USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1942 > Part 6
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Size of Timber
Span
Not more than 8' 0" 2 × 6
Not more than 13' 0" 2 × 8
Not more than 16' 0" 2 × 10
Not more than 18' 0" 2 x 12
Not more than 20' 0" 2 x 14
Not more than 22' 0" 3 x 12
Not more than 24' 0"
3 × 14
Timbers over 18' 0" span shall be crowned.
Deflection of floor timbers shall not exceed 1-360 of the span where ceiling below is to be plastered.
The size and span of timbers as given above, can only be varied with the consent of the Building Inspector.
DIVISION NO. 12-PROHIBITIONS
Section 1. Recess in Wall-No recess or chase shall be made in any external or party wall so as to leave the thickness at the back less than eight inches.
Section 2. Timbers in Party Wall-No roof or floor timber enter- ing a party wall shall have less than four inches of solid brick work between it and the end of any other timber.
Section 3. No discharge upon a Street-No part of any roof shall be constructed in such a manner as to discharge snow, ice or any other material upon a public street or alley.
Section 4. Observation Stands-No elevated staging or stand for observation purposes shall be constructed or maintained except in ac- cordance with plans approved by the Building Inspector nor upon the roof of any building.
Section 5. Chimneys-No chimney shall be corbelled from a wall more than the thickness of the wall.
No chimney shall be hung from a wall which is less than twelve inches thick.
No vent pipe from a gas appliance set in the cellar of an old house shall enter any chimney used for heater, stove or fireplace, unless it has a separate entrance to chimney ten or more inches above smoke pipe from such heaters.
No gas stove or heater set in a kitchen of an old house shall be allowed unless a vent pipe is run from such heater or stove to a vent through the roof as provided in Division No. 9, section No. 10 or, by
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the permission of Inspector of Buildings, is attached to smoke pipe of coal stove.
No masonry shall rest upon wood except wooden piles and mud sills and wooden floors carrying tile or concrete for finish or brick nog- ging in wood stud partitions.
No part of any floor timber shall be within two inches of any chimney.
No studding or furring shall be within one inch of any chimney.
Section 6. Boilers and Furnaces-No furnace or boiler for heating shall be placed upon a wood floor unless the floor is made safe with fire resisting material satisfactory to the Building Inspector.
No smoke pipe shall project through any external wall or window.
No steam, furnace, or other hot air pipes shall be carried within one inch of any woodwork unless such pipes are double or otherwise protected by incombustible material.
No combustible partition shall be within three feet of the sides and back, or within six feet of the front, or any boiler carrying a pressure of over ten pounds unless the partition is covered with incombustible material which extends the full height of the partition from end or back of boiler to at least five feet in front of it. In such case the distance shall not be less than two feet from all sides and back and five feet from the front.
Wooden ceiling beams over the boiler and to a distance of three feet from the boiler on sides, front and back, shall be protected by a metal lathed and plastered ceiling.
Section 7. Boiler Under Public Way-No boiler shall be placed or maintained under any public way.
Section 8. "Protections"-No part of any structure, except cor- nices, string courses, window caps and sills, shall project over a public way or square.
No cornice shall project more than three feet, nor more than twelve inches over a way of a width of thirty feet or less.
Fire escapes and outside means of egress conforming to State re- quirement and satisfactory to the Building Inspector may project over a public way, but the Board of Selectmen may require a bond to pro- tect the Town from damages resulting therefrom.
Signs, advertising devices, clocks, marquees, permanent awnings and other like structures projecting over any public way shall not be placed or maintained without a permit from the Building Inspector with the approval of the Board of Public Works.
All such structures shall be constructed and, when attached to the building, shall be connected therewith in accordance with requirements of the Building Inspector.
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The Building Inspector may require a bond to protect the Town from damages resulting therefrom.
Roof Signs-All flat roof signs shall be set back 2/3 of its height and bottom of sign not less than 4' 0" up from roof. It shall be of steel frame construction, and drawings must be submitted for approval by the Building Inspector.
The preceding requirements shall not apply to poles, wires, con- duits and appurtenances of railroad, railway, telegraph and telephone, water, gas, electric light, heat and power companies.
Section 9. No opening between cellar of house and garage unless there are self-closing metal-clad doors in these openings, with a threshold at least eight (8) inches high unless the floor of garage is eight (8) inches or more below the cellar floor.
DIVISION NO. 13-BALCONIES, FIRE ESCAPES and FIRE ESCAPE STAIRS
Section 1. When outside metal stairways and balconies are placed on buildings as additional means of egress, they must be designed and constructed in accordance with the rules and regulations existing at the time of installation as promulgated by the Department of Public Safety of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
DIVISION NO. 14-ELEVATORS
All elevators and dumb waiters, including shafts, machine rooms and penthouses, shall be in accordance with the rules and regulations existing at the time of installation as promulgated by the Department of Public Safety of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
DIVISION NO. 15-GARAGES (Public Garage)
Section 1. No building shall be erected or converted to be used as a public or commercial garage unless it be of first or second-class con- struction throughout and such use shall have been previously author- ized by the Board of Selectmen.
(Private Garages)
Section 2. All garages built beneath or against the superstructure of dwellings shall be enclosed by brick, terra cotta or concrete walls or wood stud partitions at least four inches thick filled solid between studs to the full height with brick, terra cotta or gypsum blocks laid in mor- tar and plastered on both sides with two coats of cement plaster on metal lathing. All windows in exterior walls shall be steel or metal covered sash with wired glass. Ceilings must be metal lathed and plas- tered.
Section 3. No private garage shall be built to hold more than three cars. Second-class garages shall not be placed less than five feet from the property line. Garages placed less than five feet from the property
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line shall be of first class construction. All garage windows within five feet of a property line shall be of metal sash glazed with wire glass. Garages of third class construction shall be not less than ten feet from the lot line and not less than ten feet from any dwelling.
Section 4. No private garage not built under or against a dwelling shall be less than forty feet from any street line. But the Board of Appeal may, on petition, permit a different location when in their opin- ion such location will not be detrimental to the character of the neigh- borhood.
DIVISION NO. 16-APARTMENT HOUSES. HOTELS, AND LODGING HOUSES (Scope)
Section 1. All apartment houses, whether erected as such, or con- verted or altered to such use, are subject to the provisions of this by- law. No apartment house shall at any time be altered so as to be in violation of any provision of this by-law.
Section 2. Construction-Every apartment house hereafter erected of three or more stories in height shall be a building of the first class except as hereinafter authorized.
Section 3. Second Class Construction-An apartment house of not more than three stories in height covering a ground area of not more than three thousand five hundred square feet to contain not more than twelve apartments may be a building of the second class if the follow- ing additional conditions are complied with :
1. To have not more than four apartments in one story.
2. The ceilings and walls of all basements, hallways, landings and stairways of said apartments shall be of masonry or plastered on ap- proved incombustible material in manner satisfactory to the Inspector, and all such stairways shall be enclosed in brick or concrete walls, and the doors leading from such stairways to apartments shall be self-clos- ing fire doors approved by the Inspector.
3. The floor of the front entrance hall up to and including the stair enclosure in the first story shall be of fireproof construction.
4. The front entrance hall up to the stair enclosure shall be at least six feet wide in the clear and each of the front stair halls, stair- ways, and landings, and the least horizontal dimension of the space enclosed by the stairways and its landings shall be at least forty inches.
5. Where a three-story apartment house contains not more than three apartments, the above requirements of paragraph "2" for brick or concrete stairway enclosure walls above the first floor and the re- quirements of paragraph "3" shall not apply, but such stairways shall be enclosed with wood stud partitions filled solid between studs with brick, terra cotta or gypsum blocks laid in mortar, and plastered on
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both sides with three coats of cement plaster on metal lathing, with kalamein doors and frames.
6. The first story, or basement, or both the first story and base- ment in habitations of second class construction not more than thirty- five hundred square feet in superficial area, hereafter erected or re- modeled may be used for mercantile purposes; provided that the floors and walls separating partitions brick-nogged, and all walls, partitions and ceiling cement plastered three coats on metal lathing, and having no communicating doors or other openings between the two portions of the building.
DIVISION NO. 17-DUPLEX HOUSES
Section 1. Every duplex house shall have a separating partition plastered on metal lath on both sides, or wholly filled between the studs with brick and mortar or concrete up to the ceiling of the upper fin- ished story and resting on an eight inch brick or block wall in the cellar.
Section 2. Every block of three or more dwelling houses shall have a brick division wall at least eight inches thick between each two dwellings, said wall to extend up to the under side of the roof covering.
Section 3. Cellar Ceilings-In all apartment houses of second and third class construction hereafter erected, the cellar or basement ceil- ings shall be made smoke tight by lath and plastering or by some other manner approved by the Inspector of Buildings.
DIVISION NO. 18-OPEN AREAS
Section 1. Yards-Behind every apartment house except those on corner lots there shall be a yard extending across the entire width of the lot and at every point open from the ground to the sky unob- structed. Every part of the yard shall be accessible to a public way and shall be measured from the extreme rear of the house to the rear line of the lot. If the apartment house is three stories or less in height, the depth of the yards, in case of other than corner lots shall be at least twelve feet and shall be increased in depth one foot for every ad- ditional story in height of the building above three stories, and the depth of the yard in the rear of corner lots shall be at least ten feet with an increase of one foot for each additional story.
Section 2. Outer Courts-Where one side of an outer court is sit- uated on the lot line, the width of the said court, measured from the lot line to the opposite wall of the building for apartment houses three stories in height, shall not be less than six feet in any part, and the depth of said court not more than five times its width, and such width shall be increased one foot throughout the entire height of said build- ing for every additional story in height. Where an outer court is sit- uated between wings or parts of the same building or between different buildings on the same lot, the width of the court, measured from wall
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to wall for apartment houses three stories in height, shall not be less than twelve feet in any part, and the depth of said court not more than two and one half times its width, and such width shall be increased two feet throughout the entire height of said building for every additional story in height. Wherever an outer court changes its initial horizontal direction or wherever any part of such court extends in a horizontal direction so as not to receive direct light from the street or yard, the length of such portion of said court shall never exceed the width of said portion, and no windows except windows of water closet compart- ments, bathrooms, or halls shall open upon any off-set or recess less than twelve feet in width.
Section 3. Inner Courts-Where one side of an inner court is sit- uated on the lot line, the width of the said court, measured from the lot line to the opposite wall of the building for apartment houses three stories in height, shall not be less than ten feet in any part, and its other horizontal dimension shall not be less than sixteen feet in any part, and for each additional story in height of the said building such width shall increase one foot throughout the entire height of said court and the other horizontal dimension shall be increased two feet the en- tire height of said court.
Where an inner court is not situated upon a lot line but is enclosed on all four sides, the least horizontal dimension of the said court for apartment houses three stories in height shall not be less than twenty feet, and for every story increase in height of said building the said court shall be increased two feet in each horizontal direction through- out the entire height of said court. Every inner court shall be pro- vided with an intake connecting with the street or yard at least three feet wide and seven feet high with open grille doors containing at least fifteen square feet of unobstructed openings. The intake shall have fire walls satisfactory to the Inspector.
Section 4. Courts Open at Top-No court of an apartment house shall be covered by a roof or skylight but every court shall be at every point from the ground to the sky unobstructed.
Section 5. Buildings on Same Lot with Apartment Houses-If any building, except a one-story garage of first-class construction, is here- after placed on same lot with an apartment house there shall always be maintained between the buildings an open unoccupied space extend- ing upward from the ground and extending across the entire width of the lot, not less than twenty-four feet in depth. Where either building exceeds three stories in height, the depth of the open space shall be in- creased two feet for each story above three stories. No building of any kind, except a garage as above specified, shall hereafter be placed upon the same lot with an apartment house so as to decrease the min- imum size of courts or yards as hereinbefore prescribed. If any apart-
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ment house is hereafter erected upon any lot upon which there is al- ready another building, it shall comply with all the provisions of this by-law and in addition the space between the building and the apart- ment house shall be of the size arranged in the manner prescribed in this section, the height of the highest building on the lot to regulate the dimensions.
Section 6. Yards Not Fronting on Street, etc .- When an apart- ment house does not front upon a street, a public way, or a passage- way, not less than fifteen feet wide, the requirements of this section as to yards shall apply to the front as well as to the rear of such apart- ment house. The yard behind one apartment house shall not be deemed to satisfy in whole or in part the requirements of a yard in front of another apartment house.
Section 7. Permanency of Yards and Courts-No apartment house shall be hereafter enlarged or its lot so diminished, and no building of any kind shall be hereafter so placed upon the same lot with an apart- ment house, as to decrease the minimum depth of yards or the min- imum size of courts or yards required by this by-law for apartments hereafter erected.
Section 8. Rear Tenements-No building hereafter erected, con- verted, or placed shall be used as an apartment house unless it faces on a public street or has the use of a way or place not less than forty feet wide leading to a public street.
Section 9. Lighting and Ventilation-In every apartment house the total window area in each room including water-closet compartments, except where mechanically ventilated, shall be at least one eighth of the superficial area of the room, but in no case less than three square feet, and at least one window shall have the upper half of it made so as to open the full width. Every living room, except compartment for water-closets only, shall have at least one window of twelve square feet area opening directly upon a street or upon a yard or court. The window shall be so located as properly to light all parts of the rooms.
Section 10. Windows in Stair Halls-In every apartment house there shall be provided for each story one or more windows at least two feet six inches wide and five feet high, measured between the stop beads, to light and ventilate each stair hall, unless the well hole en- closed by the stairs be at least three feet square.
Section 11. Rooms-In every apartment house there shall be in each apartment at least one room containing not less than one hundred and twenty square feet area and every other room, except bathroom and water closets, shall contain not less than ninety square feet of floor area. All rooms shall be in every part not less than eight feet from the finished floor to the finished ceiling. Alcove rooms shall be con- sidered a portion of the rooms from which they open.
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Section 12. Basement or Cellar Rooms-In apartments hereafter erected or converted or altered for such use, no room in the cellar or in the basement with floors below the level of the ground shall be con- structed, altered, converted, or occupied for living purposes without a written permit from the Board of Health. Such room shall be at least eight feet high in every part from the floor to the ceiling, and shall have a window or windows opening upon a street or upon a yard, court, or area at least six feet wide. The total area of windows in such rooms shall be at least one-eighth of the superficial area of the room, and each window shall be made to open at least one-half of its full area, and the top of each window shall be within six inches of the ceiling. The ceiling of such room shall be at least four feet six inches above the surface of the street or ground outside and adjoining the same. All walls and floors of such rooms shall be thoroughly drained on the out- side and provided with dead-air space.
Every apartment house shall have the walls below the ground level and the cellar floor damp-proof.
Section 13. Shafts-All shafts hereafter constructed in apartment houses shall be of fire-protected construction throughout, with approved fire doors or metal sash and wire-glass at all openings.
But nothing in this section contained shall be so construed as to re- quire such enclosures about elevators or dumb-waiters in the well-hole of stairs where the stairs themselves are enclosed in brick or stone walls and are entirely constructed of fireproof materials.
Section 14. Vent Shaft-Every vent shaft hereafter constructed in an apartment house shall be at least twenty square feet in area, and the last dimension of such shaft shall not be less than four feet. A vent shaft may be enclosed on all sides, but shall not be roofed or cov- ered over in any way so as to impede proper ventilation.
Section 15. Cellar Entrance-In every apartment house hereafter erected there shall be an entrance to the cellar or other lowest story from the outside of the building.
Section 16. Closets Under Stairway-In any non-fireproof build- ing, any portion of which is used or occupied as an apartment house, no closet ci any kind shall be constructed or maintained under any stair.
Section 17. Privacy-In every apartment house hereafter erected there shall be in every apartment at least one water closet located in a separate compartment which shall be accessible without passing through any bedroom.
Section 18. Chimney-In every apartment house hereafter erected there shall be at least one adequate chimney running through each apartment with a proper place provided for connecting a stove, grate, or fireplace with said chimney.
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Section 19. Water Supply-In every apartment house hereafter erected, there shall be in each apartment a proper sink with running water.
Section 20. Egress-Every apartment house hereafter erected shall have at least two separate stairways from each apartment to the ground access to these stairways being at two points as far apart as possible.
Section 21. Repapering - No wall paper or kalsomine or other wash shall be placed upon any wall or ceiling or other portion of any apartment house unless all old paper, kasomine or wash shall first be removed therefrom and said wall or other portion of building thor- oughly cleaned.
Section 22. Penalties-Whoever violates any provision of these by- laws or whoever alters or maintains any structure or any part thereof in violation of any provision of these by-laws shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars.
DIVISION NO. 19-PLUMBING
Section 1. Application 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 per- mits issued for plumbing, if not begun within thirty days from date of the issuance of such permit, shall become void.
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, mechani- cal, 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 sewer, where gasoline and other dangerous volatile oils are used, shall have floor drains constructed as approved by the Plumbing Inspector, and if such drains are connected with cesspool, they shall be installed in accordance with plans to be approved by the Board of Health.
Section 4. Duties of Plumbers-The inspector of plumbing must be notified by the plumber when the main drain, soil, waste, branch con- nections or ventilating pipes are in position, and all calked joints neces- sary 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 again be 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 ap- proval has been granted to the plumber in charge by said Inspector at
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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 work.
Section 6. Drain, Soil and Waste Pipes-The plumbing system of every building, (except that of a public garage or stable, which if at the rear of the lot may connect with the house drain) shall be sep- arately and independently connected outside of the building with the public sewer, and if such sewer is not provided, then with a proper and adequate private drain or sewer, connecting with a septic tank or cess- pool approved by the Board of Health and placed not less than 10 feet outside of foundation wall.
Cast iron house drains shall extend not less than ten (10) feet from the inside face of the wall, beyond and away from the building, and, unless impracticable, must be in a position at time of test. 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 outside of building 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 inch per foot; and shall be sup- plied with a Y branch placed with an accessible brass screw clean-out inside the building at or near the point where it leaves the building. All permanent hangers, clamps, or brick piers shall be placed at intervals of eight feet, and shall be placed before test is made.
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