The Board of Building Standards shall:

(a) Advise the Commissioner of Licenses and Inspections, upon his request, on the interpretation of the Building Code and of any regulations relating to building safety and sanitation;

(b) Suggest regulations applying standards of good practice in the enforcement of statutes and ordinances dealing with building safety and sanitation;

(c) Upon request of the Commissioner of Licenses and Inspections pass upon the worth of new and substitute materials proposed to be used in building construction and also upon new methods of construction;

(d) Consider any suggested changes in standards and regulations, new and substitute materials, or new methods of construction, either with or without holding public hearings; but before the Board shall recommend any change or modification of such standards and regulations, it shall hold a public hearing at which all interested parties may present their views. After such public hearing the Board shall submit its findings and recommendations to the Commissioner of Licenses and Inspections for his approval. Upon approval by the Commissioner they shall become a part of the standards and regulations.

ANNOTATION

Sources: Ordinance of the City of Philadelphia, May 9, 1949.

Purposes: The Board of Building Standards is the successor to the Board of Standards and Appeals. It is connected with the Department of Licenses and Inspections because it is primarily concerned with matters affecting building safety. Its functions are largely those of the former Board of Standards and Appeals. The Board of Appeals established by the Ordinance of the City of Philadelphia, May 9, 1949, has been abolished because of the creation of the Board of Building Standards.

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