Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-03-29
INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS.
To Be Appointed by the Municipal Officers
Next Month.

NeW MUHtH.
The following is the full text of chapter
101, Revised Statutes, an act in relation
to the inspection of buildings, so as te
lessen the danger from fires, and which
will be OF interest to residents of towns OF
cities of more than 1000 inhabitants.
Section l.. In every town and city OF
more than two thousand inhabitants, the
municipal officers shall annually in the
month OF April appoint an inspector OF
buildings, who shall be a man skilled In
the construction of buildings The NUM-
cipal officers shall define the limits within
which the inspector of buildings shall
have jurisdiction, which shall include
the thickly settled portion of each such
city, and OF each village in each such city
or town.
Sec. 2. 1t shall be his duty to inspect
each new building during the process OF
construction. so far as may be necessary
to see that all proper safeguards against
the catching or spreading OF fire are
used, that the chimneys and fiuss are made
safe, and that proper cut offs are placed
between the timbers in the walls and floor
ings where fire would be likely to spread
and may give such directions in writing
to the owner or contractor as he deems
necessary, concerning the construction OF
such building so as to render the same
safe from the catching and spreading OF
fire.
Sec. g. 1t shall be his duty to inspect
all buildings while in process OF being re-
paired, and see that all reasonable safe
guards are used against the catching and
spreading of fire, and that the ch1mneys
and flues are made safe and he may give
such directions in writing to the owner
as he deems necessary concerning such re-
pairs. as to render such building safe from
tho catching and spreading Of fire.
Sec 4. 1t shall be his duty at least
once in three years, and oftener when re-
quired by the municipal officers, to in
spect chimneys, flues tunnels, stoves,
furnaces. boilers and boiler connections.
and heating apparatus in all the buildings
within his jurisdiction, in which fire is
Kept or used, to ascertain if the same are
safe against fire. He may give such di-
rections in writing as he may deem neces-
sary to the owner of said building to
Hltthc LII UIO OoltoOi oSoASAA " SAS
uation of such chimneys, flues, tunnels,
stoves, furnaces, boilers boiler connec-
tions and heating apparatus, so as to maj
the same safe as aforesaid. And the
municipal officers may require such in
spection of any particular building at any
time.
Sec 5. An inspector of buildings in
the performance of his official duty may
enter any building for the purposes OF
making the inspection required by this
act.
Sec 6. An appeal in writing may be
taken from any order or direction of the
inspector of buildings to the municipal
officers, whose order thereon shall be final.
Sec Z. No new building shall be occu-
pied until the inspector of buildings has
given certificate that the same has been
Euilt in accordance with the provisions
of this act, and so as to be safe from fire;
if the owner permits it to be so occupied
without such certificate, he shall be liable
to fine of ten dollars for each week he
permits such building to be SO occupied,
to be recovered by complaint Or indict7
ment. In case the inspector of buildings
should from any cause decline to give his
certificate where the builder has in his
own Judgment complied with the provis
ions in this act, an appeal may be taken
to the municipal officers and if on such an
appeal, it shall be decided by them that
the provisions of the act have been com
piled with the owner of said building
shall not be liable to fine for want of
the certificate of the inspector.
Sec. s. If the ownef Of any building
neglects or refuses for more than thirty
days to comply with any direction of the
inspector of buildings given as aforesaid,
concerning the repairs on any building,
as provided in section three, or to make
such changes in the construction or situa
ton of chimneys, 1ues, tunnels, stoves,
furnaces, boilers and boiler connections,
and heating apparatus may say be re-
quired by such inspector of buildings, I'M
der the provisions of section four, or as
may be confirmed by the municipal officers
on appeal he shall be liable to a fine of
ten dollars for each week he so neglects or
refuses to be recovered by complaint or
Indictment.
Sec. 9. Any owner or occupant of a
building, who refuses to permit an inspec-
tor of buildings to enter his building or
willfully obstructs him in the inspection
of such building as required by this act
shall be liable to fine of not less than
one nor more than twenty dollars, to be
recovered by complaint or Indictment.
Sec. TO- Municipal courts and trial
justices shall have jurisdiction of the
offenses named in sections seven, eight
and nine.
Sec. IL. Towns and cities may make
by laws not inconsistent with this act, de
filming more particularly the duties OF
such inspector Of buildings and the rules
and regulations by which he is to be gov
erned.
Sec. -. Municipal officers shall deter
mine the compensation or salary of the
inspector of buildings.
Sec. 10. This act shall take effect
when approved.
CTATE MeWS