Ordinance 95 [part 2]
SECTION 207. PARAPETS. Parapets 8" or more in thickness shall be extended a minimum of 18" above the roof level on those walls which are required by this ordinance to be of masonry construction, except as specifically exempted below. All parapeted walls shall be suitably coped. Parapets shall not be required on:
(a) Walls terminating at roofs of fireproof or semi-fire-proof construction.
(b) A wall of a building the roof of which is at least three feet lower than the roof of, or any opening in, an adjacent building wall.
(c) Walls facing on a street having a width of thirty feet or more.
(d) Walls of a building which is thirty feet or more distant in all directions from other buildings.
(e) Walls of a detached dwelling or of a building not exceeding one thousand sq. ft. in area.
(f) Walls of a building where the roof has an angle of more than twenty degrees with the horizontal.
SECTION 208. PROTECTION OF WALL OPENINGS. For the purpose of preventing the spread of fire from building to building communication openings in fire walls and certain openings in exterior walls required by this ordinance to be of masonry or equivalent construction shall be protected by approved fire doors, approved fire windows or other approved means satisfactory to Fire Chief.
Protection shall be required for conditions as follows:
(a) When communicating openings are located in fire walls separating buildings. In such cases, communicating openings shall be protected on each side of the wall by fire doors approved for the protection of openings in fire walls.
(b) When openings are located above the first story in an exterior wall facing on a street less than 30 feet measured from building line to building line.
(c) When openings in an exterior wall are less than 30 feet distant in a direct unobstructed line from an opening in another building. Protection shall not be required where openings in exterior walls face in the same direction.
(d) When openings in an exterior wall are above and less than 30 feet distant from any part of a neighboring roof of a building of other than fire resistive construction (reinforced concrete frame, floors and roof or their equivalent).
SECTION 209. FIRESTOPPING. Firestopping in all classes of buildings shall be arranged to cut off all concealed draft openings, such as at floors, ceilings, roofs and attic spaces, and shall form effectual fire barriers horizontally and vertically. In buildings of non-fire-resistive construction, wood two inches in thickness, nominal dimension, may be used; in other types of construction approved non-combustible material shall be used.
SECTION 210. WORKMANSHIP AND SAFETY OF DESIGN. All workmanship and building material shall be of good quality and shall conform to specifications which the Fire Chief prescribes. The more generally standard specifications for quality of materials are those of the American Society for Testing Materials. All parts of every building shall be designed to safely carry loads to be imposed thereon and shall in all other respects conform to good engineering practices.
ARTICLE III CHIMNEYS, FLUES AND HEATING APPLIANCES
SECTION 301. APPLICABLE TO NEW OR REBUILT CHIMNEYS. All chimneys, flues or fireplaces hereafter built or rebuilt in any building, within the corporate limits, regardless of the type of fuel used, shall conform to the provisions of this ordinance.
SECTION 302. CHIMNEYS AND FLUES. Chimneys shall be built of brick, or solid block masonry or of reinforced concrete, not less than three and there-quarters inches thick. Chimneys shall be lined throughout with fire clay flue lining or with fire brick, provided that chimneys for gas appliances only may be lined with any approved corrosion resistant lining. Chimneys shall be built on concrete or masonry foundations. Chimneys shall not rest upon or be carried by wooden floors, beams or brackets, nor be hung from wooden rafters. Iron brackets or stirrups attached to wooden construction shall not be used to support chimneys. Footings for exterior chimneys shall start below the frost line. All chimneys shall be built as nearly vertical as possible and shall extend at least three feet above the highest point at which they come in contact with the roof of the building and at least two feet higher than any ridge within ten feet of such chimney or flue.
SECTION 303. SPECIAL TYPE FLUES:
(a) For Domestic Gas-Fired Appliances. Domestic gas consuming devices may be vented to special flues when such special flues are of a type listed and approved by the Underwrites' Laboratories , Inc., or a similarly recognized testing laboratory and satisfactory to Fire Chief, provided, however, that such special vents shall not be permitted for incinerators, for devices or appliances which may be readily converted to the use of solid or liquid fuel, nor on boilers or furnaces except with specific approval of Fire Chief.
(b). For Domestic Appliances Fired With Coal, Oil, Wood, or Gas. Heating appliances fired with coal, oil, wood, or gas, may be vented to special flues in lieu of the above when such special flues are of a type listed and approved for such use by the Underwriters' laboratories Inc., or a similar nationally recognized testing laboratory or installed in accordance with the conditions of the approval and the circumstances of such use are satisfactory to Fire Chief.
SECTION 304. FIREPLACES. The back and sides of fireplaces shall be of solid masonry or reinforced concrete, not less than eight inches in thickness. A lining of fire brick at least two inches thick or other approved material shall be used unless the overall thickness is twelve inches. Fireplaces shall have hearths of brick, stone or other approved incombustible material supporting on a fireproof slab or brick trimmer arches. Such hearths shall extend at least twenty inches outside of the chimney breast and not less than twelve inches beyond each side of the fireplace opening along the chimney breast. The combined thickness of hearth and supporting arch shall be not less than six inches at any point. Wooden forms or centers used in the construction of that part of the supporting construction which is below the hearth of the fireplace shall be removed when the supporting construction of the hearth is completed and before plastering on the underside.
SECTION 305. CLEARANCES FROM CHIMNEYS, FLUES AND FIREPLACES. All wooden and other combustible construction shall be kept at least two inches from chimneys and flues and shall be kept at least four inches from the back of a fireplace. Such spaces shall be firestopped with non-combustible material.
SECTION 306. FLOOR PROTECTION UNDER HEATING APPLIANCES; Heating appliances shall not be mounted on floors of combustible construction unless they are either approved by the Fire Chief as suitably designed for such mounting or are set on approved bases of insulating value sufficient to prevent overheating of the combustible construction. Ranges, stoves, heating furnaces and similar heating appliances without legs or with legs less then 4" high, if on floors of combustible construction, shall have such floors protected by masonry at least 8" in thickness, topped with boiler iron and arranged in a manner that will provide air circulation throughout the masonry.

Similar heating appliances with legs which provide not less than 4" open space under the base of the appliance, if on floors of combustible construction, shall have such floors protected with incombustible material. Protection shall be provided for at least that portion of the combustible floor which if under the heating appliance, and if the appliance uses solid fuel, suitable protection shall also be provided for a distance of not less than 18" at the front or side where ashes are removed.
SECTION 307. CLEARANCES FROM HEATING APPLIANCES AND THEIR SMOKE PIPES. Ranges, stoves, heating furnaces and all other heating appliances shall be installed to provide safe clearance to woodwork or other combustible material, whether plastered or not. Ranges, stoves, heating furnaces, and similar heating appliances and smoke pipes from such devices shall have a clearance of at least 18" to walls, ceilings or partitions of combustible construction or to any other combustible material. Appliances of special types which have been tested and found safe for installation with lesser clearances may be installed with such clearances as the FIRE CHIEF shall approve. Where a durable form of non-combustible heat insulating protection is applied to the appliance or to the combustible material, installation may be made with lesser clearances as the FIRE CHIEF may approve.
SECTION 308. SMOKE PIPES. Every smokepipe shall with a chimney or other approved flue. No smokepipe shall pass through any floor, ceiling, roof or wall of combustible construction except that metal smokestacks from industrial heating or process devices may be extended through roofs when metal ventilated jackets or collars conforming to recognized good practices and acceptable to FIRE CHIEF are provided. Smoke pipes shall not pass through partitions of combustible construction unless they are guarded at the point of passage by metal ventilated jackets or collars not less than 12" larger in diameter than the smokepipe or by equivalent protection satisfactory to FIRE CHIEF.
ARTICLE IV ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS
SECTION 401. ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS. All electrical wiring, apparatus or appliances shall be installed in accordance with the National Electrical Code as approved by the American Standards Association.
ARTICLE V GARAGES
SECTION 501. GARAGE DEFINED. For the purpose of this ordinance the term "garage" shall include any building or part thereof in which more than three automobiles, trucks, tractors or similar self-propelled vehicles are stored, serviced or repaired. Detached structures auxiliary to dwelling or apartment buildings are specifically exempted from the provisions of this article.
SECTION 502. PERMIT REQUIRED. No person shall use any building or part thereof as a garage without a permit.
SECTION 503. SPECIAL STRUCTURAL REQUIREMENTS. No garage as defined in SECTION 501 of this ordinance shall hereafter be located in any frame building exceeding one story in height or exceeding 1200 sq. feet in area. No such garage shall be located in building containing other occupancy unless separated therefrom by wall, partition, floor or ceiling assemblies or non-combustible materials having a fire resistance rating of not less than two hours, with all connecting openings protected with approved self-closing fire doors. No such garage shall be located in any building not having concrete or similar non-combustible floors. Floors which drain to sewers or storm drains shall be provided with an oil separator or trap.
SECTION 504. HANDLING OF GASOLINE. The fuel tanks of motor vehicles shall be filled directly through hose from pumps drawing from underground tanks installed as required in Article VII or from approved portable tanks. There shall be no facilities for gasoline handling or filling in any basement or sub-basement garage. No gasoline or other flammable liquid shall be allowed to run upon the floor or to pass into the drainage system of the premises.
SECTION 505. REPAIRS. No repairs of any kind shall be made in any basement or sub-basement garage.
ARTICLE VI GAS APPLIANCES AN PIPING
SECTION 601. PIPING. Piping for any and all types of gas used for fuel or lighting purposes in buildings and structural shall be installed to conform with nationally recognized good practices.
SECTION 602. OUTSIDE VALVE REQUIRED. An outside valve shall be installed on every gas service pipe regardless of size that supplies large stores or factories, or places of public assembly such as churches, theatres, motion picture theatres, schools and hospitals and on every service pipe 2-1/2" or larger in diameter.
SECTION 603. RIGID METAL GAS CONNECTIONS. Gas connections to stoves, heaters and other appliances shall be made by metal pipe, or by approved metal tubing securely fastened in place, except that for devices which require a moveable connection, approved flexible tubing may be used provided that there is but one shut-off valve and provided further that such valve is located in the rigid pipe back of the point where the flexible tubing connects to the rigid pipe and in no case at the device.
SECTION 604. VENTING OF APPLIANCES. Draft hoods, flues or vents, vent connectors, clearance to combustible materials, size and height above roofs shall be in accordance with nationally recognized good practices. Compliance with National Board of Fire Underwriters Pamphlet No. 54 shall be deemed compliance with nationally recognized good practices.
SECTION 605. AIR FOR COMBUSTION. Gas appliances shall be installed in a location in which the facilities for ventilation permit satisfactory combustion of gas and proper ventilation under normal conditions of use. Where appliances are installed in a confined space within a building of unusually tight construction, air for combustion and ventilation shall be obtained from outdoors or from spaces freely communicating with the outdoors.
ARTICLE VII FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS
SECTION 701. APPLICATION. This article shall apply to all persons, firms, corporations, copartnerships, governmental agencies other than Federal, and voluntary associations storing, handling or using flammable liquids, and to the owner or lessee of any building, premises, or equipment in which flammable liquids are stored, handled, or used.
SECTION 702. SCOPE. This article shall apply to flammable liquids as hereinafter defined; except that it shall not apply to the transportation of liquids in bulk or to transportation when in conformity with Interstate Commerce Commission regulations, or regulations lawfully on file with an approved by the Interstate Commerce Commission.
SECTION 703. RETROACTIVITY. This article shall not be so construed or applied as to prevent the continued operation and use of any plant, storage tank, building, or structure in existence at the time of the adoption of this ordinance which does not comply with the requirements thereof with respect to location, tank capacity, clearance, spacing between units, or between units and line of adjoining property; but all existing plants shall comply with all other requirements of this ordinance including those relating to foundations and supports for aboveground tanks, grounding and bonding, venting or breathing, emergency vents for relief, control valves, tank connections and openings, piping, control of sources of ignition, ventilation and first aid fire control appliances. Existing plants, storage tanks, buildings or structures may be replaced in kind but still not be enlarged.
SECTION 704. FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS DEFINED. The term "Flammable liquid" as used in this article shall mean and include all liquids other than liquefied petroleum gases that have slash points below 200 degrees Fahr. as determined by Tagliabue closed cup test in accordance with methods adopted by the American Society for Testing Materials and approved by the American Standards Association.
SECTION 705. CLASSIFICATION OF FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS. For the purpose of this article, flammable liquids are divided into three classes as follows: CLASS I shall include those having points at or below 20 degrees Fahr. CLASS II shall include those having flash points above 20 degrees Fahr. but at or below 70 degrees Fahr. CLASS III shall include those having flash points above 70 degrees Fahr. and below 200 degrees.
Representative examples of flammable liquids by classes are:
Class I Class II Class III
Ether Ethyl Alcohol Kerosene
Gasoline Methyl Alcohol Amyl Alcohol
Naphtha Toluol Turpentine
Benzol Ethyl Acetate Fuel Oil
Acetone Methyl Acetate
SECTION 706. PERMIT REQUIRED. No person, firm or corporation shall use, store or handle any flammable liquid in quantities in excess of that given in the following table unless a permit has been obtained from CITY CLERK.
CLASS I and II CLASS III
(1) Dwellings or other place 1 gallon 25 gallons
of human habitation
(2) Inside of other buildings 6 gallons 25 gallons
(3) Outside of any building 10 gallons 60 gallons
The provisions of this section shall not be construed to require or permit for the storage or use of flammable liquids in the fuel tank of a motor vehicle, aircraft, motorboat, mobile power plant or mobile heating plant, nor for the storage or use of paints, oils, varnishes, or similar flammable mixtures when such liquids are stored for maintenance, painting, or similar purposes for a period of not more than 30 days.

No permit shall be issued for the use, storage or handling of flammable liquids unless such use, storage or handling complies with the provisions of this ordinance.
SECTION 707. RESTRICTED LOCATIONS FOR STORAGE AND HANDLING. Except as otherwise provided for in SECTION 703 (retroactivity) of this article the storage and handling of flammable liquids shall conform with the provisions of this article. Above ground tanks for the storage of Class I and Class II flammable liquids shall be prohibited inside of the fire limits. No above ground tank for the storage of flammable liquids shall be located within 100 feet of a then existing school, theatre, church, hospital, athletic field or other places of public gathering. No aboveground tank for the storage of Class I and Class II flammable liquids shall be located inside of a building, except as provided in SECTION 719 of this article. No facilities where flammable liquids are received by tank vessels, pipe lines, tank car or tank vehicle, or are stored or blended for the purpose of distributing such flammable liquids by tank vessels, pipe lines, tank car, or tank vessel, shall be located within the fire limits.
SECTION 708. LOCATION OF PERMITTED ABOVEGROUND TANKS. The location of aboveground tanks for the storage of flammable liquids as permitted by this article shall not be less in separation by distance from the line of adjoining property which may be built upon nor from the nearest existing habitational, mercantile or industrial building than that set forth in the following table.
Capacity Class of Minimum Separation
of Tank Flammable Liquid by Distance in Feet
0 to 275 gals. III 0 feet
276 to 750 gals. III 5 feet
0 to 750 gals. I and II 10 feet
751 to 12,000 gals. III 10 feet
751 to 12,000 gals. I & II 15 feet
12,001 to 24,000 gals. I, II and III 15 feet
24,001 to 30,000 gals. I, II and III 20 feet
30,001 to 50,000 gals. I, II and III 25 feet
Tanks in excess of 50,000 gallons individual capacity and all tanks for the storage of crude petroleum shall be located in accordance with suggested code for the storage, handling and use of flammable liquids published by the National Fire Protection Association (No. 30) or similarly nationally recognized good practices satisfactory to BOARD OF ALDERMAN. The location of a tank for the storage of any flammable liquid with respect to any other such tank shall be such that the distance between them shall be not less than three feet. For tanks above 50,000 gallons individual capacity storing any flammable liquid the distance between tanks shall not be less than one-half the diameter of the smaller tank. Aboveground tanks for Class III flammable liquids inside of buildings shall conform with the following. Such liquids may be stored inside of the buildings providing the individual capacity of the tank does not exceed 275 gallons and the aggregate total capacity of such tanks does not exceed 550 gallons, and provided further that the tanks are located in the lowest story. cellar or basement of the building. In industrial plants or processing plants, where necessary to operations, such tanks may be located at a higher level. Individual tanks for Class III flammable liquids having a capacity in excess of 275 gallons may be located inside of a building not higher than the lowest story, cellar or basement providing such tanks are located inside of an enclosure conforming with not less than the following: Walls 6 inch reinforced concrete or 8 inch brick bonded to the floor; Floor, concrete; Top, reinforced concrete at least 5 inches thick. Floor construction equivalent in fire resistance located above the enclosure may be accepted provided the walls of the enclosure tanks inside of buildings shall be protected with approved fire doors suitable for protection of openings in fire wall; such door normally to be kept in a closed position. A sill of material equivalent to wall of enclosure and at least 6 inches high shall be provided at each such opening. Provision shall be made for the adequate ventilation of such enclosures prior to entering for inspection and repairs on tanks. Aboveground tanks located inside of buildings for the storage of Class III flammable liquids shall have individual capacities and nominal gross capacities limited to the following: In buildings of ordinary construction, the nominal gross capacity of tanks shall not exceed 5,000 gallons. In fire resistive buildings the nominal gross capacity shall not exceed 15,000 gallons. In any building, if in a fire resistive or detached room, cut off vertically and horizontally in an approved manner satisfactory to BOARD OF ALDERMEN the nominal gross capacity shall not exceed 50,000 gallons, with an individual tank capacity of not to exceed 25,000 gallons.
SECTION 709. LOCATION OF BURIED TANKS OUTSIDE OF, OR UNDER BUILDINGS. A flammable liquid storage tank may be located underground, outside of or under a building, if such installation meets the requirements of this section. The tank shall be so located with respect to existing building foundations and supports that the loads carried by the latter cannot be transmitted to the tank. The distance from any part of a tank storing Class III liquids to the nearest wall of any basement, pit cellar of property line shall not be less than one foot. The distance from any part of a tank storing Class I or II liquids to the nearest wall of any basement, pit or cellar shall not be less than one foot, and from any property line that may be built upon, not less than three feet. Excavation for underground storage tanks shall be made with due care to avoid undermining of foundations of existing structures. Underground tanks shall be set on firm foundation and surrounded with soft earth or sand well tamped in place. Tanks shall be covered with a minimum of 2 feet of earth, or shall be covered with not less than 1 foot of earth on top of which shall be placed a slab of reinforced concrete not less than 4 inches thick. When underground tanks are or are likely to be subjected to traffic, they shall be protected against damage from vehicles passing over them by at least 3 feet of earth cover, or 18 inches of well-tamped earth, plus 6 inches of reinforced concrete or 8 inches of asphaltic concrete. When asphaltic of reinforced concrete paving is used a part of a protection it shall extend at least 1 foot horizontally beyond the outline of the tank in all directions. When a tank is located in an area that may be subject to flooding applicable precautions in accordance with suggested code for the storage, handling and use of flammable liquids published by the National Fire Protection Association (No. 30) or similarly nationally recognized good practices, satisfactory to BOARD OF ALDERMEN shall be taken.
Buried tanks of capacities in excess of 15,000 gallons will require a special permit to be issued only after a review of conditions surrounding such proposed installation by BOARD OF ALDERMEN. Buried tanks and tanks located inside of buildings shall be subjected to a test for tightness, which shall include the tank and piping system, before being covered or placed in use.
SECTION 710. DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF TANKS. Tanks for the storage of flammable liquids shall be designed and constructed in accordance with suggested code for the storage, handling and use of flammable liquids published by the National Fire Protection Association (No. 30) or similarly nationally recognized good practices, satisfactory to BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
SECTION 711. INSTALLATION OF TANKS. Aboveground tanks shall rest directly on the ground or on foundations or supports of concrete, masonry, piling, or steel. Exposed piling or steel supports shall be protected by fire-resistive materials to provide a fire-resistance rating of not less than two hours. Tanks located inside of buildings shall be securely supported to prevent settling, sliding or shifting, and shall be so installed that the bottom pitches to a draw-off or drain opening at a slope of not less than one quarter inch per foot of length.