Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-07-04
Faiirfax Adopts
Building Code,
Effective Aug. |
Supervisors Vote
Plan Despite Pleas
For Delay, Changes

W OSs0yE uSssSS
Fairfax County's first building
code goes into effect August !.
It was adopted yesterday by a
majority vote of four supervisors,
after recurring debates over the
last two years.
Originally, it was up for adop-
ton a month ago. The super
visors had postponed final action
until yesterday at the request Of
numerous builders and engineers.
They asked more time to study
the proposed regulations.
During the months postpone
ment, the committee that prepared
the code was expanded and came
up with a number Of recommends
lions. Robert A. Willgoos. Alex
andria architect and chairman Of
the code committee. asked that
the supervisors re-advertise a new
code with the amendments that
had been prepared during the
postponement.
Later Amendments Suggested.
"Why can't we adopt the code
as originally proposed. then amend
it later as we see ftp" asked
Supervisor Maurice Fox.
Grosvenor Chapman Of the
Washington Metropolitan Chap
ter of the American Institute OF
Architects, suggested that the
supervisors postpone action and
consider adoption instead Of a
model code recently prepared by
the Building Officers Conference
Of America. He said Ala had not
offered its suggestions earlier be-
cause it was unaware Fairfax
County was in the process OF
adopting code.
ut seems as If at each new
meeting we have on this some
one new turns up who never
heard of the CODE" commented
Supervisor Arthur Shaffer. 1t was
nearly two years ago that the
county's first proposed building
code was voted down because
there was so much opposition to it
Supervisor Robert Dye moved
for adoption Of the code, and was
supported by Mr.. Shaffer, Mr.. Fox
and c. B. Runyon.
Ask Amendments Prepared.
The building code committee
was requested, however, to gel
the suggested amendments ir
shape for prompt adoption.
Members Of the Building Code
Committee said the most impor.
tant amendments not included ir
the code as it now stands are
establishment Of seven-membel
commission to revise and review
the code when necessary; a re.
quirement that the building in.
spector be licensed structural o.
civil engineer. or architect, in ad.
dition to having three years ex.
Iperience. and an exemption claus,
for dwellings constructed on fiv,
acres or more.
Members Of the board were un.
convinced of the last proposed
amendment. Mr.. Shaffer said h,
thought it was equally importan
for houses on large tracts to hav
the protection of building safet,
standards, as for homes on small
lots.
Manning Gasch. a member O
the code committee, said h
Ifavors exempting houses on fiv
acres because people in the rura
areas prefer it that way.
/ Exemptions on Farms.
1 Members of the Code Commit
tee pointed out. however, that tn
code exempts farm outbuilding
and other construction unde
81 900.
For construction of one to three
family homes, the code follow
Federal Housing Administratio
and Veterans Administration re
quirements. Regulations of tn
State fire code and standard spec
: if1cations for steel and othe
structural materials are the has
= for most of the codes require
: ments on larger buildings.
= Building permit fees establishe
by the code are seven-tenths {
4 a cent per square foot of floe
S space for non-fireproof building
r and l cent a square foot for fire
S proof buildings.
0 In addition to Mr.. Willgoos an
t Mr.. Gasch, others on the Buildin
Code Committee are Elmer
:. Duncan, Jacob Poladian, Clyde
: Verkerke, E. E. Lyons and Charl'
), E. Vernon.