The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-04-10
UNIFORM BUILDING LAWS.

The united movement of the American
Institute of Architects, the National
Association of Building Inspectors, the
National Board of Underwriters and the
National Association of Fire Engineers
to secure uniform building laws in all
the states in the interest OF puollc
health and safety is u most important
one and should result in the enactment
of intelligent legislation by states and
municipalities. A combined committee
of these several associations met in New
York last week and agreed upon sug-
gestions as to building regulations
which will be laid before the legislatures
of all the states. While we can secure
no general legislation in this direction
in Montana for two years, our architects
and builders doubtless will avail Them
selves of many of the practical sugges-
tions which we append:
First-Ihat all buildings over seventy
feet i'll height be constructed throughout OF
i~ncombustible materials, protected i'll the
most approved manner for resisting fire.
S~econd-That interior structural iron
work in all buildings be covered and pro-
tectea by fire-proof material.
Third-Ihat all buildings ever fifty feet
in height be furnished with permanent
stand pipes and ladders for the assistance
of the fire department.
Fourth-rhat the height of buildings to
be erected should not be more than two and
one-half times the width of the principal
street on which they are situated and that
no building or portion of a building, expect
church spires, should be more than 125 feet
high in any case, except under a special
permit.
Fifth-That the open floor space, not
divided by walls of brick or other in
combustible material in all buildings here
after erected for mercantile or for manu-
featuring purposes, should not exceed 5000
square feet without special permission
based upon unusual and satisfactory pre-
cautions.
Sixth-That every building to be erected
which shall be three stories high or more,
except dwelling houses for one family. and
which shall cover an area of more than
900 square feet. should be provided with
incombustible staircases inclosed in brick
walls, at the rate of one such staircase for
every $500 square feet in area of ground
covered.
Eighth-,That wooden buildings erected
within eighteen inches of the boundary line
between the lot on which they stand and
the adjoining property should have a wall
next the adjoining property of brick, or
when built within three feet of each other
,h1,Il boua {ha wallis nayt In aonh ntbor
built of brick.
Ninth-That the owner of an estate in
which a fire originates should be responsible
for damage caused by the spread of the fire
beyond his own estate, if it should be
proved that in his buildings the foregoing
regulations were not complied with. A GER
tifcate from the inspector of buildings
shall be considered sufficient evidence of
such compliance, If the building shall not
have been altered since the certificate was
issued.
In addition to these general PROPOSE
tions, another series was adopted which
detail certain methods to be followed in
buildings. These provide that in all
buildings the space between the string
ers of wooden stairs, if plastered or
boarded, be stopped in at least three
places by incombustible matter; also,
that all brick party walls and outside
brick walls adjoining neighboring build
ings be carried above the adjoining
building and the walls of brick buildings
be tied at intervals by floor beams, which
if of wood should be anchored to the
walls, SO that in case they are burned
off they will not in falling overthrow the
wallis.