The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-07-05
BUILDING REGULATIONS.
NOT MANY CHANGES MADE FROM
THE OLD CODE.
The Fire-Proofing of High Buildings
Moving of Frame Structures Within
the Fire Limits Prohibited-Other
Changes in the Regulations.

Inc regulations governing the erection of
buildings in the District of Columbia which
were approved by the Commissioners, June
70, have been printed, and within short time
VIII be ready for distribution. Though not
many changes were made from the previous
regulations, those which do occur are of CON
siderable Importance. The one most ma
terially affecting large building is that which
provides that Buildings hereafter erected or
increased in height, except churches, if ex
ceeding height of seventy-five feet to the
square, shall be constructed in fire-proof
manner, as herein named, to wit: all ioists
beams, rafters, purlines, jack rafters, plates
studs, ties, and arches shall be made of cast
or wrought-iron, or some other metal, stone.
orlck, cement, mortar, or other incombustible
material, and covered with corrugated iron,
sheet or cast iron, tin, copper, zinc, or other
metal, or slate, stone, brick, cement, mortar,
or other incombustibe material.n
The previous regulation required that only
theaddition above IS feet in height should be
made fire proof. The change is beneficial
one and.will insure greater safety to the CITY
now that the structures in the business sec
tions are becoming OF such large proportions.
The moving of frame buildings from one site
to another within the fire limits is prohibited
under the new regulations. Formerly there
was clause in the regulations providing that
'for satisfactory reasons, permits approved
by the Commissioners of the District NAV be
given to move wooden buildings from one
place to another within the fire limits. This
clause is omitted
Hereafter the underpinning of walls will be
conducted under the immediate supervision
OF an officer of the Building Department.
Ihls should insure safe work. The new pro-
vision requiring this reads: Builders when
ABOUT to underpin walls are required to no.
thy the Inspector of Buildings, that he may
direct the manner of doing the work." The
question of the right of a builder of brick
mouse adjacent to a frame one as to the party
wall which gave considerable trouble hereto
lore is settled by the insertion of the follow
ing: ''The builder of brick house adjacent
to frame house has the right to cut away
the frame house sufficient to place party
wall equally upon his own and the adjoining
lot. The builder of brick house, when
availing himself of the privilege. is required
to make good all damages occasioned thereby
to the frame house."
A change which will be benefit to the sani-
'aiy Sonuieion VI tue clIy is InaC Wnlcn pro-
hibits the issuance of permit for a building
intended for human habitation or sleeping,
which fronts on an open space or alley, less
than thirty feet in width. Heretofore it was
only required that an alley upon which houses
could be erected should be twenty feet In
width.
In the matter of fees large increase was
made for permit for vault. The charge
was raised from three cents to fifteen cents
per square foot.