PS PUBLIC SAFETY

Massachusetts. Division of Inspection.
  Agency history record.
 
  St 1879, c 305, 512, which replaced the State Detective
Force with the District Police, provided that the governor
appoint inspectors of factories and public buildings from
among their number.  St 1888, c 113 provided for their
inclusion in an Inspector Dept. in the District Police.  (St
1912, c 726, c 12 removed inspectors of factories to the State
Dept. of Labor and Industries.) St 1913, c 610 divided the
Inspection Dept. into the Building Inspection Dept. and the
Boiler Inspection Dept.  St 1919, c 350, which replaced
District Police (Force) and other state agencies with the
Dept. of Public Safety (s 99), reunited the functions of the
two inspection units in the new department's Division of
Inspections (s 103; Division of Inspection per GL 1921, c 22,
s 3).
 
  St 1972, c 802, s 4 (effective 1975) provided for district
inspectors within the division to review local building
inspection practices and to supervise enforcement of the state
building code.  As of 1988 the division was comprised of three
sections: Building, Engineering, and Elevator.  Its functions,
which include inspection of all existing state-owned
buildings, hospitals, clinics, and rest homes and plan
review/inspection of all new state-owned buildings, are
currently described in MGLA c 143 and c 146.
 
  NAME AUTHORITY NOTE. Series relating to the agencies
described above can be found by searching the following access
points for the time period stated: 1888-1913--Massachusetts.
Inspection Dept.; 1913-1919--Massachusetts. Boiler Inspection
Dept.; Massachusetts. Building Inspection Dept.;
1919-present-- Massachusetts. Division of Inspection.
 
  1. Enforcing building codes. 2. Inspecting buildings. I.
Massachusetts. Boiler Inspection Dept. II. Massachusetts.
Building Inspection Dept. III. Massachusetts. Inspection Dept.
IV. Massachusetts. Dept. of Public Safety. Division of
Inspection. V. Massachusetts. District Police. Inspection
Dept.
 
  035: PS9
 
  ID: MASVAH0323-A   
 

Massachusetts. Division of Inspection.
  Building inspection plans, 1889-1987.
 
  7300 cubic ft. (ca. 60,000 technical drawing sets)
 
  The Inspection Dept. of the District Police was established
in 1888.  It was divided into the Boiler Inspection Dept. and
the Building Inspection Dept. in 1913.  The functions of these
units were reunited in the Division of Inspection of the Dept.
of Public Safety in 1919.
 
  Summary: The Division of Inspection and its predecessors
have been responsible for fulfilling the requirements dating
from St 1888, c 316 for review and certification of all
construction and renovation plans for buildings allowing
public access in Massachusetts (excluding Boston proper).  St
1972, c 802 limited this responsibility to approval of
construction and renovation of all buildings owned by the
state, and transferred remaining responsibility to municipal
authorities.  These plans are copies submitted for approval. 
They include vertical and horizontal dimensions; layout and
names of rooms and spaces; methods of construction; materials
to be used and equipment to be installed; details of
electrical, plumbing, and mechanical installation, and heating
and ventilation systems; and details of interiors and
decorative features.  Buildings include hospitals, hotels and
boarding houses, office buildings, theaters, churches,
schools, and all other types of public structures. 
Certificates of approval are included with plans.  Other
supplementary documents indicate date, address, and name of
architect and owner.  Although inspection of Boston buildings
was not required, plans for some are included.
 
  Indexes: Card file alphabetically by municipality in
Archives arrangement and inventory.
 
  Finding aids: Architectural plans database.
 
  Finding aids: Partial vault location list.
 
  Boston plans: Boston Public Library. 666 Boylston St.,
Boston, MA 02117.
 
  Agency history record (CStRLIN)MASVAH0323-A describes the
history and functions of the Division of Inspection.
 
  Location: Massachusetts Archives. 220 Morrissey Boulevard,
Boston, MA 02125.
 
  Location: Active records: Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Division of Inspection. 1 Ashburton Place, Boston, MA 02108.
 
  1. Building inspection--Massachusetts. 2. Public
buildings--Massachusetts. 3. Massachusetts--Politics and
government--1865-1950. 4. Massachusetts--Politics and
government--1951- 5. State government records. 6.
Architectural drawings. 7. Construction drawings. 8. Floor
plans. 9. Utility plans. I. Massachusetts. Building Inspection
Dept. II. Massachusetts. Inspection Dept.
 
  035: (M-Ar)306
 
  035: PS9
 
  ID: MASV90-A926   
 

Massachusetts. Board of Schoolhouse Structural Standards.
  Agency history record.
 
  The Board of Schoolhouse Structural Standards was
established per St 1955, c 675.  Its function, specifically
stated in St 1960, c 596, was to formulate, amend, and repeal
regulations relating to structural safety, fire prevention,
and materials in connection with construction, reconstruction,
and remodeling of all public and private schoolhouses.  The
board was placed within, but not under, the Dept. of Public
Safety, which enforced its regulations per MGLA c 143, s 54. 
Specified originally for three years, its authority was
renewed regularly until Jan. 1, 1975, at which time it was
superseded by the State Building Code Commission (St 1972, c
802, ss 28, 77; St 1973, c 639).  The board remained in an
advisory capacity to the commission until ca. 1980.
 
  NAME AUTHORITY NOTE. Series relating to the agency
described above can be found by searching the following access
points for the time period stated: 1955-1980?--Massachusetts.
Board of Schoolhouse Structural Standards.
 
  1. Monitoring schools construction. 2. Regulating.
 
  035: PS9.02
 
  ID: MASVAH0312-A     
 

Massachusetts. Board of Schoolhouse Structural Standards.
  Administrative files, 1944-1974 (bulk 1955-1974).
 
  0.87 cubic ft. (3 doc. boxes)
 
  Arranged alphabetically by subject. Correspondence filed
separately; arranged alphabetically.
 
  Summary: The Board of Schoolhouse Structural Standards was
responsible for formulating, amending, and repealing building
regulations for public and private schoolhouses in
Massachusetts from 1955 through 1974.  Administrative files
were created to conduct the board's affairs.  Files contain
correspondence; reference files on lighting, mobile
classrooms, skylights, plastics, among others; budget,
payroll, and personnel materials; consultant agreements
(1957-1960); annual reports (1956-1974); and a copy of 1944
and 1954 state building inspector examinations.
 
  Agency history record (CStRLIN)MASVAH0312-A describes the
history and functions of the Board of Schoolhouse Structural
Standards.
 
  Location: Massachusetts Archives. 220 Morrissey Boulevard,
Boston, MA 02125.
 
  1. Building inspection--Massachusetts--Examinations. 2.
School buildings--Law and legislation--Massachusetts. 3.
Massachusetts--Politics and government-- 1865-1950. 4.
Massachusetts--Politics and government--1951- 5. State
government records. 6. Administrative records. 7. Annual
reports. 8. Correspondence. 9. Examinations. 10. Monitoring
schools construction. 11. Regulating.
 
  035: (M-Ar)30X
 
  035: PS9.02
 
  ID: MASV90-A894   
 

Massachusetts. Board of Schoolhouse Structural Standards.
  Minutes, 1955-1972.
 
  0.35 cubic ft. (1 doc. box)
 
  Arranged chronologically.
 
  Summary: The Board of Schoolhouse Structural Standards was
responsible for formulating, amending, and repealing building
regulations for public and private schoolhouses in
Massachusetts from 1955 through 1974.  Minutes were created to
record the board's activities and decisions.  Information
includes date and location of meeting, attendees, changes in
membership, and an account of topics discussed.  These include
state regulations governing the board's operations; and
structural standards including ventilation, fireproofing,
heating systems, and sanitation.
 
  Agency history record (CStRLIN)MASVAH0312-A describes the
history and functions of the Board of Schoolhouse Structural
Standards.
 
  Location: Massachusetts Archives. 220 Morrissey Boulevard,
Boston, MA 02125.
 
  1. School buildings--Law and legislation--Massachusetts. 2.
Massachusetts-- Politics and government--1951- 3. State
government records. 4. Minutes. 5. Monitoring schools
construction. 6. Regulating.
 
  035: (M-Ar)1437X
 
  035: PS9.02
 
  ID: MASV90-A895        
 

Massachusetts. Board of Schoolhouse Structural Standards.
  Public hearing files, 1956-1972.
 
  1.6 cubic ft. (1 record center carton and 1 doc. box)
 
  Arranged chronologically.
 
  Summary: The Board of Schoolhouse Structural Standards was
responsible for formulating, amending, and repealing building
regulations for public and private schoolhouses in
Massachusetts from 1955 through 1974.  Public hearings were
held annually to present proposed amendments to Dept. of
Public Safety Form B-2 (Building Regulations for Schoolhouses)
and to hear arguments regarding such amendments.  Public
hearing files were created in preparation for these forums. 
Files contain copies of proposed amendments, Form B-2 with
amendments incorporated, and newspaper copy and invoices for
Notices of Public Hearing displays.  Topics include changes of
standards such as height limitations, type and number of
auditorium seats and exitways, and lighting. Hearing
transcripts are not included.
 
  Agency history record (CStRLIN)MASVAH0312-A describes the
history and functions of the Board of Schoolhouse Structural
Standards.
 
  Location: Massachusetts Archives. 220 Morrissey Boulevard,
Boston, MA 02125.
 
  1. School buildings--Law and legislation--Massachusetts. 2.
Massachusetts-- Politics and government--1951- 3. State
government records. 4. Administrative regulations. 5. Legal
notices. 6. Administering hearings. 7. Monitoring schools
construction. 8. Regulating.
 
  035: (M-Ar)1438X
 
  035: PS9.02
 
  ID: MASV90-A896