USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Medfield > Town annual reports of Medfield 1950-1954 > Part 14
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a record of all violations of this By-Law, with the name of the owner, occupant, architect, and master mechanic, and of any other matters pertinent thereto.
He shall grant permits for such erection or alteration, when the plans and detailed descriptions are in conformity with the Zoning By-Laws of the Town of Medfield and the laws of the Commonwealth. The permits are to be displayed in a conspicuous place on the premises.
It shall be the duty of the Inspector to approve or reject any plans filed with him, within ten days, but the Selectmen may in special cases extend this time as seems to them to be demanded by the public interest. No work of any descrip- tion including excavation for the cellar or basement or for foundations, shall be commenced until a permit is issued.
No oversight or neglect of duty on the part of the Build- ing Inspector or his subordinates shall legalize the erection, construction, alteration or repair of any building or structure in a manner not in conformity with the provisions of the By-Law.
APPEAL
Section 7. There shall be a Board of Appeals of three members and one associate member appointed as provided in Section 30 of Chapter 40 of the General Laws, as amended. The procedure of the Board and the process of appeal shall conform so far as may be to that specified in that section, except that mailing notices of hearing to other than the ap- pellant and the Building Inspector shall be in the discretion of the Board.
If the owner of any building or other structure or an applicant for a permit to erect or alter a building or other structure, is aggrieved by any order or decision of the Build- ing Inspector, he may file with the Inspector an objection in writing, and thereupon the matter shall be referred by the Building Inspector to the Board of Appeals who, within one week from said references, shall hear the parties, and after taking such expert opinion as may seem to the Board of Appeals to be necessary, give their decision.
Penalty
Section 8. Whoever performs or causes to be performed any work, or maintains, alters, or erects any structure, in violation of this building law or any part thereof, or in any particular violates any of the provisions of this building law, or any part thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100.00) for each violation, in ac- cordance with Chapter 143, Sections 57 and 58 of the General Laws.
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Enforcement
Section 9. The Building Inspector, in the name of the town, shall take such measures as the public safety requires to carry this By-Law and every section thereof into effect.
Section 10. No building shall be constructed, placed, or altered except in conformity with the provisions of the By-Law, but nothing in this By-Law shall be construed to apply to:
1. Buildings or structures owned by the United States, or by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, or the Town of Medfield.
2. Bridges, garden walls, fences, gates or gate-ways.
3. Ordinary repairs and alterations not involving struc- tural changes except that such repairs or alterations shall not be construed to include any alterations made for the purpose of converting into a dwelling, a building or structure constructed or previously used for a different purpose.
4. Any detached one story wooden building less than ten (10) feet square which is not to be used for human hab- itation.
Section 11. Permits shall become void six months after date of issue unless construction thereunder shall have been commenced and continued with reasonable diligence.
ARTICLE III
Requirements for Permits
Section 1. Applications and Plans.
(a) Filing applications. Before work is commenced upon the construction, alteration, repair or placement of any build- ing, structure or part thereof, or work, incidental thereto, including excavation for a cellar or basement or foundations, or of the plumbing or drainage system, except for items referred to in Section Ten of Article II, the owner, lessee, or representative of either, shall submit to the Inspector on application blanks to be furnished by him a detailed descrip- tion of the location, purpose, and construction of the proposed work, with such plans and drawings as the Inspector may require, including a plan showing the location of such building on the lot.
Section 2. The fee for each permit is $2.00 for the first $1000 or any fraction thereof, and $1.00 for each $1000 of estimated cost thereafter.
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Section 3. When forms are in place or trench ready for stone, concrete or cement block foundation, notice must be given to the Inspector before proceeding with the work.
Section 4. Conforming to Application and Plans. All work done under any permit granted under this section shall be carried out strictly in accordance with the permit. The land on which buildings are erected shall be of such char- acter that it can be used for building purposes without danger to health.
Section 5. Amended Plan. If changes are made after plans have been approved, amended plans shall be filed and approved by the Inspector before proceeding with the work.
Section 6. Lathing. No wall, ceiling or part thereof, of any building shall be lathed or otherwise covered until the Inspector has been notified that the building is ready for such work and he has given written consent therefor. The In- spector shall act on such notice within forty-eight hours of its receipt. The permit for lathing may not be granted until the plumbing has been properly inspected and approved as provided in Article XIII.
Section 7. Approval in Part. When application for a permit to construct, alter or repair a building or structure has been filed and pending issue of such permit, the Inspector may in his discretion issue a special permit for the founda- tions of such building or structure. The holder of such permit shall proceed at his own risk and without assurance that a permit for the superstructure will be granted.
Section 8. Posting of Permit Cards. The permit card issued by the Building Inspector must be displayed in a con- spicuous place on the premises and must not be removed until all work in the building shall have been approved.
ARTICLE IV
Excavations
Section 1. All excavations for buildings shall be properly guarded and protected so as to prevent the same from be- coming dangerous to life or limb, and shall be sheathe-piled by the person or persons causing the excavations to be made when necessary to prevent the adjoining earth from caving in.
Section 2. Excavations Adjoining Other Structures. In cases where an excavation is being made, which affects ad- joining structures, the builder or the owner shall at his own expense, preserve such structures in as safe a condition as it was before the excavation was commenced and shall, when necessary, underpin and support the same by proper foun- dation.
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Section 3. Width of Excavation. Excavations for founda- tion walls must be made at least six inches beyond the out- side face of the wall.
All excavations shall be at least six inches clear of foun- dation walls and no back filling shall be done until approved by the Inspector.
ARTICLE V Foundations
Section 1. A poured concrete footing not less than six inches thick and projecting a minimum of four inches on each side of the walls shall be placed under all foundation walls.
ARTICLE VI
Masonry Construction
Section 1. Construction. To be approved by Building Inspector.
ARTICLE VII Wood Construction
Section 1. Frame Buildings.
(a) Framing. Frame buildings shall be built with sills, posts, girts, girders, beams, floor joists, plates and rafters, all of required size and properly framed and braced with studs set at a proper distance apart. All the above men- tioned members shall be of solid timber except the plate, which may be in two places.
(b) Size and Spans.
1. Corner posts shall be not less than four by six inches, except that in one story buildings not ex- ceeding five hundred square feet in area, and where the stud height is not more than eight feet, they may not be less than four by four inches.
2. Girts shall be not less than four by six inches, tenoned and pinned into the posts. Girts shall be in one piece between posts.
3. Sills shall be not less than four by six inches, or box sill of equal size, except that in one story buildings not exceeding five hundred square feet in area, when the stud height is not more than eight feet they may be not less than four by four inches.
4. Studding for exterior walls and bearing partitions shall be not less than two by four inches, spaced not over sixteen inches on centers. Studding shall be doubled at all openings.
5. Floor joists shall be not less than two inches in thickness and spaced not over sixteen inches on centers.
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MAXIMUM SPANS FOR FLOOR JOISTS
Assumed live load, 40 pounds per square foot; dead load, 10 pounds per square foot.
LUMBER SIZE
MAXIMUM CLEAR SPAN (No. 1 or 2 Dimension)
Nominal
Actual
Spacing center to
Douglas Fir (Coast Region and Inland Em- center pire), Southern Yellow Pine Western Larch
West Coast Hemlock, Cypress, Redwood, Tamarack
AII Other Soft- woods
Inches
Ft.
In.
Ft.
In.
Ft.
In.
2 by 6
15/8 by 558
16
9
1
8
6
7
9
12
10
0
9
4
8
7
2 by 8
15/8 by 71/2
16
12
1
11
4
10
4
12
16
3
12
5
11
4
3 by 8
25% by 71%
16
14
0
13
2
12
1
or 2 by 9
12
15
4
14
4
13
2
2 by 10
15% by 91/2
16
15
3
14
4
13
1
12
16
8
15
8
14
4
3 by 10
25% by 91/2
16
17
8
16
9
15
2
12
19
3
18
1
16
6
2 by 12
15% by 111/2
16
18
5
17
3
15
10
12
20
1
18
10
17
3
MAXIMUM CLEAR SPANS OF RAFTERS
For Wood and Asphalt Shingle Roofs
(Rafters for slate, tile, or asbestos-cement (rigid) shingle roofs shall be of sufficient size to carry the load)
Assumed Total Live and Dead Load-40 lbs. per sq. ft. (Clear Span 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.)
For Roof with a Minimum Slope of 5 to 12.
LUMBER SIZE
MAXIMUM CLEAR SPAN
Nominal
Actual
Spacing center to center
Douglas Fir (Coast Region and Inland Em- pire), Southern Yellow Pine Western Larch
West Coast Hemlock, Cypress, Redwood, Tamarack
All Other Soft-
woods
Inches
Ft.
In.
Ft.
In.
Ft.
In.
2 by 4
158 by 358
20
7
3
6
7
5
6
16
8
1
7
4
6
2
12
9
4
8
6
7
2
20
11
4
10
5
8
8
2 by 6
15% by 55/8
16
12
6
11
5
9
6
12
14
2
13
1
11
0
20
15
2
13
8
11
0
2 by 8
15/8 by 71/2
16
16
7
15
3
12
1
12
18
4
16
7
14
3
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6. Rafters shall be not less than two inches in thick- ness not spaced over twenty inches on centers.
7. Deflection shall be limited to 1/360 of the span.
(c) Boarding. The exterior walls, floors and roofs of all dwellings shall be tightly boarded, such boarding shall be not less than three-fourths inches in actual thickness, except that the boarding may be omitted when other approved types of construction are used that are proven of adequate strength and stability by tests conducted by recognized authorities and satisfactory to the Building Inspector.
(d) Stucco. Stucco may be used and shall consist of cement mortar or other approved mortar, on galvanized metal lath, (galvanized after cutting) weighing not less than three and four-tenths (3.4) pounds per square yard, or on woven or welded wire lath not lighter than No. 19 gauge. Such lath shall be furred off not less than 3/8 of an inch to obtain a proper clinch.
(e) Bearing and Non-Bearing Partitions.
1. Bearing Partitions. Bearing Partitions shall be constructed of not less than 4 inch studs with double plates at the top, each at least two inches thick of the same width as the stud. The studs shall run down between the floor tim- bers and rest on the top plate or girder below, or on sole plates if placed at an angle to the joist.
2. Non-Bearing Partitions. Non-bearing partitions shall be provided with at least one two inch plate on top and one two inch sole on bottom of the same width as the stud.
3. Cutting. Beams or joists shall not be cut more than two inches in depth for piping without permission of the Building Inspector and no cut shall be made in any beam at a greater distance than two feet from its support.
MASONRY BUILDINGS
(a) In masonry buildings each tier of beams shall be anchored to bearing walls at intervals of not more than eight feet with cold finished bar anchors of not less than one-half inches by three-eighths of an inch in section, well fastened to the tops of the beams by two or more nails at least one-
€ fourth of an inch in diameter or equivalent. The anchors shall in no case be less than sixteen inches in length, and embedded eight inches in the wall, and where the joints are parallel to a wall the anchors shall be long enough to be fastened to at least three beams and not more than eight feet apart.
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Where joists are supported by girders, the girders shall be anchored to the walls and fastened to each other by cold finished bar anchors of not less than 2"x 3/8" in section embedded eight inches in the wall and fastened to the girder by three 3/8" lag screws.
The ends of wooden joists resting upon girders shall be butted together end to end and fastened by cold finished bar anchors 11/2"x3/8" in section or dogs of equivalent strength, the same distance apart, and in the same beam as the wall anchors, or they may lap each other at least twelve inches and be well spiked or bolted together where lapped.
(b) Floors shall be bridged with cross bridging. The distance between parallel rows of bridging or between bridg- ing and walls shall not exceed eight feet.
(c) Beams supported on masonry shall have a minimum bearing of four inches.
(d) Wood columns or posts to support floor beams or girders shall not be used in a cellar or basement.
ARTICLE VIII
Roof Covering
Section 1. The roofs of buildings shall not be laid over old wooden shingles.
ARTICLE IX Chimneys, Flues, and Fireplaces
Section 1. No chimney shall be corbelled from a wall more than the thickness of the wall, or hung from a wall less than twench inches thick.
Every chimney shall rest on a proper footing of approved masonry. Concrete footings shall be at least six inches wider than the chimney on all sides, and shall be at least twelve inches thick.
All chimneys shall be built of brick or other incombustible material, laid up on the best lime or cement mortar.
All brick chimneys shall have terra cotta flue lining ex- tending to the top of the chimney, except chimneys eight inches or more thick. The ends of such lining pipes shall be made to fit close together; the joints shall be filled with cement mortar; and the lining shall be built in as the flue or flues are carried up.
The sectional area of every chimney must be at least equal to the combined area of all smoke flues entering it.
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Every chimney shall be topped out or capped with brick, terra cotta, stone, iron or cement. Every chimney shall ex- tend at least three feet above the highest point at which it comes in contact with a roof of the building and at least two feet higher than any roof surface within ten feet in a horizontal line.
No part of any floor timber shall be within one inch of any chimney, or two inches if no flue lining, no studding or furring shall be within one and one-half inches of any chim- ney, and no floor timber shall be within four inches of the back wall of any fireplace.
If any chimney, flue or heating apparatus shall, in the opinion of the Inspector, be unsafe, he shall at once notify in writing the owner, who, upon receiving said notice, shall make the same safe to the satisfaction of the Inspector.
Section 2. Fireplaces and hearths. The jambs and backs of all fireplaces shall be of masonry, not less than eight inches thick (including both the rough and finished work, the latter being of firebrick) if of brick, and not less than twelve inches, if wholly or partly of stone.
Brickwork or stonework over fireplaces or similar open- ings shall be supported by proper iron bars or by brick or stone arches.
All portions of chimneys or fireplaces so constructed as to receive a lateral thrust, not taken care of by iron members thoroughly anchored to the masonry, shall be at least eight inches thick.
No fireplace flue shall be less than 8"x12", and in all cases the area of the flue shall be at least 1/10th the area of the fireplace opening.
The interior of all fireplace throats shall be thoroughly covered with a coat of cement mortar, carried up to a solid connection with the flue lining and every rake in the chimney shall be plastered with a good thick coat of cement mortar on both the outside and the inside.
All hearths shall be laid on masonry trimmer arches, or on bars of iron supporting a proper bed of masonry, and shall extend at least eight inches beyond each side of the finished fireplace opening. They shall have a uniform width of at least sixteen inches in front of the finished jambs and fireplace.
ARTICLE X Safeguards Against Spread of Fire
Section 1. All buildings shall be fire-stopped in all con- cealed space.
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Section 2. Protection of Woodwork. No smoke pipe shall pass through any wooden partition without a safety thimble of fireproof materials of the thickness of the partition.
No metal pipe used to convey heated air shall be placed within one inch of any woodwork unless it is enclosed in a metal pipe with air space between, or otherwise shielded with metal or asbestos, in a manner satisfactory to the Inspector.
ARTICLE XI Special Requirements
Section 1. Light and Ventilation.
(a) Every room erected or altered to be used for habita- tion shall have at least one window designed to open one-half to the outside air.
(b) All multiple family dwellings shall have proper exits.
ARTICLE XII
Variations in Specific Cases
Section 1. The Building Inspector may permit the use of new materials and new forms and methods of construction, if such materials and such construction satisfy the same re- quirements for safety from fire, for support of loads, and resisting of pressure, as hereinbefore prescribed in this By- Law.
The Building Inspector shall from time to time file with the Board of Appeals a signed statement as to what sub- stitutes, if any, may be used for materials required to be used under this By-Law, giving his reasons and authority therefor and if the use of such substitutes or any of them is approved by a majority of the Board, the Building Inspector may thereafter issue permits for the use of the same.
Section 2. The Board of Appeals may vary the provisions of this building By-Law in specific cases which appear to them not to have been contemplated by this By-Law or in cases where its enforcement would involve practical difficulties or unnecessary hardship and wherein desirable relief may be granted without substantially derogating from intent and purpose of this By-Law but not otherwise. The decision in such cases shall be unanimous and shall specify in writing the variations allowed and the reasons therefore, and shall be filed in the office of the Building Inspector within ten days after the hearing. A certified copy shall be sent by mail or otherwise to the applicant.
Section 3. In the case of a structure of a size or for a purpose so unusual in the Town of Medfield as to be ap- parently beyond the intention of this By-Law, the plans and
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specifications setting forth any proposed variations from the requirements hereof shall be submitted to the Building In- spector, and referred by him with his recommendations there- on to the Board of Appeals. The Board, after a public hearing of which reasonable notice is given, including a written notice to the abuttors and other known interested parties, may authorize such materials or construction as in their judgment the public interest may require, provided that the decision of the Board in such cases shall be unanimous and the Building Inspector shall thereupon grant a permit accordingly. The Board of Appeals shall render its decision within one week of the hearing.
ARTICLE XIII Plumbing
Section 1. Duties of the Inspector. The inspector of plumbing shall inspect all plumbing in connection with con- struction, for which permits are granted and shall report to the Inspector of Buildings violations of any law, by-law, rule or regulation relative to plumbing and he shall perform such other appropriate duties as may be required.
Section 2. Qualifications for Plumbers. No person shall engage in the business of plumbing or work at plumbing in Medfield unless he has exhibited and registered his license or certificate at the office of the Inspector of Buildings.
Section 3. Permits. Upon application of a registered master plumber on form furnished by the Building Inspector, said inspector shall grant written permit to do certain plumb- ing described therein as covered by this by-law, when in conformity with the law. Drawings of proposed work shall be filed if required. Permits may be recalled by the Building Inspector if conditions are violated. Permits for all plumbing must be in the hands of the plumber before beginning work.
Section 4. Inspection and Testing. No drain or pipes shall be covered nor concealed from view until properly tested by the plumber in the presence and to the satisfaction of the plumbing inspector, who shall examine the same after written notification that they are ready for inspection. If at the time of testing and examination, any leaks, defective or patched materials, improper connections, or evidence of inferior work- manship is found, such defects shall be condemned by the plumbing inspector and ordered corrected or removed; no further plumbing work shall be performed until all defects are corrected or removed and the test renewed. If the test proves satisfactory, the plumbing inspector shall so certify on the application on file. The plumber may then proceed with the work. The Inspector should give approval of loca- tion of cesspools, consistent with good practice, and should
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limit such approval to either cesspools or septic tanks de- pending on local conditions.
Section 5. Material and Size of Pipe. All drain pipes con- necting buildings with the sewer or cesspools shall be at least four inches in internal diameter, except that three inch pipe may be used for wash trays where the pipe leaves build- ing separately. All drain pipes, both within and at least five feet outside of the buildings, shall be of medium weight cast iron. Drain pipes shall be carried upward and through the roof, open and undiminished in size and to a height not less than twenty inches above the roof, and not less than two feet above the top of any window or opening into any building within fifteen feet of such pipe. A three inch stack may be used for six fixtures, including no more than two water closets.
All branches of soil or waste pipe of twenty feet or more in length shall be continued at full size through the roof, or connected with the main stack at a point above the highest fixture in the building.
Soil and waste pipes shall be medium weight cast iron hub and spigot pipe, iron size brass, or copper pipe; lead pipe for short connections, type L streamlined hard copper may be used if each piece is stamped plainly with manufacturer's stamp.
Vents shall be medium weight cast iron hub and spigot pipe, galvanized iron pipe with galvanized or cast iron fittings, iron size brass or copper with brass fittings, type L hard copper if marked plainly with the manufacturer's stamp.
Section 6. Construction. Iron, drain, soil, waste or vent pipes running horizontally through a building shall be laid to uniform grade of not less than one-quarter of an inch fall in each foot toward sewer or cesspool and supported by masonry piers or suspended to floor timbers by strong iron hangers, or secured to walls by heavy iron clamps or dogs. Vertical, soil, waste, or vent pipes shall be securely fastened to wall by strong iron clamps or other supports.
Section 7. Fittings. Changes in direction of all drain, soil, or waste pipes shall be made with full Y branches and eighth bends or long sweep bends, all branch connections on horizontal runs shall be made through full Y branches, TYs may only be used on vertical runs. Extra heavy brass fittings for lead and iron connections and cleanouts, shall be used in all cases, brass recess drainage fittings shall be used with iron size brass, copper pipe, or type L copper pipe.
Section 8. Cleanouts. Every drain, soil, and waste pipe shall have accessible Boston Pattern cleanouts at all points where there is a change in direction. A main cleanout shall
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be located at or near the point where the drain leaves the building.
Section 9. Joints. Joints on all iron pipes shall be made with oakum and soft molten lead, thoroughly caulked and left clean. Joints on lead or between lead and brass shall be made with full wiped joints in all cases.
Section 10. Traps. Every fixture shall be furnished with a suitable and separate trap, placed within thirty inches of the fixture it serves; except that in the case of a sink and trays or double sink, one trap may be used for both. When remodel- ing or repairing old buildings one drum trap may be used for a basin and bathtub. Disposal and dishwashing units shall be trapped separately. A grease trap shall be placed under or near the sink in hotels, restaurants, or other places, as may be required by the plumbing inspector. Traps shall be heavy cast brass or lead with not less than two inches seal and one and one-half inch outlet, except that cast iron, hub and spigot traps may be used when used with hub and spigot pipe. Traps to showers shall not be less than two in- ches, and not less than three inches to slop sinks.
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