New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-12
Building Inspection Board
to Hare Unlimited POwer
Bodv viii Regulate Actions of Superintendent of Build
mos and Fire Commissioner and Remedy Conflicts
of Jurisdiction, Believes Walter Lndner, in
Outlining Proposed Measure Con
soidation introduced Last Week

the State Department of Labor and on
all the departments of the city except
the Tenement House Department. ex-
Cept that when auxiliary fire extin-
gushing appliances, sfsndpipes or
ether appliances required or intended
10 be used IN eXtinguishing fires are
installed, the certificate OF occupancy
shall not be deemed complete unless
the installation of such appliances IS
approved in writing by the Fire De
partment. Il is further provided that
a certificate Of occupancy shall not be
binding upon the Fire Commissioner
with respect 10 any building which
shall be or intended 10 be used for the
storage OF chemicals. combustibles or
explosives or for any trade, purpose
or occupation which the Board Of Ap-
pesls may classify by general release
being hazardous.
The powers Of the Fire Commissioner
are affected by amending Section IA Of
the Charter. in which IS contained the
general grant 10 the Fire Commissioner
of fire prevention powers, by striking
out Of subdivision 4. the limitation
which has heretofore deprived him OF
jursdi0 ion over factories. and adding
new subdivision requiring him TO en-,
force all laws, ordinances, rules and
regulations relating TO the use and oc-
cupsncy Of buildings and other strUct-
urcs except tenement houses. hese
powers are stated 10 be exclusive OF
the Department of Labor, and II IS pro
vided that such department shall not
exercise any Of these powers within the
city. II Is also provided that the FIRE
Commissioner shall not vary from or
issue any order contrary TO the bulld
ing Code. a rule or regulation or decl-
sion Of the Board Of Standards and
Appeals or OF the Board of Appeals and
shall not have power TO enforce any
provision Of the Sanitary Code. the reg
ulations of the Board Of Health or TO
interfere in any manner with inc
powers or duties OF the Department OF
Health or the Health Commissioner.
Section 775, which relates 10 the
mower Of the Fire Commissioner 20
make orders. ia amended by striking
out the limitations which deprive him
of the power to make orders in rela-
ton TO factories. The alterations OF or
structural changes which are made pur-
suant 10 orders of the FIRE Commits
sioner will be carried out under the SUI
pervision of the Building Superinten-
dent. whose certificate OF occupancy
will be final. as before stated.
The provisions for survey IN relation
20 carving out of orders OF the flre
Commissioner are repealed. There IS
no necessity for such machinery. Is ap-
meals from orders Of the Fire Commis-
sioner are 10 be taken directly 10 the
Board of Appeals.
The Tenement House and Health de-
Iartments are affected by amendment
which transfers TO the Tenement House
Department the powers and duties now
possessed by the Health Department
with respect 20 the construction OF and
structural changes in bakeries and con
fectioneries in tenement houses. TX
cept for this change, the powers OF the
Tenement House Department are not
affected by this bill, but care has been
taken 70 provide that the powers now
exercised By the Tenement House De-
psrtment shall not be abridged, re-
stricted or diminished, that neither the
Superintendents of Buildings nor the
Fire Commissioner can vary require.
ments Of the tenement house law or OF
the Tenement House Commissioner, and
that the Board of Appeals may not vary
or modify the tenement house law nor
any rule, regulation or ruling or the
Tenement House Commissioner
The general saving clauses OF the bill
provide that all actions and proceedings
already instituted and all investiga-
tions and examinations shall continue
and be completed: that any action al
ready taken by the Labor Department
accepting buildings as complying with
the provisions of the labor law or OF
the industrial code shall be accepted
and be binding upon the city author.
ties, and that employees and officers OF
the departments affected may be trans
ferred by the Board Of Estimate and
Advertisement. and that funds. recoros,
books and documents of the depart
ments affected may be similarly trans
ferred. The Department OF Labor is
directed 10 transfer 10 the Fire Con-
missioner all records OF its Office re-
lating to the construction, alteration
Of and exits from buildings in the. city.
The bill is to take effect S follow:
The sections relating 20 the constltu.
ton and appointment of the Board OF
Standards and Appeals and its power 20
make rules and regulations are to take
effect Immediately The rest OF the act
IA 70 take effect on October /, 1915, i:
being intended that II the Board OF
Standards and Appeals is appointed
soon after the bill is enacted II Will
have time 10 prepare rules and regula-
ton, and standards before the rest OF
ths act takes effect, and its appointed
members will not be distracted from
that work By the necessity OF hearing