Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-17
REVISION OF REGULATIONS
COMMISSION ENGAGED IN FRAN
ING BUILDING LAWS.
Progress Noted, But Report Will Not
Be Ready for Submission
Before December.

The special commission appointed by the
District Commissioners to revise the Dis
trict building regulations more than a year
ago Will not be able to submit it's report
with various recommendations and sug-
gestionS, to the Comm sioners before De-
cember. This special commission began Its
task in April 1896, and has met every week
since then, but was instructed at the begin
ming that there no necessity to hurry
and to make the work as thorough and
complete possible.
ThorOUghness has been the keynote Of the
work OF this special commission which is
composed of ten citizens OF the District,
representing various professions, such as
architecture, medicine real estate, building,
plumbing, engineering and trade. Its serv-
Ice Is honorary ana the members will re-
ceive nothing but thanks and congratula-
lions when they have completed the task.
Snowden Ashford. inspector OF buildings for
the District, is chairman eX-officio OF the
commission and has been particularly &C
tive in the work. He stated today that the
members have worked faithfully and have
accomplished much, and when they have
finally completed the building regulations
Of the District will not need any changes or
reNis'oI's for many years to come.
In order TO better facilitate the work OF
revision this special commission was di-
subcommittee took some particular part Of
the regulations to investigate and revise
According to Mr.. Ashford. all of these sub
committees have completed their work ex-
ctpt the one on engineering. That commit
tee has the question of concrete to deal
with, and the building material has greatly
advanced in the building world in the past
six years. In view of the fact that little
provision was made for it in the present
building regulations. the subcommittee has
devoted much time and careful study to the
question in order that when it's work Is
completed it will not be necessary to make
any changes.
Possibly one Of the most important cues
fions relative to building laws handled by
thls committee is the provision for the per-
centage of light and ventilation The reg
ulatlons at present provide that 2j Der cent
or the building space shall be devoted to
nght and ventilation for buildings on in
terror lots.
When the building is on a corner lot only-
~ per cent is required. Although this ar
ranSement has proved to be satisfactory in
many cases, there are instances according
10 inspector Ashford, where the result has
Deen very unsatisfactory, especially where
the rear of two high buildings back M
against each other and are only separated
py narrow alley, possibly nine or ten
Ieet In width: MIR. Ashford contends that
such condition prevents the rooms in the
rear OF the two buildings from having sufi-
clent light and ventila ton
ne commission has overcome this con-
ul'lon by providing for the use OF the
angle principle in relation to light and
ventilation for the rear of buildings. By
TINS method the rear of high buildings will
De constructed after the fashion of steps
.hereDy giving an angle OF 80 degrees from
the center of the alley in the rear Of the
building to the edge of the roof of the
building. In other words, the first floor of
the building will be built out to the build
ing line on the alley; the second story will
begin about ten feet back from the building
me the third story twenty feet back. and
so on until the roof is reached BY means
or this plan. Inspector Ashford declares
plehty OF night and air will be able to find
its way into the alley and the rooms of tho
buildings facing the alley