Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-06-08
MUST BE MADE SAFE
Buildings viii Nov Be In
spected.
full TEXT OF The ORDINANCE
Filed Yesterday, Providing Tor the fnsPec-
non Of All Pubic and Priv4te
Buildings.

City Attorney Taylor yesterday fled
with the clty clerk the al text OF " An
ordinance Relating % the inspection OF
bullaings IN the city of GFand Rapids
The ordinance contains forty-ons sec
tions and covers thirty legal cap pages
OF type written matter. The minntest
details OF the construction OF build
1nes and the duties OF the inspector
are fully explained and illustrated.
Section / says that the duties
hitherto imposed on the council conf
fnIftee On buildings and chief engineer
of the fire department shall be per-
formed by tns building Inspector, who
snail be appointed by the board OF po-
hce and fire commissioners, his salary
70 DC payable ia monthly mstsllments.
and re snail be required 10 give bonds
He shall be- allowed a horse and buggy.
TO 10 acquired and maintained AZ tho
cost of the city.
section provides that all persons
erecting or altering buildings shall first
obtain . permit from the inspector and
submit full details of plans, specitica-
tioDs, location and the like, which
must be Satisfactory 70 him. The apPli-
cant must pay a Zee OF 81 Il cost OF
proposed building be less than 81 900.
AND az II cost De more than 81 600
ana less than % 900. and for every ad-
ditlonai 81 900 over 5000 the further
sum OF so cents. This permit shall
also include permission 10 deposit
building materials. Ali monies re-
ceived BY tne inspector must be paid at
ieast once a month INTO the city treas
uary and . detailed account tled.
Visits Must be Freausat.
Section 3 outlines the duties of the
inspector "a regards house TO house
visitah0ns during the erection OF any
structure. The visits shall be frequent
and end only when the walls have been
enclosed. When the structure Is COM
plesed the inspector must give on APP
plication . certificate stating that the
building has been erected in accord
ance with the ordinance, If that be the
case.
Section provides that the Inspector
submit yearly report to the. council
and keep u proper account OF the
transactions IN ais office and DO ready
~ any reasonable hour TO inspect
buildings
Section defines some of the less
important powers OF the inspector, as
passing on all questions relative TO con-
structlOn aud materials, providing he
does 10 within ten days after the plans
have BEEN presented.
Section says the Inspector may en-
ter any building he pleases If IN the
performance of HE duty. Section Z
says that after the ordinance is passed
nobody can build without conforming
70 IL
Sections 9 and . give minute specifi-
cations rs TO the construction of foun-
dation walls. Section 10 gives the
exact measurements required IN the
outside walls, partition walls, party
wallis, ETC. The section says: sin ac-
cordance with the foregoing provisions
all walls shall be of the thickness des-
ixnated according % n fixed table.
Constructors OF Hollow walls.
"whenevsr IL is sought 10 increase
the height of any building beyond the
heighs for which the original permit
Was granted, the thickness OF the walls
thereof shall be increased to conform
20 the above table" The section then
defines the required heights of stories,
construction OF hollow walls, cnimneys,
fiues, etc.
sections IL, Il, 10, Ia and Is deal
Section 81 provides that all buildings
more than thirty feet in height, except
dwelling houses or churches. shall have
shutters of hre proof metal At every
window and opening above the first
floor, except where the windows look
on the street, and the section further
provides that al such shutters shall be
closed after business hours.
Section "a provides that the roofs of
! All structures more than forty -five feet
4 high shall DC made OF and covered with
4 nsn-combustble material and snail be
of easy access from below.
Section % says that 90 mansard or
other roof shall be more than one story
IN height Dor more than twenty feet 10
height from the upper floor of the
building upon which IL Is placed to the
highest part of said roof, unless the
Same IS constructed of IRE proof ma
tsrisls throughout.
BatisIsxs Damaged By Fire.
The same section provides that where
buildings are damaged bv FIRE and shall
10 reconstructed upon the ruins, the
requirements of the article shall be
complied WITH just "a in the erection
of new buildings The same section says
that all buildings hereafter erected Oh
increased Ia height. except churches
ard grsln elevators, shall not exceed
q height greater than 100 feet from the
highest point To the level of the sice.
walk. exclusive of chimueys and party
wall above the roof; provided. how
ever. that said additional height shall
be constructed N a fire-proof manner
a. directed IN the ordinsnce, that -
20 eoasist of iron or other metal OF
stons. brick, cement. etc, except for
churches or dwellings. All structure.
ants,de the roof are TO be OF incom
bs,stible material. The use of ceil.us
boards i prohibited except for porches
or wainscetinx not more than sir feet
IN height. me section provides for 4
saver connection IN sll business and
mercantile houses So constructed thai
me building may be drained easily IN
case OF food
SECTION rs provides that store front
signs snail re Of sheet metal when over
three feet high.
section y provides that no old build
ing may he enlarged or altered excepi
IN accordance with the rules applying
~ the construction Of new building
(. and May not ee enlarged at all unless
ire building Inspector deem Il safe and
wise soto DO.
section p provides for proper fire
projection n public structures and
easy methods Of egress from the same
ftre ladders. vide stsirvays, sisies and
the ss.
Section 20 deals with the construction
OF sfsscke pipes, iues. steam pipes. etc.
80. II. 4.