Temporary Flooring During Construction

Sect. 17. If, in the erection of an iron or steel framed building, the spaces between the girders or floor beams of any floor are not filled or covered by the permanent construction of said floors before another story is added to the building, a close plank flooring shall be placed and maintained over such spaces from the time when the beams or girders are placed in position until said permanent construction is applied; but openings protected by a strong hand railing not less than four feet high may be left through said floors for the passage of workmen or material: provided, that when such flooring cannot be used without serious interference with the work of construction, such provision shall be made to protect the workmen from falling material as the inspector shall direct.

[1901, c. 166, Sect. 1; R. L. 104, Sect. 44; 1909, c. 514, Sect. 97; 1913, c. 655, Sect. 17; 194 Mass. 431; 213 Mass. 229].[ For penalty, see Sect. 19.]

Same Subject

Sect 18. In the construction of any iron or steel framed building having a clear story of twenty-five feet elevation or more, a staging with a close plank flooring shall be placed under and not more than ten feet below the under side of the whole extent of the beams, girders or trusses of such story upon which iron or steel workers are working.

[1901, c. 166, Sect. 2; R. L. 104, Sect. 45; 1909, c. 514, Sect. 98; 1913, c. 655, Sect. 18.] [For penalty, see Sect. 19.]

Penalty

Sect 19. Violations of any provision of the two preceding sections shall be punished by a fine of not less than fifty nor more than five hundred dollars.

[1901, c. 166, Sect. 4; R. L. 104, Sect. 46; 1909, c. 514, Sect. 99; 1913, c. 655, Sect. 19.]

Fire Escapes to be Kept Clear

Sect. 22. Any article placed upon a fire escape or an outside means of egress of any building is hereby declared a common nuisance. Any court authorized to issue warrants in criminal cases may, upon complaint under oath made by any police officer that any article is placed or maintained upon a fire escape or outside means of egress of any building, issue a warrant to bring such article when found before a court having jurisdiction of the same, and all articles seized under the authority of such a warrant shall be disposed of in like manner as gaming implements seized under chapter two hundred and seventy-six. Any owner, lessee, tenant or occupant of any building who maintains or permits to remain upon any fire escape or outside means of egress of any building any article for more than twenty minutes shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars. The existence of any article upon a fire escape or outside means of egress of any building shall be prima facie evidence that such article was so placed, maintained or permitted to remain by the occupant of the premises having access from said building to said fire escape or outside means of egress.

[1905, c. 347, Sect. 1.]

Stairways to be Kept Clear

Sect. 23. Every stairway of every building shall be kept free and unobstructed, and any person who permits any article to remain in any stairway of any building in such a manner as may impede the egress of any person lawfully in said building or the ingress of any person lawfully entitled to enter said building shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars. The existence of any article in any such stairway in any building shall be prima facie evidence that it was placed or permitted to remain therein by the owner, lessee, tenant or occupant of the building.

[1905, c. 347, Sect. 2.]

Licenses for Theatres, Etc

Sect. 34. In sections thirty-four to thirty-eight inclusive, the term "licensing officer" shall mean the mayor of Boston and the commissioner of public safety. In Boston the mayor and elsewhere the commissioner of public safety shall issue licenses for theatres, special halls and public halls. He may require such changes in the structural or other condition of any building before issuing any license as in his opinion the public safety requires, but no change shall be ordered in excess of the requirements for a new building of like character. In buildings existing on November first, nineteen hundred and thirteen, an equivalent of the conditions required by law may be accepted by the licensing officer; provided that such equivalents are set forth in detail in the license. The licenses provided for herein shall be conspicuously posted near the main entrance of the theatre, special hall or public hall. Licenses for theatres except in Boston shall expire on the first day of September, for special halls on the first day of August, and for public halls on the first day of July of each year.

[1904, c. 450, Sect. 2; 1905, c. 342, Sects. 1, 2; 1908, c. 335, Sect. 1; 1910, c. 284, Sect. 1; 1913, c. 655, Sect. 31.]

Liability of Licensee

Sect. 35. The licensee shall be responsible, civilly and criminally, for non-compliance with the laws applicable to the theatre, special hall or public hall covered by his license, and for non-compliance with the conditions thereof. The licensing officer shall cause a complete inspection of all theatres to be made once in each month, of special halls and public halls once in every six months, and as much oftener as circumstances may require.

[1904, c. 450, Sect. 3; 1913, c. 655, Sect. 32.]

Inspection of Theatres, Etc

Sect. 36. Every inspection of theatres, special halls or public halls shall cover all details relating to the condition of the building as regards the safety of life and property. The inspector shall make a signed report as to all such details upon a tabulated inspection blank, the form of which shall be determined by the licensing officer. The forms of such blanks may be adapted to the circumstances of the different classes of buildings, but shall be such as to enable the inspectors to report a rating on the points and in the form hereinafter specified, and shall include a detailed table of legal requirements, with a statement as to compliance or non-compliance with each. All inspectors inspecting theatres, special halls and public halls shall on the first of each week forward to the licensing officer the reports of their inspections of the previous week, and shall rate each theatre, special hall or public hall on the following points in the following form: