USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1931 > Part 3
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24
SAFEGUARDS DURING BUILDING OPERATIONS
Section 49. When any person is about to erect or alter the exter- ior walls of a building within five feet of the line of a street, he shall cause the portion of the site of the building bordering upon the street to be enclosed by a proper fence not less than four feet high and at least five feet from the line of such building and the fence shall be made as much higher as the Inspector of Buildings shall direct and the same shall be maintained until all liability to accident from falling material ceases, he shall also maintain a proper walk satisfactory to the Inspector, around said fence, as long as the sidewalk is obstructed and he shall maintain proper lights, if so required by the Inspector at both ends of such enclosed area from sunset to sunrise. In erecting any building no person shall place, deposit or suffer to remain in any street or highway, any lumber or other building material, rubbish or remains of any old building for a period longer than may be necessary for the work which may be going on; and in case such material, rubbish or remains of an old building shall necessarily remain after dark, a suf- ficient light shall be placed over or near the same and kept from sun- set to sunrise. All rubbish from the erecting or repairing of any build- ing, or the removal of an old building shall be carried away by the per- son so erecting, repairing or removing such building, at such time as the Supt. of Streets may direct. and in case of neglect or refusal to do
so, it shall be removed by the Supt. of Streets at the expense of such: person. Any person violating any provision of this section shall be liable to a penalty of twenty-five dollars.
DEFINITIONS
Section 50. In these by-laws the following terms shall have the meaning respectively assigned to them : "Alteration means any change or addition. "Cellar" means a lower story of which one-half or more of the height from the street below the average grade of the ground outside the wall. "Foundation Wall" means that portion of any external wall below the level of the street, curb or if not on a street, below the grade of the ground outside the wall and that portion of any partition or party wall below the basement floor. "Party Wall" means every wall built in order to be used as a separation of two or more dwellings. "Par- tition Wall" means any interior wall of masonry in building. "External Wall" means every outer wall or vertical inclosure except a party wall of any building. "Height of a building" means that distance from top of outside foundation wall to the highest part of the roof. "Tenement" or "Apartment House" means any building for three or more families or for two or more families, where the building is in part for mercan- tile or manufacturing purposes. "Inspector" means the Inspector of Buildings appointed under Section 1 of this by-law. "Building Limits" means the building or fire limits heretofore prescribed or which may from time to time be prescribed by the Town. "Chimney" shall apply to any permanent or fixed flues or passages built into any building for conveying away the products of combustion from furnaces, stoves, boil- ers, ranges or fireplaces. "Repairs" means the construction or renewal of any existing part of a building or of its fixtures or appurtenances, by which the strength or fire risk is not affected or modified and not made in the opinion of the Inspector for the purpose of converting the building in whole or in part to a new use. "Thickness of a wall" means the minimum thickness of such wall. "Persons" shall mean individuals, copartnerships or corporations. "Flat roof" means any roof with a pitch of four and one-half inches per foot or less. "Basement" means a lower story partly but not more than fifty per cent below the level of the street, if adjoining, or if not, on a street below the average grade of the ground outside the wall. "Building" means any structure which is more than ten feet in length or breadth or more than seven feet in height measuring to the extremities of all parts. "Attic" means any story lo- cated wholly or partly in the roof.
Section 51. Whoever violates any of the provisions of the pre- ceding sections of this by-law shall be punished by a fine not exceed- ing one hundred dollars for each offense to be paid into the treasury of the Town of Reading.
Section 52. The provisions of these by-laws shall not apply to buildings and structures owned or occupied by the United States or
28
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR GAS PIPING
In order to insure public safety and provide an uninterrupted supply of gas, it is necessary to adhere to certain rules and regulations when installing gas piping and gas-burning appliances.
1. No piping shall be covered or concealed from view until same has been inspected by the Inspector. All work must be installed accord- ing to rules and regulations adopted by the Town of Reading, com- plete in all details and made tight before making appointment for in- spection. Twenty-four hours shall be given before such inspection is 1 equired.
2. All gas piping shall be of iron or steel, all fittings shall be of malleable iron ; galvanized pipe and fittings are prohibited. Iron or steel pipes shall be installed in accordance with the following scale :
3. Diameter in inches 3/8 1/2
3/4
1 11/4 11/2 2
Length in feet 20 30 50
70 100 150 200
Number of burners 3 6 20 35 60 100 200
4. No riser or main pipe less than 3-4 inch shall be allowed. The service pipes must have connected to them close to the wall a heavy mal- leable tee, the end of the iron capped or plugged. The outlet side shall have a close nipple and L with a main shut-off cock made into L. On buildings of more than one user, each inlet riser should have connected to it, in cellar, a full way stop cock, the same size as riser. Risers shall be run to within five feet of that part of foundation wall at which service pipe will enter building, the bottom of riser to have drip tee.
5. Outlets for gas ranges shall have a diameter not less than that required for six burners except where gas is used for cooking and heat- ing only, then the outlet shall be not less than 3-4 inch and all ranges and heaters shall have a tee handle cock on the service pipe.
6. No outlets shall be placed back of doors, under tanks or within four feet of any meter.
7. Tanks. Every tank shall be equipped with a suitable relief valve of approved type located on the tank proper or on the hot water pipe connected on the top of the tank, when the relief valve is connected in the pipe line said pipe must be so installed that the measure of water in the tank will be exerted against the valve to open it. No stop cocks shall be placed between valve and tank.
PLUMBING REGULATIONS FOR THE TOWN OF READING IN GENERAL
Section 1. Applications for a permit to do plumbing within the limits of the town shall be obtained by a plumber from the Board of Health and such permits shall be granted by said Board before any plumbing work may be done excepting as to repairs or leaks.
All permits issued for plumbing work if not begun within thirty (lays from date of the issuance of such permit shall become void.
29
Section 2. The rules and regulations adopted by the State Board of Labor and Industries, Section 133 of Chapter 149 of the General Laws, shall apply to every factory workshop, manufacturing, mechanical, mercantile or other establishments within the limits of the town where sinks, closets or other plumbing is or may be installed.
Section 3. Garages and other establishments connected with the public sewers, where gasoline and other dangerous volatile oils are used shall have floor drains constructed in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Metropolitan Water and Sewerage Board, and, if such drains are connected with cesspool, they shall be installed in ac- cordance with plans to be approved by the Board of Health.
DUTIES of PLUMBERS
Section 4. The Inspector of Plumbing must be notified by the plumber when the main drain, soil, waste branch connections or ventilat- ing pipes are in position and all calked joints necessary to be made in the job are finished and ready to be tested in the presence of the Inspector. Such test shall be that known as the water test. The Inspector must be again notified immediately after the work is completed and before it is concealed from view.
Section 5. All plumbing work must be left uncovered and con- venient for examination until inspected and approved and until approval has been granted to the plumber in charge by said Inspector at the satisfactory completion of said work. If on inspection, the work is not satisfactory, the plumber will be notified and a limit of five days (unless otherwise permitted) given in which to complete the same.
DRAIN, SOIL and WASTE PIPES
Section 6. The plumbing system of every building (except that of a private garage or stable, which if at the rear of the lot may connect with the house drain) shall be separately and independently connected out- side of the building with the public sewer, and if such sewer is not pro- vided, then with a proper and adequate private drain or sewer connect- ing with a septic tank or cesspool approved by Board of Health and placed not less than 10 feet outside of foundation wall. Cast iron house drains shall extend not less than 10 feet from the inside face of the wall beyond and away from the building, and, unless impracticable must be in position at time of tests. The drain and sewer connection, or septic tank shall not be covered or concealed until permission of Plumbing Inspector has been obtained. All soil pipes placed under ground within or out- side of buildings shall be extra heavy cast iron pipe. Soil pipes above the ground to be of cast iron and of the quality known as standard soil pipe. Said pipes shall be securely ironed to walls laid in trenches sus- pended by strong iron hangers or supported on suitable brick piers and shall with a uniform grade have a fall toward sewer, septic tank, or cesspool, of not less than one fourth per foot ; and shall be supplied with a Y branch placed with an accessible brass screw cleanout inside the
30
building at or near the point where it leaves the building. All per- manent hangers, clamps or brick piers shall be placed at intervals of ten feet and shall be placed before test is made. There shall be suitable brass screw cleanouts at all angles of horizontal pipes where the same are possible and at foundation walls in a direct line with the sewer or cesspool and at such other points as the Inspector may direct. All cleanouts below the cellar bottom must be accessible for inspection and cleaning through movable covers. Change in direction shall be made with curved pipes and all connections shall be made with branches, no YTV's allowed.
SOIL PIPES
Section 7. The soil pipes of every building shall be carried above the roof open and undiminished in size at least 2 feet and 2 feet above any opening within 15 feet in any building, or where roofs are used for drying clothes or other purposes, vent must be extended eight feet above. All branches or soil or waste pipe fifteen feet or more in length shall be continued in the above manner, or into the main soil pipes, at a point above the top of the highest fixture in the building. Iron pipes when passing through the roof of a building shall be made water tight with sheet copper or four-pound sheet lead.
Joints on iron pipe shall be made with oakum and molten lead thoroughly calked. Connections of lead pipes with iron pipes shall be made with heavy brass ferrules and calked to the iron: the lead pipes to be attached to the ferrules by a round wiped soldered joint. All joints made of solder shall be full wiped joints.
RAIN WATER LEADERS
Section 8. No rain water leaders shall be connected with the house drain, sewer or cesspool.
REFRIGERATORS
Section 9. Waste pipes from refrigerators or other receptacles in which provisions are stored, shall not be connected with a drain, soil or other waste pipes, unless such waste pipes are provided with traps suitably ventilated and in every case there shall be an open tray or sink between the trap and the refrigerator.
BLOWOFF or DRIP PIPES
Section 10. No steam exhaust, blowoff or drip pipe shall connect with the sewer house drain, soil, or waste pipe, but shall discharge into a suitable tank or condenser from which a proper outlet to the drain or sewer shall be provided.
TRAPS
Section 11. Every water fixture having a waste pipe connected with sewer or cesspool shall be furnished with a separate trap placed as near as possible to the fixture that it serves except that where a sink and wash tray or bath tub and bowl come in contact with each other one round trap will be permitted for both provided that the distance between
31
the trap and the fixture does not exceed three feet. Where a 2-inch line of pipe passes through roof, two sinks or wash trays may connect to same without venting lower trap. When a closet is installed and a four- inch pipe runs through the roof, one sink or lavatory may be connected to said pipe without further venting providing it is top fixture. Top fixture on any stack need not be vented if within five feet of stack, or if a water closet not over 42 inches from stack. Where Esterbrook fitting is used, no venting required if trap is within five feet of stack and trap is under floor. Where built in bath tubs are installed they shall have a separate trap unless water seal in trap is twelve inches below bottom of tub. Where S traps are used they shall be of brass or other such metal as may be approved by the Inspector and not less than one and a half inches in diameter, and where round traps are used they shall be placed, if possible, so that the trap screw shall be under water. A suitable grease trap shall be connected with the kitchen sink in every hotel, res- taurant, public cooking establishment or such other places as may be required by the Inspector.
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 apart- ment that has not a window having at least three square feet opening directly to the external air.
When two or more fixtures are used on one line, the waste pipe must be of iron and not less than two inches in diameter. The waste pipe from every fixture must enter the trap separately. The waste from every trap must enter the soil pipe separately on all new work except that a Y may be connected to Esterbrook filling. Every water closet or line of water closets shall be supplied from a tank or flush valve.'
Section 12. All traps shall be protected from syphonage or air pressure by special cast iron, brass or galvanized iron pipes of a size not less than the water pipes they serve, except that for water closet traps they shall not be less than two inch bore for more than thirty feet. Whenever galvanized pipe is used for vent the fittings shall be of cast iron and if used for waste the fittings must be recessed galvanized iron. In old buildings where it is impossible to vent a trap, a nonsyphoning trap may be used if approved by the Inspector. Continuous vent shall be used where possible. Galvanized iron pipe may be used to connect soda fountains or other fixtures where they are not connected or dir- ected to sewer or cesspool. A short piece of galvanized pipe may be used to connect wash bowl or bath tub not to exceed twenty-four inches.
BACK VENTS
Section 13. Air pipes less than 11/2 inches in diameter when run- ning over twenty feet or when serving more than two traps shall be in- creased to 11/2 inches and all air pipes shall be run as direct as possible, and shall have such continuous slope as to avoid collecting water by
32
condensation. Whenever there are more than two closets, said air pipes shall not be less than three inches in diameter All vent pipes shall be so constructed as not to allow the formation of a trap, nor to be used as waste pipes. No vent pipe shall connect with any other vent pipe until it has attained the height of the top of the fixture whose trap it ventilates. No bow venting, solder unions where washers or packing is used or venting in new buildings from the trap screw of a round trap will be allowed. Lead air pipes may be used only where they are ex- posed to view and in no case shall they be allowed behind walls or sheathing or other places inaccessible for inspection.
Section 14. Any person or persons receiving a written notice from the Board of Health or its agent, served upon him or them of a viola- tion of these regulations, shall within a time not to exceed ten days, make such alterations as are called for in such notice.
Section 15. When old houses are to be connected to sewer, all fixtures must be entered and properly trapped and ventilated and water- tested to height of first fixture.
Section 16. In any house where the only fixture is a sink and connected to a cesspool or sewer, there shall be a continuous vent.
Section 17. No water closet shall be installed in any room or en- closure, basement or cellar of any dwelling house or other structure to be occupied and used for domestic purposes unless it is encased by a partition with close-fitting door or doors. (For outer air and ventilation see Section 11.)
Section 18. No range boiler shall be installed unless its capacity is plainly marked thereon in terms of the Massachusetts standard liq- uid measure, together with the maker's business name, in such manner that it may be easly identified. No copper, iron or steel pressure range boiler, whether plain or galvanized or other vessel or tank in which water is to be heated under pressure shall be installed without having stamped thereon the maker's guarantee that it has been tested to not less than two hundred pounds hydraulic pressure to the square inch, and no such boiler or other vessel or tank in which water is to be heated under pressure shall be installed if the working pressure is greater than forty-two and one-half percent of the guaranteed test pressure and marked thereon by the maker, and no such boiler or other vessel or tank in which water is to be heated under pressure shall be installed un- less it has a safety and vacuum valve of the three-in-one type. With the waste or blowoff piped to some open fixture, no traps in waste pipe, and pipe protected from any chance of freezing to prevent syphonage and expansion or explosion. And the Plumbing Inspector must be no- tified when the work has been completed.
Section 19. The Board of Health shall see that these ordinances and regulations of the town regarding plumbing are enforced. Who-
33
ever violates such regulations of the Board of Health shall pay a pen- alty of not over twenty dollars.
INSPECTION OF WIRES
Rules and Regulations for the Inspection of Wires, etc.
Section 1. An Inspector of Wires shall be appointed annually by the Selectmen and shall hold office from the first day of April in each year and until his successor is appointed. The Selectmen may remove him at pleasure. He shall keep a record of the business of his depart- ment and submit a report to the Selectmen in writing on or before February 1st of each year.
Section 2. The Inspector of Wires shall have supervision of all electric and other wires erected upon, over or under any street, way or building and of every wire within any building, when such wire is de- signed to carry electric lighting or power currents, and shall have auth- ority over, and shall inspect such wires, their condition, attachments. insulation, supports and appliances so as to secure safety to life and property and shall see that provisions of Chapter 166 of the General Laws and all acts in amendment thereof and addition thereto and all other laws, ordinances and regulations relating to electric and other wires are strictly enforced; and shall give notice promptly to any per- son or corporation owning or operating any such wire when in his judg- ment the same is unsafe or is not placed, kept and maintained in accord- ance with the requirements of said chapter of the provisions of any. other law, ordinance or regulation.
Section 3. Said Inspector shall supervise all poles supporting electric or other wires upon or over any street or buildings and all sup- ports of such wires when attached to buildings and ascertain if all said wires and supports are not weakened by decay or other causes; and in case a person or corporation owning, leasing or operating wires shall neglect or refuse to cut out and remove any wires so abandoned for use, said Inspector shall remove such wires at the expense of such parties or corporation.
Section 5. All wires, appliances and apparatus in the interior of public buildings or on private premises, and which are intended for the transmission of electricity, and to be connected with an outside circuit, shall be made placed and arranged and at all times kept to the satis- faction of said Inspector ; and said Inspector at all proper nd reason- able times shall have access to such wires, apparatus or appliances. No person shall put in place or change or alter the position of any such wires, appliances or apparatus, without having first notified the Inspect- or, who shall be given full opportunity to inspect the same before they shall be covered or enclosed. No wires shall be placed in any building in process of construction, until all gas, steam, sewer, water and furnace pipes have been placed in proper position, and at least forty-eight hours notice shall be given the Inspector, that the building is ready for lath-
34
ing, before any lathing is done, or before any of the wiring or other part of the electric lighting system therein is covered by lathing or otherwise.
Section 6. Wires in the interior of any public building or on pri- vate premises, intended to be connected with an outside circuit, shall not be so connected with any wire or wires crossing or running along over or under any street or way, without written permission having been obtained therefor from the said Inspector.
Section 7. Every person or corporation operating electric or other wires in, on, over or under any street way or building in the Town, upon the request of such Inspector, shall furnish him within fifteen days thereafter, accurate lists of the poles or other supports of their wires, the number of cross arms in use with each and the number of wires attached thereto, the location of conduits and manholes with in- formation as to localities where and what service is rendered, whether telegraphic, telephonic, fire alarm or otherwise ..
Section 8. The said Inspector upon request shall also be furnished by any person or corporation owning or operating electric wires, with such information as to kind, size and tested strength of supporting or service wires, the average volts charged or used, together with such other information as may by him be considered necessary to the faith- ful and effectual discharge of his duties.
Section 9, In no case shall a current of electricity be connected to any system of wiring or apparatus intended to be used for power or lighting without permission being first obtained and a written permit granted by the Inspector of Wires. The jurisdiction of the Inspector is intended to include all public and private electrical systems that are now and may hereafter be installed in the Town of Reading.
Article 10. In case of fire, the Chief Engineer, or the Engineer acting as such, shall have full power and authority to order and cause any electric wire or wires to be cut off or removed, and electric currents discontinued until the fire is extinguished.
Section 11. Every person or corporation engaging in the business of wiring buildings or other electrical work in the Town of Reading, shall first satisfy the Inspector of Wires that he or they are competent to perform such work, and all work done shall be reported on the of- ficial forms of this department.
Section 12. Architects are required when drawing plans and specifications to make provision for the channeling and pocketing of buildings for electric light and power wires. No electric gas lighting will be allowed on the same structures with the electric light.
Section 13. Any person or corporation who shall do or attempt to do any electrical construction work, whether original work or altera- tions without giving written notice to the Inspector of Wires, or after request from said Inspector failing to furnish him with a working draw-
35
ing of the proposed construction or alteration, and obtaining from him a written permit to do such work may be punished and the order of the Inspector enforced as provided in Section 38 of said Chapter 166.
Section 14. This ordinance shall not be construed to relieve or lessen the responsibility of any party owning, operating or controlling any electrical equipment for damages to any one injured by any defect therein, nor shall the Town be held as assuming any such liability by reason of the inspection authorized herein or certificates issued by its agents and servants, exercising the rights or powers given herein.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.