For the purposes of This chapter, the following terms whenever
used are declared to have the meanings as set forth herein:
Combustible rubbish of all kinds, including wastepaper, excelsior,
rags, straw, newspapers, magazines, wooden and fibre boxes and containers;
products of the making of repairs or alterations, including shavings,
boards, planks and other combustible wastes thereby produced; flammable
liquids not in original sealed containers or safety containers including
paint, varnish, turpentine, linseed oil, volatile oils and brushes,
rags and other implements used in applying such liquids; mattresses,
bedding, wooden and wicker furniture, upholstery and other household
furnishings when stored awaiting disposition or sale unless stored
in storage warehouses.
Apartment houses, community houses, hotels, two-family houses,
boarding houses, rooming houses, dormitories and buildings of residence
character converted to public purposes such as meetings and civic
or charitable activities.
Flammable material shall not be maintained, stored, concealed,
or accumulated in any yard, court, cellar, basement, room or enclosure,
unless safeguarded or protected as hereinafter provided. Flammable
material shall be removed and disposed of with due promptness. The
maintenance, storage, concealment or accumulation of flammable material
is hereby deemed to constitute a fire hazard.
A.
In Residence Buildings, painters' and carpenters' supplies and materials
in reasonable quantities necessary for ordinary repairs and maintenance
may be stored in the cellar or basement but only in a workshop or
room separated from other portions of the building by fire-resistive
construction. The walls of such room shall be of masonry not less
than six inches in thickness; the ceiling shall, where not of fireproof
construction, be covered with metal or other fire-resistant lath and
one inch of portland cement or gypsum, plaster; openings communicating
with other portions of the building shall be protected by approved
fireproof doors capable of withstanding the action of fire for one
hour. Such rooms shall be maintained locked against unauthorized users.
Approved safety receptacles shall be provided for oily or greasy rags
or waste, volatile liquids and like hazardous articles within such
rooms.
B.
The storage of trunks, hand baggage, surplus furniture, household
effects and like property of persons residing on the premises is forbidden
in residence buildings except in space separated from other portions
of the building with construction as prescribed in this section for
workshops. Where separate stalls, lockers or bins are provided within
such space, the dividing partitions shall not be solidly constructed
but shall have sides of incombustible open mesh, screening or lattice
which will not affect the effectiveness of a fire-hose stream. Such
stalls, lockers or bins shall not be greater in depth than 15 feet
from the passageway giving access thereto, and material shall not
be stored within more than two feet of the ceiling thereof.
C.
The Building Official shall not issue a permit for the erection of
any new residence building, as defined in This chapter, unless storage
spaces or workshops are indicated in detail on the plans if it is
intended to provide storage spaces or workshops. Storage spaces or
workshops in existing multiple dwellings shall not be constructed
until a permit to make such alteration has been applied for and has
been issued.
D.
Storage spaces and workshops in residence buildings which do not
conform to the requirements herein contained shall be made to conform
upon the determination by the Building Official or the Fire Chief
that such nonconformity constitutes a hazard to the safety of life
and property and upon notice of this determination to the owner of
such residence building.
The Fire Chief or his representative, the Building Official
or the Police Department shall at any reasonable hour be permitted
access to the basement, cellar or storage spaces of any building or
premises for the purpose of inspecting the condition thereof with
respect to the storage of combustible material, and they and each
of them shall have the right to order or cause the removal from the
building and premises of any flammable material constituting a fire
hazard and stored or maintained in violation of This chapter.
