Sec. 494(31). Frame buildings—construction.
(a) No frame building hereafter erected or altered shall exceed
two stories in height, except that private dwellings may
be three stories high.
(b) No frame building hereafter erected for any occupancy
other than grain elevators, coal elevators and pockets, ice houses,
exhibition buildings, and structures for temporary occupancy for
a specified period and then subject to special permission shall
cover a ground area exceeding the following:
One story building—7,500 sq. ft.
Two story building—5,000 sq. ft.
(c) In no case shall the extreme projection of a frame building
be erected within 5 feet of the side or rear lot line, nor within
10 feet of another building on the same lot, unless the space
between the studs on such side be filled solidly with not less
than 2½ inches of brick work or other equivalent incombustible
material, in which case said distances may be reduced to 3 feet.
(d) Rows of frame tenement houses are prohibited. Duplex or
double frame houses shall be permitted. In rows of tenements
constructed of brick or other similar material there shall be a
twelve inch fire wall between each two units.
(e) Buildings with wooden framework clad with sheet metal,
or veneered with brick, shall be classed as frame buildings.
(f) The maximum spacing for studding and joists shall be
sixteen inches on centers, that for rafters twenty-four inches.
Studding in external walls and all partitions of dwellings shall
be not less than standard two by fours (2 × 4) standing with
studs set the four inch way for thickness of walls. The exterior
of the framework of all dwellings shall be sheathed with
sheathing not less than three-fourths (¾) inches thick. In case
of built-up beams or girders, the splicing of members shall be
made over supports. In case of house to be weatherboarded
sheathing may be omitted if framework is sufficiently braced
against wind pressure.
Where the frame is properly cross-braced, sheathing may be
eliminated and wood laths embedded in asphaltic binder directly
connected to heavy felt roofing material may be applied directly
to the studding when stuccoed according to provisions elsewhere
outlined in this section. Such lathing material shall meet the approval
of the Building Inspector. Where wire or metal laths
are used on sheathing board there must be a furring strip ½″
thick placed not more than 16 inches on centers.
(g) All floors of wood construction in dwellings shall be constructed
of not less than two by eight (2 × 8) standard wood
joists. All joists and studding around openings such as doors
and windows shall be doubled. Openings more than four feet
wide in bearing partitions shall be trussed or framed over with
beams of ample size to carry the full load above. All headers
over four (4) feet in length that butt into trimmers shall be carried
on metal joist hangers or mortized and tenoned headers and
trimmers. There shall be at least one horizontal row of two by
four (2 × 4) pieces in each story to provide a fire stop closing off
the entire space between studding.
(h) The following schedule of joist sizes and spacings shall
be followed as a minimum for dwellings and tenements, assuming
a total load dead and live for 60 lbs. to a sq. ft. using seasoned
short leaf yellow pine lumber.
Maximum Span for Floor Joist
| Size or Equivalent |
Distance on Centers |
Distance between
Bearings |
| 2″ × 8″ |
12″ |
14′ 0″ |
|
16″ |
12′ 8″ |
| 3″ × 8″ |
12″ |
16′ 0″ |
|
16″ |
14′ 6″ |
| 2″ × 10″ |
12″ |
17′ 6″ |
|
16″ |
15′ 9″ |
| 3″ × 10″ |
12″ |
19′ 3″ |
|
16″ |
17′ 6″ |
| 2″ × 12″ |
12″ |
20′ 0″ |
|
16″ |
18′ 0″ |
| 3″ × 12″ |
12″ |
23′ 0″ |
|
16″ |
21′ 0″ |
| 2″ × 14″ |
12″ |
23′ 8″ |
|
16″ |
21′ 6″ |
| 2½″ × 14″ |
12″ |
25′ 6″ |
|
16″ |
23′ 0″ |
| 3″ × 14″ |
12″ |
27′ 0″ |
|
16″ |
24′ 6″ |
Note: The construction of floors in all other buildings shall be
designed to carry the live loads as given in the following subsection:
I. Minimum live loads required.
In all buildings hereafter erected, altered or repaired (where
such alterations or repair, in the judgment of the building shall
require new floor construction), all floor construction shall be
constructed in accordance with the following table of minimum
live load requirements:
Hotels (upper floors), apartment houses, dormitories,
hospitals |
60 lbs. |
| Schools |
75 lbs. |
Office buildings (ground floor), corridors, stairs and lobbies
in all buildings of public nature |
90 lbs. |
Assembly rooms, main floors of theatres, ball rooms,
gymnasiums, or any rooms to be used for drilling,
dancing, grandstands, ordinary stores for light
stock |
120 lbs. |
| Warehouses and light manufacturing |
150 to 300 lbs. |
Special provision shall be made for heavy concentrated loads.
An addition of 50% shall be made for floors carrying, moving or
travelling machinery.
