USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > West Bridgewater > Town annual reports of the selectmen, overseers of the poor, town clerk, and school committee of West Bridgewater for the year ending 1955-1959 > Part 47
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B. Sizes and Weights, Extra Heavy Cast Iron Pipes
2 in.
51/2 pounds per foot 91/2 pounds per foot
4 in. 13 pounds per foot
Where used for vents, ordinary galvanized fittings and pipes may be used. No slip joints, unions or flanges shall be used on threaded waste or vents, ex- cept that slip joints may be used on house side of trap to connect fixtures.
Lcad pipe shall be of the following diameters and weights:
Weight Max. Length
Diameter (inches) 11/2
(lbs. per ft.) 21/2 3
allowed (ft.)
11/2 3
in
4 5
2 3 6 3
4
8
2
Lead bends and traps shall correspond to the above weights.
Brass sleeves for connecting lead and cast iron pipes shall be extra heavy. In connecting lead pipe together, or to brass calking or soldering nipples, full sized wiped joints shall be used.
Section 12. Fastening Pipes.
Drain, soil, waste and vent pipes shall be supported every five feet (5 ft.) on horizontal runs, and at least once to each story on vertical lines; horizontal runs by supports under, or hung from overhead by iron hangers; vertical stacks by pipe rests at floors, or clamps, drive hooks or hangers to adjacent walls.
Section 13. Traps.
The waste pipe of every independent fixture shall be furnished with a separate trap, which shall be placed as near as practical to the fixture which
3 in.
20
it serves. A combination sink and tray may be connected to house drain through one trap when outlets are not over three (3) feet six (6) inches apart. Earthen traps shall have floor-plates bolted to the trap flange, and the joint made of red or white lead putty. Trap screws for cleaning purposes shall be placed in all metal traps, and where such traps are placed in connection with fixtures, they shall be so installed that the water seal will protect the trap screw from sewage gas.
Section 14. Cleanouts.
Cleanouts shall be placed at changes in direction and at foot of vertical stack, or other points necessary to make all portions of horizontal drainage system accessible for cleaning purposes.
Section 15. A. Vents, Back Air Pipes, Etc.
Traps shall be protected from siphonage and back pressure by galvanized iron, lead or brass air pipes of same size as waste; continuous system of vent- ing shall be used, and back air pipe shall not be connected to the trap or branched into waste pipe except where a continuous vent is not practicable. 11/2 half "S" traps shall not have more than 24 inches of waste pipe from trap to vent. Round traps not less than 9 inches long and 4 inches in diameter or ARRC traps may be placed 5 feet from vent pipe.
B. Schedule For Back Air Pipes and Vents For Fixtures
Fixtures
Size of pipe Greatest length Max. No. allowed (ft) fixtures
Baths, basins
(inches) 11/2 in.
30
3
Sinks, urinals
2
in.
30
3
Water closets
3
in.
35
3
or slop sinks
3
in.
70
9
Two or more air pipes may be connected together, but such connections must be made above top of fixtures. Main vent pipes shall be at least 3" copper or 4" cast iron in diameter where they pass through the roof. Separate sink vent may be 2" copper or cast iron where it passes through roof. All branches of soil, waste pipe 15 feet or more in length, shall extend undimin- ished in size 1 foot above the roof.
Section 16. Testing and Inspection.
Pipes or other fixtures shall not be covered or concealed from view until approved by the Inspector. The work shall be examined and tested within two working days after notice that it is ready for inspection. Plumbing shall not be used unless, when roughed in, the wastes, vents, back air pipes and traps are first tested, in the presence of the inspector, by water or sufficient air pressure. All traps shall be so constructed as to be easily accessible to cleaning.
If, on inspection, the work is not satisfactory, the owner or plumber shall be notified, and a limit of five (5) days (unless otherwise permitted) given in which to make the changes ordered. Upon completion of the changes, the inspector must again be notified.
Section 17. Water Closets.
Every building used for habitation shall have such number of water- closets as the Inspector may require, but in no case less than one for each tenement. Every building where persons are employed shall have at least one water closet for every 15 persons employed therein; and in any building where persons of both sexes are employed, separate accommodations shall be furnished for both men and women. Every enclosure containing one or more water closets shall be provided with adequate ventilation to the outer air either by window or suitable light shaft. No water closet shall be set in any room or apartment that has not a window having an area of at least 3 square feet open- ing directly to the external air.
BY-LAWS and REGULATIONS
Town of
WEST BRIDGEWATER
CR
M
WEST
S
251656
- INCORP
1822. ++
MIDT ROCK
16
FEB
Building Code
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TOWN OF WEST BRIDGEWATER BY-LAW #25 BUILDING BY-LAW
ARTICLE 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1. Title. These By-Laws shall be known and cited as the Building, Plumbing and Wiring Code of the Town of West Bridgewater, Com- monwealth of Massachusetts, and shall be construed to insure public health, safety and the protection of property from accident or fire insofar as they are dependent upon building construction.
Section 2. Conformity Required. No building, structure or part there- of shall hereafter be erected, repaired, moved, added to, demolished, or changed in type of use or occupancy except in conformity with the provisions of this by-law. Nor shall any plumbing, gas piping, water piping, drainage, heating, wiring or ventilation be installed or altered in any building or struc- ture except in conformity herewith.
Section 3. Demolition or Removal of Building. Whenever a building or structure is removed or demolished, the lot shall, without delay, be leveled to grade by proper sanitary fill, to cover any cellar or foundation hole and any rubble not removed.
Section 4. Grades. The finished grade line of all dwellings and cus- tomary accessory buildings shall not be less than six (6) inches above the highest point in the established grade of adjacent way or ways, nor less than three (3) inches above the established sidewalk line. On Town ways the Select- men shall furnish such lines and grades, without charge, upon application. In such cases as it may appear impractical to the Building Inspector to require compliance, he may, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, grant a variance and establish necessary alternate requirements to safeguard proposed structures from damage by waters from adjacent ways.
Section 5. Height of Buildings. No building of frame construction shall exceed forty (40) feet or three (3) stories in height.
Section 6. Light and Ventilation. Every building or structure herein- after erected or altered to be used for residential purposes shall comply with section 115 of the rules and regulations of the Board of Standards, Depart- ment of Public Safety, Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Section 7. Temporary Toilets. During all alterations or building con- struction such temporary toilet facilities shall be provided and maintained in such forms and at such times as may be required by the Building Inspector.
Section 8. Alternate Construction. These By-Laws shall be deemed to present minimum requirements for frame type construction. In the case of other types of construction, the Building Inspector shall make such require- ments, in addition to these regulations, as may be deemed necessary to the public safety.
Section 9. Laws of Commonwealth. The laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts affecting buildings or structures shall be as fully complied with as if herein written. Except as herein otherwise specified, the minimum requirements under this By-Law shall not be less than the Basic Standards of Building Construction promulgated by the Board of Standards, Department of Public Safety, Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Section 10. Zoning Laws and other By-Laws. No provision of the zon- ing law or other legal statute pertaining to the location, use or construction of buildings shall be nullified by the provisions of this code.
Section 11. Definitions. In the interpretation of this code, all words,
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other than the terms specifically defined under Section 101.0 of the rules and regulations promulgated by the Board of Standards, Department of Public Safety, shall have their ordinarily accepted meanings as implied by the context, or as customarily used in the construction industry.
ARTICLE 2 EXCEPTIONS
The following shall be excepted from the provisions of this By-Law:
Section 1. Buildings owned or occupied by the United States, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, or any County therein.
Section 2. Bridges.
Section 3. Buildings less than eight (8) feet in length or breadth and seven (7) feet in height, measured to the extremes in all diameters, provided that the location of such building conform with the zoning By-Law.
Section 4. Temporary structures erected for storage or offices during construction operations, provided, however, such structures shall be removed at completion of such operations.
Section 5. ORDINARY REPAIRS, replacements, shingling of roofs and such alterations as do not include or require changes in structural members or supports, means of egress, chimney, pier or foundation that would tend to weaken the structure, providing, however, that such repairs, replacements or alterations do not violate any provision of this By-Law or of the general laws of the Commonwealth.
Section 6. Farm Buildings. The application of this By-Law to Farm- buildings and other non-residential buildings located more than fifty (50) feet from a dwelling, except garages permitted under the Zoning By-law in residen- tial areas, shall be left to the discretion of the Building Inspector.
ARTICLE 3 INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS
Section 1. Building Inspector. The Board of Selectmen shall annually, following their organizational meeting, appoint a Building Inspector who shall hold office for one year, or until his successor shall take office. His salary or compensation shall be such as the Town may from time to time vote.
Section 2. Qualifications. He shall be a man qualified by thorough training and experience in the supervision or execution of building operations, and shall not be interested, either directly or indirectly, in any building con- tract in the town, or have any interest in the furnishing of materials, labor or plans for the construction or alteration of any building other than his own; provided, however, that he may, with the written approval of the Board of Selectmen, have such an interest if he wholly refrain from acting as Inspector in the given case. In each such case, the Board of Selectmen shall appoint a disinterested substitute to act therein with all the powers and duties of the regular Inspector; and the compensation paid to such substitute shall be de- ducted from the salary or compensation that would otherwise be paid to the regular Building Inspector. He may be removed from office by the Board of Selectmen, for proper cause, after a public hearing of which at least five (5) days written notice has been given to all interested parties.
Section 3. Assistant Inspectors. When necessary, the Board of Select- men may appoint such Assistant Inspectors as they and the Building Inspector may deem necessary. No person shall be employed who is not qualified by ex- perience or training to fulfill the duties required by the work involved. The compensation of Assistant Inspectors shall be regulated by the Board of Selectmen unless determined by a vote of the Town.
ARTICLE 4 DUTIES OF THE BUILDING INSPECTOR
Section 1. The Building Inspector shall be charged with the survey and inspection of all buildings and the enforcement of all ordinances relating to
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the erection, alteration, repair, removal, demolition, or the safety of buildings within the limits of West Bridgewater. He shall pass on questions relating to the strength of structures and materials. He shall examine all plans and ap- plications for permits, inspect all buildings or structures under application to be removed, razed, enlarged, altered or built upon; making his recommenda- tions regarding same, in writing, to the Board of Selectmen, who shall consti- tute the Issuing Authority. The records of the Building Inspector and the Issuing Authority shall be available to and open to public inspection.
Section 2. Inspection. He shall inspect all buildings in the course of crection, alteration or repair as often as necessary and for this purpose shall have the right of entry at reasonable hours. He shall require that all workman- ship and all building materials be of good quality, and that the types and methods of construction shall be in accordance with generally accepted stand- ards of engineering practise and not inconsistent with law.
Section 3. Violations. He shall keep a record of any violation of this By-Law, and shall give immediate written notice of such violation to the party responsible for the proper execution of the work. He shall order and compel the suspension of any work being done in violation of the provisions of this By-Law and no person shall continue the work, or use any forbidden material in or about any building after the Building Inspector has forbidden in writing the continuance of such work, or the use of said material. Any material used in the erection of the building in violation of the By-Law must be taken down and replaced with material as called for by this By-Law. Such removal and replacement must be approved by the Building Inspector before any additional work may be started.
Section 4. Dangerous Structures. He shall report to the Department of Public Safety any violation of the regulations of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in relation to the construction of buildings, and perform such other duties as may be incumbent upon him under the laws of the State. He shall examine all buildings reported dangerous or damaged by fire or accident, and if it appears to him that such structures would be unsafe or dangerous to life or limb in the case of fire, or otherwise, it shall be deemed dangerous with- in the meaning thereof, and the Building Inspector shall affix in a conspicuous place upon its exterior walls a notice of its dangerous condition, which shall not be removed without authority from him. (G.L. Chp. 143, Section 6, et seq.). He shall promptly notify the owner, owners or agent of said building or structure to put such unsafe building, or structure, or portion thereof, in a safe condition or cause same to be razed. The Building Inspector, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, may order any building, which is in his opinion unsafe, or not provided with sufficient means of egress in case of fire, to be vacated forthwith.
Section 5. Oversight. No oversight or neglect of duty on the part of the Building Inspector shall legalize the erection, construction, alteration or repair of any building in a manner not in conformity with the provisions of this By-Law, or any State law or regulation.
Section 6. Relief from Personal Responsibility. The building official, officer or employee charged with the enforcement of this By-Law shall not be personally liable while acting for the municipality, and he is hereby relieved from all personal liability for any damage that may accrue to persons or prop- erty as a result of any act required or permitted in the discharge of his official duties.
Section 7. Records and Reports. The Building Inspector shall keep careful records of his department, making such reports to the Board of Select- men as they require, and shall make an annual report of his department, to be published in the Annual Town Report.
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ARTICLE 5 REQUIREMENTS FOR PERMITS
Section 1. Before erecting, altering, moving, demolishing, adding to or making any changes in use or type of occupancy of any building or struc- ture, or any work incidental thereto, including excavation for a cellar, base- ment or foundation, or of the plumbing or drainage systems, the owner, lessee or representative of either, except for ordinary repairs as heretofore defined, shall file with the Building Inspector, on application blanks to be furnished by him, a detailed description of the location, purpose and construction of the proposed work and the costs thereof, with full and complete copies of plans of such work, together with such structural detail and plot plan as the Build- ing Inspector may require. Such plans and detailed drawings shall be furnished in duplicate, and if such plans are approved and endorsed by the Issuing Authority, one set shall be kept at the building during the progress of the work and open to the inspection of the Building Inspector. The other shall be kept on file in the office of the Issuing Authority.
Section 2. Permits for Portion. Nothing in this section shall be con- strued to prevent the Issuing Authority from granting approval of the erection of any part of a building or structure, where the general plans and detailed descriptions have been filed for same, before the entire detailed plans have been submitted and/or approved. Such approval in part shall not be construed to guarantee final approval, and the holder of such permit in part shall proceed at his own risk.
Section 3. Permit to enclose. No building shall be lathed, plastered or sheathed, nor shall any wiring, plumbing, heating pipes or ducts, chimneys, fireplaces or fire stops be enclosed until the Building, Wiring or Plumbing Inspector, as the work may require, has been notified by the builder in charge of construction, or the owner of the premise, that the building is ready for inspection. The Inspector, upon receipt of such notice, shall, as soon as pos- sible, inspect the premise, but shall not give final approval of any building until all requirements of these By-Laws have been fully complied with. No building shall be occupied until accepted by the Building Inspector. The Building In- spector shall also require that all permanent piers or columns needed under girders, trimmers, etc., shall be in place before the building is lathed and plastered or otherwise enclosed.
Section 4. Time for Approval. It shall be the duty of the Issuing Authority to grant or refuse any requested permit within fifteen (15) days of presentation. If the Issuing Authority fails to grant or refuse said permit with- in fifteen days after presentation, the person making such application therefor may appeal to the Board of Appeals, as hereinafter provided, as if said permit had been expressly refused.
Section 5. Time Limit of Permits. Permits shall become void six months after date of issue unless construction thereunder shall have com- menced and continued with reasonable diligence.
Section 6. Perjury. This application shall be made under the penalty of perjury, and must conform with all Zoning, Building and Board of Health By-Laws.
Section 7. Fees. For each permit issued, there shall be collected by the Issuing Authority, to be paid into the Town Treasury, a fee (as established by the Board of Selectmen).
ARTICLE 6 GENERAL BUILDING REQUIREMENTS
Section 1. A. Alternate Construction. It is not the intent of these By-Laws to prohibit new or unconventional methods of construction which are not detrimental to the public safety, and in keeping with the general appear- ance of other buildings in a locality. Such alternate construction shall comply with all provisions of Section 105 of the "Basic Principles of Building Con-
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struction" promulgated by the Board of Standards, Department of Public Safety, Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
B. Egresses. All dwellings shall have at least two (2) outside doors or egresses located as far apart as practicable.
Section 2. Excavation. All excavations for buildings shall be properly guarded and protected so as to prevent same from becoming dangerous to life or limb and shall be sheath-piled, by the person or persons causing the ex- cavations to be made, when necessary to prevent the adjoining earth from caving in. In cases where an excavation is being made which affects adjoining structures, the owner shall, at his own expense, preserve such structures in as safe a condition as they were before the excavation was commenced and shall, when necessary, underpin and support the same by proper foundations.
Section 3. Foundations.
A. No dwelling and its customary accessory buildings shall hereafter be erected, moved or placed upon any lot within the Town without continuous foundation walls on all sides.
B. All foundations shall extend at least three feet and six inches (3'6") below any adjoining surfaces exposed to frost unless they rest on solid ledge. They shall extend in all cases to solid soil.
C. No foundation or footing shall be constructed on frozen ground, or shall be laid when the temperature is below twenty-nine degrees (29 deg. f), except that precaution satisfactory to the Building Inspector to prevent settle- ment or failure are taken.
D. With the exception of footings, no concrete foundation shall be poured without the use of forms for all sides. Excavations for foundations shall be made at least six to eight inches (6" to 8") beyond the outside face of the walls and no backfilling shall be done until approved by the Building Inspector. All foundation walls other than poured concrete shall rest on foot- ings not less than eight inches (8") thick and be at least eight inches (8") wider than said foundation wall.
E. Supports for girders in basement of any building shall be lally col- umns, brick, masonry, or concrete piers approved by the Building Inspector, and shall rest on footings not less than twenty inches (20") square and twelve inches (12") thick. (Wood posts shall not be allowed.)
Section 4. A. Soil Tests. If the Building Inspector is in doubt as to the safe sustaining power of the soil upon which a building or structure is to be erected, or it is desired to exceed the presumptive capacity, the Building Inspector may direct that borings or tests be made, by and at the expense of the owner of the proposed building or structure, to determine the sustaining power of the soil. Whenever such a test is made the Building Inspector shall be notified so that he may be present in person or by representative. A complete record of the test shall be filed with the Building Inspector.
B. Filled Ground. No foundation of a building or structure shall be placed on filled ground until the Building Inspector has fixed, by test or in- spection, the safe sustaining power that may be assumed.
C. Bearing Value. When no tests are required the area of footings shall be proportioned so that the load per square foot on the respective soils shall not exceed those given in the following table:
Presumptive Surface Bearing Values in Tons per Sq. Ft.
Hard Sound Rock 60
Medium Hard Rock 40
Soft or Broken Bed Rock 8
Compacted Gravel & Sand and Gravel 6
Compacted Course Sand & Hard Dry Clay 4
7
Loose Course Sand (Confined) 3
Loose Medium Sand (Confined) 2
Firm or Stiff Clay Soft Broken Shale or Soft Clay
1.5 1
D. Wherever the safe sustaining power of the soil upon which a build- ing is to be erected does not conform to the requirements of this By-Law, the Building Inspector shall require the proper foundation, of a type satisfactory to him and sufficient to support the proposed building.
Section 5. A. Foundation walls of detached garages, or similar acces- sory buildings or structures, of six hundred fifty (650) square feet or less in area and not over one story high need not be carried more than one (1) foot below an adjoining surface exposed to freezing if the underlying soil to a depth of at least four (4) feet beneath the surface is solid soil.
B. Foundation and underpinning walls for one and one and one-half story dwellings shall be at least eight (8) inches thick if of poured concrete, and ten (10) inches thick if of brick, concrete or cinder blocks when not over six and one-half (61/2) feet below finished grade. When stone masonry is used the thickness shall be twenty (20) inches up to finished grades, and not less than twelve (12) inches from finished grade to the sill. The top of all founda- tion walls shall extend at least eight (8) inches above the finished grade.
C. Concrete Block Construction. Where concrete or cinder blocks are used, all joints must be thoroughly filled and joined outside as well as inside. Mortar for all masonry shall not be poorer than one part Portland cement, one part lime putty and three (3) parts sand; for footings and poured concrete no poorer than one part Portland cement, three (3) parts sand and five (5) parts coarse aggregate not exceeding one and one-half (11/2) inches. All material shall meet the Building Inspector's approval. It shall be thoroughly mixed and properly placed and tamped.
Section 6. Lally columns or piers supporting building shall not be more than eight (8) feet apart on centers, seven (7) feet where a 6" x 6" girder is used and six (6) feet apart where a 4" x 6" girder is used.
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