Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-02
FOUR INCHES ADDED
REGULATIONS REGARDING THE
THICKNESS OF PAHTTlWALLs.
Reference by Building Inspector to
Practices in Vogue In Other
Cities. 81


and acting upon q recommendation from
the inspector Of buildings the Commits
sioners have ordered an amendment to the
building regulations providing that in the
future no party wall shall be constructed
less than thirteen inches in thickness. The
present regulation allows walls Of this
class to be of nine-inch construction to a
certain height. Mr.. Ashford. the building
inspector believes that safety demands the
thicker walls. In his letter Of recommends
ton he discusses the matter thoroughly ana
calls attention to the practices in vogue in
other cities.
"A hearing was granted on this subject
by the board of Commissioners Februa ry
"A last he says. land it seemed to be the
general opinion that nine-inch walls are
inadequate when used to the extent and
height now permitted by the regulations.
The attorneys for the prOtestants made no
point or expressed no objection to the adop-
ton of a regulation requiring party walls
to be thirteen inches in thickness. Their
contention seemed to be that the present
regulations are ambiguous and uncertain In
their application. Letters were received
from several of our leading builders and
contractors of long experience, recommend.
ing thirteen-inch walls in the interest of
good construction and safe building.
have received communications and personal
expressions from officers and members OF
inclose a memorandum prepared by the as
sistant inspectors of buildings showing the
defects of nine-inch walls.
Since the hearing referred to the Wash
irgton Chapter of the American Institute
of Architects has passed resolutions con-
demning nine-inch walls as now used and
l am informed that the president of the
chapter has expressed willingness to ap-
pear before the Commissioners and explain
the reasons for the adoption of this reso-
luton, II SO desired
Objections to Thin Walls.
Besides the technical testimony adverse
to the use Of nine-inch walls the expert
ence of any householder will prove the
discomfort in the use of nine-inch walls
as sound is readily transmitted from an
adjoining building and dampness is ex-
perienced when such walls are exposed
also the risk from fire in adjoining fiues.
inch walls appear to have been recognized
In other cities by the adoption of regula-
tons limiting their use to the topmost
story only Of any building"
Mr.. Ashford detailed the provisions of
the laws In several cities and continued:
Besides the increased stability and safe
ty afforded by thirteen-inch walls the
question of security against CONGREGATIONS
would more than Offset the slight increase
in cost between nine and thirteen-inch
1892 Consul Ryder at Copenhagen, Den
mark. replying to inquiries of the depart
ment, states that the number of fires con-
fined to the fiat in which they originated
was returned as 257, and 262 were confined
to the building in which they started No
cases occurred where the fire extended to
the adjoining property. This is accounted
for by the fact that the walls are in most
cases eighteen inches thick and never less
than thirteen inches
Consul Bowen, writing from Barcelona
Spain, said: The only valuable suggestion
that one can obtain here regarding the
steps the American should take to reduce
the fire waste of our country Is that he
should not think so much Of providing
means to put out fires he should of
constructing our buildings SO as to pre-
vent FIRES "a
In Foreign Countries.
From a perusal of the consular reports
1t will be seen that CONGREGATIONS are al
most unknown in European cities, and it is
ascribed to the solidity of the buildings, re-
sulting in enormous saving in fire depart
ments and insurance. In addition to the
prudential reasons and safety afforded by
increased thickness of walls there appears
to me to be legal requirement as to the
minimum thickness of party walls, as in
dicated in sections 1856 and 1887 of the code
of law for the District of Columbia which
state that no wall shall be deemed party
wall which does not extend or occupy seven
inches on the adjacent lot 1t would, there
fore. be necessary that such wall should
be fourteen inches in thickness in order
that one-half OF the thickness may be prop
erly located on the adjoining lot.
'One of the most serious objections to the
use Of 9-inch walls lies in the fact that
the first builder in erecting a party wall
forces such construction on his neighbor
and limits the extent of the Improvement
on the adjoining lot or subjects his neigh
Dor to extra expense to either remove the
9-inch wall and replace 1t with a suitable
wall. or build an additional wall against a
boris space In the second builders house.
or, in short encroach upon the neighbor's
lot with a wall that will prove in most
cases a detrimeent to the improvements
beyond the limits of the first builders
house.
Recommends Amendment.
Il would therefore recommend that sec
ton 81 be amended to read: That no
party wall shall be constructed in the Dis
trict of Columbia Of less thickness through
out than brick and half, or thirteen
inches. A two-story building may be con-
structed with external walls, other than
party walls thirteen inches in the base
ment or foundations and nine inches in the
first and second stories. Buildings more
than two stories In height shall require
external ana party walls to be at least
thirteen inches thick and otherwise in ac-
cordance with the schedule accompanying
this section. Hereafter fire walls shall be
constructed by bringing I'D the walls at
least one foot higher than the contiguous
portions of the roof throughout the entire
extent OF the roof, including mansards.