The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-07-27
CITY BUILDING LAWS
ARE SADLY DEFICIENT
Speedy Revision Regarded as
Urgent Necessity
WHAT THE REPORTS SAY
Inspector Urges Action and Board of
Fire Underwriters Points Out De-
fcIencies in the Birmingham
Building Laws
WHAT THE REPORTS SAY
BY BURR BLACKBURN

That Birmingham building laws are
sadly deficient and in need of imme-
date revision is the opinion of every
man who has studied them. The last
report of Building Inspector w. O. Mat
thews called attention to this danger
Gus condition and urged that COM
mission be appointed to take the mat
ter in hand.
AT a time when a period OF puiid1ns
lactivity seems to be approaching ana
following the possible growth OF Biz
mingham to city of over $4,000 peo-
pie 1t is thought appropriate that the
laws governing her future growth be
framed along modern lines.
AT present the laws are considered
little better than village ordinances and
provisions which in other cities are
thought positively necessary are here
unheard of. This condition does not
bother contractors and architects. for
they are able to make low bids and
give the owner more space for his
money of cheaper construction.
When buildings which have burned
down are rebuilt in the heart OF the
city without flreproof construction and
plans are discussed for additional
stories to a structure which Is not fire.
proof the speedy revision of the city
building laws to cover such cases be-
comes necessary.
Mr. Matthews recommendations speak
for themselves. In mis- last annual re-
port he says: From my knowledge of
the building laws and general build
ing operations of this city as COM
pared with cities of like size con-
slider that our laws are very made
quate as a whole. l am often called
upon for information that our laws
should but do not contain. There are
several classes of buildings that We
have no laws governing at all and
buildings of this class are being fire.
quently erected, namely, steel struc-
lures, reinforced concrete construc-
lions, f1reproof constructions of all
buildings over certain heights, public
buildings, theatres and places of as
sembly.
Further, 1 believe 1t to be of the
utmost Importance not only from a
fire standpoint but for the general
safety and welfare to the citizens and
public at large and also to keep In line
with the vast amount of building that
naturally grows with the upbuilding
of prosperous city. Therefore I would
recommend that you appoint a com
IN SSlOn 10 revise the DullQlAk ldWS OF
auth orize this department to obtain the
data and submit same to you for con-
siderati ton.
II trust that you will realize the
Importance of this recommendation to
the end that Greater Birmingham will
in the near future have a modern law
governing all classes of buildings and
construction"
The report of the committee on fire
to-, hyotl
Fire Underwriters, submitted August
80 1909, gives some facts which might
have opened the eyes of the city long
ago.
1t begins with the statement that
even the water pumping stations are
not fireproof.
The construction and exposures at
both stations with the slight protec-
ton against fire present most haza rd-
Gus conditions, which, In lieu of the
complete freproofing of station build
ings, are best met by the installation
of sprinkler systems and of standard
hose houses fully equipped. The wir-
ing and switch board at the North Biz
mingham station also form a serious
hazard"
The report on the city's building
laws includes the following para
graphs:
"Fireproof construction: Not men
toned.
MIL construction: No definition, no
specifications. The only mention is In
regard to walls and columns
"Joisted construction: Any building
may be of Joisted brick construction.
Heights and floor areas: No limita-
lions.
Thickness of walls The thickness
of walls from one to seven stories is
specified and Is. generally satisfactory,
but no mention Is made of higher build
ings.
Concrete construction: No mention
except the manufacture and use Of hol-
low concrete blocks.
Theatres: There are no regulations
governing the construction, equipment
or operation of theatres other than
moving picture or electric theatres.
THE Is blocks in the congested dis
trict contain 31S buildings. In pro-
portion to the area covered per cent
Of the construction Is fireproof, per