USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Tewksbury > Town of Tewksbury annual report 1926-1932 > Part 22
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Sec. 3. No building except those which come un- der the provisions of the Revised Laws, Chapter 104. Section 22, and one story wooden buildings less than ten feet square, shall be erected, and no addition or alteration changing the character of any such build-
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ing shall be made by any person unless he shall first file with the Inspector plans and specifications or a full description of the proposed work. If the plans, specifications or description so filed shall be in com- pliance with the building limitations prescribed in these By-laws the Inspector shall forthwith issue a permit therefor.
Sec. 3a (Amendment). For the purposes of these By-Laws all buildings shall be classified as follows :
Type 1. Residence Buildings.
Type 2. Business Buildings ( Wood).
Type 3. Business Buildings (Masonry).
Type 4. Garages.
Type 5. Farm Buildings.
Sec. 4. To obtain a permit the person intending to erect or make such alterations in such building shal !. three days before the work is to begin, file with the Inspector a notice of the intention with plan together with specifications or a full description of the pro- posed work.
Board of Appeal
Sec. 5. The Board of Selectmen shall annually ap- point a committee of three citizens of Tewksbury for a term of one year, or until their successors are ap- pointed and qualified, to be called the Board of Ap- peal. In case of doubt as to the true meaning, intent or application of these building laws. either the In- spector or any one aggrieved by the ruling of the In- spector thereon may by petition bring the matter be- fore said Board for determination. The Board shall thereupon give a hearing on such petition and deter- mine the true intent, meaning and application of these By-laws. A decision by a majority of said Board shall be binding on all parties affected there- by.
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Foundations
Sec. 6. No wooden building of Type 1 shall be placed within 10 feet of the side lot lines or within 15 feet of the line of street upon which the building faces. No building of Type 2 not over two stories In height and wooden buildings of Type 5 shall not be placed within 6 feet of the lot line or within 12 feet of any other wooden building. Buildings of Type 3 having solid external masonry walls may be built to side lot lines but buildings of this type having pierced external walls along side lines shall be placed not less than 3 feet from lot lines. No building of Type 2 and 3 shall be placed less than three feet from line of street or streets. For required distances of garages from lot lines and other buildings, see Regulations of Fire Prevention Commissioner. Any wooden building may be placed a less distance to lines and buildings provided wall or walls nearest to line or buildings are made fireproof by approval of the Inspector.
Sec. 7. All masonry foundations shall extend 3 feet below adjoining surface exposed to frost. In cases of poor soil the Inspector may require addi- tional footings to keep the stresses in masonry and on the soil within proper working stresses. All mate- rials shall be of such quality as to insure, in the judg- ment of the Inspector, ample safety to life, limb and neighboring property and the Inspector shall have power to reject all materials which in his opinion are unsuitable. Brick, stone, or concrete blocks used in foundations shall be laid in cement mortar-mixture by volume to consist of one part cement. one-half part lime and not more than three parts sand. Solid con- crete used in foundations shall consist of mixtures by volume of one part cement and not more than two and one-half parts sand and five parts crushed stone or one part cement, and not more than six parts bank gravel. In case of severe thrust or pressure on foun-
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dation walls from any cause, such walls shall be strengthened by thickening or reenforcing as the In- spector may require. In case of doubt as to strength of any material used in foundations the Inspector may order tests made at the expense of the owner. Concrete blocks used in foundations shall at 28 days develop an average ultimate compressive strength of 700 pounds per square inch of gross sectional area of block when testing six blocks. Every building of Type 1 not exceeding two stories in height and build- ings of Type 5 exceeding one story in height shall have masonry foundations, when retaining not more than six feet of earth, a minimum thickness of
Concrete 10 inches
Block Stone 16 inches
Brick or Concrete Blocks 12 inches Rubble Stone 18 inches
All brick and concrete blocks must rest on footings of stone or solid concrete not less than 12 inches in height. Foundations of buildings of Type 1, exceed- ing two stories and buildings of Type 2, not exceed- ing two stories in height, shall have masonry founda- dations, when retaining not more than 10 feet of earth, a minimum thickness of
Concrete 12 inches
Block Stone 16 inches
Brick or Concrete Blocks 16 inches Rubble Stone 24 inches
Foundations of buildings of Types 3 and 6 not over one story in height shall have masonry foundations, when retaining not more than 10 feet of earth, with a minimum thickness of
Concrete 12 inches
Block Stone 16 inches
Brick or Concrete Blocks 16 inches
Rubble Stone 24 inches
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Buildings of the above Types more than one story in height shall have solid concrete foundations at least 4 inches thicker than walls resting upon them. Buildings of Type 1 not over one story in height and not over 400 square feet floor area may be set upon cement posts not less than 6 inches square placed in carth at least 2 feet 6 inches and spaced not more than 6 feet apart. Farm buildings not exceeding one story in height may be set upon wood posts, size and spacing to be determined by the Inspector. All other farm buildings shall have foundations of same thick- ness as that of buildings of Type 1.
Underpinnings
Sec. 8. All cellar walls above grade of buildings of Type 1, not exceeding two stories in height. shall have a minimum thickness of
Concrete 8 inches
Brick or Concrete Blocks 8 inches
Stone 16 inches
Where walls are over 6 feet in height or building is increased in height the thickness of walls shall be in- creased at least 4 inches for any increase in height of walls or increase in the height of building. Cellar walls above grade of buildings of Types 2 and 3 shall be of same thickness as foundation walls, and mate- rial used shall be of same grade and quality as in foundation walls. No sand, lime or soft brick shall be used in foundations or underpinnings.
Walls
Sec. 9. Wooden buildings of Types 1 and 2 and of Type 5 over one story in height shall have braced frames, except dwelling houses not exceeding one and one-half stories in height may have balloon frames. Braced frames of buildings not exceeding two stories in height shall have sills, corner posts and girts not
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less than 4 x 6 inches, plates not less than two 2 x 4 inches and braces not less than 2 x 4 inches, and of buildings exceeding two stories in height shall have sills not less than 6 x 6 inches and girts and corner posts not less than 4 x 8 inches. Girts and posts shall be tennoned and pinned together. All studs in outside walls and in partitions supporting floors shall be at least 2 x 4 inches and set not more than 16 inches center to center.
Balloon frames shall have sills and corner posts not less than 4 x 6 inches, plates not less than 2 x 4 inches, and ledger boards not less than 1 x 6 inches and notched into studs at least 1 inch and space be- tween studding below and ledger board shall be filled with material same size as studding. Outside wall studs shall run in one piece from sill to plate, and floor beams shall be spiked to wall studs full width of studs.
All openings in bearing partitions over 3 feet wide must be double studded and trussed.
Buildings of Type 5 not over one story in height and wooden buildings allowed of Type 4 shall have sills not less than 4 x 4 inches and studs not less than 2 × 4 inches set not more than 24 inches center to center.
The thickness of masonry walls where roof frame is of wood and resting on walls shall have a minimum thickness of
Stories
Thickness 1 2 3
1 8
12 8
2 3
12 12 8
provided, however, that no 8-inch wall shall have more than 250 square feet area without additional lateral support of pilasters, which may be not less
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than 16 inches in thickness. In cases where roofs or floors are supported by beams, as in mill construc- tion, the pilasters shall be of sufficient size so that stress will be not more than
Brick work (laid in mortar 1-1-5) 14 tons per sq. ft. 9 tons per sq. ft. 25 tons per sq. ft.
Concrete blocks (laid in mortar 1-1-5) Solid concrete 1-6
Every masonry wall shall be laid in cement-lime, mortar in proportions of not more than one part cement, one part lime and five parts sand. All walls to be properly bonded, and all joints solidly filled with mortar, and the corners shall be anchored to each other every ten feet in their height by tie an- chors made of at least 1 1-4 inches by 3-8 inch wrought iron.
All masonry walls above openings shall be sup- ported by steel sections to properly carry the load and shall have bearing at each end of at least 8 inches.
All piers and pilasters built for the purpose of supporting beams shall be capped with steel plates of sufficient size and thickness to properly transmit load to pier.
The external masonry wall of a building with flat roof, exceeding two stories in height, located less than 6 feet from lot line, shall be carried up at least 2 feet above roof without decreasing the thickness. The ex- posed top of every masonry wall shall be covered with stone, concrete or metal securely fastened to outer edge. If a cornice extends above the roof line the parapet wall shall be carried up its full thickness to top of cornice. All buildings of Type 2 and 3 shall have division walls and they shall be brick nogged their entire height and shall rest upon a solid mason- ry wall in cellar not less than 8 inches thick. In build- ings of Types 2 and 3, where part or entire floor above first is used for residence purposes, there shall be a metal lath and plastered or a metal ceiling below the portion used for residence.
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Sand-lime or soft brick shall not be used in any wall subject to loads or exposed to weather but may be used for nogging. All wooden timbers fastened to top of masonry walls for purpose of fastening pitched rafters shall be tied to wall with bolt ties set into wall a depth of at least 24 inches and placed not more than 8 feet apart.
Buildings of Type 4, not exceeding one story in height and 600 square feet floor area, may have ex- ternal walls of terra cotta tile with a minimum thick- ness of 6 inches.
Floors
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Sec. 10. Floor timbers in buildings of Type 1, when set 16 inches center to center, shall be of the following sizes :
Span Size 2× 6
8- 9 ft.
10-11 ft.
2× 7
12-13 ft. 2× 8
14-15 ft. 2× 9
16-17 ft. 2 × 10
18-19 ft. 2 × 12
20-21 ft. 2 × 14
In cases where the spans in a building are differ- ent and it is desired to use timbers of the same depth, the size and spacing stated above may be changed but shall be of a size and spacing to sustain a live load of 50 pounds per square foot with a fibre stress not exceeding 1000 pounds per square inch.
Girders not less than 6 x 6 inches shall be used where span of floor timbers does not exceed 14 feet, and for any increase of span the girder shall be not less than 6 x 8 inches, and all girders shall rest upon cement filled iron columns spaced not more than 7 feet apart, and of sufficient size to sustain load.
Floor timbers in buildings of Types 2, 3 and 6 shall be of a size sufficient to sustain a live load of 100 pounds per square foot with a fibre stress not exceed- ing 1000 pounds per square inch.
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The ends of all floor timbers entering a masonry wall shall enter the wall at least 4 inches and shall be cut with a splay of 3 inches in their depth. They shall also be tied to the walls with anchors placed on under side of timbers and turned down in the wall, and shall also be tied together at joints with straps so as to form a continuous tie across the building. Walls running parallel or nearly parallel with floor timbers shall be properly tied with anchors once every 10 feet. All anchors or ties mentioned above shall be at least 1 1-2 inches by 1-4 inch wrought iron. The ends of all beams resting on pilasters shall be fastened to outside walls by a tie fastened to beam and extending into or through wall in a manner as the . Inspector shall direct. All floor timbers in any building with a span from 10 to 16 feet shall have one row of bridging, and all timbers with a span exceed- ing 16 feet shall have a row of bridging not more than every 8 feet. All bridging stock to be not less than 1 x 2 inches. All floor timbers under cross parti- tions shall be doubled, and headers and timbers of all openings of more than 4 square feet area shall be floor timbers doubled or their equivalent.
Roof Timbers
Sec. 11. All rafters for pitched roofs which are 10 to 16 feet in length shall not be less than 2 x 6 inches, set not more than 24 inches center to center, and rafters which exceed 16 feet in length shall be not less than 2 x 8 inches, set not more than 24 inches center to center. Valley rafters exceeding 8 feet in length shall be not less than 2 x 8 inches. Rafters for farm buildings may be 2 x 4 inches. Flat roofs shall have timbers of sufficient size as to sustain a live load of 50 pounds per square foot with a fibre stress not exceeding 1000 pounds per square inch. All roof tim- bers or beams if built into masonry walls shall be placed and tied in walls in same manner as floor beams. Every building of Types 2 and 3 over one
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story in height shall have a permanent opening in roof where approved by the Inspector, such opening to be not less than 2 x 3 feet, and equipped with per- manent means of access to the roof as approved by the Inspector and door to be fastened in such manner as always to permit opening from inside without a key. The roof of every building hereafter erected shall be covered with fire-resistive material. ..
All roofs and leaders therefrom shall be so arrang- ed as not to discharge water upon a public way or ad- joining property.
Double Houses
Sec. 12. Every double house shall have a separat- ing partition plastered on metal lath on both sides, or wholly filled between the studs with brick and mortar or concrete to the ceiling of the upper finished story, and resting on an eight-inch brick wall in the cellar.
Projections
Sec. 13. No bay window or other structure, except a cornice, shall be placed on any building so as to project over any public way or square without the permission of the Board of Selectmen, given after due notice and hearing.
Stairs, Exits ..
Sec. 14. All buildings of Types 2 and 3 shall have at least two exits leading directly or indirectly to the street and placed as far apart as practicable. Stairs when used as exits from upper stories shall have not more than fifteen nor less than three risers between landings; risers shall not exceed 8 inches in height and treads shall not be less than 9 inches exclusive of nosing. Every opening, door or passage-way forming parts of exits shall be not less than 4 feet wide and 7 feet high.
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Fire Guards
Sec. 15. In all wooden buildings except Types + and 5 the spaces between floor timbers, between stair stringers, and also between the studs in external walls in each story, shall be stopped sufficiently to check effectively any draught from one story to an- other or from the horizontal spaces between floor tim- bers to the vertical spaces in the walls. No wood work shall be placed within 1 inch of any chimney and the space around all chimneys where they pass through the floors in each story and the space between the studs and the brick work at the top and jambs of open fire-places shall be fire stopped with hard metal.
Chimneys
See. 16. All chimneys hereafter erected shall be built from the ground up unless corbelled to a mas- onry wall in which case the wall shall not be less than 12 inches thick. No chimney shall be corbelled for the purpose of supporting beams or timbers.
Sec. 17. Every chimney shall be built of hard clay, brick, terra cotta, concrete block or other incombus- tible material excepting sand-lime, brick and shall be laid in cement lime mortar. The walls of every smoke fue shall be not less than 4 inches thick and all flues shall be lined continuously from 1 foot below first floor to above roof line with hard burned terra cotta flue lining built in as the chimney is carried up, or plaster lined. Every chimney when enclosed shall be plastered on outside surface from cellar to roof with lime mortar. The topping courses of chimneys shall not have more than 2 inches projection unless the top is covered with a solid cap of stone or other non-com- bustible materials properly secured. Smoke flues con- nected with boilers having a grate area of over 10 square feet shall have 8 inch walls for a height not less than 12 feet.
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See. 18. All chimneys shall be topped out at least two feet above the highest part of the roof to which they belong, or three feet above a flat roof. No struc- tural wood work of any kind shall be placed at a less distance than one inch from the outside of any chim- ney.
See. 19. No smoke pipe in any building with wooden or combustible floors or ceilings shall hereafter enter any flue except at a distance not less than twelve inches from said floor or ceiling or projecting beams ; and in all cases where smoke pipes pass through stud or wooden partitions of any kind, whether the same be plastered or not, they shall be guarded.
Sec. 20. All smoke pipes passing through closets shall be enclosed in metal pipes with ventilated air space of at least two inches all around. No earthen- ware pipes shall be used for horizontal flues. No woodwork shall be placed at a less distance than six inches from any metal flue or smoke pipe.
Sec. 21. All hearths shall be supported upon trim- mer arches of brick or stone, or upon bars of iron supporting a bed of brickwork, and shall be at least sixteen inches longer than the width of the fireplace openings and at least eighteen inches wide in front of the chimney breast. Wooden centering supporting a trimmer arch shall be removed before plastering.
Sec. 22. Brickwork of all grates, fireplaces and ranges shall be not less than eight inches thick. No woodwork shall be secured to the brickwork of any flue. Open fireplaces shall have fireproof foundations.
Sec. 23. a The top of every heating furnace or steam boiler shall be kept at least one foot below the lowest part of the ceiling or floor next above.
b Registers connected with hot air furnaces shall be set in non-conducting incombustible borders at least two inches wide. Register boxes shall be made of metal with a flange on top to fit a grove in the bor- der, and shall have a one-inch air space all around.
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c Furnace or other pipes conveying heated air shall be of tin plate or its equal and, except those from hot water or steam radiators, in partitions or between floors shall be double with a free air space between, and elsewhere shall be kept at least one inch away from any woodwork.
d No wooden flue or air duct of any description can be used for heating or ventilating purposes.
e A space of at least one inch to be left between all woodwork and chimneys, with the exception of floor timbers which shall be not less than two inches from chimneys; also around all hot air, steam and hot water pipes where they pass through floors to be stopped with metal or other fireproof material smoke tight. Steam and hot water pipes to have metal sleeves and collars.
f All channels and pockets for gas, water and soil pipes to be made smoke tight at each floor.
Steam Pipes
Sec. 24. Steam pipes. shall be kept at least one inch from all woodwork, or shall be protected by an incombustible ring or tube or rest on iron supports, with air space of at least one-half inch all around; and when passing through partitions or floors shall be surrounded by incombustible funnels at least three-quarters of an inch larger in diameter than the pipes.
Safeguards during Building Operations
Sec. 27. Whenever any person is about to erect or alter the exterior 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 build- ing, and the same shall be maintained until all liabil- ity to accident from falling material ceases ; he shall
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also maintain a proper walk around said fence as long as the sidewalk is obstructed; and he shall main- tain proper lights, if so required by the Inspector, at both ends of such enclosed space from sunset to sun- rise. 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 that may be going on; and in case such material, rubbish or remains of any old building shall be necessarily remaining after dark, a sufficient light shall be placed over and near the same, and kept from sunset to sunrise. All rub- bish from the erecting or repairing of any build- ing or the removal of an old building shall be carried away by the person so erecting, re- pairing or removing such building at such time as the Superintendent of Streets may direct; and in case of neglect or refusal to do so, it shall be removed by the Superintendent of Streets at the expense of such per- son. Any person violating any provision of this sec- tion shall be liable to a penalty of twenty-five dollars.
Sec. 27a. Before any person may enclose or use a portion of sidewalk during building operations he must first file a bond with sureties satisfactory to the Board of Selectmen to protect the Town from all lia- bility during entire construction or alteration of building.
Intent and Meaning
Ser. 28. All questions as to the intent and mean- ing of the By-laws relating to the construction of buildings shall be decided by the Inspector.
See. 29. In these By-laws the following terms shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them:
Alteration means any change or addition.
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Cellar means a basement or lower story, of which one-half or more of the height from the floor to the ceiling is below the level of the street, if adjoining ; or if not on a street below the average grade of the ground outside the wall.
Foundation wall means that portion of any external wall below the grade of the ground outside the wall and that portion of any partition or party wall be- low the basement floor.
Party wall means every wall built in order to be used as a separation of two or more dwellings.
Partition wall means an interior wall of masonry in a building.
Height of a building means the distance from the top of the roof.
External wall means every outer wall or vertical en- closure, except a party wall, of any building.
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.
Building limits means the building or fire limits here- tofore prescribed, or which apply to any perma- nent or fixed flues or passages built into any build- ing for conveying away the products of combustion from furnaces, stoves, boilers, ranges or fireplaces. Repairs means the reconstruction or removal of any existing part of a building or of its fixtures or ap- purtenances by which the strength or fire risk is not affected or modified, and not made in the opin- ion 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.
Inspector means the Inspector of Buildings appoint- ed under Section 1 of this By-law.
Persons shall mean individuals, co-partnerships or corporations.
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1
Approved refers to a device, material or construction which has been approved by Underwriters' La- boratories.
Bearing Wall means any wall which supports any load other than its own weight.
Cement Mortar means 1 part cement, 1-2 part lime, 3 parts sand.
Cement Lime Mortar means 1 part cement, 1 part lime, 5 parts sand.
Division Wall means a wall extending between ex- ternal wall and dividing a building into parts.
Double house means a house used by two families living independently and in which no part of one apartment is over any part of the other apartment. Farm buildings means barns, hen houses and sheds. Non-combustible means material which will not burn. Nogging means brick-work laid between studs for fire stopping.
Parapet Wall means an unpierced extension above the roof of an exterior wall.
Public building means a building used or adapted to be used as a place of public assemblage.
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