Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-16
new CODE IN EFFECT
All Future Building Permits
Under Its Terms.
FEW APPLICATIONS FILED
No Rush, as Expected, TO Get in Un.
der the Old Regulations.
SOME FEATURES OF NEW LAW
Conditions Governing Apartment
Houses and Small Theaters More
Severe Than Under Old Code.
SOME FEATURES OF NEW LAW

The new code Of building regulations
went into effect yesterday. All applica-
tions for permits received since yesterday
morning will be issued under the new
code and the plans must meet the pro-
visions OF the new regulations.
About dozen applications for permits
were pending yesterday morning when
the new code became effective, and the
permits. II issued. will be granted under
the provisions Of the old code. In fixing
the date for putting into force the new
requirements the Commissioners decided
that applications made before November
Is should be- considered under the old
rules.
Builders who wished to take advantage
Of provisions In the new code before No
vember Is were also allowed by the Com
missioners to do So For that reason, sew
eral buildings which meet the new re-
quirements have already been authorized.
Since the new code was made effective,
only two sets OF plans have been filed.
There was no rush for permits under the
old code. as had been anticipated. 1t Is
believed in the building inspectors office,
however. that several applications for the
construction of apartment houses were
filed before November Is. In order that
requirements of the old code instead of
meeting the more severe conditions pro-
vided in the new code.
Features of New Code.
In the new building code there is a pro-
vision for nine-inch party walls, with
out joist hangers, in new two-story build
ings OF brick or similar material not over
fifty feet long and twenty-five feet in
height. Under the old building manual
thirteen-inch walls were required inside
the fire limits
The new regulations also contain some
additional requirements for five-cent and
ten-cent theaters. A recent application
at the office for the inspector Of build
that will seat 300 persons emphasized the
needs for additional safeguards In the
cheap theaters. For the theaters that will
seat less than 300 persons the require
ments Of the new and old codes are the
same. But for theaters that will accom-
modate over 800 persons side exits will be
required, as In the larger theaters, and
there must be passageways from these
side exits to the street six feet wide, az
against eight-foot passaseways from the
side exits OF the big playhouses.
The new regulations prohibit the build
ing Of frame houses In rows outside the
IRE limits. The danger Of the spread of
fire through q row of frame houses IL
explained as the reason Tor this require
ment. 1t Is also provided in the new reg
ulations that double frame houses can be
built with frame party wall, but each
double house must not extend closer than
five feet OF the line OF the adjoining lots.
This will provide for a yard ten feet
wide between each double house.
Apartment House Walls.
In the construction OF apartment houses,
the new code provides that around each
Loco square feet OF floor area either
brick walls or walls OF fireproof material
must be constructed. An appeal was made
to the Commissioners by builders to en-
large this area. but, in the opinion Of
the District heads. this area was regarded
as the maximum that could be allowed
for safe construction and the proper re-
gard for protection against the spread of
fire.
Under the new light and ventilation reg
ulations a dwelling covering the entire
lot can be constructed on q corner lot
which has no frontage on an alley and
which II not more than seveDty-fve feet
long and fifty feet wide.