USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Chelmsford > Town annual report of Chelmsford 1950 > Part 5
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Garage.
An accessory building in which motor vehicles are kept, housed, or repaired. The term motor vehicle as used here applies to automobiles, trucks and buses, but does not include motorized farm machinery, such as tractors, cultivators, etc.
Grade.
The average level of that part of the ground within four feet of the foundation wall.
Habitable Room.
A habitable room means a room occupied by one or more persons for living, eating or sleeping, and includes kitchens, serving apart- ments, or individual households, but does not include bathrooms, toilets,
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compartments, laundries, serving and storage pantries, corridors, base- ment and other spaces that are not used frequently or during extended periods.
Height.
In feet, is the vertical distance from grade to the mean or aver- age height of the roof or gable; in stories, does not include cellars, basements, or attics not occupied for habitable living quarters.
Multifamily House.
A multifamily house means a building occupied as the home or residence of individuals, families or households living independently of each other, of which three or more are doing cooking within their apartments; including tenement house, apartment house, flat.
Outbuilding.
Shed, henhouse, etc.
Prefabricated.
Prefabricated means composed of sections or panels fabricated prior to erection on the building foundation.
Reinforced Concrete.
A uniformly mixed composition of screened gravel, stone, or other aggregate. with sand, Portland cement and water, in approved propor- tions and reinforced with embedded steel for increased strength.
Repairs.
Replacement or removal of any part of a building or change there- in which does not affect the construction or involve the erection of bearing or exterior walls, roof, chimneys or stairways, does not remove or cut any supporting beams or support thereof and does not violate any requirement of these building laws.
Solid Masonry.
Solid masonry means masonry consisting of solid masonry units laid contiguously with the joints between units filled with mortar, or consisting of plain concrete.
Story of a Building.
The section of a building between the floor (or top of the floor beams) and the floor (or top of the floor or roof beams) next above. A mezzanine between stories shall count as a story when it exceeds 25% of the area of the floor immediately below.
Street.
A street as the term is used in these building laws shall include all public ways and all private ways commonly used by the public.
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Wall, Veneered.
A veneered wall means a wall having masonry facing which is attached to the backing but not so bonded as to exert common action under load.
Wood Frame Building.
A building or structure, the exterior walls of which are constructed of wood, or wood covered with metal, or veneered with brick, stone, or cement.
ARTICLE V Classification of Construction
Section 1. Types designated. For the purpose of this code, con- struction as used in buildings shall be classified as follows:
(a) Fireproof Construction
(b) Semifireproof Construction
(c) Heavy Timber Construction
(d) Ordinary Construction
(e) Noncombustible Construction
(f) Wood Frame Construction
(g) Unprotected Metal Construction
Fireproof, Semifireproof and Heavy Timber Construction
Section 2. Fireproof, semifireproof and heavy timber construction shall conform to generally accepted good practice.
Ordinary Construction
Definition.
Ordinary construction, as applied to buildings, means that in which exterior walls and bearing walls are of masonry or of reinforced con- crete, and in which the structural members, including columns, floors and roof construction, are wholly or partly of wood of smaller dimen- sions than required for heavy timber construction, or of steel or iron not protected as required for semifireproof construction.
Noncombustible Construction
Definition.
Noncombustible construction, as applied to buildings, means that in which all structural members, including floors, roofs and their sup- ports, are of steel, iron, concrete, or of other noncombustible materials, and in which the exterior walls are of noncombustible construction having a fire resistance rating of not less than two hours.
Wood Frame Construction
Definition.
Wood frame construction, as applied to buildings, means that in which walls and interior construction are wholly or partly of wood.
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK
Unprotected Metal Construction
Definition.
Unprotected metal construction, as applied to buildings, means that in which the structural supports are unprotected metal and in which floors and roofs are of noncombustible construction, and the exterior walls are of noncombustible construction having a fire re- sistance rating of not less than 2 hours.
ARTICLE VI Windows and Ventilation
Section 1. All habitable rooms shall have one or more outside windows, and the aggregate glass area shall not be less than 4% of the floor area of the room served by them.
NOTE: See definition of Habitable Room on Page 61 under the heading of definitions.
Section 2. All rooms, other than habitable rooms, (except storage rooms, corridors, basement and other spaces not used frequently or for extended periods), shall be provided with one or more windows or ventilating skylights opening directly to the outside air and light, or such rooms shall be provided with an approved means of mechanical ventilation.
Bathrooms and toilets shall have an outside window of not less than three square feet of glass area, or shall be provided with an ap- proved means of mechanical ventilation.
Section 3. Every dwelling shall have at least two means of egress.
ARTICLE VII
Use of New Materials and New Methods of Construction
Section 1. New materials, methods of construction, devices and equipment may be approved by the Building Inspector for use in build- ings, if they are proved to be the equivalent of those required by this code, or he may adopt the recommendations of the Board of Standards in the Massachusetts Department of Public Safety.
An equivalent material, appliance, method of construction or maintenance, having once been approved by the Building Inspector, may thereafter be permitted without further specific approval.
The Building Inspector may accept duly authenticated reports from recognized sources in respect to the use of new materials or methods of construction and the applicable specifications and standards of ac- cepted engineering practice insofar as they conform to the requirements of this code. Recognized sources of such duly authenticated reports in
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK
respect to the use of new materials or methods of construction shall be those listed in Appendix A and Appendix B of the Basic Principles of Building Construction by the Board of Standards, Department of Public Safety, Commonwealth of Massachusetts. New materials and new methods of construction as referred to above shall include pre- fabricated assemblies.
ARTICLE VIII Footings and Foundations
Section 1. All buildings and structures shall have foundation walls, piers, piles, continuous slabs or other approved foundations which shall be designed to resist frost action or shall be founded on bed rock. All footings shall be designed to distribute the load as nearly uniformly as practicable.
Satisfactory bearing material for footings and foundations are as follows,-
Undisturbed ledge rock, natural deposits of coarse or medium sand, gravel or dry clay, or a combination of such materials, if the layers below are not of objectionable material of little bearing value.
All foundation walls shall have a footing which shall bear on un- disturbed soil and be designed to distribute sufficiently the super-im- posed load to the particular type of soil upon which they bear. Where soil conditions prevent sharp cut trenches for footings, side forms shall be used. All footings shall be of poured portland cement concrete of 1-3-5 (one-three-five) mixture, or better.
(a) Under all foundation walls of all wood frame buildings not ex- ceeding two stories, and also one story masonry buildings; thick- ness (S) eight inches; projection (4) four inches on each side of the wall.
(b) Under foundation walls of masonry buildings more than one story in height; thickness (12) twelve inches; projection (6) six inches on each side of the wall, or the footing may be the same as re- quired in paragraph (a) above, if reinforced with not less than two 5/8 inch bars continuous in footing and spaced not to exceed (S) eight inches.
(c) Under masonry piers; thickness (12) twelve inches, projection each side (6) six inches minimum, area four square feet.
(d) Under posts and columns; thickness (12) twelve inches mini- mum, area four square feet.
(e) Under chimneys for one story buildings; thickness (8) eight inches, projection on all sides (4) four inches.
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK
(f) Under chimneys for buildings of more than one story; thickness (12) twelve inches; projection on all sides (6) six inches.
All footings shall be adequately reinforced where they cross and bear on filled trenches or other similar disturbed soil conditions. Modification of footing requirements may be made if approved by the Building Inspector.
Foundation Walls
Section 2. All dwellings must have a foundation wall which ex- tends (42) forty-two inches below the finished grade. Foundation walls if of poured concrete shall be not less than (16) sixteen inches in thickness for fireproof, semifireproof, and heavy timber buildings, and not less than (12) twelve inches for masonry, or masonry veneered buildings, and not less than (8) eight inches in thickness for ordinary, or wood frame buildings, not exceeding two stories, and also for one story masonry buildings.
Foundation walls if of stone shall be not less than (16) sixteen inches in thickness.
Hollow, or Solid Masonry, and Plain Concrete
When not more than (6) six feet deep, masonry walls shall be not less than (8) eight inches thick; and when more than (6) six feet below grade, not less than (12) twelve inches thick. Foundation walls of approved hollow masonry units shall be provided with not less than (4) four inches of solid masonry at girder bearings, or shall be strengthened with buttresses.
In no case shall the foundation wall be less in thickness than the wall supported.
Foundation walls supporting wood frame construction shall extend not less than (8) eight inches above the outside finished grade.
ARTICLE IX Chimneys and Chimney Flues
Section 1. No chimney flues shall be less than 64 square iuches in area for heating plants, nor less than 96 square inches for fireplaces. Circular flues of same effective area may be used.
All chimney flues shall have walls of brick, stone, or solid cast concrete, or concrete blocks not less than (4) four inches in thickness and shall be lined throughout with fireclay linings or (8) eight inch walls plastered inside and outside in place of flue linings. All chin- neys must have concrete foundations not less than (8) inches in thick- ness. Chimneys of other than masonry construction shall not be con-
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK
structed except by special written permission of the Building Inspec- tor. Every chimney shall be equipped with a cleanout door near the base of the chimney.
Not more than two flues (2) shall be enclosed in a single chimney unless separated by not less than (4) four inches of masonry or re- inforced concrete bonded into the chimney walls. When not so sep- arated the bed joints of the flue linings shall be staggered not less than (7) seven inches.
Chimneys shall be capped with concrete, terra cotta tile or other approved incombustible and weatherproof materials.
All wood floor and roof framings and all other combustible mate- rial must be kept at least two inches away from the chimney and fire- place masonry. In no case shall wood framing members bear on the masonry of chimneys except on piers which are built integral with the chimney masonry. Spaces between chimney and framing material must be fire-stopped by filling with non-combustible material.
ARTICLE X Lumber or Wood Construction Sills Grades and Sizes
Section 1. All lumber and timber used in load bearing members shall be at least equal in quality to No. 2 Common and of nominal sizes.
Sills shall be not less than (3x6) three by six inches when laid flat on a solid foundation bearing; for a boxed sill, not less than the size of the floor joists, and over openings or piers shall be designed for their imposed loads.
Girders or Carrying Timbers
Girders or carrying timbers shall be not less than (6x8) six by eight inches if of built-up or of solid wood. If of structural steel they must be of sufficient size to carry all live and dead loads. All joints shall be made over piers or column supports. The maximum clear span for (6x8) six by eight wood girders shall be eight feet for one story dwellings and seven feet for one and one-half story dwellings. The maximum clear span for structural steel girders shall be deter- mined from tables supplied by a competent structural or civil engineer.
Floor Joists
For maximum allowable spans for floor joists in dwellings, see Table 1 in the Appendix.
Where floor joists frame into the side of wood girders or sills, the joists shall be supported on metal joist hangers or on a bearing
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK
or spiking strip on the side of girders. Size of strip shall be not less than (2x3) two by three inches. The joists must also be spiked to the girder.
Floor joists shall be doubled under all partitions which run pa- rallel to the floor joists and at all stair and fireplace openings.
All stair and fireplace openings to be doubleheaded.
Floor and flat roof joists shall be cross-bridged with one line of bridging for every eight feet of span, and with not less than 1 x 3 wood, or approved metal bridging, or may be solid blocked the size of the joists.
Ends of floor joists framing into masonry walls shall have not less than a (4") four inch bearings and shall have at least a 3" bevel or fire cut.
Studding
All ouside wall and carrying partitions must be of (2x4) two by four studding set on (16) sixteen inch centers.
Plates on all outside and bearing partitions must be doubled.
All door, window and other openings must have studs doubled on the jambs.
Lintel or headers over all openings shall be doubled.
Span for lintel or header shall not exceed the following for size given :-
two (2" x 4")-not more than 4 feet two (2" x 6")-not more than 512 feet two (2" x 8")-not more than 7 feet span of (7) seven feet-not less than two (2" x 10")
.
Trussed construction may be used in place of lintel.
Ceiling Joists
For spans and spacings of ceiling joists see Table 2 in Appendix.
Where the attic space above ceiling joists is unfinished, but is usable for storage space, or if the space is suitable for finishing into future habitable rooms, the spans for ceiling joists shall be the same as for floor joists. An access opening not less than 18" by 18" must be provided for every unfinished attic space.
Roof Rafters
The clear span for roof rafters shall mean the distance measured horizontally from plate to a point directly beneath the ridge. The actual rafter length will depend on the roof slope and must be deter- mined accordingly.
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK
Spacing and spans for roof rafters on slopes less than 5 to 12 inches shall be the same as for floor joists.
For spacing and span for roof rafters for all roofs with slopes of more than 5 to 12 inches, see Appendix, Table 3.
Collar beams must be used on every second rafter where spans exceed those in above table.
All openings in roof construction for dormer windows which are not supported on partitions shall be framed with double rafters and headers.
Requirements for headers and trimmers for roof framing around chimneys shall be the same as required for floors except that for a sloping roof where headers are less than four feet in length and the chimney is either at the ridge or the eaves, the trimmers may be single.
All roof rafters shall bear on the full width of the plate.
Bracing
Section 2. Wood wall sheathing when laid diagonally on exterior walls shall be applied at approximately 45 degrees and extend in op- posite directions on each side adjoining at the corner, and corner bracing will not be required.
All corner posts shall be the equivalent of not less than three (3) two by four (2x4) inch studs braced by not less than one (1) one by four (1x4) inch diagonal braces cut into the studs or by equivalent construction satisfactory to the building inspector.
Studs in exterior wood frame walls may run from sill to roof plate provided they do not exceed 20 foot continuous lengths without splicing.
When openings occur near the corners, one by four (1x4) inch knee braces let into the face of the studs shall be installed above and below the openings at approximately 45 degrees extending across not less than three (3) stud spaces.
Floor joists which do not bear on a wall or plate shall be spiked to the studs and be supported on a one by four (1x4) ribbon let into the inside face of the studs and spiked thereto.
Joists bearing on ledger boards shall be securely nailed to face of studs.
Where studs exceed 20 feet in length a double plate shall be installed continuous at the second floor level.
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK
Fire Stops
Section 3. Wood or other fire stops must be installed between each story of all single residences.
Wood or other fire stops must be installed in all stairs between stringers.
Masonry fireproofing must be installed in all walls or stairways of apartment buildings.
Wood or other fire stops must be installed in top and bottom of all partitions in stair walls of two family buildings.
Permit for Lathing
Section 4. No wall or ceiling of any building shall be lathed or otherwise covered, until the Building Inspector has been notified in writing that the building is ready for this work, and until he has given written consent for said work to continue. The Building Inspector shall act on such notice within forty-eight hours of receipt of the same, not including Sundays and Holidays.
Attached garages shall be wire lathed and plastered on the ceil- ing and on all walls common with the main building.
Outside Walls
Section 5. All outside walls of dwellings must be covered with one or more of the following materials :-
Wood shingles or siding, exterior plywood, asbestos shingles or asbestos cement boards, protected combustible siding, brick masonry or stone veneers, vitreous tile, metal siding, stucco or exterior plaster, or other approved weather resisting material satisfactory to the Building Inspector.
ARTICLE XI
Fireproof, Semifireproof and Heavy Timber Construction
Section 1. The application for a permit to build a building of other than ordinary wood frame or masonry construction must be accompanied by properly certified engineering data in regard to strength, durability of materials and methods of construction to be used.
If the Building Inspector after careful study determines that the materials and methods of construction of the building will be safe and durable, and will not impair the safety of the neighborhood where lo- cated, or be injurious to the locality, he shall issue a permit for the construction of said building.
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK
Section 2. The Building Inspector may at his discretion make exceptions in the case of outbuildings and accessory buildings.
ARTICLE XII
Section 1. The invalidity of any section or provision of this Building Code shall not invalidate other sections or provisions of said code.
Substitution for the Present Building Code
Section 2. This Building Code shall be considered a substitition for the present Building Code of the Town of Chelmsford. The present Building Code is hereby repealed, and the above new Building Code is hereby adopted, and said new code shall go into effect upon approval by the Attorney General.
APPENDIX
Table 1
Minimum Allowable Spans for Floor Joists in Dwellings
Nominal Size
c to c spacing in inches
Douglas Fir Sou. Pine 10' 5"
West Coast Hemlock
Est. Spruce Est. Hemlock
All other Species
2" x 6"
12
9'
1"
9' 1"
8'
3"
7' 6"
2" x 8"
12
13' 10"
13' 6"
12'
6"
12' 0"
16
12'
1"
12' 1"
10' 11"
10' 0"
3" x 8"
12
16'
4"
15' 7"
14' 10"
13' 6"
16
14' 11"
14' 4"
13'
7"
12' 0"
2" x 10"
12
17'
5"
17' 0"
15' 9"
15' 0"
16
15'
2"
15' 2"
13' 9"
12' 6"
3" x 10"
12
20'
6"
19' 7"
18'
7"
16' 0"
16
18' 10"
18' 0"
17'
1"
14' 6"
2" x 14"
12
20' 11"
20' 5"
18' 11"
18' 0"
16
18' 3"
18' 3"
16'
7"
15' 0"
Table 2.
Ceiling Joists Spans and Spacings of Ceiling Joists (Maximum clear span)
Trade Size
Spacing c to c
Western Fir, Hemlock, So. Yellow Pine, Hardwood
Eastern Spruce & Hemlock
All other Softwoods
2 × 4
16
10' 0"
9'
8"
8' 7"
12
11' 0"
10'
6"
9' 4"
2 × 6
16
15' 4"
14'
8"
13' 3"
12
16' 7"
15' 10"
14' 2"
2 × 8
16
20' 2"
19'
3"
17' 2"
12
21' 8"
20'
0"
18' 6"
10' 2"
9'
6"
9' 0"
16
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK
Table 3.
Roof Rafters Roof rafters must be as follows for all roofs of a slope of more than 5 to 12 inches. (Maximum clear span).
Trade
Spacing c to c
Western Fir, Hemlock, So. Yellow Pine, Hardwood
Eastern Spruce & Hemlock
All other Softwoods
Size
2 × 4
20
7' 3"
6' 7"
5' 6"
16
8' 1"
7'
4"
6' 2"
12
9' 4"
8'
6"
7' 2"
2 × 6
20
11' 4"
10'
5"
S' 8"
16
12' 6"
11'
5"
9' 6"
12
14' 2"
13'
1"
11' 0"
2 × 8
20
15' 2"
13'
S"
11' 6"
16
16' 7"
15'
3"
12' 1"
12
18' 4"
16'
7"
14' 3"
Any other material or sizes not included in above tables to be approved by the Building Inspector in writing.
ARTICLE 2: To see if the Town will vote to repeal paragraphs (3) and (5) in sub-division (h) of Section 8 of the Zoning By-Laws, and in place thereof adopt the following new paragraph (3) in sub- division (h) of Section 8, said new paargraph to read as follows :-
Paragraph (3), sub-division (h), Section 8
Unattached garages may be located in the side yard up to the front line of the main part of the house, but no part of the garage shall be nearer than ten feet to the side line of the lot if the garage is located in the side yard. In case of corner lots the garage must be located in the side yard or the rear yard, so that said garage will not extend beyond the set-back line of either street. If the garage is lo- cated wholly in the rear yard it cannot be nearer than three feet to the boundary lines of the lot, the distance to be measured from the boundary line to the nearest part of the garage.
ARTICLE 3: To see if the Town will vote to accept a portion of Priscilla Avenue as laid out by the Board of Selectmen and shown by their report and plan duly filed in the office of the Town Clerk; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 4: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Seven Hundred Fifty ($750.00) Dollars for the purpose of reconstructing a portion of Priscilla Avenue; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 5: To see if the Town will vote to accept a portion of Donald Avenue as laid out by the Board of Selectmen and shown by
-
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK
their report and plan duly filed in the office of the Town Clerk; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 6: To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Fifty ($50.00) Dollars for the purpose of reconstructing a portion of Donald Avenue; or act in relation thereto.
AND YOU ARE DIRECTED to serve this Warrant by posting attested copies thereof at the Post Offices in the Center of the Town, South Chelmsford, North Chelmsford, and West Chelmsford, and at the School House in East Chelmsford and the Westlands School House, seven days at least before the time appointed for holding the meeting aforesaid.
HEREOF FAIL NOT, and make return of the Warrant with your doings thereon to the Town Clerk at the time and place of holding this meeting aforesaid.
Given under our hands this third day of April, in the year of our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Fifty.
CARL A. E. PETERSON, ARNAUD R. BLACKADAR, Selectmen of Chelmsford.
Middlesex, ss.
I have served this Warrant by posting attested copies at the Post Offices in the Center of the Town, South Chelmsford, North Chelmsford and West Chelmsford, and at the School House in East Chelmsford, and at the Westlands School, Westlands seven days at least before the time appointed for holding the meeting aforesaid.'
LAWRENCE W. CHUTE,
April 3, 1950
Constable of Chelmsford
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REPORT OF THE TOWN CLERK
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING April 10th, 1950
At a Special Town Meeting held in the Upper Town Hall at Chelms- ford Centre on April 10, 1950 at 7:30 P. M. the following business was transacted, the Moderator called the meeting to order at 7:30 P. M. and requested Town Clerk, Harold C. Petterson to read the Warrant; after the Warrant was partly read on a motion made by Carl A. E. Peterson, it was voted to waive the further reading of the Warrant.
UNDER ARTICLE 1: On a motion made by Clifford Hartley, it was voted to amend the Building Code By-Laws by striking out the present Building Code and substituting in place thereof as the New Building Code, the Building Code as published in the Warrant, with the following changes in the printed copy :-
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