New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-24
Suggest Many Changes to
Proposed Building Code
Advisory Council Thinks That Too Much Power Is
Conferred on Superintendent by Certain Regua-
tions-Says Some Measures Might Lead
to Abuse or Favorsm.

The Advisory Council % Real Is
tate Interests. through its Building
Code Committee, consisting Of Henry
". Hodge, chairman, Otto ". Edit
and julius FRANKIE. approves Of The
adoption. with the following changes.
by the Board Of Aldermen % the pro
posed ordinances Of the new Building
Code relating 20 fre-extinsuishlng APP
planes, 20 miscellaneous Requirement De-
for buildings, 20 the enforcement OF
Chapter Y OF the code and 20 the
general provisions OF the Building
Code. These ordinances pertain most
ly 20 administrative features.
With regard % fre-eXtinguishln
appliances. the council say that that
section o. tho Old nance which re-
quires buildings ID course o. construc-
ton 20 be provided with standpip s.,
with a provision that the stancpipes
be continued upward as the building
increases IN height, appears % be go
ing 10 extremes; Furthermore, rs im-
practicable Ia building during course
OF construction. Such "a clause has
been found, II says, IN the regulation
Of the Fire Department, but there has
been no instance whore d. has been
complied with. This ordinance FUR
Their requires every building with
standpipcs 20 be supplied with IRE
pumps. ready at all times, including
day. night and holidays. IN addition
20 this. IL appears that an elevator
must be ready. and also boilers must
be kept under fire.
The council believes that these pro
visions might be good for certain ex-
traordinary hazards II suggests that
this matter % pumps being in resdi-
ness be left out of this code, inssmucn
as II Is subject 20 change and modih-
cation by the Fire Department a. any
time.
The council adds; with regard 70
penalties, the Superintendent OF Build
ings is allowed at his own discretion
10 tx the fine at from SO 20 $50 for
any violation whatsoever, whether
technical or actual This should be
very carefully considered before it is
put into a law. II this clause is not
strictly enforced Il viii lead 20 two
things first. IL will become dead
letter" which is q bad thing 10 have
in any law; second. it might lead 20
great abuse and fGvoritism, which ls
worse.
Section s55 Of the code provide
that any person who shall receive and
fail 10 comply with any written per
emptorv order Of the Superintendent
Of Buildings, when, in the judgment
OF the Superintendent immediate COM
pliance is essential 70 public peace or
safety. shall be guilty Of a misde-
meanor. This section should be
omitted often the superintendent
will issue q peremptory order, not be-
cause he really thinks that there are
dangerous conditions, but because he
thinks that dangerous conditions might
develop.
"The latter situation e well pro
vided for under the power given 20
the superintendent with regard 10
emergency measures. when, in cases o.
defective or illegal work, the Superin-
tendent IL authorized and empowered
70 order all further work stopped 20
require all persons 20 vacate me
building and 10 cause such work 70 be
done in and about the building IS, tn
his judgment. may be necessary 20 re-
move any danger.
These chapters should be amended
along tho following lines; That for
violations which are structural, notice