Rules and Regulations Relating to Public Buildings - Fire Escapes and Plumbing

Sep 21, 2026

Rules and Regulations Relating to Public Buildings, Fire Escapes and Plumbing defines legal meanings of “public buildings” and establishes authority of the Vermont Department of Public Health board. It outlines the board’s responsibilities for sanitary investigations, disease prevention, mortality and sickness research, and advisory roles on drainage, water supply, sewage, and building sanitary design. It also sets procedures requiring plan submission and approval before construction, specifies penalties and corrective actions for noncompliance, and details inspection and condemnation standards for unsafe school and public buildings.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages12

Reading Time30 min

AccessFree to download

General Laws

Section 5412 - Definitions of public buildings

Section 5413 - Powers and sanitary investigations

Section 5416 - Regulations for lighting, heating, ventilation, and inspections

Section 5417 - Construction without approval: fines and corrective compliance

Section 5418 - Examination, condemnation, and repair requirements

General Regulations

Planning and submission of plans for new work, alterations, and repairs

Stairway and access requirements for schools and public assemblage spaces

97-84097-22Vermont Dept.of Public Health Rules and regulationsrelating to public...Montpelier,Vt. [1925] # COLUMBIA UNIVERSTY LIBRARIESPRESERVATION DIVISION BIBLIOGRAPHIC MICROFORM TARGET ORIGINAL MATERIAL AS FILMED-EXISTING BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD 303ZVermont.Dept.of public health.Box 305….Rules ard regulations relating to publicbuildings,fire escapes and plumbing.ontpelier,Vt.,Capital city press 1925cover-title,16 p.14cm.412262ONLy ED. Reproductions may not be made without permision from Columbia University Libraries. ## RESTRICTIONS ON USE: # TECHNICAL MICROFORM DATA FILM SIZE:35mmBEDUCTION RATIO: 9:1 IB IB IMAGE PLACEMENT:IA DATE FILMED: 5133/97 INITIALS: Tcm/s TBACKING\#: 21158 FILMED BY PRESERVATION RESOURCES,BETHLEHEM,PA. Culumbia enibcrsitp SNCE VERMONT DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH # Rules and Regulations RELATING TO Public Buildings Fire Escapes and Plumbing CAPITAL CITY PRESSMONTPELIER,VT. ## General Laws SECTION 5412.The words"public buildings,"asused in this chapter,shall mean churches,court houses,jails,municipal rooms,state and county instituions,railroad stations,school buildings,school and societyhalls,hotels and restaurants more than two stories high,all buildings more than two stories high used or rentedfor tenements,boarders or roomers,and places of amuse-ment one story or more in height;also factories,mills,workshops or other buildings more than two storieshigh,in which persons are employed above the secondstory. SEc.5413.Said board shall take cognizance of theinterests of life and health of the inhabitants of the state,shall make or cause to be made sanitary investigationsand inquiries respecting causes of diseases,especially ofepidemies,and the means of preventing the same,thesources of mortality and sickness and the effect of local-ities,employments,habits and cireumstances of life onthe publie health;and,when requested,or when,intheir opinion,it is necessary,shall advise with municipalofficers in regard to drainage,water supply and sewageof towns of villages,and in regard to the erection,con-struction,heating,ventilation and sanitary arrange-ments of publie buildings;and said board may compelthe owners of such buildings to provide them with thenecessary appliances and fire escapes for preventingaccidents to persons who may be in such buildings;andsaid board shall exercise the powers and authority im-posed by law upon said board. SEC.5416.Said board shall,when necessary,issueto local boards of health its regulations as to the lighting,heating and ventilation of school-houses,and shallcause sanitary inspection to be made of churches,school-houses and places of public resort,and make such regu-lations for the safety of persons attending the same assaid board deems necessary.Publie buildings nowstanding or hereafter erected shall conform to the regu- lations of said board in respect to sanitary conditions andfire escapes necessary for the public health and for thesafety of individuals in such publie buildings A person,corporation or committee intending toerect a public building shll submit plans thereof show-ing the method of heating,plumbing,ventilation andsanitary arrangements to said board,and procure itsapproval thereof,before erecting such building. SEc.5417.A person,corporation or committee whicherects a public building without the approval and with-out complying with the regulations of the state boardof health as provided for in the preceding section,shallbe fined not more than five hundred dollars nor less thanone hundred dollars,and shall make such building toconform to the regulations of said board before the sameis used,otherwise such building shall be deemed a nuis-ance,and be put in proper condition by the local henlthoficer under the direction of said board at the expenseof the owner.

FAQs

What buildings are covered under the definition of “public buildings” in Section 5412?

The rules define public buildings to include churches, court houses, jails, municipal rooms, state and county institutions, railroad stations, school buildings, and other specified facilities such as hotels and restaurants above two stories, and certain workplaces over the second story.

What authority does the health board have under Section 5413?

The board is responsible for sanitary investigations related to life and health, causes of diseases and epidemics, sources of mortality and sickness, and factors affecting public health. It may advise municipal officers on drainage, water supply, sewage, and sanitary building arrangements, and may require owners to provide necessary appliances and fire escapes.

What happens if someone erects a public building without board approval under Section 5417?

A person, corporation, or committee constructing without approval and without complying with regulations faces fines, must bring the building into conformity before use, and otherwise the building is treated as a nuisance and must be put in proper condition at the owner’s expense under the board’s direction.

Sep 21, 2026

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