an automatic device to prevent the
escape of unburned 3 as at 1.he m<li.n burner or burners. 1jfhere a g as appliance
vent pipe is joined with a smoke pipe from an appliance burning some other
type of fuel, for conn~ction into a single flue opening, they shall be joined
by a Y fitting located as close as practi,cable to the chimney. With liquefied
petroleum gases the automa1;ic device to prevent the escape of unburned gas
shall shut off the pilot light as well as the main burner or burners.
SECTION 39. HEt,T PRODUCING APPLIANCES, HEA.TING, V]NTIL.4..TING,
AJR CONDITIONING, BLOIm JUlD EXHAUST SYSTEMS.
"I
1. INSTALLATION ST!r DA.RltS. Heat producing appliances and systems
(including incinerntors) he'reafter installed shall be installed in accordance
v1i.th standard practices for safe installatio~ and use without danger of over-
heating combustible material or construction. Ventilating, air conditioning,
blower and ex:h.aust systems hereafter installed shall be installed in accordance
,'lith standard practices 'for safe installation and use with all features pre-
,senting a possibility of fltarting or spreading a fire safeguarded to a reason-
able degree. 'Except as otherwise provided in rules duly promulgated by the
building official, installation of such appliances and systems in accordance
with the llBuilding Code Stlmdards of the National Board of Fire UndervIriters for
the Insit2J..1:1ltiOl1 0.: Heat Producing Appliances, Heating, Ventilating, Air con~
ditioning, Blower nnd Exha'lst Systemsl~ shall be deemed to be the standard prac-
,
tice for safe installation and use.
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2. BOTI.m AND FlRNACE ROOMS.
(a) Heating lloilet' and furnace rooms in public buildings, in-
stitutional buildings, places of assembly, hotels, end multifamily houses
shall be separated from other p3rts of the buildin~ by construction having
a fire resistance rating of not less than one hour.
(b) Boilet' rooms housing one or more steam boilers carrying more
than 15 pounds of pressure with a rating of more than 10 boiler horsepower,
in other th an factories J shall be separated from the rest of the building
by noncombustible constl'uction having a fire resistance rating of not less
than 2 hours, with door openings protected by approved fire doors.
SECTION 40. C:ilRAGES.
1. G~..RAGES COMBINED WITH OTHER OCCUPANCIES. No garage shall be
attached to or form a .pcLrt of a building, of other occupancy except as pro-
vided in this scction.
2. GARAGES NOT EXCEEDDfG 600 SQUilRE FEET m AREA.
(a) A garage not ex ceeding 600 square feet in area mew be
attached to or form a pclI't of a residence building or a business building
if separated from other occupancies by walls, partitions and ceilings of
materials to restrict thE! pass~e of gases, smoke and odor from the garage
to other parts of the building.
(b) Openings from the building into garage shall be restricted
to a single doorw~; such opening shall. be provided with a metal, metal
covered or solid wooden door of not less than 1 3/4 inches nominal thick-
ness equipped with an approved self-closing device.
(c) }'loors shall be without pits or depressions.
3. GJiRAGFS NOT EXCEEDOO 3, OOQ SQUARE FEET IN AREA. A garage
not exceeding 3..000 squcxe feet in area may be attached to or form a part
of any building provided separation from othet' occupancies shall be by
walls and floor and ceiling constructions of at least one-hour fire resis-
fire
tance, and with a.ll connecting openings provided with self-closing doors.
F'loors shall be without pits or depressions.
4. GPRJlGES m:CEEDTIiJG 3,000 SQUARE FEEl' m AREA.
(a) A garage exceeding 3,000 square feet in area may be located
within or attached to a building occupied for any other purpose provided it
is separated from such other occupancy by masonry walls having a fire resis-
tance rating of not 1 eSH than 3 hours and by floors and ceilings of fireproof
construction or semifirE!proof construction.
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(b) ~la.lls, floors and ceilings which effect such separation
shall be continuous and tmpierced by openings of any ldnd.; provided that
door openings equipped 'nth self-closing fire doors leading to salesrooms
or offices that are operated in connection with such garages shall not be
prohibited; and. provide:! also that the use of elevators and. stairways to
other stories accessib13 only qy vestibules or balconies, constructed and
an:.anged as required :fer fire towers, shall be permitted.
5. mUCK LOA:)ING OR UNLOADmG AREA. A truck loading or unload-
ing area within a builctLng occupied as a ~tore shall'b e separated from
other parts of the building 'by construction having a fire resistance rating
of not less than one hOllr, and any load bearing part of the building with-
in the loa~ area shan also have a fire resistcn ce rating of not less
than one hour.
6. RM.D?S. Rnmps connecting floors of garages" which are not
considered as required E~xit ways under section 18" need not be enclosed
in sprinklered garages, nor in open air parking garages.
7. FLOOffi. Crara.ge floors of other than earth construction
which drain to sewers 01' storm drains shall be provided with an oil separ-
ator or trap. 'vlhere floor areas are extensive, a series of such drams
shaJ.l be provided. The contents of oil separators or traps shall be
collected at frequent ir.,terials and removed from the premises. Floors
in repair sections shall be concrete or other materials that may be
readily cleaned.
8. ID-;ATING .
(a) In garage's e:J{ceeding 600 square feet in area, direct fired
heating appliances, other than unit heaters located at least 8 feet above
the n oor, shall be 10Cl:,ted in a room used for no other p~ose and cut
off from "the garage by r,oncombu~tible construction having a fire resistcn ce
rating of not less than 3 hours. OPenings in the above mentioned cut':';offs
shall be restricted to 1hose necessary for heating pipes and ducts.
(b) 1,1here gasoline dispensing equipment is located within a
travel distance of 25 feet from the entrance to the heater room, the floor
of the heater room shall not be below' grade level.
SECTION U. DISPOSAL OF WASTE DtRING CONS'IRUCTION OPffil\TIONS.
Waster materiel and rub bish shall not be stored nor almved to
accumulate within the bt~ilding or in the immediate vicinity, but shall be
removed from the premis os as rapidJ.y as practicable. Combustible waste and
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rubbish shall be removed at least daily. No material shall be disposed
of by burning on the p:emises or in the immediate vicinity. Dry materials
or rubbish shall be vretted down, if necessary, to lay dust or prevent being
blovrn. about.
S EX::TION 42. ELEVAT<RS, IDVDJG STAIRWAYS AND AMUSEMENT DEVICES.
(a) Elevators, moving stairways, and amusement devices, here-
after erected, or instl:J.led, or hereafter altered shall be constructed,
installed and maintaine!d in accordance with rules duly promulgated by the
building officiaJ.., or j,n the absence of such rules, "V'Tith "The American
standard Safety Code for Elevators, D~bwaiters and Escalators" approved
by the American Standards Association.
(b) It shaJ.:_ be unlawful for the owner to ppera,te or permit
the operation or use 0:: a passenger elevator, freight elevator, moving
stairvlay or anusement device, hereafter ,installed or constructed, until
a certificate shall ha'\7e been obtained from the building official.
(c) Tl'e building official shall make or cause to be made an
inspection of every passenger elevator at least once in every three months,
and of every freight elevator, moving stairw:ay, and every amusement device
at least once in every six months.
SECTICll'l L3. GAS PIPlNG.
Piping for sny am all wpes of gas us ed for lighting or fuel
purposes in buildings and structures shall be installed to conform with
generally accepted good practice. The "Recommended Good Practice Require-
ments for the Installation, Maintenance and Use of Piping Am:l Fittings
for City Gas" and ItGafl Systems for \lelding and Cuttinglt and ItLiquefied
Petrolemn Ganeslt of the National Board of Fire Underwriters shall be deemed
to be the generally aucepted good practices.
SECTION 44. PLUMBING.
1. GENERAL. Except. as may be otherwise provided by law' or or-
dinance, or rules dul;r promulgated by the buildLTJ.g official, the plumbing
and drainage system of a building or :stru.G~ shall be installed in con-
formity with the "Recollllllended Minimum Requirements for P~umbinglt, of the
Bureau of Standards, Uhi ted states Department of Commerce.
2. WATER SUPPLY.
(a) Every building in '\'Thich people live, Vlor~, or congregate,
shall be provided with ample w~ter supply installed and maintained in a
satisfactory....orki.ng condition.
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(b) In every multifamily WDuse there shall be in each apartment
at least one ld.tchen sink with running water and waste connection. The
space underneath such sink shall be accessible.
3 . TOILET FACILITI!!S.
( a) EKcept as otherwise prescribed by 1 aw or or dinance.t in
every existing building not already supplied and in every building hereafter
erected, where there is continuous human occupancy or eIlilloynient, there
shall be a sufficient nwnber of suitable an~ convenient water closets,
properly connected with the drainage system.
(b) In dwellings and mUltifamily houses there shall be at least
one s epara.te w'ater closet VIi thin. each apartment.
4. SEPARATE TOILETS. In buildings where more tha.'"l one water
closet is required, except in dwellings and multifamily houses, separate
yrater closets and toilet rooms shall be provided for the sexes.
5. TOILET ROOMS.
(a) Water closets and urinals shall be placed in rooms or
compartments 1ilhich are devoted exclusively to toilet facilities.
(b) In every water clos et or urinal compartment hereafter
donstructed or installed, except in dwellings and multifamily houses,
the en tire .f'la)or and the side walls to a height of not Jess than 6 !i.nches
shall be made waterproof with asphalt, cemeI?-t, tile, marble, slate or
other approved material impervipus to water.
(c) The partitions enclosing toilet rooms shall be solid, except
for the entrar..ce door, and shall extend from the floor to the ceiling.
Partitions separating water closets or urinals within a toilet room shall
not extend to the ceiling but shall be so constructed as to permit circu-
lation or air throughout the toilet ro am.
SECTION 45. ELEC'ffi.ICAL INSTALLATI 00"5.
All electrical wiring, apparatus, or appliances for furnishing
light, heat, or power shall be in strict conf?I'mity with approved methods
and practices for safety to life and property. Compliance with the National
Electrical Code, as published by the National Board of Fire Underwriters,
shall be prima facie evidence of such approved methods and practices.
SECTION 46. SPRINKLER EQUIPMENTS.
1. SPRIN"I<LEPS REQumED. In buildings hereafter erected, or
altered to increase the area or height, approved cu tomatic sprinkler equip-
ments shall be installed and maintained as specified in the follavling para.-
graphs. The area specified shall be the area enclosed by exterior ,valls or
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fire walls or a wmn:bination thereof, except that in buildings of fireproof
construction or semifireproof construction the area shall be that encll.osed
by ex terior wal2s, .f:ire walls or fire partitions or a combination thereof.
(a) Buildings over 2 stories in height used for the manufacture
sale or steX' age of combustibJe goods or merchandise (not including garages)
and ex:ceeding in area lO,OOO square feet when of fireproof construction or
semifireproof constructi.. on.
(b) Buildings over 2 stories in height used for the manufacture
sale or storage of combustible goods (][' merchandise (not includine garages)
and exceeding in area 7,500 square feet when of types of construction other
than fireproof construction and semifireproof construction.
(c) Buildings ex ceeding 2 stories in height or in excess of
2,000 .square feet in area on any floor above the first or ground floor,
hereafter erected or altered, so that suitable access, as defined below,
to each story above the basement is not provided on at least one side of
the building . Suitable access shall be deemed as requiring a usable open-
1ng through the wall at each story at least 32 inches 'Wide, 48 inches high,
and 1.7ith the sill not more than 32 inches above the floor; the openings
shall be so spaced that there will be one opening for each ,50 feet of front-
abe.
(d) Garaees exceeding 6 stories inheight.
(e) Garages for storage of loaded commercial trucks, exceeding
2,000 square feat in area and of other than fireproof cOI?-struction.
(f) Bus garages exceecling 2 stories in height.
(g) Basement garages housing more than 3 motor vehicles.
(h) Garages located iri buildings in which one or more stories or
parts thereof above such garages are occupied for other purposes when such
garages have a capacity of 20 or more passenger cu tomobiles, or are used as
bus terminals for 3 or more buses, or are used for the storage and loading
of 2 or more trucks.
(i) Basements having an area ex ceeding 3500 square feet, when
used for the manufacture, sale or storage of combustible goods ornerchandise,
except that in public buildings, institutional buildings ani residence build-
ings, that the automatic sprinlder equipments will be required only in such
portions as are used for storage purposes or as work shops.
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(j) In buildings occupied as a place of assembly and having a
stage arranged for theatrical, operatic or similar purposes, approved automa-
tic sprinkler equip ments shall be provided under the roof of the stage, under
the gridiron, the rigging loft and fly and tie galleries, under the stage, in
dressing rooms, scene docks, workshops and storage rooms.
(k) 'Vlhen adequate heat is not provided and in the opinion of the
building official the hazard is not severe, such sprinkler system m8lV be
replaced by a system havi..ng approved automatic sprinklers, b14t vvith supply
only from a fire department connection on the building front, or with an
approved protective device with fire department connection on the building
front, by which water can be applied to or directed at the fire by suitable
control equipment from outside of the building; there being in each case an
approved aJ. tomatic fire alarm system connected to an outside gong or to the
central station of a superVising company.
SEC'ITOl'J 47. SIGNS AND OUTOOCR DISPLAY S'IRUCTURES.
(A) No display sign shall hereafter be erected, or attached to,
suspended from or supported on a building or stru~tu.r'e until a permit for
the same has been issued ~J the building official. No permit for 3. display
sign shall be issued until the required bond has been filed.
(b) The owner or persons in control of a di. splay sign suspended
over a street or extending into a street mare than 15 inches beyond the
building line shall ex e cute a bond in a sum to be fixed by the official
having control over the streets, with sureties approved by such official"
indemnifying the municipality against all loss, cost, damage or e:xpense
incurred or sustained by or recovered against the municipality by reason
of the construction or maintenance of such display sign.
(c) The provisions of this section" except as to safety, shall
not apply to a sign nor more than 10 square feet in area, announcing, without
display or elabora"tion, only the name of the proprietor and the na1ltre of his
business; nor to a VIall sign not exceeding one square foot of display surface,
on a residence building stating merely the name and profession of an occupantj
nor to a sign, not exceeding 10 Square feet of displBjy surface, on a public
build:i.ng gi v:ing the name and nature of the occupancy and inf ormation as to the
conditions of use or admission; nor to a w'all sign not exceeding 2?a square
feet of display surface, nor a ground sign, advertising in either case the
saJ.e or rental of the premises upon which it is maintained; nor to street
signs erected by the municip ality; nor to temporary signs or banners legally
authorized.
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SECTION 48. SAVING CLAUSE. .
Nothing in this ordinance shall be construed to affect any suit or proceeding
now pending in any Court, or any rigpts acquired, or liability incurred, nor
any cause, or causes of action accrued or existing, under any act or ordinance
repealed hereby. Nor, shall any right or remedy of any character be lost,
impaired or affected by this ordinance.
SECTIOO 49. VJtLIDITY .
The invalidity of any section or provision of this ordinance or of the
code hereby adopted shall not invalidate other sections or provisions thereof.
SECTION 50. DlCONSISTl!NT ORDINANCES REPEALED.
0rdinances or parts thereof in force at the time that this ordinance shall
take effect and inconsistent therewith, and more especially Ot'dinance No.
366 and 366A of the City of La Porte, except the building permit fees pro-
vided for therein including ordinances number 366B and number 366C and
ordinance No. 420, are hereby repealed. The building permit fees provided
.for therein shall remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 51. DATE OF EFFECT.
This ordinance shall take effect ten d ays after its passage and publication
as required by law.
PASSED AND APmOVED this ~ day of
1- A. D. If tY
M. D.Burgin, Mayor
City of La. Porte, Texas
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J. E. P4ul on, City Clerk
City of La Porte, Texas
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