The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-13
new AUTHORITY IN
LOCAL BUILDING
,.,ckwood = EllenbOgcn Bill
Would Create Standards
and Appeals Board.
VIEWS OF w. LINDNER

enc ,uu consolidation bill which Senator
lakewood and Asscmblyman Ellenbogen
rsa,ntei to the Legislature last week
ov be to place building, altering and
sruaIrh changing except tenement
houses under the jurisdiction of a board
unlimited In scope and authority. That
al least IS the Impression Of Walter
Landnef. counsel to the Title Guarantee
and Trust Company, who drew the bill
.nhodying suggestions of the Mayors
conference committee.
THIS board. the hoard OF standards
snd appeals. Is a two fold body. a ma
.fity Of its members appoincd by the
Manor MIR. l.indner thinks that the
creation Of this board is one Of the most
.mrlrtant features OF the measure.
TINS board Is to consist of thirteen
Members he said yesterday. the Fire
Commissioned. the five borough superin-
,.ndeutS of buildings. the chief of tho
uniformed force Of the Fire Department.
4. arhitcCt, AN engineer, IA fire un-
%darwritcr. a builder. a chairman. who
NUS be an architect or structural engi.
reer Of Mt least fifteen years experience,
and one other membc for whom no
, Qualification IL specified,
- " ~ Nfll'Ntu Alhtt tlt odfu Will NO
tie urify ing force which will regulate
,he actions Of the superintendehts OF
buildings and the Fire Commissioner 50
rs 10 hai rlon-ize their practices and lay
down rules of procedure which will
elarify the requirements Of the law and
SO build lng code. furnish presidents con-
sruiug the provisions OF law II ordl-
nance and clarity methods of practice In
such manner that conflicts OF jurisdic-
'-ur will hc avoided and architects. build
e. and owners will be able to ascer-
iHu as clearly as possible what IL re-
CURED Of them 10 carry out these re-
pIgtnnnts.
Thu board of standards and appeals
y given power to test materials to he
used In construction to make investiga-
IONS concerning enforccmens and effect
81 'Nc build nc code and is own rules
ard regulations 10 make. amend and re-
p"ai rules and regulations for carrying
go effect the provisions of the law.
ord usuccs and rulcS and regulations in
rr>'-rt II the matters Of which juris-
lictou Is conferred on the board. super
.n;eudeu's of buildings or upon the Fire
Commissioner. including In such rules
aai r,Culations provisions applying to
specific conditions and prescribing means
cid methods of practice to effectuate
sch provisions and FOR carrying into
fleet tn, powers ~ the board.
The board further Is given power"
Mr. Liudner continued. ito make. amend
sni repeal rules and regulations regard
.ig the enforcement of those provisions
n The Labor law and other laws which
rc.a'e Ia the construction. alteration,
.rlc'Iral changes ia, plumbing and
IrI.nIgc of. fire escapes on. means OF
a1eIIacy Of exit from and fire alarm
systems IN all buildings except tenement
gouses within the city and 10 exercise
exclusively with respect 10 buildings in
ne city the powers OF variation from the
-.Tp.reTents of the labor law which
Have been conferred upon the Industrial
''"ntnission. enabling II 10 give relief in
'a"s where the carrying out OF the
,'r'ri letter OF the law would work uu-
20 esSIry hardship"
The appointed members 81 the Board
- Standards and Appeals. together with
lie chief Of the uniformed force Of the
Ere Department. constitute the Board
= Appeals. consisting OF seven mem
bet. Appeals are to be taken 10 this
board from any order, requirement or
decision made by the superintehdents Of
~ ld.nSs except one requiring an un-
,a!r building 10 be made safe or "a dis
culinary order against a subordinate.
atl rom any order. requirement. deci-
- = ~ AAts . =
'oW7liSsioner under his authority over
''e USE and occupancy OF buildings ana
10" means OF adequacy Of exit there
tm
The Board Of Standards and Appeals
required 10 print a bulletin in which
- Jules and regulations and the actions
~ ne Board Of Appeals are TO be pub
;shed, with such indexes and digests
as ~" board may deem advisable. II
- fH' NAnI that slNaun n,t,tr.,,apt D.,
'iplc''y and publication Of the action
- tacSs boards will be an aid in estib-
.Snhg those presidents and that con-
'IiF ~ action and decision will make
nose boards most useful.
Tile Board OF Appeals has power
FHrre there are practical difficulties or
-hNeeessary hardship IN the way OF
aFfylhG out the strict letter Of the law
- pern!, variations or notifications so
nat no spirit OF the law shall be OBJ
served. public safety secured and sub
s'h'."i justice done, except that II does
''' nave power 10 vary or modify the
''-''"cHt house law nor any rule, reEu-
90 or ruling OF the Tenement House
600 missioner.
N'''afy cou.t review OF the actions
no h'oard Of Appeals may be had by
'I''fdri, for which specific provision
'''-t IA the bill. This will operate 10
N'fly The acton OF the Board Of APP
"a'-, so that the effort Will be to keep
: decisions clearly within the pro-
''""s OF law and the exercise of It's
'9"'' " variation within reasonable
UHs
The su~per!ntendents Of buildings un-
yer Ms bill will have exclusive juris-
"s''"r and charge OF the construction,
"ie'a'.on. structural changes in and Pc
nova "i buildings within their respcc-
"" h"fnughS and to require that sucil
,"HS''4'l4on and alteration shall con-
'ufh 10 the provisions OF the labor law
ana other laws which are applicable
hereto aud to enforce the laws relating
10 the protection Of persons employed in
ne obstruction. alteration and removal
" bindings or other structures and to
n'i'r," the provisions of the BuildinR
'o'e There Is removed from the charge
" ile SupcrIntendents the duty of en-
'or.'Hg laws relating to construction
..'l ''t"IatiCn OF buildings so that after
"S hil takes effect the duties Of tho
f'herlhtcndents will be limited to super
'N!ng construction and alteration. but
ne 'hdrge or the occupancy of buildings
"'f they have been constructed anC
uttered will he transferred to other de.
tsi'men's' the greater part of this duty
"e'hR conferred upon the Fire Depart.
w'H'' The superintendents of buildings
lam the power of interpreting the
nu'ding Code. M where there are
practical difficulties In the way of carry
we out the strict letter of the law e
-oH'"rm tho mode and manner OF con-