New Britain herald., 1926-01-20
NEW BUILDING CODE
 UP BEFORE COUNCIL
Will Be Submitted in Full at
 Meeting Tonight

Increased fees provided in the new building code, which is 10 be offered for approval al tonights meeting of tho common council, will make the building department self supporting for the first time in the cIty's history.
 Although the codes of moro than dozen progressive municipalities were referred to during its propara- ton, this set Of laws is distinctively written for New Britain, with es- Necial thought 10 the present high cost Of building, and every effort has boon made to make building safe without increasing costs un- necessarily.
 Several construction and safety features heretofore only partially controlled, ir controlled al all. are placed under close scrutiny of the building department through the requirements Of these new rules.
 Thirteen years have been given over 10 q movement to better rcgu- lations along this line. Slightly more i than a year ago the common Coun- cil, appropriated a sum of money to push the task to completion and Earle K. Bishop of this city was en- , gagged to do the work. Mir, Bishop is "a member of inc American Insu- tute Of Architects and is associated with Delbert K. Perry. architect. He has made a study Of municipal building law, vas one Of the prime movers in having New Britain zoned and was one of the first men named to the zoning commission. 1 Shortly after the work was starl- cd, the commission headed by Israel 1 W"Xl.r resigned and the present commission with Richard E. Niets as ! its chairman continued the work. . One Of the first considerations was the control of fire and the pre- vention of conflagration. The City of Hartford, it was found, requires within the fire limits, that All build inss be strictly fircproofed regard less of height or size. This restriction would be likely to rctard new con ,s'ruction in this city and was not | included. II was reasoned that, after all. the great danger is confiaEra- ton through the spread Of fire. This has been met by requiring in build ings according 10 their location fin relation 10 neighboring buildings, the fireprooting Of roofs, windows and doors.
 Some months ago there was q dis pute as 10 whether a certain struc- ture was of the two or three family type. This problem will not be likely to arise again because tn" new code requires filing Of certificate as 10 ithe number of tenants occupying any building.
 Houses in the rear of other build ings are restricted 10 plots where the rear dwelling is visible from the street and can be properly policed without requiring inc patrolman 10 go into yards.
 The number of smoke pipes en- tering hues and wooden porches in the fire limit are controlled.
 Access doors in all store floors will he required. These are openings With removable doors making it pos sible for firnmen 10 fight flames in cellars speedily and with no unneces- sary damage 10 the flooring. Hose nozzles can be, inserted through these openings. The time required to chop a solid floor and the danger Of fire spread during that time was considered as was also tho repair item. Partitions in attics are also a requirement., this being calculated to better control mushroom fires"
 Other fire controls include re- quirements as 10 fire fighting facili- ties that must be placed in all build
 ngs this 10 be under the supervision Of the fire chief: a requirement foI fire proofed roofing material on multiple family dwellings, and con tiVi VI ANiiA lAi hNNNi uNIcilo uilb booths at fairs, carnivals, etc.
 Awnings dangerous because Of age or wear may be ordered repaired or taken down at the discretion of the building department 10 safeguard passers-by from injury.
 An effort is made to eliminate the source of many ncighborhood sQuabblcs-p party fences or walls-by establishing the building commission as board of arbitration to which all disputes are to te referred for final adjustment.
 Disappearing or folding beds will
 be allowed only under conditions
 which will permit Of proper ventila-
 tion, this being a move for sanita- ton.
 Dance halls adjoining garages ol other places where there is danger
 of fire will be permitted only aftel , they have compiled with the long : list Of requirements and restrictions : Some other matters considered are Signs and billboard construction unit stress of steel changes from 16,. : 600 to 1S.oo0 pounds, making con. struction costs lower but equally a' safe in the opinion of the building s authorities: domestic oil heatins ! control: ideal" brick walls; sparl arrcsters, and the use of snow guards.
 | A great many of the foregoing or dinances are entirely new and are re
 garded the last word in building law