HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrd 207 06/07/1938
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'THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE KNOwN AS THE
MOUNT PROSPECT BUILDING CODE OF 1938.
CHAPTER 1.
ENACT~ENT AND SCOPE.
1. THE PURPOSE of this code is to provide certain min-
imum standands, provisions and requirements effecting or relating
to the erection, construction, alteration, repair, maintenance,
removal demolition and to regulate the architectural design of
buildings or structures erected or to be erected in the village
limits of Mount Prospect.
2. This code is hereby declared to be remedial and
shall be construed to secure the beneficial interests and pur-
poses thereof, which are public safety, health and welfare,
thorough structural strength and stability, adequate light and
ventilation, safety to life and property from fire and hazards
incidental to the construction, alteration, repair and main-
tenance of structures or portions thereof in the Village of
Mount Prospect. Federal and State buildings and possessions
are excepted.
3. The provisions of this code shall be deemed to sup-
plant and otherwise void any existing building ordinance.
4. The existing zoning ordinance, or revisions thereof,
are hereby made a part of this code. Should a provision in the
zoning code conflict with that of the building code, the most re-
strictive one shall govern.
5. Any existing or future state laws or revisions
thereto pertaining to the erection, maintenance or occupancy of
buildings and structures are hereby made a part of this code.
Should any provision in the State laws conflict with a similar
provision in the building code, the most restrictive one shall
govern.
6. If any chapter or part of a chapter or paragraph of
this code is declared invalid or unconstitutional, it shall not
be held to invalidate or impair the validity, force or effect of
any other chapter or chapters or a part of a chapter or para-
graph of this code.
CHAPTER 2.
ADMINISTRATION AND SUPERVISION.
DEPARTMENT OF BUILDINGS RE-ESTABLISHED:
1. There is hereby recreated and re-established an ex-
ecutive department of the municipal government of the Village of
Mount Prospect which shall be kno~m as the Department of Build-
ings, which shall consist of a Superintendent of Buildings and
such assistants as he may require and a Building Committee con-
sisting of three members. They shall be appointed by the Pres-
ident of the Village Board, by and with the approval of the
Board of Trustees, and shall receive such salaries as may be
fixed from time to time by the President and the Board of Trustees.
DEPUTIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF BUILDINGS:
2. The Chiefs of the Fire and Police Departments and the
Village Attorney are hereby made ex-officio Deputies of the De-
partment of Buildings, to aid the Superintendent of Buildings in
administering and enforcing the provisions of this code.
DUTIES AND POWER OF .SUPERINTENDENT OF BUILDINGS:
3. The Superintendent of Buildings, who shall be the
head of the Department of Buildings, is to have general charge of in-
spection, supervision and enforcement of all matters pertaining to
buildings or structures as set forth in this code. He shall, when
requested by the President of the Board, make investigations in
connection with matters referred to in this code; also make or
cause to be made investigations on new materials and modes of con-
struction intended for use in the construction of buildings not
provided for in this code and make written reports with his recom-
mendations to the President of the Village Board and the Building
Committee. He shall keep careful records of all applications,
permits and other matters pertaining to his office and make a re-
port to the Chairman of the Building Committee each month of any
and all business transacted by this department.
4. In case of violations of any of the provisions of this
code, he shall serve on the o~ner of the property in question a
written notice of such violations and, in the event that the work
or condition continues, he shall issue a "STOP" order on all con-
struction work.
5. In case of occupancy of a building in violation of
the provisions of this code, he shall issue a restraining order
against further use. The serving of such orders and the proper
enforcing of them shall be the duty of the Chief of Police.
6. On receipt of an application for a permit, accompanied
with the necessary documents, he shall examine them as to their
compliance with the building and zoning codes and report on same to
the Building Committee who, after their examination, will instruct
the Superintendent of Buildings whether or not to issue the per-
mit.
7. Right to enter Premises: The Superintendent of Buila-
ings and his authorized inspectors are hereby empowered, during
reasonable hours, to lawfully enter upon any premises or into any
building or structure, whether occupied, completed or in the
process of construction, when necessary to do so in the performance
of any duty imposed upon them by the provisions of the building or
zoning codes. Any person or persons, who in any way hinder or pre-
vent any building officer in the performance of his duty, shall
be charged with resisting an officer and shall be subject to the
general penalty provided for violations of this code.
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DITTIES AND POWER OF THE BUILDING CONill1ITTEE:
8. It shall be the duty of this Committee to approve
or reject all applications for building permits.
It is within the power of the Co~~ittee to:
(a) Approve minor violations or deviations
from provisions of this code.
(b) Approve or reject the use of new materials
or new modes of construction not provided
for in this code.
(c) Approve or reject applications for per-
mits to erect or remodel buildings or
structures for any occupancy or type of
construction not provided for in this
code.
(d) Approve or reject the location of, or
increase the number of stairs or exit
doors, if the location or number shown
on plans would create an unusual risk
of life in the case of fire.
(e) Approve or disapprove the architectural
design of buildings and structures.
DUTIES AND POWER OF BOARD OF APPEALS:
9. Whenever the Building Committee shall reject or re-
fuse to approve the mode or manner of construction proposed to be
followed, or materials to be used in the erection or alteration of
a building or structure, or when it is claimed that the provisions
of this code or of any duly adopted rules do not apply, or tha.t
an equally good or more desirable form of construction can be em-
ployed in a specific case, the owner of such building or struc-
ture, or his duly authorized agent, may appeal from the decision
of the Building Committee to the Board of Trustees, ~ho shall act
as the Board of Appeals and whose decision shall supersede that
of the Building Committee and shall be final.
CHAPTER 3.
PERMIT REQUIREMENTS - BONDS, FEES, PLANS.
1. When Required: It shall be unlawful to proceed with
the erection, construction, alteration, repair, removal, demoli-
tion or excavation for any building or structure or to make any
change in plumbing, heating or electrical piping, equipment or
appurtenance, or to occupy a portion of a street or alley before
the proper uermits for such work or occupancy has been obtained
from the Department of Buildings.
2. Permits Waived: A nermit will not be required for
ordinary repairs or maintenance w~rk incidental to the proper
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upkeep of a building or structure, provided there is no work in-
volved which will affect or change the use or occupancy, type
of construction, create illegal rooms, increase fire hazards,
decrease exit requirements, remove or replace any structural
portions of the building or structure.
3. Temporary Jermits: For the purpose of facilitat-
ing commencement of construction at the discretion of the Super-
intendent of Buildings, a temporary permit may be issued for a
limited time, provided the owner has satisfied the Superintendent
of Buildings and the Building Committee by submitting preliminary
plans of his ability and willingness to file at a later date com-
plete plans which will fully comply with the building and zoning
codes. Temporary permits are revokable at any time for reason-
able cause by the Superintendent of Buildings.
4. Duration pf Permit: Building permits are issued
withtbe understanding that construction shall start within thirty
(30) days after issuance of the permit and be carried to comple-
tion within one (1) year. If building operations are not started
within sixty (60) days after issuance of the permit or if, after
building operations have been started, such operations shall
cease for a period of thirty (30) days, such building permit
shall automatically expire and the permit fee shall be forfeited
to the Village. However, if owner can shovv good cause for fail-
ure to start or continue building operations, the Building Com-
mitte may reinstate such permit without further payment of per-
mit fee.
5. Any permit which has expired may be reinstated by
the payment of an additional fee of 50% of the original fee,
provided that there has been no change made in the original or
zoning codes between the time of issuance of original permit
and the request for its reissuance.
6. Permit Does Not Allow Yiol~ttons: The issuance of
a permit does not allow violations of any of the requirements or
provisions of the building or zoning codes even if shown by plans
or other documents but not corrected by the Superintendent of
Buildings or Building Committee when application was made for the
permit, nor does the Village, its Department of Buildings or
officers assume any responsibility of the expense involved to
make such buildings or structure comnly with the building or
zoning codes.
7. !pplication for Perm~~: Application for a permit is
to be made on a form furnished by the Department of Building s
and must be accompanied by the following documents, namely, plans,
specifications, plats, certificates and estimates of costs as
hereafter specified.
8. Filing and Stamping: Plans and specifications must
be in duplicate, one set to be left on file with the Department
of Buildings, the other, after being approved and properly stamped
by the Superintendent of Buildings, to be kept on the job while
the work is in progress.
9. Alteration of Permit Plans: It shall be unlawful ~o
al ter any lines or figures shovm on the stamped "germi.t plans. Ir
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during the progress of work, o~mer desires to deviate in any
manner from the permit plans, he sball submit -plans in duplicate
of such changes and secure written approval from the Superin-
tendent of Buildings before proceeding witb t'1e work.
10. Seal Fe~9.1lired ~ Law: Plans and specifications
must be signed and sealed by a Licensed Architect or Engineer as
provided in "An Act to provide for the licensing of Architects
and to regulate the practice of architecture as a profession and
to repeal certain acts therein named," approved June 24, 1919, or
as amended, commonly known as "The Illinois Architectural Act"
and in "An Act to revi se the law in relcition to the regulation
of the practice of structural engineering, fl approved June 24,
1919, as amended.
11. Certifi<;ate of Complia.n-.9~ to Codes: A licensed
architect or structural engineer shall certify on the first shee~
of plans that the plans and specifications were prepared by him
and comply with all the requirements of the Building and Zoning
Code:::.
12. Se~l not Required: Plans for a single family dwell-
ing which is to be occupied and used as a permanent residence of
the o~~er will not require an architect's or engineer's seal or
certificate, provided thCit ovmer shall certify that the plans com-
ply with all the requirements of the Building and Zoning Codes.
13. Plans and Specification Requirements: Architectural
plans shall show all of the floors, at least two elevations, wall
sections and necessary framing plans and shall be dra~m to a scale
of not less than one eighth (1/8) of an inch to the foot on paper
in ink or a non-fading print of same, showing in detail any and
all information on construction, ventilation and sanitary require-
ments, the sewage and plumbing systems as required by this code,
and all distances and dimensions, including distances from build-
ing to front, side and rear lot lines. Specifications shall
further illustrate drawing s., grade of materials and workmanship.
14. Engineering and mechanical plans must be provided
in addition to architectural pl8.ns for any building or structure
of fire-proof, semi-fireproof or mill construction, or for any
building being of unusual construction, structural design or
mechanical use.
15. Survey Plot Plan: A survey plot plan drawn by a
registered or recognized surveyor, giving the full legal descrip-
tion and showing the dimensions of lot to be improved, the loca-
tion and size of sewer and water mains, the street, sidewalk and
lot grades, vd th the proposed building olotted on the plan, shall
be permanently filed with the Dem'TtmE,nt of Building s.
16. Esti~ated Cost: The estimated cost of proposed lOCK
shall be shown on the application for permit. The Superintendent
of Buildings may accept such estimate of cost or he may require
a sworn affidavit of estimate of cost from the architect, or he
may make such estimate of cost to determine the amount of build-
ing permit fee.
17. Insurance Certificate: A certificate from the Chicago
Board of Underwriters on all proposed buildings or structures other
than those to be occupied as single and two-fami.ly dwelling s, apart-
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ment or ordinary business buildings, certifying that insurance
rates on existing or future buildings on abutting, adjoining or
adjacent property not owned by applicant for permit, will not be
increased by reason of the erection of the proposed building or
structure. This certificate will not be required when written
consent in the form of sworn affidavits have been obtained from
the OVv'Ilers of all of the affected property. Such affidavits
shall be kept permanently on file by the Department of Buildings.
18. Issuance of Building Permit-Fees: When the ppli-
cation for permit along with the required documents have been
approved and accepted by the Building Co~mittee and the permit
fee paid, the Superintendent of Buildings will cause the permit
to be issued.
19. The Superintendent of Buildings shall accept or
reject application for permit within fifteen (15) days of the fil-
ing of the application. In the event of refusing to issue a per-
mit, the Superintendent of Buildings shall give applicant the
general reason for such refusal with recommendations for changes
to be made.
20. Building Permit Fees: Fees are to be paid at the time
permit is issued. Temporary permit fees are to be estimated and
final adjustment of the fees to be made at the time regular permit
is issued. The fees to be charged for a general building vermit
for the erection or alteration of a building or structure \not in-
cluding certain water fees or other miscellaneous fees or permits
as set forth elsewhere in this ordinance) are to be based upon the
estimated total cost of work covered by the permit and shall be as
follows:
Le s s than $,500.00 .................... $
$500.00 and less than $ltOOO.OO.......
$1,000.00 and less than 4,000.00.....
$4,000.00 and less than ~7,500.00.....
$7,500.00 and less than $10,000.00....
$10,000.00 and less than $15,000.00...
$15,000.00 and less than $25,000.00...
$25,000.00 or over ...................
2.50
5.00
10.00
15.00
18.00
25.00
30.00
37.50
21. Wrecking Permit - Fees: It shall be unlawful to
move, demolish or wreck any building or structure without first
obtaining a permit from the Department of Buildings.
22.The minimum permit fee for wrecking a building or struc-
ture shall be $5.00. Fees for the wrecking of a building shall
be 10~ per 1,000 cubic feet or any fraction thereof of the build-
ing contents.
23. Moving Building-Permits - Fees: It shall be un-
lawful to move any building on, to or over a public street or
alley without first obtaining a permit from the Department of
Buildings. The application shall show size and height of build-
ing, the route to be taken, the wiring, posts, etc. that will
require removing and replacing along with an itemized statement
of all such costs. If, after consideration by the Building Com-
mittee, the moving of the building appears feasible, the permit
will be issued, providing that in addition to the payment of the
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proper moving permit fee a bond, such as required for street
obstruction, be obtained and filed with the Superintendent of
Buildings.
24. The amount of fee for moving of a building on
or over a public street or alley is to be based on the size of
the building and the distance it is to be moved, which is to
be determined by the Building Committee.
25. Use of Water: There shall be a charge made for
water used during building operations. Fire hydrants may be
used only until mason supply work has been installed.
26. Use of Streets for ~uilding Purnoses: It shall
be unlawful to cause an excavation to be made in street, park-
way or alley, or to occupy any portion of any street or alley
for the storage of building materials intended for use in the
construction or remodeling of a building or structure, unless
a street obstruction permit has first been obtained from the
Department of Buildings. The permit shall terminate upon the
completion of the building.
27. No such building material shall be so placed as
to render inaccessible any fire hydrant, water valve, manhole
or obstruct the natural water drainage of any street, nor shall
more than one-half of the width of the street immediately in
front of the property be so obstructed. The extent of the use
of the streets or alleys for this purpose shall be at the dis-
cretion of the Building Committee.
28. It shall be unlawful to mix mortar, concrete
or any other materials upon the survace of sidewalks or street
pavement.
29. Red Lanterns, Barricades: Any person to whom a
street or alley obstruction permit is issued, shall place suf-
ficient lighted red lanterns clearly showing any excavation or
pile of material to the public and maintain them during the whole
of every night for as long as the street is used for the storage
of any material. Such lanterns shall also be maintained in
connection with the moving of a building.
30. Any person who shall cause an excavation to be
made in any street, parkway, alley or within six (6) feet of a
street, sidewalk or alley, shall erect and maintain a substan-
tial barricade railing around same and place sufficient lighted
red lanterns clearly showing the barricade to the public and
maintain them during the whole of every night for as long as
excavation exists.
31. In the event that sufficient red lanterns are not
provided or properly maintained around such material, excavation
or building that is being moved, the Police Department may place
and maintain the required lanterns, charging for this service
at the rate of $5.00 a night. This charge shall be deducted from
deposits as required in the following paragraph:
32. Street Obstruction Permit Fees - Deposits ~ Bonas:
The fee for a street or alley obstruction permit for the purpose
of storing material shall be $5.00 per month or part thereof for
each 25 feet or fractional part thereof of frontage so occupied.
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The minimum deposit shall be $50.00. Upon the discontinuance of
the use of such street or alley, the amount due for the street
permit shall be deducted from the deposit and the difference re-
turned; provided, however, the street or alley thus used has
been properly cleaned and placed in the same condition as it was
previous to the issuance of the permit.
33. The permit fee and deposit required for the open-
ing of a street, sidewalk or alley for the purpose of making con-
nections to sewer, water, gas or electric piping shall be the
same as required in the foregoing paragraph, except that refund
of deposit will not be made until the Superintendent of Buildings
has had satisfactory proof and guarantee that the fill and pave-
ment has been restored to a condition equally as good as it was
~efore openings were made.
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34. No permit shall be issued until the apnlicant shall
have executed and filed with the Superintendent of Buildings a
bond in the penal sum of Ten Thousand Dollars ($ilO,OOO.OO) with
a responsible surety company as surety thereon, said bond to be
approved as to form by the Village Attorney, said bond to indem-
nify for the full period of time provided for by the Statutes of
Limitations of the State of Illinois, the Village of Mount Pros-
pect and its officials, from any and all loss, costs, expense or
liability of any kind _or nature whatsoever which said Village or
its officials may suffer or be put to, or which may be recovered
from it or them by reason of the issuance of such permit.
35. Any permit issued pursuant to the terms of this
section may be revoked at any time for reasonable cause by the
Superintendent of Buildings.
CHAPTER 4.
DEFINITIONS.
1. (a) Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following
terms shall, for the purpose of this code, have the meaning as de-
fined in this chapter.
(b) Words used in the present tense include the
future; words in the masculine gender include the feminine and
neuter; the singular number includes the plural and the plural
the singular.
(c) The word "shall" is always mandatory and not
directory.
2. ALCOVE, a recess connected with or at the side of a
larger room, with an unobstructed opening into such room equal to
at least 20% of the entire wall surface of the alcove.
3. ALTERATION, as applied to a building or structure
means a change or rearrangement of rooms or spaces, the struc-
tural parts, the exit facilities, or an enlargement by extending
on a side or by increasing in height.
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4. APARTMENT, means a room or suite of two or more
rooms in an apartment building occupied as a family domicile
where provision is made for living, sleeping, cooking and eating
within the room or suite of two or more rooms.
5. APARTMENT BUILDING, is any building ~hich contains
three or more apartments.
6. APPROVED, as applied to a material, device or mode
of construction, means approved by the Superintendent of Build-
ings under the prOVisions of this code, or by other authority
designated by this code to give approval or to be used as a
standard in the matter in question.
7. APPROVED MASONRY, means masonry constructed of
brick, stone, concrete, hollow block, solid block, or other
materials approved after test, or combination of these materials.
8. AREA, as applied to the dimensions of a building
means the maximum horizontal area of the building at grade.
9.. AREAWAY, an uncovered sub-surface space adjacent
to a building.
10. ATTIC, a half story or fractional story directly
under the roof.
11. AUTOMATIC, as applied to a fire door or other open-
ing protective, means normally held in an open position and auto-
matically closed by a releasing device that is actuated by ab-.
normal high temperature or by a predetermined rate of rise in
temperature.
12. BASEJ\t1ENT, a story, the floor of which is not less
than 2 feet below and the ceiling of which is not less than 4 feet
above building grade.
13. BATH ROOM, a room containing a tub, shower compart-
ment, swimming pool or other facilities for bathing.
14. BEARING WALL means a wall which supports any load
in addition to its o~~ weight.
15. BOILER ROOM, a room containing the fuel-burning
equipment and fuel storage for a heating or power generating
system.
16. BUILDING means a combination of materials to form a
construction that is safe and stable, enclosed with walls and
roofs, and properly supported on a masonry foundation extending
down below the frost line and adapted to permanent or continuous
occupancy for residence, business, assembly or storage purposes;
the term ~'building It shall be construed as if followed by the
words "or part thereof."
17. BUILDING LINE means the line established by deed
or law, beyond which a building shall not extend, except as
specifically provided for in the zoning code.
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18. BULKHEAD, a raised portion of floor construction
and the partition enclosing it, which provides head room for
a stair flight or, when in connection with store show windows,
provides a means for light and ventilation to the basement space
below.
19. BUSINESS BUILDING means a building occupied for
the transaction of business, for the rendering of professional
services, for the display and sale of goods, wares and merchan-
dise, for the supplying of food, drink or other bodily needs
or comforts, or for the performance of certain work or labor,
including, among others, office buildings, stores, markets,
restaurants, but not including factories, storage or warehouse
buildings or gas filling stati.ons and public garages.
20. CEILING, the overhead covering of a room.
21. CEILING HEIGHT, the height from floor surface GO
ceiling.
22. CELLAR, a story, the ceiling of which is entirely
below or less than 4 feet above building grade.
23. CEMENT FLOOR means a floor not less than 3 inches
in thickness of concrete composed of one part portland cement,
3 parts of sand and 5 parts of crushed stone or gravel, and a top
finish not less than 1/2 inch in thickness composed of one part
portland cement and 2 parts of sand, all proportioned by volume.
24. CEMENT MORTAR, means a mixture of one part of
portland cement and not more than thre-e parts of sand, propor-
tioned by volume, with an allowable addition of hydrated lime
not to exceed twenty per cent of the cement volume.
25. CEMENT LIME :MORT AR means a mixture of one part of
hydrated lime to not more than 6 parts of sand, proportioned by
volume, with an addition of not less than 10% of portland cement
of the lime by volume.
26. CHIMNEY OR FLUE, a vertical, or approximately
vertical, conduit through which smoke or gases of combustion
escape to the outer air.
27. CLOSET, a non-habitable room used for storage.
28. CONCRETE means, except when otherwise specifically
provided, a mixture of sand and five parts of crushed stone or
gravel, all proportioned by volume.
29. CORRIDOR, when used as a means of exit, is an en-
closed hallway or passageway connecting a required exit to a yard,
street or stairway and having fire protective walls, ceilings
and floors as hereinafter provided.
30. COURT, an open uncovered and unoccupied space
within the lot lines of a lot other than a yard.
31. DEAD LOAD means the weight of walls, partitions,
floors, roofs and all other permanent construction of a building.
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32. DISPLAY SIGN means a structure that is arranged,
in~nded, designed or used as an advertisement, an announcement
or direction and includes signs, sign screens, billboards and
advertising devices of every kind.
33. DOMICILE means an apartment, dwelling, habitable
room or a suite of two or more rooms where provisions is made
for living, to be occupied as a family residence, either transient
or permanent. In every domicile there shall be at least one lOOm
having a floor area of not less than 165 square feet.
34. DWELLING means a building designed for one dom-
icile and occupied by one family. A two-family dwelling is a build-
ing designed for two domiciles and occupied by one family on each
floor or story.
35. EGRESS, a means or route of exit from a room or
building including a doorway, passage, corridor, stairway or fire-
escape.
36. ELEVATOR means a device within or in connection
with a building used for conveying persons or objects upward or
downward and includes dumbwaiter, escalator and similar devices.
37. ENCLOSING WALL means a wall separating the interior
of a building from the exterior. Such walls may act as bearing
walls, enclosing walls or curtain walls.
38. EXIT, a means or route of egress from a room or
building, includi~~ a doorway, passage, corridor, stairway or
fire-escape.
39. FAMILY, one or more individuals living, sleeping,
cooking and eating within a single domicile.
40. FIRE PARTITION, means a non-bearing wall or par-
tition of incombustible material which subdivides a story of a
building or encloses stairways, required corridors or shafts to
restrict the spread of fire. Such partitions, except as other-
wise provided, shall be constructed of brick, cement or gypsum
block or hollow tile not less than 4 inches in thickness, laid
up in cement or gypsum mortar and plastered on both sides with
portland cement or gypsum plaster not less than one-half inch
in thickness. Partitions around elevator, vent, stair or other
shafts shall be continuous from bottom to top of shaft and shall
be solid metal lath. A fire partition, which shall be load
bearing, shall comply with wall thicknesses as provided for
under masonry construction.
41. FIREPROOF CONSTRUCTION - See Chapter 9, Paragraph
A-I.
42. FIREWALL means a wall of approved masonry VI'hich
subdivides a building or separates buildings to restrict the
snread of fire and which starts at the foundation and extends
c;ntinuously through all stories to and above the roof and not
less than 8 inches in thickness and shall generally comply with
wall thicknesses as provided for under masonry construction.
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43. FLOOR, a horizontal or approximately horizontal
system, other than a ceiling, used to support loads within a
building.
44. FLOOR AREA means a floor space enclosed by ex-
terior walls, firewalls or fire-partition, or by a combination
of them.
45. FLUE (CHI~rnEY), a vertical or approximately ver-
tical conduit through which smoke or gases of combustion escape
to the outer air.
46. FOOTING, a construction supported directly on the
ground which supports walls, piers and columns.
47. FOUNDATION WALL means a wall or pier below grade
or ground serving as support for a wall, pier, column or other
structural part of building.
48. FRM~E CONSTRUCTION - See Chapter 9 , Paragraph
B-1.
NOTE: Buildings having brick stone or stucco
veneering on wood frame which wholly or in part
serves as the structural sUDDort of the build-
ing or its load are hereby ~iassified as frame
buildings.
49. FURRING, a construction of wood, metal, masonry
or other material, the sole purpose of which is to obtain a plane
or contour for other surface materials.
50. GARAGE means a building, shed or enclosure, or a
part thereof, in which a motor vehicle containing volatile in-
flammable fuel in its fuel storage tank is stored, housed or
kept.
51. PRIVATE GARAGE means a garage for not more than
three motor vehicles in which no business or industry connected
directly or indirectly with motor vehicles is carried on.
52. PUBLIC GARAGE means a garage not included within
the term private garage.
53. GRADE, the elevation established by the village
for the proper level of the sidewalk at the street lot line.
Where the sidewalk does not adjoin the street lot line, grade at
the street lot line shall be determined by taking the elevation
established by the village for the street or curb and adding
thereto an amount equal to one-third of an inch for each foot of
horizontal distance between said edge of street curb and said
street lot line; on an alley, grade shall be that elevation v:hich
is commonly termed "alley grade at the property line."
54. GROUNDS, combustible or non-combustible materials
to which final materials are attached by nails, screws or for
the purpose of aligning plaster.
55. HABITABLE ROOM, any room in which one or more
persons live, eat, sleep or carryon their usual domestic, social
-12-
or business vocation or avocation, but does not include kitchens,
pantries, bathrooms, water closet compartments, laundries, cor-
ridors, cellars and spaces that are not used frequently or dur-
ing extended periods.
56. HEIGHT OF BUILDING:
(a) In feet, the vertical distrance from
grade as established in this code to
the average finished ceiling line of the
topmost habitable story; provided, that
penthouses, towers, or steeples shall
not be counted in measuring the height
of a building and further provided that
where a structure is set back from the
street line, the height of the build-
ing may be measured either from the
established grade or from an elevation
which is one-third of an inch above the
established grade for each foot by which
the building is set back from the near-
est street line.
(b) In stories, the number of habitable
stories in a building, exclusive of a
basement or cellar story, and also ex-
clusive of certain penthouses.
57. HEREAFTER means after the time that this code be-
comes effective.
58. HERETOFORE means before the time that this code
becomes effective.
59. HOLLOW BLOCK means a cellular building block of
burnt clay or concrete in which cellular spaces within the blocks
exceed 25% of the gross cubic content of the block.
60. INCOMBUSTIBLE, any material which will not sustain
fire.
61. INCOMBUSTIBLE CONSTRUCTION means a construction in
which all materials used in the construction and finish are in-
combustible to the point that the material will not sustain fire.
62. INSTITUTIONAL BUILDING means a building in which
persons are harbored to receive medical" charitable or other care
or treatment, or in which persons are held or detained by reason
of public or civic duty or for correctional purposes, including,
among others, hospitals, asylums, sanitariums, fire houses, police
stations, and jails.
63. KITCHEN, a space where food is prepared by the use
of heat.
64. LIME MORTAR, means a mixture of one part slaked lime
or hydrated lime and not more than four parts of sand proportioned
by volume.
65. LINTEL, a member placed over an opening in a wall to
support the construction above.
-13-
66. LIVE LOAD means all loads except dead loads.
67. LOT means a portion or parcel of land as a unit,
occu':)ied or to be occupied by a building or a group of buildings
and open spaces belonging to same.
68. LOT LINE means a line dividing one lot from
another or from a street or public space.
69. MEANS OF EXIT means a door, corridor, ramp, stair
or stairway serving as a means of egress, an exit from an area
within a building to a street, alley, yard or open court.
70. MILL CONSTRUCTION: See Chapter 9 - Paragraph C -
1.
71. OCCUPIED, as applied to a building shall be con-
strued as though followed by the words "or intended, arranged,
or designed to be occupied."
72. OFFICE, a place where clerical .work, writing
or drafting is done, v'hore clients are intervie"ltved, professional
services rendered or where busines~' if: t.ransacted viithotlt an im-
mediate transfer of goods.
73. ORDINARY CONSTRUCTION - See Chapter 9, Paragraph
A - 1.
74. OVVNER includes his duly authorized agent, archi-
tect, contractor or attorney.
75. PANTRY, a space accessory to a dining room or
kitchen for storage of dishes or food or for the preparation
of food without the use of heat.
76. PARAPET means a wall of approved masonry pro-
jecting above the roof line to prevent the spread of fire.
77. PARTY WALL means a wall of approved masonry
used or adapted for joint use between two buildings and shall
comply with wall thicknesses as provided for under masonry con-
struction.
78. PENT HOUSE means an enclosed structure extending
above roof.
79. PERSON includes corporation and co-partnership
as well as individual.
80. PRIVATE GARAGE, See Garage.
81. PUBLIC BUILDING means a building in which per-
sons congregate for civic, political, educational, religious,
social or recreational purposes, including, among others, court
houses, schools, colleges, libraries, museums, exhibition build-
ings, lecture hall~, clmrches, assembly halls, lodge rooms and
dance halls.
82. PUBLIC GARAGE, See Garage.
-l~->
83. REINFORCED CONCRETE means portland cement con-
crete in which steel is embodied in such a manner that the two
materials act together in resisting forces. See Chapter 9,
Paragraph 66.
84. REPAIR means the rep12~cement of exi sting V'mrk
with the same kind of material used in the existing work, not
including additional work that would affect the structural
safety of the building or that would affect or change reQuired
exit facilities or that would affect a vital element of an
elevator, plumbing, gas-p:Lpine', V'riring or heed.lng installation,
or that would be in violation of a provision in the building
or zoning codes.
85. SELF-CLOSING as applied to a fire door or other
opening protective means normally closed and equipped with an
approved device which will insure closing after having been opened
for use.
86. SEMI-FIREPROOF CON~TRUCTION, See Chapter 9, Para-
graph D - 1.
87. SHAFT means an enclosed shaftway or space extend-
ing through one or more stories of a building.
88. SOLID BLOCK means a building block of burnt clay
or of stone, gravel or cinder concrete in which cellular spaces
within the block do not exceed in the at'gregate 25% of the gross
cubic content of the block.
89. SPRINKLERFD means eauipped with an approved auto-
matic sprinkler system.
90. STAIRWAY means a stair and its enclosure, unless
otherwise provided for. The term "Stairway" includes risers,
treads, floor landing s., stair pIp tforms, if any, supporting mem-
bers and any handrail, newel post, balustrade and the inclosure
of the stairs from the required exit from an apartment to the
exit door of the building at grade.
(a) Flight - a series of steps between suc-
cessive landings and/or platforms.
(b) Landing - The floor space irnmedi8.tely
adjoining the top or bottom of a flight.
For an inclosed stair, the landing is the
floor snace witbin the inclosure.
( c) Ope.I1 Stair - a stair without. a complete
inclosure.
(d) il.tep - a riE~e and an adjoining tread.
(e) Tr_ead - the horizontal width of a sten
not including the nosing.
(r) Width - the clear width of a stair be-
tween parallel required handrails or be-
tween a required handrail and a wall.
An unrequiied handrail shall not be con-
sidered in measuring stair width.
-15-
91. STORY means that part of a building comprised
between a floor and the floor or roof next above. A basement or
attic shall be termed a story.
92. STREET means a highway or thoroughfare dedicated
or devoted to public use and includes avenue, road and boulevard.
93. STREET LINE means a lot line cU viding a lot from
a street.
94. STRUCTURE means a combination of materials other
than building to form a construction that is safe and stable, in-
cluding, among others, stadiums, gospel and circus tents, re-
viewing stands, plc!tforms, radio towers, coal bins, fences and
display signs. The term "structure" shall be construed as if fol-
lowed by the words "or part thereof."
95. UNPROTECTED METAL CONS'l'RUCTION shall apply to
buildings in which the structural supports are metal and in which
the roofing and walls or other enclosures are of sheet metal of
other incombustible materials, or of masonry deficient in thick-
ness or otherwise and not conforming to approved masonry.
96. WRITING includes printing and typewriting.
97. YARD means a court that extends along the entire
length or width of a lot.
CHAPTER 5.
OCCUPANCY CLAFSIFUD AND REQUIRED CONSTRUCTION.
1. . Every building hereafter erected shall be classified
under the following occupancies or uses and shall not be of less
fire restrictive type of construction than required for that
occupancy.
2. Buildings of mixed occupancy, except where speci-
fically provided for elsewhere in this code, shall comply with
the more restrictive type of construction unless each occupancy
is divided by a fire wallr.or fireproof floor construction. When
fire walls are used for this purpose, each section thus divided
shall have the required stairways or means of exit; and further
prOVided that if such stairways or exits are used in common,
the stairs and enclosures comnly wit}: the more restrictive and.
fire resiE:tive type of construction and that the openings through
any fire wall or partitions to such stairs have approved fire
doors.
Single Family Dwellings to be
Frame or Incombustible
Construction.
Two Family Dwellings to be
Frame or Incombustible
Construction.
2 and 3 Apartment Buildings to be
Ordinary Construction
-16-
Apartment, ApartDent Hotel and
Hotel Buildings:
3 story & basement in height to be
4 story & basement in height to be
Private Garages & 1 story in height
to be
Public Garages, Machine and Repair
Shops, Filling & Greasing Stations:
1 story in height to be
1 story and basement in height to be
2 stories in height to be
2 stories and basement in height
to be
Stores - 1 story in height to be
Temporary Office and Sales Buildings
1 story in height and under 750
sauare feet in area
Business Buildings for stores, office
and sales:
2 story and basement in height to be
3 story and basement in height to be
Manufacturing Buildings:
1 story and basement in height to be
2 story in height to be
2 story and basement in height to be
3 story and over in height to be
Storage and WarehouE'e Buildings:
1 story in height to be
1 story and basement in height to be
2 story and over in height to be
Storage Sheds for lumber, coal and
other similar materials to be
Theatres under 300 seat capacity
Theatres over 300 seat capacity
Institutional & Public Buildings:
1 Story in height to be
1 Story and basement in height to be
2 Story in height to be
2 Story and basement in height to be
3 Story and over in height to be
Ordinary Construction
Semi-fireproof Construction
Frame or Incombustible
Construction.
Ordinary Construction
Semi-fireproof Constructlon
Semi-fireproof Construction
Fireproof
Ordinary Construction
Frame or Incumbustible
Construction - Subject to
the apuroval of the Build-
ing Co~.mi ttee.
Ordinary Construction
Semi-fireproof Construction
Ordinary Construction
Ordinary Construction
Mill Construction
Mill Construction
Ordinary Construction
Mill Construction
Mill Construction
Frame, unprotected metal
or ordinary construction
subject to the approval of
the Building Committee.
Semi-fireproof Construction.
Fireproof Construction
Ordinary Construction
Ordinary Construction
Semi-fireproof Construction
Semi-fireproof Construction
Fireproof Construction.
3. Temporary Office or sales buildings which are of
frame or incombustible construction, one story in height, having
a floor area of less than 750 square feet and without a masonry
foundation, may be erected subject to the approval of the Building
Committee" Any such temporary building shall be demolished and com-
-17-
pletely removed from premises two years after erection. The
Building Committee may extend this time from year to year, on pay-
ment of an additional permit fee, providing the building is being
properly maintained, occupied and has not increased the fire
hazard of adjoining permanent buildings.
4. Plans for buildings of incombustible, pre-fabri-
cated or other unusual construction must show in detail the
permanence of the construction and assembly; satisfactory proof
of strength of materials; also National Board of Underwriter's
rating on any incombustible material.
5. A building, the use or occupancy of which does not
come under the foregoing classifications, shall be classified as to
its occupancy and construction by the Building Committee.
CHAPTE;R 6.
GENERAL BUILDING PROVISIONS.
1. The general provisions of this chapter shall apply
to all buildings or structures unless otherwise provided for in
other chapters of this or the zoning codes.
2. Compliance with Building Code: It shall be unlaw-
ful to construct, erect, enlarge, remodel, alter or repair any
building or structure in vio18.t ion of the building or zoning
codes. It is further declared unlawful to equip, use or occupy
any building for any business or other purposes in any manner
prohibited by the said codes. Violators of any of the provisions
or requirements of the building code shall be subject to the gen-
eral penalties as provided for.
3. Zoning Restrictions: The restrictions of the zoning
code with respect to the location of trades and industries, the
use and occupancy of buildings, the height and bulk of buildings
and the areas of yards, courts and open spaces shall not be deemea
to be modified by any provisions of this code, and such restric-
tions shall be controlling except where this code imposes more
stringent restrictions, in which case the provisions of this code
shall take precedence.
4. Architecture: Every building or structure here-
inafter constructed, erected, altered or enlarged, shall be so
designed and constructed as to be suitable to its environments
from an architectural standpoint and must be so approved by the
Building Committee before a permit shall be issued.
5. Buildings moved must comp]x: Buildings or struc-
tures moved from their original location to a new location or
lot shall be made to comply throughout viii th the building and
zoning codes, both as to construction and use. The B11.ilding
Committee may at their discretion allow minor irregularities or
violations.
6. Certificate of Occupancy: No building hereinafter
erected, enlarged or altered, shall be occupied or used, in ""hole
or in part, until a certificate of occupancy shall have been
-18-
issued by the Superintendent of Buildings certifying that such
building conforms to the provisions of this and the zoning codes.
7. Nothing in this code shall require the removal,
alteration or abandonment of, nor prevent the continuance of the
use and occupancy of a lawfully existing building, except as
may be necessary for the safety of health, life and property.
Upon written request from the owner, the Superintendent of
Buildings, after verification by inspection that the building
complies with the provisions of this code and the zoning code,
shall issue a certificate of occupancy for such building.
8. Change of Occunancy: No change of occupancy or
use shall be made in a building that is inconsistent with the
last issued certificate of occupancy for such building, unless
the Superintendent of Buildings finds upon inspection that such
building conforms substantially to the provisions of this and
the zoning codes with respect to the proposed new occupancy and
use.
9. Damaged BuildinJ;s May be Restored: Any building
or structure, or portion thereof, that has been damaged by reason
of decay, fire or other cause, may be restored to its original
condition, provided such condition is then consistent with the
provisions of the building code pertaining to public health and
safety and provided the cost of the restoration work does not
exceed one-half of the estimated fair value of the building or
structure proposed to be restored.
10. Any building or structure, or portien thereof, dam-
aged by reason of decay, fire or other cause, more than one-half
of the estimated value aforesaid shall, when restored, be made
to comply throughout with the provisions of the building and
zoning codes.
11. When any building, or portion thereof, has suffered
damage by reason .of decay, fire or otherwise to a structural con-
dition which is considered dangerous by the Building Committee and
the O~TIer does not take immediate action to eliminate the dan-
gerous condition, the Building Committee shall order the Fire De-
partment to brace, wreck or otherwise eliminate the said dangerous
condition. The cost of such work shall be paid by the Owner.
12.. The estimated value referred to in this section shall
be determined by the Superintendent of Buildings and the Building
Cornmi ttee.
13. Dangerous or Uncompleted BuJld5~~ and Nuisances:
Any buildings, or parts thereof, which have been allowed to deter-
iorate to a dangerous condition, uncompleted buildings and exca-
vations of abandoned building projects are hereby declared to be
public nuisances.
14. If the Superintendent of Buildings has served a
notice on the owner of the property to remedy the condition which
caused the buildifl.g to become a nuisance and he fails to take the
necessary action within ten (10) days to correct the condition,
the owner will be subject to the general penalty for violations
set forth elsewhere in this code.
-19-
15. The Superintendent of Buildings may, if he deems
it necessary, instruct the Chief of the Fire Department to take
whatever action is necessary to correct the violation, the cost
of which shall be charged to the ovmer.
16. Light and Ventil~tion Reouir~ments: For the
purpose of providing adequate size, height, light and venitla-
tion, every building hereinafter erected shall be constructed,
arranged and equipped to conform to the provisions of this
chapter.
17. Habitable Rooms shall include, in addition to the
major rooms of a domicile, rooms used as offices for clerical
or administrative purposes, public or semi-public dining rooms,
assembly rooms, club receipton or any other rooms in which one
or more persons carryon any social or business vocation or
avocation. Mechanical ventilation shall not be acceptable for
habitable rooms of a domicile, but in other habitable rooms
mechanical ventilation as specified in this chapter may be used
in lieu of natural ventilation, subject, however, to the approval
of the Superintendent of Buildings.
18. The aggregate glass area of windows for habitable
rooms shall not be less than l/lOth of the floor area of the room
served by them, prOVided that such glass area shall not be less
than 10 square feet and further provided that such windows shall
open on to a street, alley, yard or court. The top of such win-
dows shall not be less than 6 feet 8 inches above the finished
floor and a portion equal to 1/20th of the floor area shall be
arranged to open. Ventilating skylights having the same area as
the required glass area may be used in lieu of windows, subject
to the approval of the Superintendent of Buildings.
19. Every habitable room shall have a ceiling height
of not less than 8 feet and a floor area of not less than 80 square
feet; further provided that in an attic room the ceiling height
of 8 feet will only be required for one-half of the floor area of
the room and that the top of the window need not be more than 4
feet above the floor.
20. The floor area of alcove rooms shall not be com-
puted as part of the required room area, but shall be counted in
determining required area for windows. Basement habitable rooms
shall be permitted provided the floor of such rooms is not more
than 3' on below sidewalk grade.
21. Bath and 'lJ'rater Closet Compartments: The require-
ments for windows of baths and water closet compartments shall
be the same for habitable rooms except that such glass area shall
not be less than 6 square feet, provided that a skylight of the
required glass area may be used in place of windows and further
provided that windows may open on to a vent shaft of the follow-
ing dimensions:
Vent Shafts Least Least
Height of Width Area in
in Feet So. Feet
1 story 3 21
2 stories 3 22~
3 stories 3 27
-20-
22. Stairways and Corridors: Every stairway, pub-
lic hall or corridor shall have one or more windows having an
aggregate glass area of not less than 10 square feet (of which
not less than 40% opens) open directly on to street, alley, yard,
court or vent shaft. In stair shafts there shall be at least
one window for each story, or in lieu of such windows, a sky-
light with ventilators and having a well or shaft area of at
least 12 square feet.
23.
The aggregate
garages shall
room or space
required area
Stores for Ordinary Business and Public Garages:
glass area of windows or skylights for stores and
be not less than 1/20th of the floor area of the
served by them, provided that one-half of such
shall be arranged to open.
24. Public Garages, in addition to natural ventilation,
shall be ventilated by means of 8 x 12" flues or ducts, extend-
ing from the floor to and above the roof, providing there is one
such flue or duct for every 300 square feet of floor area and lo-
cated at not more than 15' centers as measured along the inclos-
ing walls.
25. Mechanical VentilatiQ.1]': Habitable rooms, public
dining rooms and other similar rooms or spaces, also water closet
and urinal compartments not having the required amount of natural
ventilation shall be equipped with an exhaust system of mechan-
j_cal ventilation capable of six air chang es per hour.
26. Kitchens, other than those of a domicile, servlclng
public or semi-public dining rooms, regardless of natural venti-
lation, shall be equipped with an exhaust system of mechanical
ventilation capable of ten air changes per hour.
27. Public garages not having the required amount of
natural ventialtion are to be equipped with an exhaust system of
mechanical ventialation capable of six air changes per hour.
22>. Schools and nub] ic buDding s shall be eauinned with
a supply and exhaust system~of mechanical ventilrtion in accord-
ance with recommendations, rules and formulas for such as covered
in the handbook of the American Society of Heating and Ventilating
Engjneers.
29. Loc13tion and Dimensions of StaiI.:t~ay'~ linq Me..?ns of
Exi~: The follovving general provisions shall apply to all stairs,
means of exit and required c01"ridors unless otherwise provided for
elsewhere in this code.
30. All buildings and structures hereinafter erected
shall be constructed and planned so as to provide substan~ially
constructed and fire protected continuous means of exit or egress
from all parts of the building to a street, alley or open court.
In all building s, except as otherV'lise provid ed, there shall be
not less thc:m tVITO means of exit from the basement or cellar and
from each story; provided that in all two story buiJdings no part
of any floor is more than 100 feet distant from a stair or
other apuroved means of exit; further provided that in 3 or 4 story
o1Ji_ldinrs no uart of the second, third and fourth floors is more
than 75- feet distant from a stair or ot.her c1U-proved means of exit,
which is of a constnlct ion and ene 10:",ed as provid ed for under
- . ~
each type of construction. The location of the reauired stairs
-~l-
or other means of exit shall be as far apart as practical and
shall be subj ect to the approve,l of the Superint endent of
Buildings. Stairs and landings shall be so constructed as to
support a live load of 100 pounds per squaTe foot.
31. No stairs, as part of reauired means of exit, shall
be less than 3 feet wide as measured between str;ngers, exclusive
of required handrails. Landings and platforms shall be at least
as wide as the stairs, measured at right angles to the direction
of travel. Every flight of stairs ahalJ ha~e at least one hand-
rail; stairs over 42 inches wide shall have handrails at each
side; stairs over 7 feet wide shall have an intermediate handrail.
32. The rise of stairs shall not be more than 7~ inches
in height and the tread, exclusive of nosing, not less than 10
inches in width; and provided there shall be not more than 17
risers in a single flight between floor and floor or floor and
landing. Winding stairs or treads are not allo1J'Ted on stairs used
by the public, except in the case of two family dwellinas.
33. No corridor, passagev:ray or exit door, a.s part of a
required stairway or means of exit or egress, shall be less than
the width of the stairs of which they form a part, but in no
case less than ~ feet wide.
34. V\Therever a dooT' opens onto a stair'JIray, a pIc:, tform
in addition to the required landing shall be provided and so
arranged that the door in opening will not extend into the reouired
landing.
35. There shall be at least one stairway extended to and
through the roof of all buildings other than buildings of frame
or ordinary construction; provided that in two and three story
buildings of ordinary construction at least one stairway shall
have a roof scuttle 3 foot square, located directly over the
unpermost floor landing, with a substantial stationary ladder from
the landing to the scuttle opening.
36. Plu~binb and Sewer Work: No person, except a
plumber licensed by State Law, shall be permitted to make any al-
tera.tion, repair or install any work in connection with any plumb-
ing or sewer work which affects vents, revents or drainage of
plumbing fixtures. He shalJ furnish the Superintendent of Build-
ings vdth a bond in the penal sum of $10,000.00, with a respon-
si ble surety corrroc:my as surety thereon, scdd bond to be a pnroved
as to form by the ViJlr>ge At.torney. Said bond to inderrJ1ify for
the full period of time provided for by the Statute of Limitations
of the State of Illinois the Village of Mount Prospect and its
officials from any and all lo~s, cost, exoense or li2,bility of
any kind or nature whatsoever, which said Village or it~; officials
may suffer or be put to, or which may be recovered from it or
them by reason of the issuance of such permit.
37. All sewer pipe within the area of a buildinv shall be
cast iron niue of standard weirht.
38. The sanit8TY sewer of a building shall connect to an
anproved septic tank of proper caoacity. The overflow from sep-
tic tanks serving bni.ld-in[: s of ord"i.nary use rr~2.Y connect to water
drainage sewers.
-22-
39. All floor dra:i.ns of garages" automobile repair
shops, filling stations and similar buildings where oils, gas-
oline or similar fluids are used or sold must connect to a series
of three cast iron settling basins before connecting to any other
portion of the building sewer ",y~tem.
40. All plumbing fixtlJ.res, area and basement drains
and dovmspouts shall be trap-ped in an 8Tmroved manner.
41. All plumblng fixtures shall be vented up through
roof in an approved manner.
42. Except as may be other~i~e provided by law or rules
duly promulgated by the Superinteno.ent of Buildings, the plumbing
and drainage system of a building or structure s'halJ be installt;d
in conformity wi,th the "Hecomr'ended ]JIinimum Requirements for
Plumbing," as amended froro time to time, of the National Bureau
of Standard s, Unit ed States De-partment of Commerce.
43. Water Closet Facilities: In every building or
structure hereinafter-erected;--ffie--:rninj.murr. number of water closet
ccrrpartments shall be as follows:
One story store buildings.........,...
Offices in suite or off corridors.....
Public Garages & Filling Stations.....
Theatres /} public Buildir>.g s. . . . . . . . . . .
Building s in whi ch 18 bor j.E' e::'oloYEo..
1 in each dorricile
1 in EC1Ch store
1 for eacb ::;,e::::
1 for C9Cl:::' ;:-;r=-.x
1 for each sex
State Law rec~irements of
the Department of Labor.
Domiciles . <A'...,......................
44. Electrical Installations: No electric wiring for
light, heat or povJer shall-be inst~:tlle2i hereafter in a building
or structure, nor shall any alterations or extension of an ex-
isting electric 'wiring system be made except in conformi ty with.
the following p~ovisions:
45. All wiring, installations and connections to
lighting fixtures, mot or,s, transformers 2.nd any other equipment
shall be doneliP strict conformity to t~1.e duly adopted rules and
requirements of t~e Nationa} Electric Code and such additional
local rules and regulations of t~e Public Service Comnany of
Northern Illinois. .
46. Fire Stop.Qing: In buildings hereafter erected of
all types of construction, firestop-pirl'i: shall be arranged to cut
off all concealed draft openings and form an effectual ~orizontal
fire barrier between stories and between a top story and the roof
space.
47. Fire. poors an~ !Nindows: Fire doors and windo'ws,
meeting t~'!e requirements of the National Board of Fire Under-
writers bearing their label, shall be installed in any onening
in walls of fire Dartitions \IIThere, in the jud~ment of the Super-
intendent of Buildings, the use of combustible doors or windows
would increase normal fire or exit hazards.
48. Any openings in required fire walls 51-wll be
covered with fire doors meeti the reqni_rements of the National
-27;-
Board of Fire Underwriters, bearin~ their label. Such doors shall
have the same fire r2t:Ln~ as the required wall.
49. Doors and windov's openin(-! off fire-escanes to be
labeled Underwriters Fire Doors and Windows.
50. Fire--Escapes: The use of exterior metal fire-
escapes is hereby nrohihited on dwel]inqs.
51. The use of exterior metal fire-escaoes as a re-
quired means of exit on any other type of bJildinz"will be allowed
only with the a'1proval of V':e Sury:rintendent of Buildinc s. The
width, treads and risers to be the same as required for inside
stairs. Stai l' and landing rail ine: to be Ll2 inches :hi,p'h.
52. Submit c0nstruction details of fire-psca-oes to
Superint en dent of But 16 Ln:::- s. Tor a:;oroval.
50. Ope~ Rea.r 'Hood staj~"r_e ,and PX:Q.ches: The 11se of
exterior wood stairs from the second floor of two family dwellings
is hereby orohibited.
5Ll. Wood norches aYld stairs of safe and durable con-
struction and meeting the reQuirements as to width, treads ano
risers of inside stairs w~ll be accented as a second reouired
means of exit from two and three story aoartment buildings of
ordin8ry c.onctruction. All T)ortj.ons of stairs and rear porches
shaJl be desi~ned to suunort a live load of 100. nounds ner souare
foot and shall be securely anchored to masonry walls.
55. Wood porches and stairs are hereby prohibited on
buildings of mill, semi-fireproof and fireproof construction.
56. SkY-~ights: Any skylight on the roof of any build-
ing ot:'ler than a frame blJ~ l(:Hn:.' ::-ha11 have thp sides. sashes
and fraT.es c()n~tr1Jct'?d of metal or liFood metal clad on all exterior
surfaces.
57. Every sky] ht shall be provided with ventilators.
the sectional area of which shall be at least three percent of the
base area of the skyli~ht.
58. The glass in all skylights shall be wire glass.
59. Where sky 1 i7:hts are substituted for n.'3tural windov\!
ventilation in all habitable rooms other Ulan for toil et, uri.nal
or bathrooms, they shall be so designed as to conform to the re-
auirements for natural window ]i~ht and ventilation.
60. Bill Boards and Si~n Boards: No bill board or
sign boards shall be--erec-fe-Ci-w'--:Tch---do-not cOrDnly viith the Zoning
Code.
61. No Derson shall erect, maintain or use upon any
parks, narkways, streets or alleys owned or controlled by the
Village any bill board or sien board without a permit therefor,
the issuance of vi-hich shall be s,nbject to the 8nnroval of the
Building Committee.
62. No bill board or sign board shall be erected on
or attached to any portion of a building or structure other than
-24-
the normal business sign, not exceeding t~o feet in height and
being directly over t'ne store show windows of business buildings,
without a permit, the issuance of v.hich shall be subj ect to the
approval of the Building Committee.
63. No nermit shall be required for signs havin~ an
area not greater than 12 sauare feet.
64. The construction and structural supports of all
bill boards and sign boards shall be subject to the anproval of
the Sunerintendent of Buildings.
65. A person engaged in the business of constructing
and erecting bill boards or sign boards shall file with the Super-
int enden t of Bu~.lding s a bond j n the -aenRl sum of ~nO, GOO. 00
with a respon::dble surety company as surety thereon, said bond to
be an.aroved as to form by the Vil18ge Attorney. Said bond shall
indemnify for the ful19':'riod of time provided for by the ~,tl':Jtutes
of Limitations of the ~tate of Illjnois the Village of Mount
Prosnect and its officials, for any and all loss, cost, expense
or liability of emy kind or nature whatsoever, VJhich said Village
or its officials may suffer or be put to, or ~~ich roPy be re-
covered froY'] it or them by reason of tre iC'suanceof such permit.
66. The fee to be charred for such permits issued for
the erection or construction of bill boards or sign boards or for
the alteration t~ereof shall be $5.00 for each 25 lineal feet
or fractiono.l part thereof erected or altered. An annual insnec-
tion fee shall be charged every nerson in charge or control of
any bill board or sign board now in existence or hereafter to be
erected, vlThich shall- be ~5 .00 for ench 25 lineal feet or frac-
tional part t~ereof.
67. A -person ov\ninr, oper8ting or maintaininE' any bill
board or sign board, who shall neglect or refuse to com-Dly with
the provisions of this' article, sh~ll be subject to the uenalty
for such violations as set fort~ elsewhere in this code.
68. Insuection fee shall be due and payable on the first
day of May of ea6h year. If ~aid fee is not naid within ~~ days
of above date. the Plluerintendent of Build;nz s reserves the rj.l~ht
to have the Fire Department remove or wreck such bill board or
sign board anr'l tne cost OT such work s1'>all be paid by the owner
of the bill board or sign board before a nermit shall be ~ranted
for the re-erection of said sign board or bill board.
69. All.to1Jl?-ti~ElJ2rin~1~.r ~y~tem: An a.p~')roved automatic
s.prinkler system meeting the recn;rements of the National Board
o~ Fire Underwriters sh~ll be installed in all buildings here-
inafter erected, which are06cunied for the following uses and
exceed the specified areas.
70. If fire vralls are provided eacb space so divided
shall be considered as a separate area when determining the
areas requiring a sprinkler system" providing openings in such
fire walls are .covered by aoproved self-closing fire doors
having the same fire resistance rating as the fire wall.
71. Buildings used for the manufacture, sale or storage
of combustible good~ or merchandise and exceeding in area 15,000
square feet when of fireproof construction; 10,000 square feet
-~;5-
when of other types of construction.
72. Garages, unless of fireproof construction, exceed-
ing 15,000 square feet in area. -
73. Base~ents or cellars having floor areas exceeding
2000 square feet when u~ed for the ypanufacture, sale or storage of
combustible goods or merchandise.
74. Buildings used as -olaces of assembly and theatres
having a stage shall be equipped with a sprinkler system in all
parts except in auditoriums, foyers and lobbies.
75. The use of a direct connection to the street main
for a single source of water supoly system is acceptable if
approved by the National Board of Fire Underwriters.
CHAPTER 7.
HEATING APPLIANCES, BOILER;::', FUPNACEE:, FIREPLACES,
CHIMNEYS, STACKS Al\f[) FIRE PROTF:CTION ON SAME.
1. The general provisions of this chapter shall a-ooly
to all buildings or str'J.ctures unless otherwise nrovided for in
other chapters of thif or the zoning codes. All boilers, fire-
ulaces, gas apuliances, etc. shall be properly connected to flues
as hereinafter nrovided.
2. Ch:1mrr~Y 8.IlQ .Elu~ _Q.Q..I11?:trl1.9_tt.QD: Ch imneys her ein-
after erected, except as otherwise provided, shall be wholly
supported on and be constructed of aporoved masonry or reinforced
concrete and shall extend at least three feet above the nighest
point at which they come in contact with a roof of the building
and at least two feet higher than any ridge within 10 feet of
such chimney and be oropE;rly capped with terr8. cotta, stone,
cement or other approved incombustible waterproof material.
Hollow building tile shall not be used for walls of isolated or
independent chimneys but may be used for chimneys in connection
with an exterior hollow tile wall of a building if at least 8
inches in thickness and lined with tile flue lining.
3. Chimneys shall be built as nearly vertical as 'OOS-
sible but in no case shall they have an angle greater than 45
degrees from the vertical. Where flues change direction, the
abutting linine; at the angle joints shall be chipped to fit closely
and at no point shall the cross section be reduced. No change in
the size, shape or direction of a chimney shall be made 6 inches
abofe or below roof conftruction 'where the chimney 'Oasses through
the roof.
4. When there are two or more flues in a chimney stack,
each flue shall be separated from the others by a smoke tight
withe or division wall at least 4 inches in thickness, bonded
into the side walls of the stack. In hollow tile chimneys the
withe may be of tile.
5. The smoke Di~e intake to flues shall always enter the
chimney through the side and shall consist of fireclay or metal
thimbles securely bedded in chimney wall with cement mortar.
.- 26 -
6. Every chimney at its base 2ha11 be provided with an
iron cleanout door.
7. Walls Forming Smoke .[lues LiQinKl Walls forming a
smoke flue having an area of 144 square inches or less to be of
brick or stone not less than 8 inches in thickness, or if an
apnroved flue lining is used 4 inches in thickness. If the flue
area is more than 144 and less than 300 square inches, such wall
to be not less than 12 inches in thickness or, if a flue lining
is used, 8 inches in thicknes~. If tne flue area is 300 square
inches and less than 600 SQuare inches such wall to be not less
than 12 inches in thickness, of which the inner 4 inches shall
be of approved fire brick set in fire clar mortar. The approved
flue lining referred to ::.-ha.11 be hard burned fire clay or other
refractory clay tile not less thc:m 5/8 of an inch in thickness,
which will withstand, without softening, the temperature t01Nhich
it will be sUbjected, bu.t not less than 2000 degrees Fahrenheit.
8. Chimneys for gas fired furnaces or boilers for the
heating of dwellings shall have a flue lining of glazed vitrified
sewer pipe having not less than 8 inches internal diameter laid
in cement mortar with hubs turned upward, provided, however,
that an effective flue or outlet pipe, constructed of asbestos
and portland cement, of a type approved by the National Board
of Underwriters, may be used in lieu of masonry type of chimney.
Such pipe shall have at least one inch clearance from all com-
bustible materials.
9. The bottom of flues for gas fired furnaces or boilers
to have a two inch condensation drain extending down through the
foundation wall to a point below the frost line.
10. The construction design of chimneys having an area of
600 square inches and over, or for isolated stacks of any size, or
for metal stacks, shall be submitted to the Superintendent of
Buildings for approval.
11. Flues for Other Gas Heaters and Apnliances: Every
gas appliance shall be connected to an effective flue or outlet
pipe to the outer air if it is included in any of the following
classifications:
(a) Any appliance used for domestic purposes which
has a demand in excess of 50,000 B.T.D. per hour,
except in the case of the domestic gas range.
(b) Automatically controlled appliances which use
more than 5,000 B.T.G. per hour. Automatically
cont rolled appliances which use 5,000 B. T. U .
or less per hour shall be flue connected unless
equipped with an effective device which, in
the event that the constantly burning flame or
pilot flame is extinguished, will automatically
shut off the supnly of gas to the main burner
or burners.
(c) Appliances installed in the same room which have
an aggregate demand at normal rating as great as
30 B.T.D. per hour cubic foot of room content.
Such flues or outlet pi.pes to be of incombustible, non-corrodible
material of suffi.cient thickness, cross-sectional area. and heat
-27-
insulating quality to avoid temperature in exces.s of 160 degrees
Fahrenheit on adjacent combustible material, with bell and spigot
or other acceptable joints. Where extending through from story
to story or roof, located inside partitions or walls, extending
through walls to the outside shall have one inch clearance from
all combustible materials. The flues or outlet pipes shall be of
a type approved by the National Board of Underwriters.
12. Fire Protectio~ at Heating Plants and Smoke Pipes:
There shall be no combustible partitions or floor construction
within 36 inches of any portion of the heating boiler or furnace
or smoke pipes, provided, however, if such partition or floor
construction is covered with metal lath and 3/4 inch of cement
plaster this dist~nce may be reduced to 18 inches, and further
provided that if in addition the smoke pipe is covered with one
inch of asbestos, the clearance distance between the smoke pipe
and a metal lath and plastered ceiling can be reduced to 9 inches.
No clearance space is required if floors and partitions are of
fireproof construction. See preceding paragraph on flues for
gas heater and appliances for clearance space required for cer-
tain types of smoke or outlet pipes.
13. No metal smoke Dipe shall pass through a partition,
floor or roof of combustible construction unless surrounded by
a double safety thimble of galvanized iron of a tyne approved by
the Superintendent of Building;:..
14. Heating Furnaces and Boilers: Hot air, hot water
and steam heating furnaces or boilers hereafter installed on wood
joist floor or other combustible floor construction in dwellings
shall have a protective base of sheet metal or asbestos covered
with hollow masonry not less than 4 inches in thickness, so laid
as to preserve a free circulation of air through such masonry
course. Such base shall extend at least 3 feet beyond the fur-
nace or boiler on all sides.
15. Fireplaces: The back and sides of fireplaces, also
above and around the smoke chamber and damper herec.fter erected
shall be of approved masonry not less than 8 inches in thickness,
or of reinforced concrete not less than 4 inches in thickness.
The lining to be of fire brick or other approved material not
less than 2 inches in thickness. Hearths shall be of brick con-
crete, tile or other approved incombustible material supported on
masonry arches. Such hearths shall extend at least 20 inches
outside of the chimney breast and not less than 12 inches beyond
each side of the fireplace opening along the chimney breast. The
combined thickness of hearth and supporting arch shall be not ..Less
than 6 inches at any point.
16. Warm Air Furnac.~ and Heating Systems: Warm air
heating systems hereafter installed shall be in accordance with
the standard code of the National Warm Air Heating and Air-con-
ditioning Association. All supply and return ducts and pipes
shall be of bright tin metal not lighter than 1 C or 28 guage
galvanized iron of proper size, properly jointed and equipped
with dampers and shall terminate at the various rooms at metal
floor or wall registers. If main supply ducts in basement are
placed nearer than 1 inch and wall ducts nearer than 5/16 of an
inch to cClmbustible material, stacks shall be covered with
asbestos pc. per .
-28-
17. Steam and Ho~ Water Systems: Steam and hot water
systems hereafter installed shall be in accordance with the
Standard Code of the American Society of Heating and Ventilating
Engineers. Where piping passes through combustible flooring,
partitions or other combustible construction, there shall be an
open space of not less than one inch between pipe and combustible
material. Such opening shall be closed on both sides with metal
or incombustible rings. Any covering or insulation on piping
shall be of incombustible material.
CHAPTER 8.
CONSTRUCTION
QUALITY AND VOLUME OF MATERIALS
MASONRY p~D REINFORCED CONCRETE.
1. Quality of Materials: All building materials shall
be of a quality in all respects suitable for the purpose for
which they are used, provided that in case there is a reason to
doubt the quality of a new material the Superintendent of Build-
ings may require tests to be made by a recognized testing labor-
atory to establish its suitability or determine whether or not
it conforms to the intent of this code; provided further that
any materials not prOVided for elsewhere in this code or approved
by the Superintendent of Buildings shall meet the requirements
of the standard specifications of materials as established by
the American Society for testing materials.
2. Workmanship: Workmcmship in the fabrication, prep-
aration and installation of materials shall conform to generally
accepted good practice. Specific provisions of this article
shall not be deemed to sU9,pend any requirements of good practice
but shall be regarded as supplementing or emphasizing them and
shall be controlling. The Superintendent of Buildings shall, as
may be necessary, promulgate rules in accordance with the pro-
visions of this code embodying the requirements of such generally
accepted good practice.
3. Load Test Required: When directed by the Superin-
tendent of Buildings, the ovmer of any building or structure
hereinafter erected shall bave made at his o~n expense load tests
of various portions of the building which must show that the con-
struction will sustain a load twice the live load for which it
was designed and show only a normal safe deflection. These tests
mU9t be made in the presence of the Superintendent of Buildings.
4. Inflammable Materials: No materials, except those
permitted in this code, shall be used as a covering for any in-
side or outside wall, nor as a filler between walls or floors,
which are so inflammable as to create an unnecessary or unusual
fire risk.
5. Scaffolds: All scaffolds erected for use in build-
ing operations shall be properly supported and of sufficient width
and properly secured so as to insure the safety of persons work-
ing thereon or passing under the same, c:md to -prevent the falling
of any material that may be used or placed thereon.
6. Protection of Wor~: It shall be the duty of all
owners, contractors, builders or persons having the control or
-29-
supervision of building s in the course of erection to comply with
an act of the State Legislature entitled "An Act providing for the
protection and safety of persons in and about the construction,
repairing, alteration or removal of buildings, bridges, viaducts
and other structures, and to provide for the enforcement thereof,"
approved June 3, 1907 and in force July 1, 1907, and all amendments
thereto.
7. Allowable Stresses: Allowable stresses in pounds
per square inch of concrete and approved masonry in compression
shall not exceed the following:
When laid in
Portland Cement
Cement Lime
Mortar Mortar:
Lime
Mortar
Ordinary Brickwork
Hollow walls of brick
Ashlar masonry, dressed limestone
Hollow block, gross area
Solid block, gross area
Concrete when Portland Cement is used
175
125
400
80
125
250
140
100
320
70
100
75
160
8. Working stresses of reinforced concrete to be as nro-
vided in "Hand Book of Reinforced Concrete Building Designs" of "the
American Concrete Institute.
9. Working stresses of steel to be as prOVided in the
"Pocket Companion" i~ssued by the Unit ed States Steel Cor-ooration
or any of its subsidiaries.
10. Working stresses of wood of various kinds and grades
to be as prOVided for in "Wood Structural Design Data" as adopted
and amended by the National Lumber Manufacturers' Association.
11. Lumber:
this code or in rules
Buildin~, the grades,
loads and spans shall
sign Data" as adopted
turers Association.
Except as otherwise specifically provided in
duly promulgated by the Superintendent of
framing, allowable working stresses, safe
be as provided for in "Wood Structural De-
and amended by the National Lumber Manufac-
12. The following reference tables may be used in deter-
mining size of joist for certain spans of floor construction de-
signed for a 40 pound per square foot uniformly distributed live
load with lumber having a stress in extreme fiber of 1000 pounds
per square inch. For lumber having a greater or lo'wer fiber stress,
refer to the foregoing mentioned authority.
,ft'
FLOOR ,JOIf'T TABLI~
2 x 6
12
16
24
Maximum Allowable siDan
__(Feet ang Inghes _
Plastered Without
Ceiling Plastered
Below Ceiling
Ft. In. Ft. In.
10 0 11 9
R 8 10 3
7? 8 5
Size of
Joists
(InChes)
Spacing of
Joist Center
to Center
(InChes)
-30-
2 x 8 12 13 2 15 7
16 11 6 13 7
24 9 6 11 2
2 x 10 12 16 7 19 7
16 14 6 17 2
24 11 11 14 2
2 x 12 12 19 11 23 7
16 17 5 20 8
24 14 5 17 0
2 x 14 12 23 3 27 6
16 20 4 24 1
24 16 10 19 11
3 x 6 12 l~ 6 14 9
16 10 11 12 11
24 9 0 10 8
3 x 8 12 16 6 19 6
16 14 5 17 1
24 11 11 14 1
3 x 10 12 20 7 24 5
16 18 1 21 5
24 15 0 17 9
3 x 12 12 24 8 29 2
16 21 9 25 9
24 18 0 21 4
3 x 14 12 28 8 33 10
16 25 3 29 11
24 21 1 24 11
CEILING AND ROQ.E JOIST TABLE
Maximum Allowable
Spacing of fu>i1IL( Feet &. Inches)
Size of Joist Center
Joists to Center For Ceiling ~ For Roof
~ches) (Inches) . _.-.1:..0 i s t s Rafters.
<) x 4 ]2 JO 6 9 5
......,
J6 9 " 8 7:
t::, "'--'
211 7 7 6 9
<) x 6 1" 15 11 15 5
.., .-~t::,
1G 14 0 12 8
24 11 7 10 5
2 x 8 12 20 10 18 11
16 18 4 16 8
24 15 4 13 9
2 x 10 12 25 11 ....,*" 7
;"""-~
16 22 11 20 10
24 19 2 17 4
13. The allowable span of roof rafters shall be measured
from plate to ridge, except that where rafters are braced by ceil.-
ing joists or purlin~ and a complete tru~~~ is formed. The span
shall be considered as the distance between the intersecting
points of trussing.
14. Weight~~f..J'itate.rial.R: For the I1urnose of esti-
mating dead loads, in the absence of more definite information,
-31-
the weights of buildinf materials in Dounds Der cubic foot, shall
be assumed to be as follows:
Brickwork 120
Concrete, stone 144
Concrete, cinder 108
GYPSllIT1 Block IL8
Hollow tile, wall bearing 60
Hollow tile. Dartition 54
Plaster, mortar 96
Lirnestone 156
Oak 48
Southern yellow pine 42
Cynress, short leaf yellow Dine 36
Do~glas fir, cedar, hemlock,
redwood, spruce and ,~ite pine 30
15. F:L,Q9:r: "and Poof LiVE: J,oa~;L2: No floor in B,ny build.-
ing hereinafter erected shall be designed for less than the fol-
lowing 1 i ve loads ner SOU.are foot of area uniformly distributed:
Dwell ine: s'.' Apartment s, Hotels
Office rclerical and adm~nistrative
'OUTDO s e s)
Schools and rylaces of assembly
Senool-rooms
P'lblic buildinq~.
Stores
Garages and repair ShODS
Factory, storage warehnuses
Sta irs, 18ndi.nE 3" passasn:;1Jvay;::: and
sirnilar spRces in all building s
Public sid ewalk5 over v[~1Jlt s
Hoofs
40 lbs.
50 Ibs.
100 lbs.
50 Ib~'.
Ion Ibs.
100 Ibs.
80 Ib~'.
If)~, Ibs.
100 lbs.
250 1 b s .
30 lbs.
Floor construction is to be reinforced where concentrated
loads exist.
16. Soil BeariIlL .Cauaci ty: Presumptive capacity, in
the absence of satisfactory tests, the sustaining nower ger square
foot of different soils, assumin a strata thickness of 15 feet shall
be deemed as follows:
Course sand and gravel
Fine dry sand
Wet 2and
Dry pure common ('].R~T
Mixture of cJay anrt ~and
Soft pure clay ~et
IndL~cr~If"inate E'i:ytUI'e ,r'5 ttou.t
strata thickness or good body
6,000 Ibs.
~,~OO Its.
Z,(:"JO Ibs.
11,500 Ib~.
3,000 Ib8.
3,ono 1b8.
1,500 It.~.
17. No found (Itior: of a building or structure shall be
placed on filled grolmd until the SUgerintendent of Euildings has
fixed, by test or inspection, the safe sustaining po~er that may
be aS~3Um((l.
18. \fihen a doubt ar~~;es as to the safe sustaining pOFer
of the soil upon which a building or structure is to be erected,
or itis desired to exceed the presumptive capacity, the Superin-
-32-
tendent of Buildin~s may direct that boring or tests be made by
fJ reputable engineer to c etermj.Y1 t' tLc, SD ,,:,tai.n inC:OOl'!er of the soil,
such tests to be made at the ovlinEr's EXDfnse. A corrmlete record .
of the tests shall be f1lE:o vitr' the Sunerint endent of Building s.
19. _ExS::..?5stj. oll.e: Unt51 -orov-l E ion for nermanent supnort
has been made, excavations, if necessary or deemeo necessary by the
Sunerintendent of Buildings, shall be pronerly guarded and Dro-
tected to prevent the sa~e from becom dancerous to life or limb
anCl braced by the person caus'lnf' t"he exc8v8tion to 1:;e melde to Dre-
vent the adjoining earth fror:: cav5ne -in.
20. When an excavation extends deeuer than t"hat of an
adjoining building and the safety of which rray be effected by
such excavatior, tIle ovner of 811r:11 acLi o hl::Lnc. bu.:'; 1d1]1[:' shaJl im-
mediately take necessary stEDs to nrotect his nronerty by install-
ing nrODer und erpinirc and fClJnoat ion s . To "'Jerform such v'ork, be
8''''32-1 be .0ery"itted~ if' rr-:ce~'saY"', to enter t'rcoremises .be~nc ex-
CaVHtea.
21. Found8tion:;:; lLe{luJ.LEi..d: All buildim:-s and structurES
hereinafter erected shall be SUDDorted by T~sonry foundDtio~2 of
proneI' dir.lensions vlihicn shall exteY1c1 OOVT_ to p, Doint one foot be--
lOl~: t[le fro.st l-ine or a rrd.nirmm of 4 feet below adjoining ground
level, nrovic eo, Y oweller. t.h,J tV-fEn <'1 onE story. bUl] c\-in!? of' frame
or metal construction -i~ rot use~ p,s 8 dwelling ano not OVEr 750
souare feet ir area fTCh fOl1nrlp,t:lon v;cllJ S ~halJ not be rec')jrec'!.
2:? . Drain 1'J-J_e: Dra ir: t lIe 2h all be ol<'1c ed aroll.nd the
enclos inq wall;::" of any casement, the floor level of ,['hieh i::~ more
than two feet below the curb level. The bottom of such tile at
its highest point shall be not less than 6 inches below the bot-
tom of toe basement floor 8Y'J'J shall drain into the bUl.Joint'" drain-
age system. The drain tile Shall be open jointed porous drain
tile not lESS thPD ~. inches in diameter and surro11nded on at
leapt one side am' too V'1tJi i:\ .incnes of crusl1ed stone or r-ravel.
2?'. Vi<2tsI:.I2!'g.9fi.D.g: Where basen-,ents are provided, tlJe
outside surface of inclo~:inF f'olmoption vBl}:" Shall receive either
a 1/2 inch plaster coat of ~atErproof nortl~nd r:erent or p thor-
OUqIJ coatinc of Bituminous liouid damn proofjyiP or othervdse Y'en-
{___, C" "- '-
dered waterproof by some apnroved proce~:".
24. ConcSSJ..f .F)c99rs at, S.!.I J3_~lov D]~_<L~: Ever,." floor
restirlf" directly on tl"E croane or belm" Frrmnd Ipvel ~'J'aJl be con-
struct~d of por~land eem~nt concrete not less than 3 inches -in
thickness laid on not Jess than A ~nches o~ sandor cin~ers o~
constructed ~n sorre oth0r a~nrovpd ~an]1e~ to cruaI'd 8pa-inst damD-
ness from below suc'r floor.
2f,. M,?sorl.I:..Y: Al J mp sonry 8h31] be constructed of
approved materials: anDroved masonry shall comDly with the pro-
visions of this code.
26. Footin2"s: Footin7s consisting of nlain or rEin-
forced concrete shall be provide~ as part of" foundation walls
and niers and shall be so desicned that the nressure on the soil
shall, so far 2S no::,sible. be 1.miform.
27. For frame bujld-inr:s - two stories and less in heighL,
wa.ll footlnps sha1] be no+ lese thF1"ll 1'P" wice a.nd R" thj_ck.; col-
.--7(;....
umn footings shall be not less them 2 square feet and 12" thick.
28. For brick veneer buildings - two stories and less
in height, wall footings shall be not less than 2' wide and 10"
thick; column footings not less them ~; feet square and 12" thick.
29. For building s having masonry \iva.l1s, the size 01
footings shall be determined by the live and dead loads imposea
on the wall but in no case shall the width of the footing on a
two story ht.1i1ding be less then ~'6" in width and 12" thick; Cind
on a 3 story building be less than 3' 011 in width cmd 12" thick.
30. Founc8ti("oD V.Talls: Except c;.s otherwisE provided
foundation walls-sEall~-be TJ1iil"t of -plain or reinforced concrete.
The walls shall be of adequate strength and thickness to sup-
port their vertical loads and resist any lateral pressure from
adjacent earth and shall not be less in tb5_cknes~ th8n th8t of
the \'\'al1s which they slw-oort.
31. Foundation walls for frame and metal buildings
not exceeding 2 storiE;s in height and sup-oorting live floor 10cld s
of not more than 40 pounds per SQuare foot may be built of brick
or hollow or solid blocks, not J e~; s them ] 2 inches in thickness;
further provided that if built of concrete the walls may be re-
duced to 8 inches in thickness. If brick veneer is used as an
exterior facing of a frane building, foundation walls shall not
be less than 10 inches in thickness.
32. W<3.1l~s _?lldPJer~: Isola.tEd piers shall not Exceed
in heifht ten times their least dimension.
33. Door and window oDenin~s in walls shall. be spanned
by well buttressed arches or suuported by steel or reinforc~d con-
crete lintels having wall bearings proportioned to their loads
but not less than 4 inches.
34. No masonry shall be supported on wooden girders or
other forrn of vmod conf.truction; provided that in buildings of
ordinary construction a combination of steel angles and timber
lintels may be used over openings anrl wood arches may serve as
center for masonry arches; provided further that this shall not
preclude the use on exterior walls of dwellings for decora.tive
purposes, timber lint e] s, above opening s L1 feet or les s in width.
35. Tn brick yalls at least every sixth course of the
facing brick shall be a header course or there shall be at least
one full length header in every 72 square inches of wall surface.
All joints in brick masonry shall be filled solid with mortar.
36. In hollow walls of brick and in walls and piers of
hollow or solid blocks suitable nrovision shall be made at each
line of floor joi:='t and at beams and wherever load concentre.tions
occur to insure good bearing and a uniform distribution of loads.
if/hen hollo\l\1 walls of brick or 1Fa11s of r-~ollow blocks in which the
cells of the blocks are laid vertical are decreased in thickness,
the blocks in the top course of the thicker wall shall be filled
sol i(11y with concret e or covered vd th slabs of hard burned tile
or concrete at least one jnch in thickness.
37. Hollow units havj_I'.g a greater tbickness, then 8
inches, measured at right angles to the face of the wall, shall
-34-
not be used in the construction of bearing walls of buildings
having a live floor load of more than 50 nonnds or more than two
stories high.
38. Brick factne when used with hollow block masonry
shall be bonded to the backing .pith at least one header course
in every 6 courses of brick, or there shall be at least one full
length header in every 72 square inches of wall surface.
39. The face of hollow or solid blocks in exterior
walls and exposed to weather shall be waterproofed with an
apnroved material unless covered by stucco or other veneering.
40. Mortar: Foundation walls, if built of brick or
hollow or 80J.i6 block, shall be laid in portland cement mortar.
41. Hollow walls of brick, hollow or solid block masonry,
chimneys, parapet walls, backing of walls faced with stone sahlal,
exterior walls in skeleton construction and isolated piers shall
be laid in cement mortar or cement lime mortar.
42. All other masonry shall be laid in cement mortar,
cement lime mortar or lime mortar.
43. Wall ThicJ;:J).esses: The thickness of mHsonry walls
shall in all cases, irrespective of other reauirements of this
code, be sufficient to keep the stresses in the masonry within
safe working stresses. Walls of approved ma.sonry, except as
otherwise hereinafter provided, shall be of the thickness in
inches indicated in the following table:
B~?_~JIlen"L 1
12 12
l~: 12
16 12
16 16
2 __ _-P_ ____--1
1 story
2 story
3 story
4 story
12
12
12
12
12
12
44. Exterior incloslng walls which are supported at each
story by steel or concrete beams and are not bearing walls may ue
8 inches in thickness of approved m8.sonry.
45. vVal1s shall not vary in thickness between story
heights.
46. Interior bearing walls that are 8 inches in thick-
ness and sunnort wooden floor or roof joists shall be corbeled out
2 inchef at' each side to receive ,joists, unless approved metal
joist hangers are used.
47. Bearing walls supnorting reinforced concrete or
other fireproof floor construction shall not be less than 12 inches
in thickness of anproved ill2sonry.
48. The height of a masonry wall between successive
floors or other substantial IHteral supnorts shall not exceed
twenty times its thickness unless it is reinforced by adequate
cross walls, niers or buttresses at intervals not exceeding twenty
times the thickness of the wall.
-35-
49. When clin courses or wall ties are used to bond
a facing material, or when the facing materia.l is less than
3-3/4 inches in thickness, such facing shall not be regarded as a
part of the required thickness of the wall nor as contributing
to its strength.
50. Architectural terra cotta facing of a wall may be
considered as a structural part of the wall, provided the wall shall
not be less than 12 inches in thickness, having not less than 8
inches of solid brick backing; further provided that the terra
cotta is so designed as to allow for brick bonding into the open
spaces of the terra cotta. Terra cotta blocks having voids of not
more than 25% of core area shall be considered as solid block and
shall require the same bonding for facing brick.
51. The following reduction in wall thicknesses may be
made, provided such walls are kept within safe working stresses.
52. In dwelling s, iJ'Jalls above the foundation lJI:all may
be 8 inches in thickness of aDproved masonry ilvhen such \Nalls are
not more than 25 feet or 2 stories in height nor more than 50 feet
in length between cross walls or adequate buttresses; provided that
in a gable wall of a dwelling the portion of such wall within 5
feet of the peak need not be considered in fixing the height of
such wall.
53. In 2 story dwellings and apartment buildings, walls
above the basement story may be 8 inches in thickness of approved
masonry when such walls are not more thc:m 25 feet or 2 stories in
height nor more than 50 feet in length between cross walls or
adeauate buttresses; provided that in a gable wall of a dwelling
the portion of such wall within 5 feet of the peak need not be
considered in fixing the heip,ht of such wall.
54. In 3 story apartment buildings containing not more
than one apartment in each story, walls of the 3rd story may be
8 inches in thickness of apDroved masonry when such walls are
not more than 25 feet or 2 stories in height nor more than 50 feet
in length between cross walls or adequate buttresses; provided
that in a gable wall of a dwelling the portion of such wall within
5 feet of the peak need not be considered in fixing the height of
such 1J\.rall.
55. In 3 story apartment, apartment hotel and hotel
buildings in which the ceiling of the basement story is not more
than 7'6" above grade, the foundation walls may be reduced to
14 inches in thickness if of concrete and the walls of this story
above grade may be reduced to 12 inches in thickness.
56. In 4 story apartment, apartment hotel and hotel
buildings in which the ceiling of the basement story is not more
than 7'6" above grade, the fi:rst story walls may be reduced to
12 inches in thickness.
57. In lstory business building s and storage building s
havir..g flat pitch joist constructed roofs, walls not more than
1 story or 12 feet in height may be 8 inches in thickness of
anproved masonry, provided they are reinforced at intervals not
exceeding 20 feet, by cross walls, piers or buttresses; and pro-
vided further that if roof trusses are used they shall be sup-
ported by piers or buttresses not less than 12 inches in thick-
ness of concrete or solid brick masonry.
-36-
58. Parapets: Parapets shall be provided on all fire
and lot line walls.
59. In dwellings ana In buildings in which 8 inch
walls are permitted, such parapets shall be not less than 8
inches in thickness and carried not less than 2 feet above the
roof.
60. In all other buildinfs such parapets shall be
not less than 12 inches in thicl{ness and carried not less than
3 feet above the roof.
61. Parapets shall be properly coped with incombus-
tible and waterproof material.
62. Chases and Recesses: No chase shall extend into a
wall more than 1/3 of its thickness but no chase shall be cut or
built in an 8 inch wall or within the required area of a pier.
63. No horizontal chase shall exceed 4 feet in length
nor shall the horizontal projection of any diagonal chase ex-
ceed 4 feet.
64. Chases shall not be cut in masonry walls but shall
be built in.
65. Chases shall be filled in solidly with incombus-
ti ble material within the floor thickne::.s at each floor level to
create a fire stop.
66. Chases or recesses that would reduce the thickness
below the required minimum shall not be built or cut in fire or
party iJ"alls.
67. Reinforced ~Qn~rete: Except as otherwise specific-
ally provided in this code or in the rules duly nromulgated by
the Sunerintendent of Buildings the "Hand Book of Feinforced
Concreie Building Design" as adouted and amended by the American
Concrete Institute shall be deem~d to be generally' accepted good
practice in reinforced concrete construction.
68. Reinforcem~pt: The steel reinforcement shall con-
form to Rnuroved standards.
69. Nothing herein contained shall prevent the use of
steel wire or fabric for the reinforcement of slabs, for lateral
reinforcement of columns or for resistance to shrinkage and tem-
perature stresses.
70. The reinforcement in footings shall be covered on
all sides by not less than 3 inches of concrete wherever such foot-
ings come in contact VTit}l the ground and by not less than 2 incnes
of concrete elsewhere.
71. The reinforcement in columns, girders and beams
shall be covered on all sides by not less than 2 inches of con-
crete; in walls and floor slabs by not less than 1 inch of con-
crete.
72. 'protec.ti..oIl; .~.'J}st fro ~t: Unle s s annroved effec-
-37-
tive provision is made against freezing, no concrete shall be de-
posited when the air terrrDereture is 52 degrees Fahrenheit or
lower.
73. Qteel., and Iron: Except as otherwise specifically
provided in thi:, code or in rules promulgated by the Superintend-
ent of Buildings, the "Standard Specification for the design,
fabrication and erection of Structural Steel for Buildings" as
adopted and amended by the American Institute of Steel Construc-
tion shall be deemed to be the generally accented good practice
in steel construction.
74. For determining safe loads and size of .beams,
columns, connections, the ttPocl{et Companion" issued by the United
States Steel Cornoration or any of its subsidiaries may be used.
75. Nothing in this code shall urohibit the use of
arc or gas welding in theerection of steel construction in lieu
of riveting and bolting. The "Code for Fusion Welding and Gas
Cutting in Building Construct50nll CJ.S adopted and amended by the
American 1Nelding Society snaIl be deemed to be the generally
accented good practice.
76. ~eavy Timber: All heavy timber construction shall
be generally in accordance with the requirements of Mill Con-
struction and as, further provided, recommended and adonted in
the publications of the National Lumber Manufacturers Association
on
""Working stresses. for Structural Lumber and Timberll
llHeavy Timber construction details"
"vvood Structural desi [O'n date."
CHAPTER 9.
TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION.
A. ORDINARY CONSTRUCTION:
1. The term ordinary construction shall apnly to all
bui Id ing s in which the exterior .walls are of approved masonry,
the floors, roofs and partitions are of wood, and that any iron
or steel used as a structural support of walls or floor construc-
tion is not fireproofed as called for in fireuroof, semi-firenroof
or mill type of ~onstruction. Buildin~s of o;dinary construciion
hereafter erected shall not be rrore than 3 stories and basement
or 45 feet in height.
2. All floor joist and roof rafters shall be not less
than 2 inches in thickness, of 8 size and at centers to properly
carry the imposed loads.
3. All hRaders, trlmn'ler joist or beams shall be of suf-
ficient size to sustain the concentrated load on them, but shall
be not less than twice the size of the joist framed into them,
and provided that all such header joist -long er than ~: feet shall
be hung in iron ~t irruns. J oi st arid framinv shall not be 81101[e6
\~7itll_i.n 2 inches of an-:l "~'Ylp,20nr\" C1__Ji.~~flrle:T.
fi All spans of joist shall be ri~idly braced with con-
tinuous rows of cross bridging every P feet, bridgin~ to be 1 x 4
inches, 2 x 2 inches ornatented steel bridginG'.
_7,0'0<-
5. Any supno~t requi~ed for the first floor construc-
tion shall be either steel bea~s and columns or mRsonry walls
not less t~an 8 inches in thic~ness.
'3. Where dL'tance beb'reen ine] 0:--1 r2a ::conry or fire
'raIls J. S 1TOT' e trlan 25 feet there sl:211 be intermediate surmort s
for floor and roof construction of 1i18:"onr;T VB. 11:", ;::teel be8ms and
co I umn 2., t ru sse S 0 I' [J" i I' deI's.
7. Bearin~ nartitions in spans less than 25 feet may
be a stud partition provided tbCit studs are not less them 2 x /1
inches at 16 inch cent er> ~~ wi tn tn. e L1 inch d i merlsi on of tn e ~'tuds
set at right angles to the face of the nartition. Such studding
in the partitions shall not pass through from floor to floor but
wherever the part iti ons are directly over ec:ch other stud S 2l"all
continue down betV':een the flonr ,J oi ~:t c1T10 rest UDon the tOD
nlate of tne na~tition bplow.
q Th e be2ring' of y'ood .1 oi st on r'w SOYJry yrall s sholl
not be le.ss th)"H1 4 inrhF~s. T11,:- 1--e'11'-i'17 ends of joist ch:=l11 be
splayed or fire cut on C1 bevel not less them 3 inches in (~enth
~rom the ton ed7e.
9. Fach tier of joist where they enter or narallel
;'1a50nr',1 wolls. to be rmchored to such Y211s with nQt less than
3/4 in~h round of 1-1/4 inch strep Din anchors ~/L inches lonp:
and snBced not more than 6 feet anart.
10. Furring of masonry ~allr may be of wood.
11. All openings in bearing nartitions 4 feet or less in
width shall be nrnvided with ~ x 4 inch header lintel bearing on
2 inch solid bearing ~'tud dOY'.n to floor or parti tion')late. Open-
ings over 4 feet wide shall be trussed or provided with header
lintels of proper size to support the imposed load.
12. Floorigg: V'iood flooring su.nport ed by wood j oi st
shall consist of sub-flooring not less than 3/4 inches in thic~-
nes s covered wi th an approved buiJ/linz 'lapel", trs::n stri n:1(':0
v,j_t1,f'''-''-''-:1'[ ctriT)~' Y'nt Jc;;:: t"':2~l. J.-:./,4 :irc}1CE" in thiclmess at
16 jnch centers. The fird_~~led or sEconcl flooring to be not less
tl~2L 7/2. inch -'Y tJi~~cJrre~~_ of c tcnc;ur and grooved t:J}Jf' of
finished flooring. Ply yeoG of net Ie<;; t}-:.c:.Il Z ply or 7/8 inch
in thickne~,~1 bonded vritb vJater resistEnt clue nwy 1,e u.sed in
place of the 3/4 sub-flooring, Drovided that surface grain of ply
wood is laid at right angles to joist. No finished flooring is
require~ in unfinished area of attics or half stories.
1::. Roof S;hrJ:rtJl.illZ: Hoof sr:.scJthing ::1'181J meet tte ScJme
reQuire~ents as su~-flooring.
14. Hoof CO.Yi""..rJDf:: Roof coveTing of flat roofs ShBJ 1 be
not less fire resistive th2n ~. Dlv built un cOillDosition tonped
with asphalt, slag, gravel or oth~r a~Droved Eaierial. Roof cover-
ing of pitched roofs sh81l be not less fire resistive th8D ti~e,
slate, ~etal, asbesto~ or cn~~ocition sh~DPles or other sirollEr
and wonroved i_n c (,m [m ~ t i b] E .-~t' i~ Er ir 1 ~. .
l~. Eir..~ 2:~j;.QIL~: In tun d1r1[';;::, of ordin3ry ccm:",trnctior..
wljen tbe walls are furree) for interior y:all fint ;'h and such furring
SDHce l~' riOt ecrmleteJ y f11-\ ed Vii th an i ncorrbustj ble material, the
9--
masonry bet~een the ends of t~e wooden joist at each floor level
shall project out at least the tric1me:::~~ of the furring for the
full dentb of the ,joj9t. Vihen joists nm>')cHalJel to t1,c wall, if
a space is left between tbe wall and t~E neprest joist, it snail
be solid1;,' f:illed i"} t;1: mc:: sonry or :::).--nroved combusti ble material.
Interior stud port i_ti or f snaIl Y,e -9rn"lic1 f'eJ 1."1 t1c, 8t 1. east m"\ e 2
inch n1ete at to~ 8n~ hottom of the n2~tition in each story of
the same width as the stutding.
16. L8th ()nC~ .PJ~~ster: All v.'3112 and ceilinG" s of ('1
domicile exceDt -in un~-inishpd nOTtinns of An attic or basement
or n..ot otherv'l ~'e nr0vi CIC"(l Tor nr rec1l1-i red snF11J be DlasterEc).
17. Any Dlaster sral' be ennli..ed direct to bri cle end
tDe v-aIls w}~jic1~ have been (;2T::-0 -oT'oofec'i, or to ectal, fibre or
pl8ster b08rd lrtl' Nl. furred vi;:dls. wood ,40ist ciY1ci stud na..rtjtions.
exceut 2S otherwise nrovifed for or ree ired for fire nrotection.
. .
If fibre or DIester board Ipt~ is used all ~nternal corners or
angles of vr8.11s ano ceili.lJ('~~ tc be reinf'orceo vith a continuous
strip of metal lat~ not Jess than ~"wi~e. Plaster shall be not
le::'s them 3/8" in th.tckness vvhen a-onlieo to nlaster or fibre
board l~th ~nd not less than l/~" in t~irkness ,hen annlied to
,rells or met;:)l lath except ciS othcrvise Drovjc1ecJ for or reqll.:1rEcl.
18 . _~t a 1.--'1:'U-" ,;OJ; _c}~D.Q IrLC':...lC?J'....1,:'.I' e s : E' t B i r s., 1 [' n rl -; nc- s., i D -
clll~in..p floo~ ]andin7s. eyceut as otherwise n~ovi~ed, mav he con-
structed (If v'ood [',nn Sr'8ll [-.P CC1nBtJ e of" sustai_n~n57 2 liVE 10<,'d
of 100 pmmd~: -oer souare foot. Stcdr;' to be constructeo of not
less than 1-3/4 jncll strj erf. 1-1/2 inch treads and 7/2 inch risers,
all to be subst8nt -i pJ 1 y fr8~'('d 8]1(" s PC1110ply fast en eo to,- ether. The
soffits of wood stairs and landin-s to ~p coverFf ~-ith met81 Ipth
8nc2 n1a.ster.
10. In b1JJJO-iDcc; of orrlinCiry construction, ;? or i:-) stor-
iE'S in heLqht, conteininF rot "Tore th~n on.e eJlJcntr:rnt in ("(ge1.., ~tor,Y.,
or ? storiE'C' in hel~llt cr'rtr'';Y';n:' not -~OT'e trr'Y' h'e 8D2r'tF'Fr.t~. in
each 2toru, Drnvi~ir[ th2t 8D8~tITentf 8hove the fir~t floor have
a direct door exit tn an exterior ?ta-ir. tne lnclosin~ ~81Js of
the interior stairs yn8:T re of 1"000 cO"YFtructi 0';' coverec' v.'iU! feetcd_
18th and DIester on both side~. If tne fir8t story 2pace of such
building is occunied by a store, the same type of stair -iDclosure
partition Day be used providinr' the cei1inv of the store is not
less fire resistive than meta] lath ano olester.
.. 20. In all otll er but] (1 in!! s of ord i narv con struction,
stairs and corr-idors form-inF part of rtairways shall be inclosed
with fire walls as nrovited in Paragraphs 29 to 35, Chapter 5, or
by a fire partition sUDDorted at each ctory by either steel beams
and colwT:ns or 2 floor constructi on F:f recilJired loon fireproof or
semi-fi reoroof construct. ion. I f steel bean,s and cohurn s aTe us ed
as a structlual Sl..lD:::ort of a fire peTt:i tion, they ~'h8] 1 be fire-
proofed w-;~ th petal Ie:' th F'no Dlr-> ster. C ei] int" s of <3 corridor V"hich
~erves as a reouired exit shall be not less ~ire resistiVE than
metal lath and 'plaster ~nd the floor conRtruction, if of wood,
shall be nrotected tmdernec;th by a ceili.ng not less fire resistive
than metai lath and plaster.
21. C1:limne..Yf,Jl21!:'~f', XJreol..?&e~: See Chapter 7.
~40-
22. BQ.iJer Boo]1 InQ.Jo~,!?~re~: The heating nlent and fuel
storage ~hall be inclosed in a room, inclosing walls of which shall
be not less fire resistivE than a fire partition and the floor con-
struction above, if of viOod, be covered with a metal lRth and
plaster ceiling.
23. 1f'..tecel]caneou2 Hs;s~~irement:": A nrivate garage or a
series of private garages may be attached to or be C1 comnonent -aart
of a l"Juildi.ng of ordinery con::'truction, provided that the garage
or garages be separated fro~ each other and divided from any other
part of the bnilding by ei ther fire 'o2rti. t: ons or fire walls and
that the ceiling be covered with metal lat~ and cement nlaster not
less than 3/4 i~ch in thickness, and that any door, if of combus-
tible constructj.on, connecting garag e or garage~ vvith any other
portion of the bulldine, is nrotected with a covering of sheet
~etal of not less than~2C gauge securely nailed or bolted to it
on the garage fide.
24. EvenT dorrdcilein an 8-oartEent blljJdinp of ordinary
construction shall be separated from every other anariment, stair-
way or required corridor by either a fire partition of 4 inches
in thickness \^Thi ch j_~ slJnported hy firenroofed steel beams and
colurrns at each story, or a fire viall.
25. The partitions of sleeping rooms in a hotel or
offices in a bu~iness building of ordinary construction may be of
lath ano nla.ster on wood ~tudf, except that nartitions dividing
such rooms or offices from a stairway or a required corridor shall
be a fire partition and furthFr provided that there shall be a
fire partition dividinE every S roorrs or offices.
26. Partitjons dividing stores in buildings of ordin&ry
construction shall be either a fire nartition 4 inches in thickness
or a fi.re vml1.
27. Every domicile shall have t~o means of exit, pro-
vided, however, th8t domi cil es hav:i.rg not more than three habitable
rooms may have one ex it door if openin,[)~ on to a corridor hovine: the
same enclosure as reo1Jired for stairYay~~ and furt}'er -orovided that
such corridor shall lead directly to two stairw~ys as provided for
elsewhere under tIlis COT1::tructicn.
B. F5AEI~ .QSJJJfl'B.IJ.9.TI01'I:
1. The term frame construction shall ap~ly to all build-
ing s in which thE' 'wal1s, partit ions, floor and roof con~~truction
are chiefly of wood or othEr combustible materiel. Buildings of
frame construction hereinafter erected shall not be more th~n 2~
stories and basement or 35 feet in height.
2. Any cutti_n[ or boring of holes i.n any structural
member for the allowance or admittance of piping, duct work or
other anpurtenances shall be limited to l/5th of the depth or
thickne::s or width of such member, providing thet if cutting in
excess of the foregoing is required that such members thus effec~ed
shall be properly rei~forced.
3. All floor joist and roof rafters shall be not less
than two inches in thic1mess and of a si7e and center to properly
carry the imposed load.
~LLl-
4. All headers, trimmer joist or beams shall be of suf-
ficient size to sustain the concentrated load on them but shall be
not less than twice the size of the joist framed into them, and
provided that all such header joist longer than 5 feet shall be
hung in iron stirrups. Joist Etne framing shall not be allowed
'I'd. thin tvi'O inches of any rrmsonry chinmey.
5. AI] spans of joist shall be rigidly braced with con-
tinuous rows of cross bridging every 8 feet; bricging to be 1 x 4
inches, 2 x 2 inches or patented steel bri~gin~.
6. Any support required for the first floor construction
shalJ. be either steel beams and columns or lIIa.sonry \'\alls, not less
than 8 inches in thickness.
7. The outside of inclosing walls shall have studs of
not less than 2 x 4s placed at 16 inch centers or a construction
eouivalent in strength. Studding shall be continuous from sill to
roof plate. A 4 x 4 inch sill sball be placed on the top of the
foundation wall, securely anchored to it by 3/4 inch bolts with
3 inch washers at 4 foot centers extending down into the f01..1TId2tion
walls not less than 36 inches. The top plate receiving roof raf-
ters shall be not less than two, 2 x 4s. Ledger or joist ribbons
not less than 1 x 4 notched into studs shall be used to receive
any intermediate bearing joist. All exterior stud walls shall be
thoroughly and effectively wind braced.
8. All openings in bearing partitions 4 feet or less in
width shall be urovided with a 4 x 4 inch header lintel bearing on
2 inch solid bearing .ctud dovm to floor or partition plate. Open-
ings over 4 feet wide shall be trussed or provided with header
lintels of proper size to support the imnosed load.
9. Flooring: Wood flooring SlJn"90rt ed by wood joist shall
consist of sub-flooring not less then 3/4 of a.n inch in thickne~s
covered with an approved building paper, then stipped with furring
strins not les~ than 1-3/4 inchGs in thickness at 16 inch centers.
The ~inished or second flooring to be not less than 7/8 of an
inch in thickness of the tongn.s and r-rooved type of finished floor-
ing. Ply wood of not less than 3 ply or 3/8 o~ an inch in thick-
ness, bonded with water resistant glue may be used in place of 3/4
inch sub-flooring, provi~ed that surface grain of plywood is laid
at right angles to joists. No finished flooring is required in
unfinished areas of attics or half storiE':::'.
10. Exterior Wa1J: 2DQ Roof Shenthing: Sheathing shall be
not less than 3/4 inch ship lap or matched flooring covered with an
approved waterproofed building naper.
11. J:.lYV'{.Q-9,Q.91: Fi be.!: Bo..<?-rd as ..9: .SVbs_t i tuts:: PlyvlOod of
not less than :3 ply or ~ inch in thicl{ness bonded with water re-
sistant glue, provided tbet surface grain of nlywood runs at right
angles to studding or roof rafters, or fiber board not less than
3/4 inch in thickness may be used in place of wood sheathing or
roof boards. Plywood Bnd fiber board must be applied in accord-
ance with manufacturer's annroved methods, securely nailed to
studding and rafters with coated nails.
12. F?-cir:g or Veneering: Facing of exterior walls shall be
of wood siding; shingles, stucco, brick or other auproved veneer.
-42-
13. Roof Covering: Roof covering of all flat roofs
shall be not less fire resistive than 4 ply built up composition
roof topped with asphalt, slag, gravel or other approved material.
Roof covering of pitched roofs shall be of fire resistive com-
position shingles, built up roofing or ready roofing. Wood
shingles may be used on roofs which are not nearer to a lot line
than 5 feet, if of an annroved vertical grain or edge grain
shingle, having a combined thickness of 5 shingles measured at
the butt of not less than 2 inches and provided that roof is not
less than quarter pitch. Further provided that the weather ex-
posure of the shingles shall not exceed 4 inches for 16 inch
sbing les; 4~ inches for 18 inch shing les; 6~. inches for 24 inch
shing les. Shing les to be securely nailed wi th non-corrodible or
rust resisting nails.
lLl. Fire Staas: In building s of frame construction,
exterior walls, except when the entire stud space is filled with
incombustible material, shall be firestopped at each floor level,
at the roof level in the case of flat roofs and at the foot o~
roof rafters in case of sloping roofs. The fire stops shall be
not less than two inches in thickness and the same width as the
studding and to be either a continuous nlate or fitted tightly
between studding. Interior stud partitions shall have the same
type of firestops at ton and bottom of the partition in each story.
15. L~th 2.1'12: Plast.er Y@l:1.:-Board: All walls and ceiling s
of a domicile, except in unfinished portions of an attic or base-
ment or not otherwise provided for or required, shall be plastered.
16. Plaster shall be ap.olied to metal fiber or plaster
board lath. If fiber or plaster board lath is used all internal
corners or angles of .walls and ceiling s to be reinforced with a
continuous strip of metal lath not less than 4" wide. Plaster
shall be not less than 3/8" in thickness when applied to plaster
or fiber board lath and not less than 1/2" in thickness when
apnlied to metal 13th, excent as otherwise nrovided for or re-
Quired.
1'7. In single and 2 family dwellings, plywood, fiber
or plaster board may be used in ulace of lath and plaster, ex-
ceut where metal lath and -plaster is required as a fire .orotec-
tion as provided for elsewhere, 8.nd provided further that such
board extend to a tight fit agajn::ot the sub floor and ceiling
and that all joints, both vertical and horizontal, be on a 2"
fire stop extending the full thickness of the nartition or joist.
18. Stairways .9~p':'Q In.Q..losJJ,r~ce.: Stai r s and intermediate
landings may be of wood.
19. In the single family dwelling, the prescribed width,
tread, riser and inclosure of stairs need not be followed as 9ro-
vided for in Paragraphs 29 to 35 inclusive, Chapter 6, except that
winders shall be permitted.
20. In two family dwellin~s, the reouired stairs shall
comuly with the provisions of Paragraphs 29 to-55 inclusive, Chap-
ter 6, except that winders shall be :oermitted. The inclosing pa~-
titions of the stairs may be of wood studding with metal Ipth and
plaster on both sides, and further provided that the soffit of
~uch stairs and landin7s are covered with metal lath and plaster.
_L1;S-
21. _gh:tl1ill.~, Flues, Firen12,ces: See Chanter 7.
22. Boiler Room Inclosures: In buildings of frame
construction where the building heating 'olant and fuel storage
is located in an open basement, the entire ceiling and any wood
stud exterior walls shall receive metal lath and nlaster, pro-
vided, however, that where the heating ulant is inclosed in a
room, only the ceiling and partitions of combustible construc-
tion inclosinf" it will require metal lath and -olaster.
23. 1tl1.9cellaneous Requirements: A private garage may
be attached to or be a component part of a buildin~ of frame cun-
struction, provided that all walls and ceiling s of the garage are
covered with metal lath and cement nll'l,ster 3/4 inch in thickness,
and that any door, if of combustible construction, connecting the
garage with any other portion of the buildin~' is protected \.i th a
covering of sheet metal of not less than 20 gauge securely nai~ea
or bolted to it on the garage side.
C. MILL CONSTPrE~TIOlI:
1. The term mill construction shall annlv to all build-
ings in vrhich the exterior walls are of auproved m~sonry (md the
floor and roof construction., columns, etc. are of VJood; doors and
windows, except where normal fire hazards will be increased, may
be of wood or other combustible IDc:terial.
2. Ii'loor and Roof Construction: Wood columns and nost s
shall have a sectional area of not less than 100 souare inches;
girders and joist a sectional area of not less than 72 inches;
VlTOod floors shall be not less than 3~ inches in thickness; v,ood
roofs shall be not less than 2-5/8 inches in a sin~le layer, ex-
cept where the building is equiuoed throughout with an aDnroved
snrinkler system, in which event such roofs shall be not 3-ess than
1-5/8 inches in thickness. Structural steel members may be usea
if fireproofed as required for fireproof construction. Where
metallic lintels are used to sunDort wall onening s,' the fire-
proofing on the underside m8;,T be omitted in case sucY: lintels
are fireuroofed on the other three sides.
3. All structrlral rncmbers be~.ring on masonry walls shall
he securel'v and adeQuately 8.nchored to the walls. All connecGiuns
between wood posts, 'g irde~s, etc. shall be made in a manner con-
forming to generally accepted good practice. Wood post s which are
uart of the structural frame shall be directly super-imposed one
~bove the other with 8nproved steel or cast iron cans at post and
girder connections. All joist on intermediate beams shall be
hung to beams or girders with an 8-ooroved tYDe of illrtBl 'hans;;er.
Any joist, beam or girder bearing in ffi2sonry walls shall receive
a fire cut or bevel and any joist beams or girders bearing upon
a post or column connectjon to be self releasing in the event of
failure by that particular member.
4. .Roof .Lov~ri{1.g: Roof Covering of flat roofs shall be
not less fire resistive than a 4 DIy built up composition roof
tonned with asphalt, slag, gravel or ot'her aDDroved materials.
5. Stairs: Stairs to be of steel or other incombustible
material, provided, however, that if stairways are inclosed wi~h
a fire wall, the stairs may be of wood if all narts, incluaing
- 4 II ,-
floors of landing s are constructed of material not le9 s than bw
inches in thickness.
6. .fj,.:r~ and Other E..eJ::ti t.:Lons: Stairways, corri.dors
formi:rJ,2: part of stairways, vent and elevator shafts, shall be
inclosed with fire nartitions. The inclosinE of elevator and
vent shafts shall be 2 inches solid reinforced plaster parti-
tions continuous from bottom to top of shaft.
7. All other partitions shall be of incombustible
material provided that frClmes, casings, doors, sash and the grounds,
bucks and blocks required for tIle pro'Jer fClstenin?' of such. maJ 0e
of wood or other combustible material and that ordinary window
glass may be used in such doors and partitions.
8. Temporary or tenant partitions within a room or space
not exceeding 5,000 square feet in area and occupied by a single
tenant, may be of wood and glass or other combustible construction.
9. Ji'urriJ}g: Any furrin~ of walls to be of incombustible
ill8teri8l cmd further nrovided that lath is also of incombustible
materi81.
10. E'JL~:::?tons: All ch8 ses or vertical onenin~' s through
floor construction must be firestoDued with not less than 2! inches
of an auuroved incombustible material.
11. Laj:,j} A!l9: p)a_ster: Anyolaster shall be an'olied direct
to brick or tile walls which have been damn proofed or to metal
or nlaster board lath except as otherwise urovided for or required
for fire nrotection.
12. Plaster shall be not less than 3/8" in thickness when
anDlj.ed'to :)laster board oi'lth and not less the.n 1/2" in thickness
when a1r~ljed to 'Nalls or met.p] lC1t:1 excent a~ ot.herV1!j~e nrovided
for or reauired.
13. Windov's ,2ll.9 Door .QnsD}JJ:E:.2: The construction and
m2te-ri 81 rerVJirement::- for certa-i.n doorvvays, windows , exit s in the
walls and fireproof partitions whicb may increase normal fire
hazards shall be subj ect to the apnroval of t.he E:uperint enCient of
Buildin;; s.
It1.QtJ1l11l5::Y~~,Elue..:?, Fir.:~::]2,lac~2.=- See ChaDter 7.
l~. Boiler Room Inclosures: The heating plant. and fuel
storage shall be inclospr3-jn (3 room, the inclosins' w811s of lJi'hich
shall be of aonroved masonry not Ie s s than 8 inches in thiclmess,
and the floor construction above, if of wood, protected by a metal
lath and cement plaster eei line" 1. inch in thicknes;::. Any door
connecting this rOQ<(' vdt1) other narts of the buildin,' ,shall be em
apnroved fire door.
16., l,Iiscellcz)1eous cRe9.'}irem~D.:t..s: A Drivate gara:ze or a
series of nrivate garages may be attached to or be a comnonent nart
of a buiJdinc: of mill ccnstruction, ryrovided th~t the gara9:e or
garages be s~narated frow eac~ ather and divided from ~ny other
Dart of tr]e buildim' by either fire ne:,rtiti.ons or fire vVElls and
tha.t tne ceilina be~ cO~Jered wit1, met81 lc,t:'l clTIO ceme"'lt nlaster not
less tnan 3/d i~ch in t~ickne~s and that any door shall be an
aUDToved fire foor.
_IJ r,.-
D. 3?.&]\H.=.fJo.P1J?J1Q.QE CUNSTPUC'I'I ON:
1. The term semi-fireuroof constructioTI shall apnlv
to all buJldings i?l wr'lch the exterior walls are of a''-:rproved .
masonry, the floor and roof construction and nartitions are in gen-
e~al of incombustible ~ateriAJ, and iron and steel used structu~-
ally is fireproofed with ~etallath and plaster. Floor and trim.
doors and wi~do~s, except where normal fire and exit hazards wili
be increased, ma" be ()f v'ood or ot"h c~ combu"'t ibIe rrtateria 1.
2. Any tyne or nart thereof of a construction as pro-
vided for in firenroof construction shall be accentable for the
same Durnose in semi-firenroof construction.
3. FJ-...9_QJ: .~nqR2..Qf COrl st T'Q,.Q.tJoI}: An)r structural steel
beams used for the sUDoroting of floor or wall construction shall
be firenroofed vJ';_ th not les s than metal latl'l And Dortland cPrrJent
or gypsum plaster 'A/I! i~ch in t'-:ickness. An'\! steel coluYDDS used
for trw SllDOOl'tincr of -PIOOT or "all con:-.tY'l1ct-i n~ ::-1"811 be fire-
--oroofed with concrete? ;ncres 5n t1,..,-irkness or hollo\" c18.\7 tile
not less t1,..,an 2 ~nches in thickness and nlastered with cement or
gy7"Dsu.rn. mortar 1../~? j..ncn in. t-:r'icknes~::',_, or ~,1, J_c7t>-t ClrLd fJ":irns11:n
or- cement D12ste~ ? ;n~hes in t ickne~c.
/I .J 0; ,~t to lle of n~p~c::1st ermcr-ete. ,l1m1or be::Jl;'''' or
onen web steel 40;ct of ;:> ripc-1~~ ~n~ installed as anD~oved by the
~tee] .Tri'; ct Tn:titnte. {In .i,--:~:,t to 'he ;"l':',nrted 'hv 8,'ynroved ITlE50nrV
or 2teeJ ne,r'~: a"-',o col'lmns. ERe1'\ tj er o-fioi ~,t to be securel'i
2ne'-,oT to 1'911 co"'" "l"::LC1,.., t1-H'~' re;:Jr.
aroof
T) 1:=, st er
5. The lndersi~e o~ ctee] jnist 2nd be~ms to he re-
t~ not Je:c tha~ met~l lath Rr~ ':o~t}8nd cement or ayosum
7/11 iY1Cf', in t'''; ck"-'ecc.
G T'he floo~ or ~oof slab shall be o~ re-1nforced concrete
or ,~:r:}5'Fr~~ oouTed or nre-cP2t ,--181'''', not 1ps: than:J, inches in
thickness. If the floor is of the Doured tyne, weld ~iTe rein-
foreLl? vriVi Em attRched n8',e: ~or'~ eN1V be used.
7. PQ.0f .QQvpY>,2DE~: l--:oof' cover.;nC' of' fL)t roofs shall De
nnt less fire resistive t'han 2 I! Dly 'hP~Jt "D cnmnosition roof
ton'lpn ,,"th 8;:n1jalt, slae" , c:~8vel or otr-'cr 8i)'JT'oved lLc,.teri,sl. Foof
coveriDiY of nitrJie0 r00fc-' ('11 l'e ''lot lpcc fi.re resistive t1'18Il
t,ll,p, sl~tE, '-'~:f't~:-;l-, [1,~bp~~tn~ O'!. oth,rr ;:;-~.y,~l(l,r' cn~cl aT1-p~eOVf(1 -;ncorn-
~usti~le m8teT'i~ls.
o
Bt?jY'~: Stairs .tc be of steel concrete
n1at8ri::'1 ~
OT
uthcr
in combllE't i bl e
9. Fire and Other Partltion~: Stairways, corridors
fClrming par't of st2irv'ay, v-ent- and- el-eva tor shaft s Sh,'lll be :in-
closed with fire T)P.rtltions not Ie:,,? th;:m 4 inches in thickne::-.~).
The inclosing of elevstoT' em,l V-2?)t ft '--', ::'hal1 be 2 inche5 solid
reinforced pJ.8.ster P8Tjj ) "}:' (,("(,4 ~ ,~" -Py.' l~cttDlIl to ten of
~.l~ cl. ft ~
10. AJJ otl~cy?:n.t'Ltjons shall te c.f incembu,ccti[':,}e lI,?tPl1.
_.:" "1.1" ''1'1r;'''~ J.,. ::1, +- ". <" -t, -f'~. ~ '--,' ." r".'" .~.,.. ',1 c r1 n '!']<H' C ~ c,}-, 21^;1 t b r-~ y n 11 I1 c'! c
..L'. I,;;' _ : J ...- ;.__~ ,:..,. . ..., ,,,'.I'...L.., ..... C ,-,.I.!. -.' .J.,J.\.," ..L_ .-, <.-;: -' --'., . - ... ,
bucks 2Td tlocks reQuirer! -Per tlcc prc'Icr fc ~:teni.n~~ of :=:nc" L'8Y
of vcod or other c'=''lllbu:=:tihle '"cC.teri.c:l c:YlCl th,"'t crear:;:.,r:' 11 5nc!oy,
-<~c -
gla~s may be used in such oI's and uartitions. ~ood stu6 Dar-
tit.:,ons covered on ['otf' sIdES viitt em HDoroved DIaster board
and 3/6 inch of nlaster or metal 12th and 1/2 i~ch of olaster
will be accepted as Rn incombustible partition but not as a
fire Dart i ticm.
11. FUIT..1.ng: An;.' fur:r-hl[': v 13 oY'0rrtitions u~Ec3, to e
of i,ncc'1':bust1 bJ E rI:::::,ter'j; 1 ;::,nG furtlHT DrcviJieci thc,t lath IS blso
of incombu~titJ8 rcr'teri~: .
J~) . JJ..e\IJ; .2.P.9_ EJA.s.t r:1': ALl v"r-!.1:! s an (I c e i] ir"c: s of 1:1. d omt c jJ e
exeent in 1.'rf-'Y1l,~:1~ecl DOl'.tIors "f'cor 8ttjJ' nr b8SPTcnt or rot
otherwise Drovided for or rea -ireo. s~811 he ~laotprec.
1Z. Any DJaster s~al] be aD~]ied direct to ~rick or tile
wal i ~ wbicr have teen dcc1T"'') nro():feCl or tr' t'etel} oY'!12stt'T 1--;0;:,1'6
lcth E'yeEQt c:'", otr'iCTv.j ~e DrOVjcIEC) for OT rEcniT'eeJ for firE ~)ro-
t ecti "T.
J/. Plaster stall be not lese than 7/P" jn t~tcknEP~ en
2D~lte~ to D12ster boar~ lrth 2nd rot leps then l/f" in thick-
ness \':1:pn a'T01:ied to FE;"ll P nr Fete'] l..,t1-, eXCE1,t (' s otlr:;crv'-i c:e nT'O-
vi0ed :fer or reaujrc~.
J~. .f)}',cftcDS: /11-1 e'~ICc<: nr vrrt-icc,l, c"en-ir:"c t"'''''Ol1gh
fl nr.r CCf'c.tr"ct-i ('Y'. ?T "'t h:::. f':"',c: "t,nr\(::(l v-it" l~:ot 1 c,r<(' tri"D ?\' -inc}'iss
nf PY; 2Q'lrOV(f] in('C'l"l-l'stible r;p'ter-'e1.
1.G. 1H 00'::::'::: i'.I',c1 Do,C'~~ 0 'i P1"' -i " S : 1';(' p c e'f' :" t 1"1) ct -i OD 3Y1(i Yf); t (01" 'I [r 1
rpc :i.reF.cnt,- f'nr cert8-in coorvTyr~, V'YlroV''', ezitr< -in t1-,( "el'10:' end
fjrPDJ'onf na.,..,t-',tioDS V'1:-ic'''''"pvincre~':='e rorY"1,p1 fire or ex-it hB7f-lr0~'.
;::1-a11 }-'.p C'11r'-;e"t. tn t1-r ~l"nrc,u,',1 cf' t'o ;:",,)"y,; e'~(ipnt of Pl1-il('i-in"s.
VI'
Cl-,-iy"r,pv:c' H'111p,,',}i'i renlace::.::
---_.--- ._-----) -_... ._. -_.. " .~-,;-:"-_._~,-._" ~ ..."" ~. ..
Pep C'" 8 D t f' y, '(.
18. Boi] pnom Tnc'n
_.. .-..--- ---..---.......
~toraFe shall be 1n"102P0 -if'
::+a'l J be of' ~,-"lno\7ec ~'('0rY"T
~r~: T e ~PHtir nlFY't and f'uel
i roop. thp inc'o:=,in ~F'l,C' oP vhicb
Y" (', t. }. f ("" r' t 1,. 1 r) 1'-' 0 -t n ~ 11 e s i -r tn. -1 e 1~Y! FJ ::- ~~ ,
8nrl ViE: floor cun".truct-':r;n if' of ;::tf"pl
MPta] ]~th errl ce~ent nlacter cp~~~no 1
'j cd ,.t
i n('h
be uroteet hv a
~J' V,.,i. C )Tn f- ~ ;' .
19. eel aneo r
,.- ... ~ -.
2er:lE~~ (IT 7)T~_V8tp ,VPTP,r:-c:, ~"";::~~r
p~ A nr-iVAte 081'878 c~ p
;:d:t"('1-C(:: +0 or hI'; ;:1 C'II'^nOrert
n,~ 'Yit., () f' ::-., 0Y~'" ~ ._ f~t. T' (-' i'")Y'C c"f (~(-:~ t ....1) ct ~. ,r\1'3. "~l> n"'/ 'J d r_-. rl +."h;: t t> (-' ,',' 8!' c~ C' e 0 r
0'8r0.C'f~ be ~pY1;:!ret.P('1 f'rnr EeC'- ..+1--,(1" ;:'YJ' ;'-i,rj(tE(~: f'rOF CJY'," othey. rlp1~t
of V"P 1,,'i10'~-rT' ~v r-'t,rrr P-i1opnr'T'tit-inrr< or f~1"p VFll C' cirei tr'~t
tte ce~]i ~e covered ~-'th ~etc] 12th;:n rement Dlp~ter not ]es~
th,Tll 7/1' inch ill ty,-iel-<:npP~. Pl'(~ trl;:t ;:iny rioor :,'1181= 1-8 ~'r B",!0roved
:fjl"( 00Cir.
2n Fvery d0QiciJe -in an aDFTtMEnt 1-u-iloino of ~e~i-f'ire-
uroof con~truct~or stall ~e ~pnRrRt(Od fro~ ever~ other 2Dartment,
stairy,ay or reO'1~T'eO Cor1"lCiOr t"', eii)iET' ('1 fire n~-rt4tl(JY1 Of' LI
lY1chef iYi th-i(::;;-npf:, vh-ich -C'C'u-onortpo b;-i fircoroofec :=-tpE'1 r'PeD:='
2TO co ;' fit encl1 ft.OY"i, or ~, Pirf ,Fell,.
21 The n~rtitions of C'leED~rF rooms tn a hote1 or offices
ill 8 b')2ir~e~':c bllil(:-iYiC' of q:'"i~f'-ire'(':T'''nf' c(mctrl1etion 'fl"8,r be of ccy(\-
b'J,..t-ib1p con;:truc;t'~,OC exceTlt tr-:(,t '081"tjtj()1:;' divjc,inc :=-uch room~'
or offi.cPf fro": R ,ftRin,rf)"I" or P reC"'irpci co]'y'ioo1" ~1-'a'l l-Ip E f'ire
..P7.,
partition 2nd further nTovi.fed that there ~ball be a fi~e nartition
dividirlP" ever~T 2 rooms or offices.
22. Partitions divlc;in:" ~to:ies in bu-ilc:irrs of ~emi-
fireproof construction shall be either a firenroof nartition 4
inches in thickness or 2. fire vi8l1.
23. Fver~ o0micile shall have two ~pans of exit, uro-
vided, however, t~at domiciles hav~np- not more than 3 habitable
rooms may have one exit 0001' if opening on to a corridor having
tt:e same enclosure as reo1dred for E;tairv;ays ;:;nd further pro- .
vtded thnt such corric' or shall lead direct 1;.' to ho ste.t riH3Ys
as provided for elsev'here under tl'i s construction.
E. EJF?}PJi.9_()I _C.OcW:_TPlT5~';f'.T.QN:
1. The term fireproof conrtruction shall annlv to
b11i Id i Dr' S in which 3.11 of i b' ma,j or part s are of incornbust i ble
material (md 811 structural and reinforcing steel fireproofed.
Floors, trim, doors ane! wind ov"~:, except ere norm2l fire or
exit hazards will be increased. may be of wood or other combus-
ti ble materic:l ~
2. Reinforced concrete as nrovided for in t~i~ chap-
ter sh8ll be considered a~ firenroof con~truction.
3. YJ".9_QX ..?.D9 :fLo_o:f ~.on ~'tL~lc_tjS)D: StrvcturC11 steel col-
nnms, if u::ced, to be fireproofed y,:ith not less them;?: inches in
thickness 1.f of' clEY or shale tile. bric"': com'rete bJocl-;:s,
gyusum, terra cotta or stone. Structural girders and beBITs,
if used, to be fireproofed with not less than 2 inches in thick-
ness of concrete or shale tile, tynsum or cement mo~tar on
metal lath, provided, however, th~t steel Jintels over onenings
less trum 4 feet "Fide do not Teoll,irE firenroofinr-.
4. The firenroofiw' of steel trus:=,es or girders sup-
po-rtir:g on1~7 roof' an..cl ~E'i 1 tn.f~ IoprJs v.T}-~icl, c,t t~l_e 1ov'"er cord "if
at le;:; st ~5 feet above t1, e floo}~., 'T1'lV be 0f ynetp.l l"th hY1.0
gypsl1m or portland cErrent nlnster 3/4 inch in th~ckness.
5. Roof and Floor construction to be of hollov tile,
gypsum or reinforced concrete. Any steel re~.nforc:ir.g used in
the floor construction shall have firenroofing of not less than
. one inch in tLickness. Floor construction s1:all be n~t les;~
than 4 inches and roof construction not less than 2 inches in
th 1. ckne s ~ .
6 . Roof ~ovg_:rir~: Roof coverj ng of f18.t roofs shall
be not less fire resistive than a 4 ply built up composition ro~
tonned with asuhaJ.t, ~lag, gravel or other annroved material.
Roof cover-in~ of ntiched roof~ ~~aJl be not less fire resistive
than tiJ.e, slate, rretal, asbestos or ot~er sirrilar and annroved
incombustible materials.
7. Stairs: Stairs to be of' steel concrete or other in-
COYllbl10t:i,111e 'maferT81..
e:~ FirE a.Y10 Oth.pr .:pa.:r:t:l_t_1-9D.S: Stairv\;a:l~~ corridors
formj nr' part--c;Y- Sl~C1-j r~l'a\;2-:' VEnt Hnd el evator shaft s st:all be in-
closed with fire partitions not less than 4 inches in thickness.
_IIP._
9. All other partitions shall be constructed of incom-
bustible materiel -provided that frmc:es:, casin s, doors, sash
and the grounds, bucks and blocks required for the proper fas-
tening of such may be of wood or other combustible material ana
that ordinRry window ~lass may be used in such doors and parti-
t ion s .
10. Temporary tenant partitions within a room or space
not exceeding 5,000 square feet in area and occupied by a single
tenant may be of wood and RIass or other combu~tible construction.
11. Fl!Il'ir.<:r: Any furriY'F of Tall s or -oartit ions usea
to be of incombustible material and provided thAt Ipth is also
of incomhustible material.
]? Fire-st..Qj): AI] chases or verti cal opening s tllTough
floor construction must be firestoymed V;jt}-i not less thc:m 2; inches
of an approved incombustjble material.
13. L~th and EJHster: All vra.lls and ce:Uinr-s of a dom-
icile, except in unfinished portions of an attic or basement or
not otherwise nrovi~ed for or reo~ired. shall be nlastered.
l,j. Any plaster ;::h81] be auplied direct to brick or tile
\!;alls wnich have been drJrrp..-uroofed or to n::etal or nl2.ster bOCird
lath, except as otherwi~e nrovided for or rea~ired for fire uro-
tecti 01'.
15. Plaster shall be not le~3s thc:m ZJ8f1 in thickness
V'Jhen a Dolied to olast er board ID.th c:md not Ie s s than 1/2" j n
thicknes,s when au,,::,'_:ied to wall ~ or r.r.et21 12th ~ exceut 2.8 other-
wise provided for or re0uired.
16. VVilJ..dovvs .9nd ];)901: _Q.J2.~.D..tDb_$_: The construction c:md
materia.l reo'lirements for certcdr doorvrays, viinomF~', exits in the
walls and fireproof nartitions which may increase norma]. fire
or exit hazards shall be su~ject to the a~uroval of the Suner-
intendent of BuiJdi~-r.
17. Chimne~, 1:].ue3, Jirepla.c8..f: See Chapter 7.
18. Boiler Room Enclosures: The heating nlant and fuel
storage shall be iiicl~osed in 8-roon,,; the inclosin,g vralls of which
shall be of a-ouroved r:l,ssonry not 1c28 them 8 inches in thickness.
Any door connecting this room '~ith other Darts of the building.
shaD be an apuroved fire door.
19. Miscellaneous Reouirements: A private garage or
series of pri vategarag-e-s- ma-i;-'be---a-ft-a-ci~ed to or be a comDonent
part of B building of firenroof construction, provided that the
garage or garages be separated from eacll other 8nd divided from
any other part of the building by either fire partitions or fire
~!!allE: and that any door snaIl be an apY)roved fire door.
20. Every domicile in an apartment building of fireproof
construction shall be separated from every other apartment, stair-
way or required corridor by a fire partition of 4 inches in thick-
ne~s.
21. Every domicile ~tall have two mEans of exit, provic.ec5,
however, that domiciles having not more than three habitable rooms
-tl9--
may have one exit door if ouening on to a corridor having the
same enclosure as required for stairways and further -orovided thc:t
such corridor shall lead directly to two stairways as provided for
else~~ere under this construction.
CHj\PTBR 10,.
PENALTY H'UF VIOLATIONf;.
1. Any person Ii/no shall vio12.te any nrovi:::lion of this
code or fails to comply with any of the requirements thereof, or
who shall erect, con:?truct, alter or rep8ir a building or struc-
ture in violation thereof, shall be guilty of misdemeanor pun-
i.shable by a fire of not less than $'25.00 and not more than
$200.00, and each day such violation is nermitted to exist shaJl
constitute a separate offense.
2. The imnosition of the penalties herein prescribed
shall not preclude the Village Attorney from instituting an apnro-
priate action or nroceeding to prevent an unlawful erection,
construction, reconstructi on, aIt eratfon" repair, conversion,
maintenance or use or to restrain, correct or abate a violation,
or to prevent the occupancy of a building, structure or premises,
or to nrevent an illegal act, conduct, business or use in or
about any premises.
APPROVED:
_~~,E~---.------
President of the Village Board of
Mount Prospect, Illinois.
ATTEST:
8~
Clerk-'o-rthe Village- of ~ -mJ:n~Prospe-ct-~
Illinois.
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