Sec. 494(1). Definition of terms.
For the purpose of this section the following definitions,
terms and their applications shall be used, unless otherwise expressly
stated:
Alley.—Any right of way or easement used or laid out as a
means of access to or egress from two or more properties,
whether the same be open or not.
Areaway.—An open sub-surface space adjacent to a building
for lighting purpose or ventilating of basements.
Attic.—A space situated wholly or partially within the roof.
An attic, when it is used for business purposes or living quarters
shall be considered a story.
Basement.—The lower part of a building, the floor of which
is below the grade of the lot or street.
Sub-Basement.—That portion of a building next below the
basement.
Bay Window.—A projection beyond the wall of a building,
pierced by one or more window openings, the entire weight of
which is carried by the wall.
Beam.—A piece of timber, iron, concrete, stone, or other material
placed horizontally, or nearly so, to support a load over a
space below.
Building.—For purposes relative to this section all buildings
herein referred to shall be within either of the following classes
to-wit:
(1) Building.
(2) Altered Building.
Building.—Any structure affording shelter, whether erected,
constructed, renovated, or remodeled.
Altered Building.—Any building (other than as above defined)
changed either in use or occupancy, or by physical variation
in construction, or otherwise, not to exceed twenty-five per
centum (25%) of the assessed valuation of said building.
Church.—A building or structure used for divine worship or
religious instruction, including all social rooms connected therewith.
Columns.—Isolated vertical supports other than piers.
Concrete.—A combination of water, cement, sand and stone,
or other coarse aggregate, forming a solid mass.
Courts.—An open and uncovered space, other than a yard on
the same lot with a dwelling. A court not extending to the street
or the front or rear yards is an inner court. A court extending
to the street or front or rear yards is an outer court.
Curb Line.—The face or exposed side of the curb actually
constructed, or the line designated as such by the City.
Dwelling.—(a) Any house or building, or portion thereof,
which is used in part or in whole as a home, residence, or sleeping
place for one or more human beings, either permanently or
transiently.
(b) Private dwelling is any building which shall be intended,
designed, or used as the home or residence of not more than
three separate and distinct families or households, and in which
not more than five rooms shall be used for the accommodation
of boarders, and no part of which is used for commercial purposes.
Depth of a Building.—Same as the length.
Elevator.—A platform or cab, mechanically operated, in a vertical
shaft for the conveyance of passengers or goods.
Factor of Safety. — The quotient obtained by dividing the
breaking load or ultimate strength by the safe load.
Factory.—Any building in which goods, wares, merchandise,
or other materials are manufactured.
Fireproof.—The definition as contained in the latest regulations
of the National Board of Fire Underwriters.
Fire Doors and Metal Clad Doors.—The above terms shall
mean only doors, windows, and shutters as defined in the latest
regulations of the National Board of Fire Underwriters.
Fireproof Buildings.—The term fireproof buildings shall apply
to all buildings in which the principal parts are made of incombustible
materials, these principal parts consisting mainly in
walls, floor construction, roof construction, furring, ceiling, stairs
and all shaft enclosures. The finish of the floors, the windows,
and frames and doors, frame and trim may be of wood or other
materials when not in violation of the provisions of this chapter.
First Story.—That portion of a building the floor of which is
immediately above the basement.
Floor.—The structure or portion thereof, forming the upper
covering of a basement or story and the lower covering of any
other story.
Footings.—The spread bottom bearing course or courses of a
foundation, pier, or column.
Foundation.—That portion of the supporting walls, piers, etc.,
below the beams of the first story, including the footings. Any
wall or pier built below the adjacent curb line or nearest tier of
beams.
Frame Construction.—A building or structure of which the
exterior walls or portions thereof shall be constructed of wood.
Buildings sheathed with boards and partially or entirely covered
with four inches of brick or stone work, shall be termed frame
buildings. Wood frames covered with metal, whether the frames
are sheathed or not with boards, shall be deemed frame buildings.
Grade.—The surface of the ground, lawn, court, or sidewalk
adjoining a building.
(a) Established Grade. The grade of the street curb fixed
by the City.
(b) Natural Grade. The undisturbed natural surface of the
ground.
(c) Finished Grade. The grade of the exposed surface of
the ground when the proposed structure is completed.
Garage.—A building in which is housed for any purpose, self-propelled
vehicles designed for the use of inflammable liquids
for fuel or power, where tanks for such liquids are attached to
the machine, whether or not such tanks contain any inflammable
liquids.
Girders.—A structural piece of material placed horizontally or
nearly so, which supports the ends of beams or joists or large
floor slabs.
Hotel.—Every building or part thereof, intended, designed or
used for supplying food and shelter to transients, residents or
guests, and containing more than fifteen (15) sleeping rooms.
Incombustible Material.—A substance which will not burn and
which when heated to a point of disintegration will not support
combustion.
Lintel.—The beam or girder placed over a door or window
opening.
Load.—(a) The Dead Load. The actual weight of walls,
floors, roofs, partitions, and all other permanent construction.
(b) The Live Load. All imposed, fixed, or transient loads,
other than the dead loads, due to the use or occupancy of buildings
and their exposure to the wind pressure, and the elements.
Lodging Houses.—Any house or building or portion thereof,
in which persons are harbored or lodged, for hire a single night
or less than a week at a time at any one period, or any part of
which is let for any one person to sleep in, for any term less than
a week.
Lot Line.—The line of demarcation between the properties of
different owners.
Length of Buildings.—The greatest horizontal dimension of
any building shall be its length.
Mortars.—a. Portland Cement Mortar. Portland cement mortar
shall be made of Portland cement mixed with sand, proportioned
as follows: One part Portland cement to not more than
three parts sand by volume to which lime putty may be added in
amount not exceeding 15% by volume.
b. Lime Mortar. Lime mortar shall be made of one part lime
and not more than three parts sand to which shall be added not
less than 25% of Portland cement by volume.
c. Masonry Cement Mortar. Masonary cement mortar shall
be made in accordance with the specifications as recommended
by the cement manufacturer, but in no case shall be less than the
proportion of one part masonary cement to three parts sand by
volume.
When masonry cement is used it must be approved by the
Building Inspector.
All mortars shall be mixed in accordance with the best practice
and shall be used immediately after being mixed.
Masonry.—Built-up brick work, stone tile, or other similar
construction.
Office Building.—Every building which shall be divided into
rooms, designed or used for office purposes, and no part of which
be used for living purposes, excepting only for the janitor and
his family.
Offset.—The shoulder or difference in thickness of a wall.
Partitions.—A non-bearing wall reaching from the floor to
the ceiling or partially to the ceiling, separating the space one
from another.
Party Line.—Same as lot line.
Piers.—Isolated masses of masonry or concrete, forming supports
for structural members.
Repairs.—The construction or renewal of any part of an existing
building for the purpose of its maintenance in its present
class of construction.
School.—All public and private schools, colleges, academies,
seminaries, museums, and art galleries, including buildings and
structures or portions of same, containing one or more rooms
used for the purpose of acquiring knowledge or for mental training.
Shaft.—A vertical enclosed space passing through at least one
floor and used for ventilation, stairways, elevator, wiring or piping
purposes.
Sprinkler System.—Whenever a sprinkler system is required
or mentioned in this section in any building or portion thereof
the entire installation shall be made in accordance with the latest
regulations of the National Board of Fire Underwriters, covering
this class of work.
Stables.—Any building used or designed for the keeping of
horses, cows, or other livestock.
Story.—That portion of a building comprised between the
floor and the floor above, or the roof next above.
Tenement and Apartment Houses.—Every building which shall
be designed or used for the home or residence of more than
three families.
Theatre.—A building, or part of a building, intended for use
in the production of dramatic, operatic, vaudeville, motion picture
shows, or similar entertainment as a usual business.
Walls—Bearing.—A wall which supports any load other than
its own weight.
Wall—Curtain.—Any non-bearing wall columns and piers and
which is not supported by beams or girders at each story.
Walls—Division.—A bearing wall or non-bearing wall running
between the exterior walls sub-dividing a building into different
parts.
Walls—External.—Any other walls or vertical enclosure of a
building other than a party wall.
Wall—Fire. — A division wall which extends through and
at least three (3) feet above the roof, excepting in fireproof
buildings, and in which all openings are protected by fire windows
and doors. Also any division or partition walls dividing
spaces into limited areas for fire protection purposes. A wall
subdividing a building to restrict the spread of fire.
Wall—Foundation.—See "Foundations."
Wall—Panel or Inclosure.—A non-bearing wall in a skeleton
structure built between columns or piers and supported at each
story.
Wall—Partition.—See "Partition."
Wall—Parapet.—That partition of a wall which extends above
the roof line.
Wall—Party.—A wall that separates two or more buildings,
and used or to be used, jointly by separate buildings or owners.
Wall—Retaining.—A wall designed or built to withstand
lateral pressure of adjoining earth or other material.
Wall Thickness.—The minimum thickness as given in this section.
Width of a Building.—The next to the greatest horizontal dimension
of a building.
Warehouses.—All buildings used for storage of goods, wares
or merchandise.
Wells. — Open spaces other than shafts passing through at
least one floor.
