ghana building code - part 07.pdf

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PART 7 ‐ HOUSING AND SMALL BUILDINGS Table of Contents Page 7. 1 General 2

7. 2 Material, Systems and Equipment 2

7. 3 Loads … … 9

7. 4 Room and Space Dimensions … 12

7. 5 Doors … … 15

7. 6 Windows … … 18

7. 7 Stairs, Ramps, Handrails and Guards 20

7. 8 Means of Egress … … 28

7. 9 Fire Protection … … 35

7. 10 Preparation of Site … … 35

7. 11 Waterproofing and Dampproofing … 36

7. 12 Drainage … 36

7. 13 Footings and foundations … 37

7. 14 Slabs on Ground … … 39

7. 15 Columns … … 41

7. 16 Masonry (Bricks, Blocks or Sandcrete) … 43

7. 17 Wood‐Frame Construction … 47

7. 18 Post, Beam and Plank Construction 53

7. 19 Roofing … … 55

7. 20 Interior wall and Ceiling Finishes … 59

7. 21 Flooring … … 61

7. 22 Plumbing Facilities … … 62

7. 23 Ventilation … … 63

7. 24 Electrical Facilities … 65

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PART 7 ‐ HOUSING, SMALL AND RURAL BUILDINGS

7. 1 GENERAL

7.1.1 Scope

This part applies to buildings of two (2) storeys or less in building height having a building area not exceeding 220m2 and which are used or intended to be used for residential (Group R), business and personal services (Group B), Mercantile (Group M) and medium and low hazard industrial occupancy (Group S). This part applies both to site assembled and factory made buildings. Occupancy group classifications are as described in Section 3.2 of Part 3 of this Code. 7.1.2 Buildings other than those described in Subsection 7.1.1 are regulated by the appropriate requirements in Parts 2,3,5 and 6 for this Code. 7.1.3 Where a building or component of a building is assembled off the building site in such a manner that it cannot be inspected on site, approved off‐site inspection shall be provided, when required by the authority having jurisdiction to ensure compliance with this Code. 7.2 MATERIALS, SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT 7.2.1 General 7.2.1.1 Performance Materials, systems and equipment shall possess the essential properties necessary to perform their intended functions. 7.2.1.2 Required Tests When required by the authority having jurisdiction, materials, systems or equipment shall be tested to determine the suitability for their intended use. 7.2.1.3 Published Test Methods Except as provided in Article 7.2.1.5, the test method used to determine the suitability of materials, systems or equipment shall be one that is published by a government recognized agency. 7.2.1.4 Assessment of Materials, Systems and Equipment Materials, systems and equipment not specifically described herein, or which vary from specific requirements in this Part, or for which no recognized test procedure has been established, may be used if it can be shown that the material, system or equipment is suitable on the basis of past performance or good engineering practice or on the basis of tests described in Article 7.2.1.5. 7.2.1.5 Absence of Published Test Methods Where no published test method exists, the tests shall be designed to simulate or exceed anticipated service conditions or shall be designed to compare the performance of the material, system or equipment with similar material, system or equipment that is known to be acceptable.

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7.2.1.6 Testing Laboratories Every test shall be carried out by a testing laboratory acceptable to the government recognized authority having jurisdiction. 7.2.1.7 Conflict with Reference Documents When a specification or reference document listed herein contains requirements that conflict with specific requirements in this Part, the requirements in this Part shall govern. 7.2.1.8 Short‐lived or Otherwise Unsuitable Materials Where plans of a building show that it is proposed to use short‐lived materials, the authority having jurisdiction may, notwithstanding that the plans conform with the regulations: (1) (i) reject the plans; or

(ii) in passing the plans, fix a period on the expiration of which the building must be removed and impose such reasonable conditions which, having regard to the nature of the materials are appropriate.

(2) the authority having jurisdiction may extend any period fixed if they find at the end of this period that the condition of the structure is still in a suitable condition.

7.2.2 Concrete 7.2.2.1 Classification of concrete mixes Concrete mixes shall be classified as designed mixes or prescribed mixes. 7.2.2.1.2 Designed mix For a designed mix, the builder or manufacturer shall be responsible for selecting the mix proportions to achieve the required strength and workability but an engineer shall be responsible for specifying the minimum cement content and other properties required to ensure durability. Concrete cubes or cylinders are tested in parallel with the construction to check the mix compliance and consistency. Designed mixes shall be in conformity with:

(i) BS EN 206‐1:2000 – Specification, performance, production and conformity;

(ii) BS 8500‐1:2002 – Method of specifying and guidance for the specifier;

(iii) BS 8500‐2:2002 ‐ Specification for constituent materials and concrete; or

(iv) any relevant standard approved by the government authority having jurisdiction.

7.2.2.1.3 Prescribed mix For a prescribed mix, the engineer shall specify the mix proportions and is responsible for ensuring (by testing) that these proportions produce a suitable mix. The builder or manufacturer shall undertake to provide a properly mixed concrete containing the constituents in the specified proportions. 7.2.2.2 Cements Cement shall meet the requirements of:

(i) BS 12:1996 ‐ Portland cement;

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(ii) BS 4248:1996 – Supersulphated cement;

(iii) BS 6588:1996 – Portland pulverized‐fuel ash cement;

(iv) BS 7583:1996 – Portland limestone cement;

(v) BS EN 197‐1:2000 – Composition, specification and conformity criteria for common cements –

replaced (i),(ii),(iii) and (iv);

(vi) BS 146:1996 – Portland blastfurnace cement;

(vii) BS 915:1972 – High alumina cement;

(viii) BS 1370:1979 – Low heat Portland cement;

(ix) BS 4027:1996 – Sulphate resisting Portland cement;

(x) BS 4246:1996 – High slag blastfurnace cement;

(xi) BS 6610:1996 – Pozzolanic pulverized‐fuel ash cement.

7.2.2.3 Aggregates Aggregates shall consist of sand, gravel, crushed rock, expanded shale or expanded clay conforming to:

(i) BS 882:1992 – Aggregates from natural sources for concrete; (ii) BS 1047:1983 – Air‐cooled blastfurnace slag aggregate for use in construction; (iii) BS EN 12620 – 2000: Normal and heavy weight aggregates. (iv) All‐in aggregate for oversight concrete.

Aggregates shall be clean, well‐graded and free of injurious amounts of organic and other deleterious materials. 7.2.2.4 Water Water shall be clean and free of injurious amounts of oil, organic matter, sediment or any other deleterious materials. 7.2.2.5 Grades of concrete Concrete shall be classified into grades, where the grade number is the characteristic cube strength as listed in Table 7.2.2.A. The strength of the concrete shall be based on tests made on 150mm cubes and 150mm diameter Φ by 300mm cylinders at an age of twenty eight (28) days, unless there is satisfactory evidence that a particular testing regime is capable of predicting the 28 days strength at an earlier age. 7.2.2.6 Durability The minimum cement content kg/m3 required in Portland cement concrete to ensure durability shall be as listed in Table 7.2.2.B and Table 7.2.2.C and nominal cover to reinforcement shall be as listed in Table 7.2.2.D.

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Table 7.2.2.A – Grades of concrete (Forming part of Article 7.2.2.5)

Grade Characteristic Strength

( N/mm2) Lowest grade for compliance with

appropriate use 7

7.0

Plain concrete

10 15

10.0 15.0

Reinforced concrete with lightweight aggregate

20 20.0 Reinforced concrete with dense

aggregate 25 25.0

30

30.0

Concrete with post‐tensioned tendons

40

40.0 Concrete with pre‐tensioned tendons

50 50.0

60 60.0

Table 7.2.2.B – Minimum cement content (kg/m3) required in Portland cement concrete to ensure durability

(Forming Part of Article 7.2.2.6)

Exposure Reinforced concrete nominal maximum size of agg.(mm)

40 20 14 10 Mild ‐ for example, completely protected against weather or aggressive conditions, except for a brief period of exposure to normal weather conditions during construction.

220

250

270

290

Moderate ‐ for example, sheltered from severe rain. Buried concrete and concrete continuously under water.

260

290

320

340

Severe ‐ for example, exposed to sea water, driving rain, alternate wetting and drying and subject to heavy condensation or corrosive fumes.

320

360

390

410

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Table 7.2.2.C – Minimum cement content for designated mixes to BS 8500 and BS EN 206 (Forming part of Article 7.2.2.6)

Compressive strength (N/mm2)

Strength class

Typical application Minimum cement content (kg/m3)

Maximum free water/cement

ratio

Typical slump (mm)

7.5 C6/7.5 Kerb bedding and backing 120 Not critical 10

10 C8/10 Blinding and mass concrete fill Drainage works Oversite below suspended slabs

180 Not critical 10‐75

20 C16/20 Mass concrete foundations Trench fill foundations

220 Not critical 75‐125

25 C20/25

Reinforced concrete

240 0.70 75‐125

30 C25/30 260 0.65 50‐100

35 C28/35 280 0.60 50‐100

40 C32/40 300 0.55 50‐100

50 C40/50 340 0.45 50‐100

35 C28/35 Foundations in sulphate conditions

320‐380 0.50‐0.35 75

Note: Strength class C28/35 indicates that the minimum characteristic cylinder strength is 28N/mm2 and cube strength 35N/mm2

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Table 7.2.2.D ‐ Nominal cover to reinforcement (Forming part of article 7.2.2.6)

Condition of exposure

Nominal cover (mm) for Concrete grade

20 25 30 40 50 and over

Mild – for example, completely protected against weather, or aggressive conditions, except for brief period of exposure to normal weather conditions during construction

25

20

15

15

15

Moderate ‐ for example, sheltered from severe rain. Buried concrete and concrete continuously under water

N/A

40

30

25

20 Severe ‐ for example exposed to driving rain, alternated wetting and drying. Subject to heavy condensation or corrosion

N/A

50

40

30

25

Very severe – exposed to sea water and with abrasion N/A N/A N/A 60 50

Note on Table 7.2.2.D N/A ‐ not applicable 7.2.2.7 Prescribed mixes The prescribed mixes described in Table 7.2.2.E shall be considered acceptable for the slump and maximum size of aggregate indicated. 7.2.2.8 Reinforced concrete design Reinforced concrete shall be designed to conform to the requirement of Part 5 of this Code. 7.2.3 Timber and wood products 7.2.3.1 Moisture content Moisture content of timber shall not be greater than 18 percent at the time of installation. 7.2.3.2 Timber dimensions Timber dimensions of less than 25mm referred to in this Part are actual dimensions. Timber dimensions of 25mm or more referred to in this Part are nominal dimensions.

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Table 7.2.2E – Prescribed mixed based on a bag of cement (nominal 50 kg) (Forming part of Article 7.2.2.7)

Grade

Maximum size of aggregate 40mm 20mm 14mm 10mm

medium work.

high work.

mediumwork.

highwork.

mediumwork.

high work.

mediumwork.

highwork.

Slump (mm)

50‐100

100‐150 25‐750 75‐125 10‐50

50‐100 10‐25 25‐50

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Material

535

30‐45

465

30‐45

450

35‐50

395

35‐50

‐ ‐

‐ ‐

‐ ‐

‐ ‐

Total aggregate (kg) Fines content (%)

10


455

30‐45

400

30‐45

385

35‐50

345

35‐50

‐ ‐

‐ ‐

‐ ‐

‐ ‐

15


375

30‐45

335

30‐45

325

35‐50 280

35‐50

‐

‐

‐

‐

‐

‐

‐

‐

20

Total aggregate(kg) Sand (%) Zone 1 Zone 2 Zone 3

305 35 30 30

275 40 35 30

280 40 35 30

245

45 40 35

260 45 40 35

225 50 45 40

240 50 45 40

200

55 50 45

25

Total aggregate (kg) Sand (%) Zone 1 Zone 2 Zone 3

265 35 30 30

240 40 35 30

245 40 35 30

215

45 40 35

225 45 40 35

200 50 45 40

210 50 45 40

180

55 50 45

30

Total aggregate (kg) Sand (%) Zone 1 Zone 2 Zone 3

240 35 30 30

220 40 35 30

215 40 35 30

190

45 40 35

195 45 40 35

175 50 45 40

180 50 45 40

150

55 50 45

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7.2.3.3 Joist, rafter, lintel and beam members up to 5 percent less than the actual Ghana standard sizes may be used provided the allowable spans for the grade and species of timber under consideration are reduced by 5 percent from those shown in the span tables for full size members. 7.2.4 Metal 7.2.4.1 Minimum thickness for sheet material given in this Part refer to the actual minimum thicknesses measured at any point of the material, and in the case of galvanized steel includes coating unless otherwise indicated. 7.3 LOADS 7.3.1 General 7.3.1.1 When the size of structural members and their connections are not given in this Part, the members and their connections shall conform to Part 5 of this Code, except that design imposed (live)loads and deflection limits shall conform to subsections 7.3.2 to 7.3.6. 7.3.2 Floor loads The minimum design live loads on a floor area shall be taken as being equal to a uniformly applied load over the entire area or a concentrated load whichever produces greater and shall be based on the intended use and occupancy as set out in Table 7.3.2.A

Table 7.3.2.A – Minimum design imposed (live) floor loads (Forming Part of Article 7.3.2)

Use of Area of Floor Minimum design live load (kN/m2)

Minimum concentrated design load over any square with a 300mm side (kN)

Corridors, lobbies and aisles over 1.2m width, except for public corridors above first storey in residential occupancies Corridors, lobbies and aisles not over 1.2m in width Balconies Equipment rooms Exits Factories Light Medium Heavy

4.0 (1)

4.0 2.0(2)

4.0 5.0 7.5 10.0

4.5 ‐

4.5

4.5 ‐

4.5 6.7 9.0

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Garages For passenger cars unloaded buses and light trucks not exceeding 2500 kg including driveways and ramps All repair workshops for all types of vehicles and parking for vehicles exceeding 2500 kg gross weight including driveways and ramps Kitchens other than domestic Office areas basement and first storeys Laboratories Residential occupancies attics not accessible by a stairway attics accessible by a stairway bedrooms all other rooms stairs within dwelling units Mercantile occupancies

2.5 To be determined but not less than 5.0 3.0 4.0 To be determined not less than 3.0 0.4 1.4 1.4 1.9 3.6 4.0

9.0 To be determined but not less than 9.0

4.5

4.5

4.5

4.5

Notes on Table 7.3.2.A (1) Corridors, lobbies and aisles over 1.2m width shall be designed to carry not less than the design load

required for the occupancies they serve. (2) Total equipment loads must be calculated and allowed for in the design. 7.3.3 Roof live loads other than wind loads or rain loads 7.3.3.1 Roof (whether flat or pitched) of a house having not more than three storeys and intended for occupation by one family only to which there is only such access as may be necessary for the purposes of maintenance or repair shall withstand an imposed load of 720N/m2 less 50N for every 30 by which the pitch exceeds 30o. 7.3.3.2 In the case of a roof to which there is access other than solely for the purposes of maintenance or repair the imposed load shall be taken as 1.44kN/m2. 7.3.4. Wind loads 7.3.4.1 Design wind loads shall conform to the appropriate requirements in Section 5.9 of Part 5 of this Code.

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7.3.5 Deflections 7.3.5.1 The maximum deflection of structural members shall conform to Table 7.3.5.A. Dead loads need not be considered in computing such deflections.

Table 7.3.5.A – Maximum deflection of structural members (Forming part of Article 7.3.5.A)

Structural

Type of ceiling supported

Maximum allowable deflection expressed as a Ratio of the Clear Span

Roof rafter, roof joists, roof beams and roof decking of plank and beam construction

No Ceiling

1/180

Other than plaster

1/240

Plaster

1/360

Ceiling joist

Other than plaster

1/240

Plaster 1/360

Floor beams, floor joists and floor decking of plank and beam construction for floor areas other than bedrooms in dwelling units

No ceiling

1/360

Other than plaster

1/360

Plaster 1/360

Floor beams, floor joists and floor decking of plank and beam construction for floor areas of bedrooms in dwelling units

No Ceiling

1/240

Other than plaster

1/240

Plaster 1/360

7.3.6 Earthquake loads 7.3.6.1 Except for buildings of wood‐frame construction, buildings shall be designed for the earthquake loads in Section 5.10 of Part 5 of this Code, where the greatest horizontal area of the building above grade floor level, measured within the exterior surfaces of the exterior walls, exceeds 220m2. 7.3.6.2 Except as provided in Articles 7.3.6.3 to 7.3.6.5, 2 and 3 storey buildings in seismic zone 3 and 3‐storey buildings in seismic zone 2 shall be designed for the earthquake loads in Section 5.10 of Part 5 of

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this Code where the greatest horizontal area of the building above grade floor level, measured within the exterior surfaces of the exterior walls, does not exceed 220m2. 7.3.6.3 Buildings with structural loadbearing precast concrete elements (normal or lightweight) shall have connections designed for the earthquake loads in Section 5.10 of Part 5 of this Code. 7.3.6.4 Buildings constructed with loadbearing masonry walls which are required to resist the earthquake loads specified in Articles 7.3.6.1. and 7.3.6.2 may, in lieu of engineered design, be reinforced as required in Subsection 7.16.11. 7.3.6.5 Buildings with structural systems of wood frame construction need not be designed for the earthquake loads in Section 5.10 of Part 5 of this Code. 7.4 ROOM AND SPACE DIMENSIONS 7.4.1 General 7.4.1.1 This section applies only to dwelling units that are intended for use on a continuing basis as the principal residence of the occupant. 7.4.1.2 Method of measurement Unless otherwise indicated herein, the areas, dimensions and heights of rooms or spaces shall be measured between finished wall surfaces and between finished floor and ceiling surfaces. 7.4.1.3 Combined Space Minimum dimensions listed for rooms or spaces in combination with other rooms or spaces refer to the minimum dimension of the combined space. 7.4.1.4. Floor areas Minimum (usable) floor areas specified in this section do not include closets or built‐in bedroom cabinets unless otherwise indicated. 7.4.1.5 Combination rooms Two or more areas are considered as a combination room if the dividing wall occupies less than 60 percent of the separating plane. 7.4.1.6 Areas and dimensions of rooms and spaces may be less than required in this section provided it can be shown to the satisfaction of the authority having jurisdiction that the rooms and spaces are adequate for their intended use, such as by the provision of built‐in furniture to compensate for reduced sizes. 7.4.2 Ceiling heights 7.4.2.1 Room heights Heights of rooms or spaces in residential occupancies shall conform to Table 7.4.2.A

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Table 7.4.2.A – Ceiling heights (Forming part of Article 7.4.2.1)

Room heights

Room or space Minimum heights Living room or space, Dining room or space Kitchen or kitchen space

2.3m over at least 75 percent of the required floor area with a clear height of at least 2.0m at any point over the required area.

Bedroom or bedroom space

2.3m over at least 50 per cent of the required floor area or at least 2.0m over all of the required floor area. Any part of the floor having a clear height of less than 1.4m shall not be considered in computing the required floor area.

Unfinished basement or cellar including laundry area therein

1.9m under beams in laundry areas and in any location that would normally be used for passage to laundry and required storage areas.

Bathroom, water‐closet room or laundry area above grade floor level

2.0m in any area where a person would normally be in a standing position

Passage, hall or main entrance and finished rooms not specifically mentioned above

2.0m

7.4.2.2 The clear height above and below a mezzanine floor assembly in all occupancies shall not be less than 2.0m unless otherwise permitted by the authority having jurisdiction. 7.4.2.3 The clear height in a storage garage shall not be less than 2.0m. 7.4.3 Living rooms or Spaces within dwelling units 7.4.3.1 Living room area Living areas within dwelling units, either as separate rooms or in combination with other spaces, shall have at least 13.47m2 of floor area and shall have no dimension less than 3m within the required areas. Where the area of a living space is combined with a kitchen and dining area, the living area alone in a bachelor dwelling unit shall be at least 11.15m2. 7.4.4 Dining rooms or spaces within dwelling units 7.4.4.1 A dining space in combination with other space shall have a minimum floor area of 3.25m2. Dining rooms not combined with other space shall have a minimum area of 6.50m2.

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7.4.4.2 Except as permitted in Article 7.4.4.3, a dining room or space combined with other space shall have no dimension less than 2.3m within the required area measured between wall faces or a wall face and a built‐in cabinet or appliance. 7.4.4.3 When a required dining area is provided in a kitchen or serves a bachelor dwelling unit, the minimum dimension of such space may be reduced to 1.7m. 7.4.5 Kitchen within dwelling units 7.4.5.1 Kitchen area Kitchen areas within dwelling units either separate or in combination with other space shall have at least 7.43m2 of floor area including the area occupied by the base cabinets, except that in bachelor dwelling units the minimum floor area shall be 3.72m2. 7.4.5.2 At least 910mm clearance shall be provided in front of base cabinet, work surfaces, counter tops and appliances. 7.4.6 Bedroom or space in dwelling units 7.4.6.1 Main bedroom area Except as provided in Article 7.5.6.3 at least one bedroom in every dwelling unit shall have at least 11.15m2 of floor area where built‐in cabinets are not provided and 10.10m2 of floor area where built‐in cabinets are provided. The minimum dimension within their required area shall be 2.7m. 7.4.6.2 Other bedroom areas Except as provided in Article 7.4.6.3 additional bedrooms shall have at least 8.36m2 of floor area where built‐in cabinets are not provided and 7.57m2 of floor area where built‐in cabinets are provided. The minimum dimension within the required area shall be 2.44m. 7.4.6.3 Combination bedroom areas Bedroom spaces in combination with other spaces shall have at least 5.05m2 of floor area and have no dimension less than 1.98m within the required area. 7.4.7 Bathrooms and water‐closet rooms 7.4.7.1 Bathroom areas In every dwelling unit an enclosed space of a minimum of 3m2 shall be provided to accommodate a bathtub or shower bath, water closet and lavatory basin. 7.4.7.2 At least 550mm clearance shall be provided in front of the tub or shower stall to an opposite wall face or 450mm in front to another fixture over at least 600mm length of the bathtub or shower. 7.4.7.3 The centre line of the water closet shall be at least 400mm away from an adjacent side wall and from a vanity. At least 450mm clearance shall be provided in front of the water closet to the opposite wall or another fixture.

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7.4.7.4 The centre line of a lavatory basin shall be at least 400mm from an adjacent side wall. At least 550mm clearance shall be provided in front of the lavatory basin to an opposite wall or 450mm clearance in front to another fixture. 7.4.8 Hallways 7.4.8.1 Width of hallways The width of a hallway within a dwelling unit shall be at least 1200mm.

7.5 DOORS

7.5.1 General

7.5.1.1 Door in fire separations Requirements relating to doors in fire separating and means of egress shall conform to the appropriate requirements in Section 7.8 and 7.9. 7.5.2 Required doors 7.5.2.1 Required doors in single dwelling units A door shall be provided at each entrance to a dwelling unit, bathroom, water‐closet room and shower room. 7.5.2.2 Required doors in multiple dwelling units In buildings containing more than one dwelling unit, doors shall be provided at the exterior entrances, laundry or drying rooms, storage rooms, public water‐closet rooms, recreation rooms and any other locations required by Section 7.9. 7.5.3 Doorway sizes 7.5.3.1 Doorway openings Doorway openings within dwelling units shall be designed to accommodate not less than the door sizes in Table 7.5.3.A for swing‐type doors. Where folding doors are to be provided, the same openings apply.

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Table 7.5.3A ‐ Doorway sizes (Forming part of Article 7.5.3.1)

Minimum size of doors

At Entrance to Width mm Height m

Dwelling unit (required entrance), Vestibule or entrance hall 810 2.0

Stairs to a floor level that contains a finished space All doors in at least one line of passage from the exterior to the basement Utility rooms

810

2.0

Walk‐in closet 610 2.0

Bathroom, water‐closet, shower room 610 2.0

Rooms not mentioned above, exterior balconies 760 2.0

7.5.3.2 Doors to public water‐closet rooms shall not be less than 810mm in width and 2.0m in height. 7.5.4 Exterior doors 7.5.4.1 Exterior doors shall be at least 44mm thick, except that doors for secondary entrances serving single dwelling units or balconies may be 35mm thick if of solid wood, solid core or stile and rail construction. 7.5.4.2 Storm or combination doors shall be at least 35mm thick for wood doors and 25mm for metal doors. 7.5.4.3 Where an exterior door opening is not completely protected from driving rain, it shall be provided with a sill that slopes to the exterior and the sill caulked with suitable caulking to prevent entry of water. 7.5.4.4 Wooden frames foe exterior doors shall be treated with approved preservative. Steel frames for exterior doors shall be painted with a rust inhibitive paint or otherwise treated before erection to prevent corrosion. 7.5.5 Interior doors 7.5.5.1 Interior wood doors in dwelling units other than closet doors or cupboards doors shall be at least 35mm thick.

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7.5.5.2 Interior wood doors to rooms or spaces used for storage, laundry, drying, vestibules, recreation, kitchen areas or water closets in apartments, buildings but not within dwelling units shall be at least 44mm thick. 7.5.5.3 Doors sited along egress shall be fitted with a vision panel of at least 150mm x 150mm. 7.5.6 Glass 7.5.6.1 Glass thickness and the size of glass for doors shall conform to Table 7.5.6.A

Table 7.5.6.A – Glass size for Doors (Forming part of Article 7.5.6.1)

Minimum Glass Weight Minimum glass

thickness Maximum Perimeter, m

510 g

680 g

907 g

4.8mm

5.6mm

2.03

3.05

4.06

4.57

Not limited

7.5.6.2 Glass side lights greater than 460mm in width that could be mistaken for doors, glass in storm doors and glass in sliding doors within or at every entrance to a dwelling unit and in public areas shall be safety glass of the laminated or tempered type or shall be of wired glass. 7.5.6.3 Glass in entrance doors to dwelling units and in public areas, other than the entrance doors described in Article 7.5.6.2 shall be safety glass or wired glass of the type described in Article 7.5.6.2 where the glass area exceeds 0.46m2 and extends to less than 910mm from the bottom of the door. 7.5.6.4 Mirrored glass doors may be used only at the entrance to clothes closets. Such doors shall be reinforced with hardboard plywood or particleboard securely fastened to the back of the mirror unless the mirror is safety glass of the laminated or tempered type. 7.5.6.5 Except as provided in Article 7.6.5.3 every glass or transparent door accessible to and used by the public shall be equipped with hardware, bars, or other permanent fixtures designed so that the existence and position of such door will be readily apparent. 7.5.6.6 Glass other than safety glass shall not be used for a shower or bathtub enclosure.

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7.5.7 Garage doors 7.5.7.1 Garage doors shall be not less than 2.44m wide for one car and 4.27m wide for 2‐car width. The height of the clear opening with the door in the open position shall be not less than 1.93m. For parking garages, garage doors shall be not less than 3.05m wide for one‐way traffic and 4.88m for two‐way traffic. 7.5.7.2 Wood doors shall be at least 44mm thick in side hinged or one piece overhead and not less than 35mm thick if sectional overhead. 7.5.7.3 Steel and Aluminum doors shall be made with suitable braced frames clad with not less than 0.6mm galvanized steel prepared for paint or 0.8mm thick aluminum. 7.5.7.4 Overhead doors shall have suitable springs or counter‐balances and weather stops. 7.5.7.5 Garage doors shall be equipped with locks.

7.6 WINDOWS

7.6.1 Scope

7.6.1.1 Natural lighting This section applies to installation of windows and to the requirement for natural lighting to be provided by windows in residential occupancies. 7.6.1.2 Requirements for widows in relation to fire protection are described in Section 7.9 7.6.1.3 Ventilation Requirements for ventilation are described in Section 7.23. 7.6.2 General 7.6.2.1 Window design Windows shall be designed and installed so that they shed water. 7.6.2.2 Minimum window glass area Except as provided in 7.6.2.4 the minimum window glass area for rooms in buildings or residential occupancy or which are used for sleeping shall conform to Table 7.6.2.A. The unobstructed glass area of a door or skylight is considered equivalent to that of a window. 7.6.2.3 Windows in public spaces Wherever practicable, windows shall be provided to light corridors, stair‐ways and similar public space in buildings.

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Table 7.6.2.A (Forming part of Article 7.6.2.2)

Minimum Glass areas for rooms of residential occupancy

Location Unobstructed Glass area

Laundry, basement recreation room, unfurnished basement or cellar

4 per cent of area served

Water‐closet room

0.37m2

Kitchen: Kitchen space Kitchen alcove


Living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms and other furnished rooms not mentioned above


7.6.2.4 In areas deemed by the Authority having jurisdiction to have hot dry climates the minimum glass area shall be not less than 3 per cent (3%) of the area served. 7.6.3 Glass 7.6.3.1 Thickness of glass in windows shall conform to Table 7.6.3.A

Table 7.6.3.A (Forming part of Article 7.6.3.1)

Maximum glass size for various thicknesses

Minimum Glass Weight Minimum Glass Thickness Sash type or Fixed Glazing

510 gm 680 gm 907 gm

3.05m perimeter 4.27m perimeter 6.10m perimeter

4.8 mm 5.6 mm 6.4 mm

7.11m perimeter 4.65m2

No limit

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7.6.4 Caulking 7.6.4.1 Caulking Caulking shall be provided between window frames or trim and the exterior siding or masonry unless such locations are completely protected from entry of rain. 7.6.5 Windows in Public areas 7.6.5.1 Except as provided in Article 7.6.5.3 transparent panels that could be mistaken as a means of egress shall be protected by barriers or railings. 7.6.5.2 Windows in exit stairways that extend to less than 1.07m, above the landing shall be protected by barriers or railings approximately 1.07m above such landings. 7.6.5.3 Sliding glass partitions which separate a public corridor from an adjacent occupancy and which are open during normal working hours need not conform to Article 7.6.5.1 and 7.5.6.5. 7.7 STAIRS, RAMPS, HANDRAILS AND GUARDS 7.7.1 Scope 7.7.1.1 Design and construction of stairs This Section applies to the design and construction of interior and exterior stairs, steps, ramps, railings and guards. 7.7.1.2 Stairs as part of exit Where the stair forms part of an exit, the appropriate requirements in Section 7.8 shall also apply. 7.7.1.3 Escalators and moving walkways shall conform to the appropriate requirements in Part 3 of this Code. 7.7.2 General 7.7.2.1 Definitions (1) ‘Common Stairway’ means an internal or external stairway of steps with straight nosings on plan

which forms part of a building and is intended for common use in connection with two or more dwellings.

‘Notional width’ has the meaning ascribed to it in Article 7.7.2.1 (2) c. ‘Parallel step’ means a step of which the nosing is parallel to the nosing of a step or landing next above it (Fig. 7.7.2.A). ‘Pitch line’ means a notional line drawn from the floor or landing below a stairway to connect the nosings of all the treads in a flight of stairs (Fig. 7.7.2.B). ‘Private stairway’ means an internal or external stairway of steps with straight nosings on plan which forms part of a building and is either within a dwelling or intended for use solely in connection with

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one dwelling. ‘Tapered steps’ means a step ,the nosing of which is not parallel to the nosing of a step or landing next above it. (2)(a) The going of a step shall be measured on plan between the nosing of its tread and the nosing of

the tread of step or landing next above it (Fig. 7.7.2C)

(b) Except as provided in (c) the width of a stairway shall be measured between the centre line of the handrail on the one side and on the other side the centre line of the handrail, or, if there is no handrail the surface of the wall, screen or balustrade facing the stairway or railing (Fig. 7.7.2D)

(c) If a stairway contains consecutive tapered steps of differing widths, all such tapered steps shall be deemed to have a notional width equal to the width of the narrowest part of those tapered steps, measured from the side of the stairway where the steps are narrower (Fig. 7.7.2E).

7.7.2.2 Treads and risers shall have uniform rise and goings in any one flight for every parallel step.

7.7.2.3 Any private or common stairway shall be so constructed that over the whole width or, in case of tapered steps the notional width of stairway, there is:

(i) headroom of not less than 2m measured vertically above the pitch line; and

(ii) clearance of not less than 1.5m measured at right angles to the pitch line.

7.7.2.4 Any private or common stairway shall be so constructed that the nosing of the tread of any step or landing which has no riser below it overlaps, on plan, the back edge of the tread of the step below it by not less than 16mm (Fig.7.7.2 F). 7.7.2.5 Except for interior stairs within a dwelling unit, at least three risers shall be provided for interior stairs. 7.7.2.6 Interior stairs extending through the roof of a building shall be protected from rain.

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Fig. 7.7.2

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7.7.3 Private stairways

7.7.3.1 Any private stairway shall be so constructed that the sum of the going of a parallel step plus twice its rise is not less than 550mm and not more than 700mm. 7.7.3.2 The rise of a step shall be not more than 175mm and the going of a step not less than 220mm (Fig.7.7.3A) 7.7.3.3 The pitch of the private stairway shall be not more than 42o. 7.7.3.4 A private stairway shall contain no tapered steps except as permitted by subsection 7.7.5 7.7.4 Common stairways 7.7.4.1 Any common stairway shall be so constructed that the sum of the going of a parallel step plus twice its rise is not less than 550mm and not more than 700mm. 7.7.4.2 The rise of a step shall be not more than 190mm and the going of a step not less than 230mm. (Fig. 7.7.4A). 7.7.4.3 The pitch of any common stairway shall not be more than 38o. 7.7.4.4 A common stairway shall have not more than 16 rises in any flight. 7.7.4.5 A common stairway shall contain no tapered steps except as permitted by subsection 7.7.5.

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Fig. 7.7

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7.7.5 Tapered steps 7.7.5.1 The going and pitch of tapered steps shall be measured in the vertical planes of the pitch lines connecting the nosings of consecutive steps at a distance of 270mm from the extremities of the width (or where applicable, the notional width) of such steps. 7.7.5.2 The sum of the going plus twice the rise shall be not less than 550mm and not more than 720mm (Fig. 7.7.5A). 7.7.5.3 Any private or common stairway may include tapered steps so constructed that the greatest and least goings of consecutive tapered steps are uniform. 7.7.5.4 Tapered steps in a private or common stairway shall have the width of the nosing of the lowest of any consecutive tapered steps equal to the width of the nosing of the parallel step or landing next above such tapered steps (Fig. 7.7.5B). 7.7.5.5 Any private stairway which is not less than 750mm or more than 1m wide may include tapered steps so constructed that the nosing of the tread of any such step makes a uniform angle on plan of not less than 20o with the nosing of the tread of the step or landing next above it. 7.7.5.6 Any tapered steps in a private stairway shall have a going not less than 75mm throughout its actual width and a rise of not more than 220mm if the private stairway is not less than 750mm or more than 1m wide. 7.7.5.7 Any tapered steps in a private stairway shall have its least going uniform with that of any consecutive tapered step. 7.7.5.8 Any tapered steps in a private stairway shall have the width of the nosing of the lowest of any consecutive tapered steps equal to the width of the nosing of the parallel step or landing next above such tapered steps (Fig. 7.7.5C). 7.7.6 Landings 7.7.6.1 Landings Landings shall be at least as wide and as long as the width of stairs in which they occur, except that the length of landing for exterior stairs serving not more than one dwelling unit need not exceed 610mm and the length of landing for all other stairs in a straight run need not exceed 1.12m 7.7.6.2 Door Swing on Stairs Where a door swings towards a stair, the full arc of its swing shall be over a landing. Except as provided in Article 7.7.6.3, a landing shall be provided at the top and bottom of each flight of interior stairs and, where a doorway occurs, in a stairway. 7.7.6.3 Where a door occurs at the top of the stair in a dwelling unit, no landing is required between the doorway and stairs.

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7.7.6.4 A landing shall be provided at the top of all exterior stairs, except that a landing may be omitted at a secondary entrance to a building containing a single dwelling unit provided the stair does not contain more than 3 risers. 7.7.6.5 The clear height over landings shall be at least 2m. 7.7.7. Ramps 7.7.7.1 Maximum gradient for ramps The maximum gradient for pedestrian ramps shall be 1 in 5 for mercantile or industrial occupancies and 1 in 8 for all other occupancies. The gradient for every exterior ramp shall be 1 in 10. Maximum gradient of ramps for disabled persons are as given in Section … of Part 3 of this Code. 7.7.7.2 Level area in ramps Where a doorway or stairway opens onto the side of a ramp there shall be a level area extending across the full width of the ramp and for a distance of at least 300mm on either side of the opening. 7.7.7.3 Where a doorway or stairway opens onto the end of a ramp, there shall be level area extending across the full width of the ramp and along the ramp for at least 610mm. 7.7.8 Handrails

7.7.8.1 Any flight of steps in a private or common stairway with an aggregate rise of more than 600mm shall have a continuous handrail fixed securely at a height of not less than 850mm nor more than 1m measured vertically above the pitch line:‐

a) on each side of the stairway, if the least width of the stairway is 1m or more; or

b) on one side of the stairway, in any other case (Fig. 7.7.8A). 7.7.8.2 A clearance of at least 30mm shall be provided between each handrail and the wall to which it is fastened. 7.7.8.3 Handrails shall be so constructed that there will be no obstruction on or above them to break a handhold. 7.7.8.4 Handrails and stair stringers shall not project more than 90mm into the required width of stairway.

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Fig. 7.7.8 7.7.9 Guards 7.7.9.1 Every exterior landing, porch and every balcony, mezzanine, gallery, raised walkway roof of other external area to which access is provided for other than for maintenance purposes, shall be protected by guards on all open sides where, the difference in elevation between adjacent levels exceeds 600mm. 7.7.9.2 Any private stairway of common stairway shall be guarded on each side by a wall or be protected by guards extending to a height of not less than 850 mm measured vertically above the pitch lines. 7.7.9.3 Except as provided in Article 7.7.9.4 all guards including those for balconies shall be at least 1.1m in height. 7.7.9.4 Guards to a landing or similar space forming part of a stairway shall be at least 900mm in height in the case of a private stairway or 1.1m in height in the case of a common stairway. 7.7.9.5 Openings through a guard on a balcony or an exit stair, except on an exit stair serving not more than one dwelling unit, shall be of a size as to prevent the passage of a spherical object having a diameter of 100mm in residential occupancies and 150 mm in other occupancies, unless it can be shown to the satisfaction of the authority having jurisdiction that the location and size of such openings which exceed the limit do not represent a hazard.

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7.7.9.6 Guards around exterior balconies of buildings of residential occupancies shall be designed so that no member, attachment or opening located between 100mm and 1.1m above the balcony floor will facilitate climbing. 7.7.10 Construction 7.7.10.1 Wooden stair stringers Wooden stair stringers shall have a minimum effective depth of 90mm and an overall depth of a least 235mm. Stringers shall be supported and secured top and bottom. Stringers shall be at least 25mm actual thickness if supported along their length and 40mm actual thickness if unsupported along their length. Stringers shall be spaced not more than 900mm o.c ( on centres) in dwelling units and 600mm o.c. when located in other than dwelling units, except that in dwelling units where risers support the front portion of the tread, the space between stringers shall not exceed 1.20m unless the stringers are designed for wider spacings. 7.7.10.2 Wooden treads Timber or plywood treads for stairs within dwelling units shall be at least 25mm actual thickness except that if open risers are used, and the distance between stringers exceeds 760mm, the treads shall be at least 40mm actual thickness. 7.7.10.3 Tread finish The finish for treads and landings of interior stairs in dwelling units, other than stairs to unfinished basements and cellars, shall consist of hardwood, resilient flooring or other material providing equivalent performance. 7.7.10.4 Non‐skid finish The finish for treads and landings of interior and exterior stairs, other than those in dwelling units shall have a non‐skid finish or shall be provided with non‐skid strips. 7.8 MEANS OF EGRESS 7.8.1 Scope 7.8.1.1 This Section applies to requirements that are designed to permit the safe and convenient access to the exterior of a building, to a public thoroughfare or to approved open space. 7.8.1.2 Stairways handrails and guards in a means of egress shall conform to the requirements in Section 7.7 as well as requirements in this section. 7.8.2 General 7.8.2.1 Exits shall be provided from every floor area. Except for mezzanines that are not enclosed and are of a size permitted in Table 7.8.6. A to have a single egress, mezzanines shall be provided with exits on the same basis as required for floor areas in this section. 7.8.2.2 An access to exit shall be provided from every roof intended for occupancy and from every podium, terrace, platform or contained open space. Where a roof is intended for an occupant load of

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more than 60 persons, at least 2 separate means of egress shall be provided from the roof to stairs designed in conformance with the requirements for exit stairs and located remote from each other. 7.8.2.3 Exits may consist of doorways, passage ways, ramps, stairways, horizontal exits and escalators provided that where escalators are used as required exits, they are capable of moving only in the direction of exit travel. 7.8.2.4 Elevators or windows shall not be considered as being part of a required means of egress. 7.8.2.5 An exit shall be designed for no purpose other than for exiting except that an exit may also serve as an access to a floor area. 7.8.3 Dimensions of means of egress 7.8.3.1 This subsection applies to every means of egress except exits that serve not more than one (1) dwelling unit and access to exits within dwelling units. 7.8.3.2 The occupant load of floor areas or part of floor areas used in determining the minimum required width of a means of egress shall be the number of persons for which such areas are designed but not fewer than that determined from Table 7.8.3A. 7.8.3.3 Exit width Except as provided in Subsection 7.8.5, the width of an exit corridor shall be at least 1.12m and width of other exits at least 915mm unless greater widths are required because of the occupant load. In computing the exit width on the basis of occupant load, the minimum aggregate width of exterior exit doors shall be 1 unit (see Article 7.8.3.6) per 90 persons, and the minimum aggregate width of other exits shall be 1 unit per 30 persons for residential occupancies and 1 unit per 60 persons for other occupancies. 7.8.3.4 Access to exit width Except as provided in Subsection 7.8.5 the minimum width of a doorway corridor or passageway in an access to exit shall be 1 unit (see Article 7.8.3.6) per 90 persons but in no case shall the minimum width of a public means of egress be less than 1.20 m.

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Table 7.8.3.A Forming part of Article 7.8.3.2

Maximum area per person to be assumed in calculating occupant load

Occupancy or Use of Floor Area Maximum Area per person m2 Residential Dwelling units Dormitories

(1) 4.65

Business and personal services Shops Offices

4.65 9.29

Mercantile Retail sales floors at ground‐floor, cellar or basement Other mercantile uses

2.79 5.57

Industrial/ Factory Manufacturing or process rooms Storage garage Warehouse storage space Other storage space Aircraft hangers

4.65 46.45 27.87 46.45 46.45

Other Uses Cleaning and repair Kitchens

4.65 9.29

Note to Table 7.8.3.A

(1) Occupant load shall be based on two (2) persons per bedroom or sleeping area.

7.8.3.5 Except as provided in Subsection 7.8.5, the minimum width of a stairway or ramp in an access to exit shall be 1 unit, as specified under Article 7.8.3.6, per 60 persons.

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7.8.3.6 Calculation of units of exit width The units or exit width in Articles 7.8.3.3 to 7.8.3.5 shall be determined be dividing the width (in mm) of exit by 560. Where the remainder is less than 300mm, it shall not be considered as contributing to the number of units. Where the remainder is 300mm or more, it shall be considered as contributed ¼ unit of exit width in the case of stairs and ½ unit of exit in the case of other exit facilities. 7.8.3.7 Aggregate width of exits Where an exit serves more than 1(one) floor area, the aggregate width of such exit need not be cumulative from floor to floor except that where exits from above or below converge at an intermediate level, the width beyond the convergence in the direction of exit travel shall be not less than the aggregate required width of the converging exits. 7.8.3.8 Height of means of egress Except as provided in Subsection 7.8.5 and Article 7.8.3.7 the minimum height of exits and corridors which provide access to exits shall be 2.15m. 7.8.4 Obstructions and hazards in means of egress 7.8.4.1 Scope This subsection applies to obstructions and hazards in every means of egress except those within a dwelling unit or not serving not more than 1 dwelling unit. 7.8.4.2 Occupancies in public corridors Where a public corridor or corridor used by the public contains an occupancy, such occupancy shall not reduce the unobstructed width of the corridor less than the required width of the corridor. 7.8.4.3 Obstructions in exits Except as permitted in Subsection 7.8.5 and Article 7.7.8.4, no fixture turnstile or construction shall project within the required width of exit. 7.8.4.4 In any mercantile occupancy, no obstruction such as posts or turnstiles shall be placed so as to restrict the width of a normal means of egress from a floor area or part of a floor area to less than 760mm unless an alternate means of egress is provided adjacent to and is plainly visible from the restricted egress. 7.8.4.5 Mirrors in exits No mirror shall be placed in or adjacent to any exit so as to confuse the direction of exit, and no mirror or draperies shall be placed on or over exit doors. 7.8.4.6 Appliances in a means of egress Fuel‐fired appliances shall not be installed in an exit or corridor serving as an access to exit. 7.8.4.7 Service rooms containing equipment subject to possible explosion and certain types of refrigerating and transformer equipment shall not be located under required exits.

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7.8.5 Door in means of egress 7.8.5.1 Scope This subsection applies to all doors in a means of egress except exterior doors serving not more than 1 dwelling unit unless otherwise stated herein. 7.8.5.2 Door obstructions Exit doors shall not decrease the required exit width by more than 50mm for each full unit of exit width (560mm) and where such doors lead out of stairs or ramps in the direction of exit travel they shall not be less than ¾ of the width of such stairs or ramps. 7.8.5.3 Doors over landings Doors in their swing shall not reduce the effective width of exit stairs or landings to less than 760mm nor shall they reduce the effective width of an exit passageway to less than the required width. 7.8.5.4 Door closure headroom No door closer or other device shall be installed in an exit in such a manner as to reduce the head room clearance to less than 1.98m. 7.8.5.5 Door height and width An exit door or a door that opens to or is located in a public corridor or other facility providing access to exit from individually rented rooms, suites of rooms or dwelling units shall be not less than 2.05m in height. Except as required in Articles 7.5.3.1 and 7.8.5.2, such doors shall be at least 815mm in width when only one (1) door leaf is installed in an opening and 610mm in width where more than one (1) door leaf is provided in the width of an opening. The width of an individual door leaf shall not exceed 1.22m in such opening. 7.8.5.6 Direction of door swing Every door that opens onto a corridor or other facility that provides access to exit from a room or suite of rooms where such room or suite of rooms is used or intended for use by more than sixty (60) persons; and every door that is located within a corridor that is required to be separated from the remainder of the floor area by a fire separation, shall swing on a vertical axis in the direction of exit travel and shall not open onto a step. 7.8.5.7 Size of landings Where an exit door opens onto a landing, the landing shall be not less than 300mm wider and longer than the width of the door. Such doors either in the open or closed position shall not be closer than 300mm to the nearest riser. 7.8.5.8 Exit door swing Every required exit door including an exit door serving not more than one (1) dwelling unit shall swing on a vertical axis. Such door shall open in the direction of exit travel except that a door serving not more than one (1) dwelling unit is permitted to swing inward. 7.8.5.9 Revolving doors Revolving doors used as exits shall be of an approved collapsible type, and shall be permitted only at ground floor level away from the foot of any stairway. Not more than ½ unit of exit width may be assumed for such doors. Swing doors shall be provided adjacent to such doors.

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7.8.5.10 Automatic locking prohibited Except for hotels and motels, a door opening into a public corridor which provides access to exit from individually owned or rented rooms, suites of rooms or dwelling units shall be designed not to lock automatically when such doors are equipped with automatic self‐closing devices. 7.8.6 Exits from floor areas 7.8.6.1 Number of exits Except as provided in Article 7.8.6.6 and 7.8.6.7, at least two (2) exits shall be provided from every storey space so that the travel distance to the nearest exit shall be not greater than 38.0m in the case of business and personal services occupancies and 30.5m for all other occupancies (see Article 7.8.6.2 for explanation of travel distance) 7.8.6.2 Travel distance For the purpose of this Subsection, travel distance means the distance from any point in the floor area to an exit measured along the path of exit travel, except that when a floor area is subdivided into individually owned or rented rooms, suites of rooms or dwelling units, and is served by a corridor required to provide a fire separation from such adjacent rooms, suites of rooms or dwelling units or by an exterior passageway, the travel distance shall be measured from the door of such rooms, suites of rooms or dwelling units to the nearest exit. 7.8.6.3 Horizontal exits Not more than ½ the required exits from a floor area may be horizontal exits. 7.8.6.4 Size of Exits Where more than one (1) exit is required from an area, each exit shall be considered as contributing not more than ½ the required units of exit width. 7.8.6.5 Distance between exits Where more than one (1) exit is required from a floor area, at least two (2) exits shall be independent of each other and be placed remote from each other along the path of travel between them. 7.8.6.6 Single exit permitted In buildings one (1) and two (2) storeys in building height, a single exit is permitted from each storey provided the floor area and travel distance requirements conform to Table 7.8.6.A.

Table 7.8.6.A (Forming part of Article 7.8.6.6) Single exits from floor areas

Occupancy of Floor Area Maximum Floor Area ( m2) Maximum Travel Distance(m) (1)

(2), (3) Group I Group B Group M Group F

92.90 185.81 139.35 139.35

15.24 22.86 15.24 10.67

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Notes to Table 7.8.6.A

(1) See Article 7.8.6.2 for explanation of travel distance

(2) Single exit permitted only when such exit is an exterior door at or near ground level.

(3) See Article 7.8.6.7 for dwelling units 7.8.6.7 Exits for dwelling units A dwelling unit containing more than one storey shall have an exit or doorway onto a public access to exit from each of its top and bottom storeys except that a single exit is permitted from a dwelling unit provided the exit is an exterior door leading directly from a storey of the dwelling unit at or near grade. The floor level of the uppermost storey of such dwelling unit shall not be more than 6.10m above the floor level of the storey containing the exit. 7.8.6.8 Exits through lobbies Not more than one (1) exit from a floor area above or below the main entrance lobby shall lead through the lobby. Such lobby shall be not more than 4.60m above grade floor level, and the path of travel through the lobby shall not exceed 15.25m. The lobby shall conform in all respects with the requirements for exits, except that rooms other than garbage rooms, boiler rooms and rooms containing a residential occupancy may open directly onto such lobby. 7.8.7 Exit signs 7.8.7.1 Scope This subsection applies to all exits except those serving not more than one (1) dwelling unit. 7.8.7.2 Location Exits shall be located so as to be clearly visible or their location shall be clearly indicated. 7.8.7.3 Except for the main entrance door to a building, every exit in a 3‐storey building having an occupant load greater than 120, shall have an exit sign over it. 7.8.7.4 Exit direction sign Exit direction signs shall be placed in corridors and passageways where necessary to indicate the direction of exit travel. 7.8.7.5 Exit signs shall be installed so as to be visible from the exit approach. Such signs shall have the word “EXIT” in green letters on a contrasting background or white letters on a green background when the sign is internally lighted, and white letter on a green background or green letters on a white background when the sign is externally lighted. Lettering shall be made with at least 20mm‐wide strokes and be at least 150mm high when the signs are externally lighted, and at least 115mm high if the sign is internally lighted. 7.8.7.6 Exit lighting At least one emergency lighting shall be provided along the escape route.

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7.9 FIRE HAZARD PROTECTION 7.9.1 Scope 7.9.1.1 Scope of fire protection This section contains requirements to protect lives of the occupants and also resist the spread of fire to other buildings. 7.9.2 Spatial separations between buildings 7.9.2.1 Except as provided in Article 7.9.2.2, the maximum percentage of unprotected openings in an exposing building face shall conform to subsection 3.1.7 of Part 3 of this Code. 7.9.2.2 Where a volunteer fire department is not available, the limiting distance determined from Article 7.9.2.1 shall be doubled. 7.9.3 Firefighting equipment There shall be portable fire extinguishers, hose rails and other suppressing systems where applicable. 7.9.4 Fire detection There shall be smoke detectors, core points, sounders and control panel where applicable. 7.9.5 Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) For LPG and its regulations, see Part 9.7: Gas Supply. 7.10 SITE PREPARATION 7.10.1 General 7.10.1.1 The top soil and vegetable matter in all unexcavated areas under a building shall be removed. All stumps, roots and other wood debris shall be removed from the soil to a minimum depth of 300mm in unexcavated areas under a building. 7.10.1.2 The bottom of every excavation shall be free of all organic materials. 7.10.1.3 Water removed Excavations shall be kept free of standing water. 7.10.2 Backfill 7.10.2.1 Placing Backfill shall be placed to avoid damaging the drainage tile or the water proofing of walls 7.10.2.2 Grading Backfill shall be graded to prevent drainage towards the foundation after settling.

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7.10.2.3 Boulders Backfill within 60mm of the foundation shall be free of deleterious debris and boulders larger than 250mm diameter. 7.11 WATER‐PROOFING AND DAMP PROOFING 7.11.1 General 7.11.1.1 Water‐proofing of walls Where hydrostatic pressure occurs, floors on ground and exterior surface of walls below ground level shall be waterproofed. 7.11.1.2 Damp proofing of Walls Where hydrostatic pressure does not occur and the exterior finished ground level is at a higher elevation than the ground level inside the foundation walls, the exterior surface of foundation walls below ground level shall be damp proof. 7.11.1.3 Any part of a building next to the ground shall have a floor which is so constructed as to prevent the passage of moisture from the ground to the upper surface of the floor. 7.11.1.4 Any floor which is next to the ground shall be so constructed as to prevent any part of the floor being adversely affected by moisture or water vapour from the ground. 7.11.1.5 No hardcore laid under a floor which is next to the ground shall contain water‐soluble sulphates or other deleterious matter in such quantities as to be liable to cause damage to any part of the floor. 7.12 DRAINAGE 7.12.1 Scope 7.12.1.1 Drainage This Section applies to subsurface drainage and to surface drainage 7.12.1.2 Floor Slabs Drainage requirements beneath floor slabs shall conform to Section 7.14. 7.12.2 Installation 7.12.2.1 Drain tile or pipe shall be laid on firm, undisturbed or well compacted soil. 7.12.2.2 Granular cover The top and sides of drain pipes shall be covered with not less than 150mm of crushed stone or other clean granular materials.

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7.12.3 Drainage disposal 7.12.3.1 Drain pipes shall drain to a sewer, drain ditch or dry well. 7.12.3.2 Dry wells Dry wells shall be not less than 4.60m from any building foundations and located so that drainage is away from the building. Dry wells may be used only when located in areas where the natural groundwater level is below the bottom of the dry well. 7.12.3.3 Boreholes and water storage systems These should be located below septic tanks and dry wells. 7.12.4 Surface drainage 7.12.4.1 Surface drainage The building shall be located or the building site graded so that water will not accumulate at or near the building. 7.12.4.2 Surface drainage shall be directed away from the location of any water supply well or septic tank disposal bed. 7.12.4.3 Interference with surface drainage Where runoff water from a drive way is likely to accumulate or enter a garage, a catch basin shall be installed to provide adequate drainage. 7.12.4.4 Downspouts Where downspouts are provided and are not connected to a sewer, provisions shall be made to prevent soil erosion. 7.13 FOOTINGS AND FOUNDATIONS 7.13.1 Scope 7.13.1.1 Scope This section applies to foundations of cast‐in‐place concrete or unit masonry foundation walls and cast‐in‐place footings constructed on soils and where the building is of other than concrete or steel frame construction. Where the foundation consists of other materials such as precast concrete, steel or wood, the foundation shall be designed in conformance with the appropriate provisions of Part 5 of this Code. 7.13.2 General 7.13.2.1 The foundation of a building shall:

1) safely sustain and transmit to the ground the combined dead load, imposed load and wind or earthquake load in such a manner as not to cause any settlement or other movement which would impair the stability of, or cause damage to, the whole or any part of the building or of any adjoining building or works;

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2) be taken to such a depth or be so constructed, as to safeguard the building against damage by swelling and shrinking of the subsoil; and

3) be capable of adequately resisting any attack by sulphates or any other deleterious matter

present in the subsoil.

7.13.2.2 Deviation from specific requirements The authority having jurisdiction may permit a foundation design to deviate from the requirements in this section where it is designed for the existing conditions in accordance with accepted engineering practice or where past experience shows the foundation design to be adequate. 7.13.2.3 Concrete Concrete shall conform to Section 7.2. Concrete for unreinforced footings and foundation walls shall have a minimum (100mm cube) compressive strength of 7N/mm2 after 28‐days or in the proportion of 50 kg of cement to not more than 0.1m3 of fine aggregate and 0.2m3 of coarse aggregate. 7.13.2.4 Mortar, mortar joints and corbels Mortar, mortar joints, corbelling and protection for unit masonry shall conform to Section 7.16. 7.13.2.5 Piers Where pier type foundations are used, the piers shall be designed to support the applied loads from the superstructure in conformance with good engineering practice. 7.13.2.6 Where piers are used as a foundation system in a building of one storey in building height, the piers shall be installed to support the principal framing members and shall be spaced not more than 3.60m apart along the framing, unless the piers and their footings are designed for larger spacing. The height of such piers shall not exceed three (3) times their least base dimension at the base of the pier. Where sandcrete block piers are used, and when the width of the building is 4.20m or less, they shall be laid with their longest dimension at right angles to the longest dimension of the building. 7.13.3 Footing (strip foundations) 7.13.3.1 Where required Footings shall be provided under walls, pilasters, columns, piers and chimneys that bear on soil or rock. 7.13.3.2 If the foundations of a building are constructed as strip foundations of plain concrete situated centrally under the walls, the strip foundations shall rest on undisturbed soil or engineered fill or rock. There shall not be a wide variation in the type of subsoil within the loaded area and no weaker type of soil below the soil on which the foundations rest within such a depth as may impair the stability of the structure. 7.13.3.3 Footing width The width of the strip foundations shall not be less than the width specified in Table 7.13.3.A in accordance with the related particulars specified in the Table.

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7.13.3.4 Footing thickness The thickness of the strip foundations shall not be less than its projection (45°) from the face of the wall or footing and shall in no case be less than 150mm. 7.13.3.5 Footing overlap Where the strip foundations are laid at more than one level at each change of level, the higher foundations shall extend over and unite with the lower foundations for a distance not less than the thickness of the foundations and in no case less than 300mm. 7.13.3.6 Where there is a pier, buttress or chimney or chimney forming part of a wall, the foundations shall project beyond the pier, buttress or chimney on all sides to at least the same extent as they project beyond the wall. 7.14 SLABS ON GROUND 7.14.1 Scope 7.14.1.1 Slabs‐on‐grade This section applies to basement and cellar slabs and to floor slabs‐on‐grade with perimeter foundation walls that support the superstructure. 7.14.1.2 Design of floor slabs‐on‐grade Floor slabs‐on‐grade without foundation walls to support the superstructure shall be designed for the existing soil conditions in accordance with approved engineering practice and past practice in the area in which the slab is to be built. 7.14.2 Slab supports 7.14.2.1 Granular fill When granular fill is used beneath basement and cellar slab it shall consist of not less than 150mm of coarse clean granular material. 7.14.2.2 Hardcore The hardcore beneath concrete slabs‐on‐grade shall be compacted. Not less than 150mm of coarse, clean granular material shall be provided beneath the slab and shall be compacted. 7.14.3 Damp‐proofing and waterproofing 7.14.3.1 Damp‐proofing and water‐proofing of basement and cellar slabs and slabs‐on‐grade shall conform to Section 7.11 7.14.4 Drainages 7.14.4.1 Uplift pressures Where groundwater levels may cause uplift pressures against the bottom of slab‐below‐grade, lateral drains (French drains) shall be installed under the slab or the slab be designed to resist such uplift pressures.

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7.14.4.2 Drainage The accumulation of water underneath a slab‐on‐grade shall be prevented by grading, drainage or other method. 7.14.4.3 Where floor drains are installed, the floor surface shall be so sloped that water will run off quickly.

Table 7.13.3.4

(Forming part of article 7.13.3.3) Minimum width of strip foundation

Condition Type of Subsoil Field test applicable Minimum width in millimeters for total load in kilonewtons per

linear metre of loadbearing walling of not more than 20 30 40 50 60 70 KN/m KN/m KN/m KN/m KN/m KN/m

I Rock

Not inferior to sandstone or limestone

Requires at least a pneumatic or other mechanically operated pick for excavation

In each case equal to the width of wall

II Gravel Sand

Compact Compact

Requires pick for excavation. Wooden peg 50mm square in cross‐section hard to drive beyond 150mm

250 300 400 500 600 650

III Clay Sandy Clay

Stiff Stiff

Cannot be moulded with finger and required a pick or pneumatic or other mechanically operated spade for its removal

250 300 400 500 600 650

IV Clay Sandy Clay

Firm Firm

Can be moulded by substantial pressure with the finger and can be excavated with graft or spade

250 350 450 600 750 850

V Sand Silty Sand Clayey Sand

Loose Loose Loose

Can be excavated with spade. Wooden peg 50mm square in cross‐section can be easily driven

400 600 Note: In relation to types V,VI and VII, foundations do not fall within the provisions of Subsection 7.13.3 if the total load exceeds 30KN/m (ie, width of foundations to be calculated)

VI Silt Clay Sandy Clay Silty Clay

Soft Soft Soft Soft

Fairly easily moulded in the fingers and readily excavated

450 650 ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐

VII Silt Clay Sandy Clay Silty

Very Soft Very Soft Very Soft Very Soft

Natural sample in rainy season exuded between fingers when squeezed in fist

600 850 ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐

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7.14.5 Thickness and height 7.14.5.1 Thickness Concrete slabs‐on‐ground shall not be less than 100mm thick exclusive of screed. The concrete shall be composed of cement, fine and coarse aggregates in the proportions of 50kg of cement to not more than 1.0m3 of coarse aggregates. When screed is provided it shall be not less than 20mm thick. 7.14.5.2 Height above ground level The top of every slab‐on‐grade shall be not less than 150mm above exterior finished ground level. 7.14.6 Pipes and ducts 7.14.6.1 Encasement of ducts Ducts in slabs shall be completely encased with not less than 50mm of concrete, and installed so that water will not accumulate in the ducts. 7.14.7 Joints 7.14.7.1 Joints between slab‐on‐ground and foundation walls, and spaces around pipes, conduits or ducts that penetrate such slabs shall be filled with bitumen or other filler approved for this purpose. 7.15 COLUMNS

7.15.1 Scope 7.15.1.1 Scope This Section applies to columns used to support carport roofs, and beams carrying loads from not more than 2 wood‐frame floors where the length of joists carried by such beams does not exceed 4.80m and the live load on any floor does not exceed 2.5kN/m2. 7.15.1.2 Columns for applications other than as described in Article 7.15.1.1 shall be designed in

accordance with approved engineering practice.

7.15.2 General 7.15.2.1 Column support Columns shall be centrally located on a footing conforming to Section 7.13. 7.15.2.2 Columns shall be securely fastened to the supported member to prevent lateral movement. 7.15.3 Steel columns 7.15.3.1 Size Except as permitted in Article 7.15.3.2, steel pipe columns shall have a minimum outside diameter of 75mm and a minimum wall thickness of 5.00mm.

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7.15.3.2 Exception Columns of sizes other than as specified in Article 7.15.3.1 may be used where the loadbearing capacities are shown to be adequate. 7.15.3.3 Bearing plates Except as permitted in Article 7.15.3.4, steel columns shall be fitted with not less than 100mm by 100mm by 6mm thick steel plates at each end, and where the column supports a wooden beam, the top plate shall extend across the full width of the beam. 7.15.3.4 Exception The top plate required in Article 7.15.3.3 may be omitted where a column supports a steel beam and provision is made for the attachment of the column to the beam by welding or other approved method. 7.15.3.5 Rust prevention Steel columns shall be treated on the outside surface with at least one coat of rust‐inhibitive paint. 7.15.4 Wood columns 7.15.4.1 Scope The width or diameter of a wood column shall be not less than the width of the supported member. Except as provided in Article 7.15.4.2, columns shall be not less than 200mm for round columns and 150mm by 150mm for rectangular columns, unless calculations are provided to show that lesser sizes are adequate. 7.15.4.2 Wood columns for garages and carports may be 100mm by 100mm. 7.15.4.3 Construction Wood columns shall be either solid, glued‐laminated or built‐up. Built‐ up columns shall consist of not less than 50mm thick full‐length members bolted together with not less than 10mm diameter bolts spaced not more than 450mm centres, or nailed together with not less than 75mm nails spaced not more than 300mm centres. 7.15.4.4 Dampproofing Treated wood columns shall be separated from concrete in contact with the ground by an approved damp proofing material. 7.15.5 Unit masonry columns 7.15.5.1 Material Unit masonry columns shall be built of loadbearing masonry units. 7.15.5.2 Size Unit masonry columns shall have minimum nominal dimensions of 300mm by 300mm or 250mm by 400mm.

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7.15.6 Solid concrete columns 7.15.6.1 Material Concrete shall conform to Section 7.2 7.15.6.2 Size Concrete columns shall not be less than 200mm by 200mm for rectangular columns and 225 mm diameter for circular columns 7.16. MASONRY (BRICKS, BLOCKS OR SANDCRETE) 7.16.1 Scope 7.16.1.1 This Section applies to unreinforced masonry and masonry veneer in which the wall above the foundation does not exceed 7.60m and in which the roof or floor system above the first storey is not of concrete construction. 7.16.1.2 For buildings other than those described in Article 7.16.1.1 or where the masonry is designed on the basis of design loads and allowable stresses, structural members of unreinforced masonry shall conform to BS 5628: Part 1: 1978 “Structural use of masonry”. 7.16.1.3 In Seismic Zone 3, loadbearing elements of masonry buildings more than one storey in height shall be reinforced with at least the minimum amount of reinforcement as required in Subsection 7.16.11. 7.16.1.4 In Seismic Zone 2, loadbearing elements of three storey masonry building shall be reinforced with at least the minimum amount of reinforcement as required in Subsection 7.16.11. 7.16.2 Masonry units 7.16.2.1 Materials specifications for masonry units Masonry units shall comply with one of the following:

BS 3921: “Clay bricks and blocks” BS 2028: “Precast concrete blocks” 7.16.2.2 Used masonry Used bricks shall be free of old mortar, soot or other surface coating and shall conform to Article 7.16.2.1 7.16.2.3 Compressive strength Except as provided in Article 7.16.2.1, the compressive strength of masonry units in a wall of a house of one or two storeys or of a building of one or two storeys which is divided into flats, shall not be less than 2.75N/mm2 for blocks and 5.2N/mm2 for bricks.

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7.16.2.4 The compressive strength of bricks and blocks for non‐loadbearing partitions shall not be less than 1.4N/mm2 provided the bricks and blocks are satisfactory in other respects. 7.16.3 Mortar 7.16.3.1 Lime Lime used in mortar shall be hydrated. 7.16.3.2 Mortar mixes Mortar mixes shall conform to Table 7.16.3.A. Mortar containing Portland cement shall not be used later than 2½ hours after mixing.

Table 7.16.3.A

(Forming Part of Article 7.16.3.2) Mortar mix proportions (by volume)

Permissible Use of

Mortar Cement Lime Sand

All locations

1 1 1

1 2 ‐

5 to 6 8 to 9 5 to 6

7.16.4 Mortar joints 7.16.4.1 Mortar joint thickness The maximum average joint thickness shall be 12mm. Maximum thickness of an individual joint shall be 20mm. 7.16.4.2 Solid masonry joints Solid masonry units shall be laid with full head and bed joints. 7.16.4.3 Hollow masonry joints Hollow masonry units shall be laid with mortar applied to head and bed joints of both inner and outer face shells. 7.16.5 Masonry support 7.16.5.1 Masonry support All masonry shall be supported on masonry, concrete or steel.

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7.16.5.2 Lintels Masonry over openings shall be supported by steel, reinforced concrete or masonry lintels or arches designed to support the imposed load. 7.16.5.3 Every masonry wall shall be at least as thick as the wall it supports. 7.16.6 Thickness and height 7.16.6.1 Thickness of solid external walls Masonry external walls other than cavity walls in one storey buildings and the top storeys of two storey buildings shall be not less than 140mm thick provided the walls are not more than 2.75m high at the eaves and 4.60m high at the peaks of gable ends. The external walls of the bottom storeys of two storeys buildings shall not be less than 215mm. 7.16.6.2 Thickness of interior walls The thickness of loadbearing interior walls shall be determined on the basis of Article 7.16.9.1 7.16.6.3 Interior non‐loadbearing partitions shall be not less than 70mm thick (see Article 7.16.9.1). 7.16.6.4 Masonry veneer Masonry veneer resting on a bearing support shall be of solid units not less than 75mm thick for wall heights up to 12m. Such veneer over wood‐frame walls shall have not less than a 25mm air space behind the veneer. Masonry veneer less than 90mm thick shall have unraked joints. 7.16.6.5 Parapet walls The height of parapet walls above the adjacent roof surface shall be not more than three times the parapet wall thickness. 7.16.7 Chases and recesses 7.16.7.1 Size of chases and recesses Except as permitted in Article 7.16.7.3, the depth of any chase or recess shall not exceed ⅓ the thickness of the wall and the horizontal projection of the chase or recess shall not exceed 500mm. 7.16.7.2 Location of chases and recesses Chases and recesses shall be not less than four times the wall thickness apart and not less than 600mm away from any pilaster, cross wall, buttress or other vertical element providing required lateral support for the wall. 7.16.7.3 Oversized chases and recesses Chases or recesses that do not conform to the limits specified in Articles 7.16.7.1 and 7.16.7.2 shall be considered as opening and any masonry supported above such a chase or recess shall be supported by a lintel or arch.

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7.16.8 Support of loads 7.16.8.1 Capping of walls Loadbearing walls of hollow masonry units supporting roof or floor framing members shall be capped with not less than 50mm of solid masonry, or have the top course filled with concrete. Capping may be omitted where the framing is supported on a wood plate not less than 50mm thick, the same width as the masonry wall. 7.16.8.2 Bearing area The bearing area under beams and joists shall be sufficient to carry the supported load. In no case shall the minimum length of end bearing of beams supported masonry be less than 90mm. The length of end bearing of floor, roof or ceiling joists supported on masonry shall be not less than 40mm. 7.16.9 Lateral support 7.16.9.1 Lateral support of masonry walls Masonry walls and partitions shall be supported at right angles to the wall by floor or roof construction or by intersecting masonry walls or buttresses. The spacing of such supports shall conform to Table 7.16.9.A 7.16.9.2 Floor and roof constructions providing required lateral support for walls as required in Article 7.16.9.1 shall be constructed to transfer lateral loads to walls or buttresses approximately at right angles to the laterally supported walls.

Table 7.16.9.A

(Forming part of Article 7.16.9.1) Maximum Distances Between lateral wall supports

Type of wall Maximum Spacing of Supports

Loadbearing walls of solid units Loadbearing walls of hollow units or cavity walls Non‐loadbearing walls or partitions

20 times the wall thickness



7.16.10 Exterior finish 7.16.10.1 Sandcrete Block Exterior Finish Above‐grade external walls of sandcrete block shall be stuccoed, painted or otherwise finished to provide breather‐type water repellency.

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7.16.11 Reinforcement for earthquake resistance 7.16.11.1 Where reinforcement is required in this section, masonry walls shall be reinforced horizontally and vertically with steel having a total cross‐sectional area of not less than 0.002 times the cross‐sectional area of the wall, so that not less than ⅓ of the required area is installed either horizontally or vertically and the remaining in the other direction. 7.17 WOOD‐FRAME CONSTRUCTION 7.17.1 Scope 7.17.1.1 Wood‐frame construction This section applies to conventional wood‐frame construction in which the framing members are spaced not more than 600mm centres. 7.17.1.2 Design live load The requirements in this section with regard to floor framing, sub‐flooring and their fastenings apply to floors for which the design live load does not exceed 2.5KN/m2 . 7.17.1.3 The requirement in this section with regard to wall framing and its fastenings apply to walls which support floors for which the design live load does not exceed 2.5KN/m2 on any floor. 7.17.1.4 Where the conditions in Article 7.17.1.2 or 7.17.1.3 are exceeded, the design of the framing and fastening shall conform to Part 5 of this Code. 7.17.1.5 Post, beam and plank construction and plank frame wall construction shall conform to Section 7.18. 7.17.2 General 7.17.2.1 Rigidity All members shall be so framed, anchored, fastened, tied and braced to provide the necessary strength and rigidity. 7.17.2.2 Treatment of end members Ends of wood joists or beams and other members framing into masonry or concrete shall be treated to prevent decay where the bottom of the member is at or below ground level, or a 15mm air space shall be provided at the end sides of the member. 7.17.2.3 Wood framing members that are not pressure treated with wood preservative and which are supported on a concrete in contact with the ground or fill shall be separated from the concrete by an approved damp proofing material, except that such damp proofing is not required where the wood member is a least 150mm above the ground.

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7.17.3 Nails and staples 7.17.3.1 Nails and staples specification Nails specified in this section shall be common steel wire nails or common spiral nails unless otherwise indicated. Other nails providing at least equivalent performance may also be used. 7.17.3.2 Nail length All nails shall be long enough so that not less than half their length penetrates into the second member. Splitting of wood members shall be minimized by staggering the nails in the direction of the grain and by keeping nails well in from the edges. 7.17.4 Allowable spans 7.17.4.1 The spans of wood joists, rafters and beams shall be determined in conformance with Part 5 of this Code. 7.17.5 Notching and drilling 7.17.5.1 Notches and drilling Holes drilled in roof, floor or ceiling framing members shall be not larger than ¼ the depth of the member and shall be located not less than 50mm from the edges, unless the depth of the member is increased by the size of the hole. 7.17.5.2 Floor, roof and ceiling framing members may be notched provided the notch is located on the top of the member within ½ the joist depth from the edge of bearing and is not deeper than ⅓ the joist depth, unless the depth of the member is increased by the size of the notch. 7.17.5.3 Wall studs shall not be notched, drilled or otherwise damaged so that the undamaged portion of the stud is less than ⅔ the depth of the stud if the stud is loadbearing or 40mm if the stud is non‐loadbearing, unless the weakened studs are suitably reinforced. 7.17.5.4 The top plates in loadbearing walls and partitions shall not be notched, drilled or otherwise weakened to reduce the undamaged width to less than 50mm, unless the weakened plates are suitably reinforced. 7.17.5.5 Roof truss members shall not be notched, drilled or otherwise weakened unless such notching or drilling is allowed for in the design of the truss. 7.17.6 Anchorage 7.17.6.1 Anchorage Building frames shall be anchored to the foundation, unless a structural analysis of the wind and earth pressures shows anchorage is not required. 7.17.6.2 Anchorage shall be provided by embedding the ends of the ground floor joists in concrete, or fastening the sill plate to the foundation with not less than 13mm diameter anchor bolts spaced not

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more than 2.5mm centres. Such anchor bolts shall be embedded no less than 100mm in the foundation and so designed that they may be tightened without withdrawing them from the foundation. 7.17.6.3 Exterior columns and posts shall be anchored to resist uplift and lateral movement. 7.17.7 Sill plates 7.17.7.1 Sill plates Where sill plates provide bearing for the floor system, they shall be not less than 50mm by 100mm material. 7.17.7.2 Sill plates shall be levelled by setting them on a full bed of mortar, except that where the top of the foundation is level they may be laid directly on the foundation provided the junction between the foundation and the sill plate is caulked. 7.17.8 Beams to support floors 7.17.8.1 Beams Beams shall have even and level bearing to support floors. Beams shall have not less than 90mm length of bearing at end supports. 7.17.8.2 Built‐up wood beams Where a beam is made up of individual pieces of timber that are nailed together, the individual members shall be 50mm or greater in thickness and installed on edge. 7.17.8.3 Where the individual members of a beam described in Article 7.17.8.2 are butted together to form a joint, each such joint shall occur over a support or at or within 150mm of the end quarter points of the clear span of the beam. 7.17.8.4 Joints in individual members of beams that are located at or near the end quarter points described in Article 7.17.8.3 shall not reduce the effective beam width by more than half. Members joined at quarter points shall be continuous over the adjacent supports. 7.17.8.5 Except as provided in Article 7.17.8.6 where 50mm members are laid on edge to form a built‐up beam, individual members shall be nailed together with a double row of nails at least 90mm in length, spaced not more than 450mm apart in each row with the end nails located 100mm to 150mm from the end of each piece. 7.17.8.6 Where 50mm members in built‐up wood beams are not nailed together as provided in Article 7.17.8.5 they shall be bolted together with at least 13mm diameter bolts equipped with washers and spaced not more than 1.2m centres with the end bolts located not more than 600mm from the ends of the members.

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7.17.9 Floor joists 7.17.9.1 Except when supported on ribbon boards, floor joists shall have not less than 40mm length of end bearing. Ribbon boards shall be not less than 25mm by 100mm timber let into the studs. 7.17.9.2 Floor joists may be supported on the top of beams or may be framed into the sides of beams. 7.17.9.3 When framed into the sides of a wood beam, the joists shall be supported on joist hangers or other acceptable mechanical connectors or on not less than 50mm by 75mm ledger strips nailed to the side of the beam. 7.17.9.4 Unless ceiling furring or plywood cladding is installed on the underside of floor joists, floor joists shall be restrained from twisting at the end supports and at intervals between supports not exceeding 2.10m .Such restraint may be provided at the end supports by toe nailing to the support, or by end nailing the joists to the header joist. 7.17.9.5 Double joists Header joists around floor openings shall be doubled when they exceed 1.2m in length. The size of header joists exceeding 3.15m in length shall be determined by calculations. 7.17.9.6 Trimmer joists around floor openings shall be doubled when the length of the header joist exceeds 810mm. When the header joist exceeds 2.03m in length the size of the trimmer joists shall be determined by calculations. 7.17.9.7 Support of non‐loadbearing partitions Non‐loadbearing partitions parallel to floor joists shall be supported on beams, loadbearing walls or double joists where the partition is over 1.8m in length and contains openings that are not full ceiling height. Where such partitions contain no openings or openings that are full ceiling heights, the joists need not be doubled. Non‐loadbearing partitions less than 1.8m in length need not be supported on framing but may be supported by the subfloor. Doubled joists may be separated not more than 200mm by blocking, if the blocking is not less than 50mm by 100mm timber spaced not more than 1.2m apart. 7.17.9.8 Non‐loadbearing partitions at right angles to the floor joists are not restricted as to location. 7.17.9.9 Support of loadbearing partitions Loadbearing interior walls parallel to floor joists shall be supported by beams of walls of sufficient strength to transfer safely, the design loads to the vertical supports 7.17.9.10 Location of loadbearing interior walls Loadbearing interior walls at right angles to floor joists shall be located not more than 900mm from the joist supports when the wall does not support a floor, and not more than 600mm from the joist support when the wall supports one floor unless the joist size is designed to support such loads.

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7.17.10 Wall studs 7.17.10.1 Wall studs Wall studs shall be continuous for the full storey height except at openings and shall not be spliced. 7.17.10.2 Position of wall studs Wall studs shall be placed at right angles to the wall face, except that studs on the flat may be used in gable ends of roofs that contain only unfinished space or in non‐loadbearing partitions. 7.17.10.3 Design of corners and intersections Corners and intersections shall be designed to provide adequate support for the vertical edges of interior and exterior cladding materials, and in no instance shall exterior corners be framed with less than the equivalent of two (2) studs. 7.17.10.4 Double studs Except as provided in Article 7.17.10.5 studs shall be doubled on each side of openings so that the inner studs extend from the lintel to the bottom wall plate and the outer studs extend from the top wall plate to the bottom wall plate. 7.17.10.5 Single studs Single studs may be used on either side of openings in non‐loadbearing partitions provided the studs extend from the top wall plate to the bottom wall plate. 7.17.10.6 The size and spacing of studs shall conform to Table 7.17.10. A

Table 7.17.10. A

(Forming part of Article 7.17.10.6) Size and spacing of studs

Type of wall Supported Loads

(including dead loads) Minimum stud size, mm

Maximum stud spacing, mm

Maximum unsupported height, m

Interior

No load

50 by 50

50 by 100

400

400

2.4

3.6 Roof load or limited attic storage plus 1 floor

50 by 100

50 by 75

600

400

3.0

3.6 Exterior Roof 50 by 75

50 by 100

400

400

2.4

3.6 Roof 50 by 75

50 by 100 400 600

3.0 3.0

Roof plus 1 floor 50 by 100 50 by 150

400 600

3.0 3.0

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7.17.11 Wall plates 7.17.11.1 Wall plates Wall plates shall be not less than 50mm thick and shall be the same width as the wall studs, except that in non‐loadbearing partitions and in loadbearing walls where the studs are located directly over framing members, the bottom wall plate may be 20mm thick. 7.17.11.2 Bottom wall plates A bottom plate shall be provided in all cases. The bottom plate in exterior walls shall not project more than ⅓ the plate width over the support. 7.17.11.3 Top plates in loadbearing walls Except as permitted in Articles 7.17.11.4 and 7.17.11.5 no fewer than two top plates shall be provided in loadbearing walls and partitions. 7.17.11.4 A single top plate may be used in a section of a loadbearing wall containing a lintel provided the top plate forms a tie across the lintel. 7.17.11.5 A single top plate may be used in loadbearing wall where the concentrated loads from ceilings, floors and roofs are not more than 50mm to one side of the supporting studs and in all non‐loadbearing partitions. 7.17.11.6 Joints in top plates Joints in top plates of loadbearing walls shall be staggered at least one (1) stud spacing. 7.17.11.7 Tying of top plates at corners The top plates in loadbearing walls shall be lapped or otherwise suitably tied at corners and intersecting walls. Joints in single top plates used with loadbearing walls shall be suitably tied. 7.17.12 Framing over openings 7.17.12.1 Except as provided in Article 7.17.12.3 openings in non‐loadbearing walls shall be bridged with not less than 50mm material the same width as the studs nailed to adjacent studs. 7.17.12.2 Openings in loadbearing walls shall be bridged with lintels designed to carry the super‐imposed loads to adjacent studs. Except as provided in Article 7.17.12.3 where 2 or more members are used in lintels, they shall be fastened together with not less than 85mm nails in a double row, with nails not more than 450mm apart in each row. The lintel members may be separated by filler pieces. 7.17.12.3 In loadbearing exterior and interior walls of 50mm by 75mm framing members, lintels shall consist of solid 75mm thick members on edge or 50mm thick and 20mm thick members securely nailed together.

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7.17.13 Bracing 7.17.13.1 Except as provided in Article 7.17.13.2 each exterior wall in each storey shall be braced with at least one (1) diagonal brace conforming to Article 7.17.13.3 7.17.13.2 Bracing is not required where walls are clad with panel type sheathing or panel type siding. 7.17.13.3 Where bracing is required, it shall consist of at least 25mm by 100mm wood members applied diagonally to the studs at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the horizontal extending the full height of the wall on each storey. Such bracing shall be nailed to each stud and wall plate by at least two 63mm nails. 7.18 POST BEAM AND PLANK CONSTRUCTION 7.18.1 Scope 7.18.1.1 This section applies to wood‐frame construction with the loadbearing framing members spaced more than 600mm apart. 7.18.2 General 7.18.2.1 The size and spacing of posts and beams and the span and thickness of floor decking shall be calculated in conformance with Part 5 of the Code. 7.18.2.2 Requirement for nails, timber, notching and drilling anchorage and sill plates shall conform to Section 7.17. 7.18.3 Decking 7.18.3.1 Specifications for floor and roof decking Floor and roof decking shall consist of not less than 50mm timber laid on the flat or edge. 7.18.3.2 Plank floor decking Plank floor decking laid on the flat shall be not more than 200mm wide. Such decking shall be tongued‐and‐grooved or splined unless a separate underlay is installed or the flooring consists of woodstrips laid at right angles to the decking. 7.18.4 Loadbearing beams 7.18.4.1 Loadbearing beams shall be solid, built‐up, glued‐laminated or plywood web beams. 7.18.4.2 Loadbearing roof beams shall be securely connected to the exterior wall framing and the centre loadbearing wall or centre beams to resist adequately the uplift forces due to wind.

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7.18.4.3 The length of end bearings for loadbearing beams shall be determined on the basis of allowable design stress of wood but not less than 40mm. 7.18.4.4 When loadbearing beams are supported by mechanical connectors, the connectors shall be capable of supporting the design loads. 7.18.4.5 Where joints in loadbearing beams do not occur over solid supports, joints shall be designed according to approved practice. 7.18.4.6 Opposing loadbearing beams shall be tied together at the joints by means of splices or suitable mechanical connectors. 7.18.4.7 Where secondary framing members span between floor beams, members and connections shall be designed to support the required design loads. 7.18.4.8 Loads from loadbearing walls, columns or other concentrated loads shall be supported by members designed to carry such loads. 7.18.5 Posts 7.18.5.1 Posts shall be solid, built‐up or laminated. 7.18.5.2 Exterior wall post Where wall sheathing does not provide suitable anchorage, exterior wall posts shall be anchored to the wall plate by not less than 1.2mm thick steel angles or other approved anchors. 7.18.5.3 Built‐up posts Solid posts and individual members in built‐up posts shall extend in one piece the full height of the wall storey. Built‐up members shall be fastened together with nails spaced not more than 300mm centres and at least twice as long as the individual member thickness, or with not less than 10mm diameter bolts fitted with washers and spaced not more than 450mm centres. 7.18.5.4 Intermediate studs Intermediate studs or blocking shall be provided between posts in post and beam walls for the support of exterior and interior cladding. Intermediate studs shall conform to Section 7.18 for non‐loadbearing stud walls. 7.18.6 Plank frame wall construction 7.18.6.1 Thickness of plank framing in plank frame walls shall conform to Table 7.18.6A. The unsupported height of 50mm vertical plank non‐loadbearing partitions shall not exceed 3.60 m. 7.18.6.2 Vertical framing in plank frame walls shall consist of not less than 250mm wide planks spaced not more than 2.40m centres.

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Table 7.18.6.A (Forming Part of Article 7.18.6.1)

Nominal thickness of plank framing

Supported load (including dead load and ceiling) Minimum Plank thickness, mm

Roof with or without attic storage

Roof with or without attic storage plus one (1) floor

Roof with or without attic storage plus two (2) floors

50

50

75

7.18.6.3 Vertical framing in plank frame walls shall not bear on wood members with the grain at right angles to the vertical framing except where bearing on sills. 7.18.6.4 Corners of plank frame walls shall be formed by butting and fastening together the face and edge of two planks. 7.18.6.5 Vertical framing in plank frame walls shall be provided on each side of every opening, except that a window opening more than 750mm in width may be supported on one side only by a vertical member. In such cases, the opposite jamb of the window or short upright to which it is attached shall bear on the filler wall plank immediately below, which in turn shall be notched into the vertical structural members on each side. 7.18.6.6 Where horizontal planks act as loadbearing lintels or headers, they shall be framed into the vertical members by dovetailing so that not less than a 40mm length of bearing is provided. 7.18.6.7 Openings in loadbearing plank frame walls shall be bridged with lintels designed to carry superimposed loads to adjacent members. 7.18.6.8 Non‐loadbearing horizontal members (fillers) in plank frame walls shall be securely fastened to the vertical framing. 7.19 ROOFING 7.19.1 General 7.19.1.1 Roof protection Roof shall be protected with roofing, including flashing, installed to shed rain effectively. 7.19.2 Roofing materials 7.19.2.1 Materials specification Roofing materials shall conform to the following:

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BS. 5247: Part 14: 1975, Code of Practice for sheet roof and wall coverings‐ BS. 690 Part 4: 1974, Specification for asbestos – cement slates and sheets Part 4: Slates B.S 402: 1974, Specifications for clay plain roofing tiles and fittings. 7.19.2.2 Roofing nails Nails used for roofing shall be corrosion‐resistant roofing or shingles nails. Nails shall have sufficient length to penetrate through or 12mm into roof sheathing. Nails used with wood shingles or shakes shall have a head diameter of not less than 5mm and a shank thickness of not less than 2mm. 7.19.2.3 Roofing staples Staples used to apply wood shingles shall be corrosion‐resistant and shall be driven with the crown parallel to the eaves. Staples used with wood shingles shall be not less than 30mm long, 2mm diameter or thickness, with not less than 10mm crown. 7.19.3 Roof slope 7.19.3.1 Roof slopes The roof slopes on which roof covering may be applied shall conform to Table 7.19.3A 7.19.4 Flashing at intersections 7.19.4.1 Sheet metal flashing shall consist of not less than 1.70mm thick sheet lead, 0.33mm galvanized steel, 0.36mm thick copper, 0.46mm thick zinc or 0.48mm thick aluminium. 7.19.4.2 Valley flashing Where sloping surfaces or shingled roofs intersect to form a valley, the valley shall be flashed. 7.19.4.3 Open valley flashing Open valleys shall be flashed with not less than one layer of sheet metal not less than 600mm wide.

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Table 7.19.3A (Forming part of Article 7.19.3.1)

Roofing types and slope limits of roofs

Type of Roofing Minimum Slope Maximum Slope Built‐up Roofing Asphalt base (graveled) Asphalt base (without gravel Coal‐tar base (graveled) Wood Shingles Handsplit shakes Cement pulp asbestos corrugated sheets Sheets metal roofing Corrugated metal roofing Slate shingles Clay tile Glass fibre reinforced Polyester roofing panels

0 in 25 1 in 25 0 in 25

25 in 100 25 in 75 25 in 100 0 in 25 25 in 100 50 in 100 50 in 100 25 in 100

25 in 100

20 in 100 50 in 100 1 in 25

no limit no limit no limit no limit no limit no limit no limit no limit

no limit

7.19.4.4 Closed valley flashing Closed valley flashing shall consist of sheet metal not less than 600mm wide. Nails shall not penetrate the flashing within 75m of the top of the valley or 125mm of the bottom of the valley measured from the centerline of the valley. 7.19.4.5 Intersection flashing The intersection of shingle roofs and masonry walls or chimneys shall be protected with flashing. Counter flashing embedded not less than 25mm in the masonry shall extend not less than 150mm down the masonry and lap the lower flashing not less than 100mm. Flashing along the slopes of a roof shall be stepped so that there is not less than 75mm head lap in both the lower flashing and counter flashing. Where the roof slopes upwards from the masonry, the flashing shall extend up the roof slope to a point equal in height to the flashing on the masonry, but not less than 1½ times the shingle exposure. 7.19.5 Wood roof shingles 7.19.5.1 Decking Decking for wood shingled roofs may be continuous or spaced. 7.19.5.2 Size Wood shingles shall be not less than 400mm long and less than 75mm nor more than 350mm wide.

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7.19.5.3 Spacing Shingles shall be spaced approximately 6mm apart and offset at the joints in adjacent courses not less than 40mm so that joints in alternate courses are staggered. 7.19.5.4 Fastening Shingles shall be fastened with at least two (2) nails or staples located approximately 20mm from the sides of the shingles and 40mm above the exposure line. 7.19.5.5 Exposure The exposure of wood roof shingles shall conform to Table 7.19.5A

Table 7.19.5A (Forming part of Articles 7.19.5.5) Exposure of wood roof shingles

Roof Slope Maximum Shingle Exposure, mm

410mm Shingles 460mm Shingles 610mm Shingles 25 in 75 or less over 25 in 75

95 125

110 140

145 190

7.19.5.6 Flashing Flashing shall conform to Subsection 7.19.4 7.19.6 Handsplit roof shakes 7.19.6.1 Size of shakes Shakes shall be not less than 450mm long and less than 100mm not more than 350mm wide with a butt thickness of not more than 30mm. 7.19.6.2 Spacing of shakes Shakes shall be spaced approximately 6mm apart and offset at the joints in adjacent courses not less than 40mm so that joints in alternate courses are staggered. 7.19.6.3 Fastening of shakes Shakes shall be fastened with nails located approximately 20mm from the side of the shakes and 40mm above the exposure line. 7.19.6.4 Exposure of shakes The exposure of wood shakes shall conform to Table 7.19.6A

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Exposure of handsplit wood shakes

Minimum length of shakes (mm)

Limiting minimum butt thickness, (mm)

Maximum exposure, (mm)

450

300

800

10

10

10

190

250

330

7.19.6.5 Flashing Flashing shall conform to Subsection 7.19.4 7.20 INTERIOR WALL AND CEILING FINISHES 7.20.1 General 7.20.1.1 The requirements for wall and ceiling finishes in this section are basic requirements. Where a wall or ceiling assembly is required to provide a certain fire‐resistance, a flame‐spread rating or a sound transmission class rating, the wall or ceiling finishing shall be subject to the appropriate requirements in Section 3.1 in addition to requirements in this Section. 7.20.2 Waterproof wall finish 7.20.2.1 Waterproofing of interior finishes Waterproof finish shall be provided to a height of not less than 1.8m above the floor in shower stalls, 1.2m above the rims of bathtubs equipped with showers and 400mm above the rims of bathtubs not equipped with showers. 7.20.2.2 Waterproof finish Waterproof finish shall consist of granite, marble, ceramic, plastic or metal tile, sheet vinyl or linoleum etc. 7.20.3 Plywood finish 7.20.3.1 Plywood finish thickness The minimum thickness of plywood interior finish shall conform to Table 7.20.3A except that no minimum thickness is required when the plywood is applied over solid backing.

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Minimum thickness of plywood interior finish

Minimum spacing of supports, mm, centres

On supports with no horizontal blocking, mm

On supports with blocking at vertical intervals not exceeding 1.2m, mm

400

600

4.7

9.5

4.0

4.7

7.20.3.2 Where plywood for interior finish is grooved, the grooves shall not extend through the face ply and into the plies below the face ply unless the groove is supported by framing or furring, or if the grain of the face ply is at right angles to supporting members, unless the thickness of the plywood exceeds the value shown in Table 7.20.3A by an amount equal to at least the depth of penetration of the grooves into the plies below the face ply. 7.20.3.3 Nails for plywood finish Nails for attaching plywood finishes shall be not less than 38mm casing or finishing nails spaced not more than 150mm centres along edge supports and 300mm centres along intermediate supports, except that staples providing equivalent lateral resistance may also be used. 7.20.3.4 All plywood edges shall be supported by furring, blocking or framing.

7.20.4 Wall tile 7.20.4.1 Wall tile base and adhesive Ceramic tile shall be set in a mortar base or applied with adhesive. Plastic tile shall be applied with an adhesive. 7.20.4.2 Mortar for ceramic tile When ceramic tile is applied to a mortar base the cementitious material shall consist of one part Portland cement to not more than ¼ part of lime or clay pozzolana by volume. This shall be mixed with not less than three nor more than five parts of sand per part of cementitious material by volume. Ceramic tile applied to a mortar base shall be thoroughly soaked and pressed into place forcing the mortar into the joints while the tile is wet. 7.20.4.3 Adhesive for ceramic tile Adhesives to attach ceramic or plastic tile shall be applied to the finish coat or brown coat of plaster that has been steel‐trowelled to an even surface or to masonry provided the masonry has an even surface.

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7.21 FLOORING 7.21.1 General 7.21.1.1 Finished flooring shall be provided in all residential occupancies. 7.21.1.2 Finished flooring materials Finished flooring in bathrooms, kitchens, public entrance halls, laundry and general storage areas shall consist of resilient flooring, concrete, terrazzo, ceramic or other types of flooring providing similar degrees of water resistance. 7.21.1.3 Wood sleeper Wood sleepers supporting finished flooring over a concrete base on ground shall be not less than 25mm by 50mm and shall be treated with a soaking coat of approved wood preservative. 7.21.1.4 Finished flooring shall have a surface that is smooth, even and free from roughness or open defects. 7.21.2 Wood strip flooring 7.21.2.1 Dimensions The thickness of wood strip flooring shall conform to Table 7.21.2A

Table 7.21.2.1 (Forming part of Articles 7.21.2.1)

Wood strip flooring

Type of Flooring Maximum Joist Spacing, mm

Minimum Actual Thickness of Flooring, mm With Sub‐floor No Sub‐floor

Hardwood

Interior /Exterior Use

400

600

20

20

20

32

7.21.2.2 Underlay Wood strip flooring shall not be laid parallel to lumber sub‐flooring unless a separate underlay is provided. 7.21.2.3 Laying of wood strip flooring If wood strip flooring is applied without a subfloor, it shall be laid at right angles to the joists so that end joists are staggered and occur over supports or are end matched. It shall be laid so that no two adjoining strips break joints in the same space between supports and each strip bears on no fewer than two supports.

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7.21.2.4 Nailing Wood strip flooring shall be toe nailed or face nailed with at least 1 nail per strip at spacings shown in Table 7.21.2B except that face nailed strips of more than 25mm in width shall have no fewer than two nails per strip. Face nails shall be countersunk and the holes filled with suitable filler.

Table7.21.2B (Forming part of Article 7.21.2.4) Nailing Of Wood Strip Flooring

Finish floor thickness

mm Minimum length of floor nails,

mm Maximum spacing of floor nails,

mm

20 25 32 38

57 63 70 83

400 400 600 600

7.21.3 Parquet flooring 7.21.3.1 Adhesive used to attach parquet block flooring shall be suitable for bonding wood to the applicable subfloor material. 7.21.4 Ceramic tile 7.21.4.1 Ceramic tile shall be set in a mortar bed or applied to a sound smooth base with a suitable adhesive. 7.22 PLUMBING FACILITIES 7.22.1 Scope 7.22.1.1 This section applies to the facilities required in plumbing systems within dwelling units. Plumbing and plumbing systems will generally conform to Part 9.6 (Water Supply, Drainage and Sanitation) of this Code. 7.22.1.2 Facilities in plumbing systems other than those required in dwelling units shall conform to Part 3 of this Code. 7.22.2 Water supply and distribution 7.22.2.1 Portable water Every dwelling unit shall be supplied with portable water from an approved public or community system when these systems are available.

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7.22.2.2 Piping facilities Where a piped water supply is available, piping for cold water shall be connected to every kitchen sink, bathtub, shower and laundry area. Piping for cold water shall be run to every water closet and hose bib. 7.22.3 Required facilities 7.22.3.1 A kitchen sink, lavatory bathtub and water closet shall be provided for every dwelling unit where a piped water supply is available. Where there is not piped water supply other approved means of waste disposal shall be provided for every dwelling unit. 7.22.4 Sewage disposal 7.22.4.1 Except as provided in Article 7.22.3.1 wastes from every plumbing fixture shall be piped to the building sewer. 7.22.4.2 Building sewers shall discharge into a public sewage system where such system is available. 7.22.4.3 Where a public sewage system is not available, the building sewer shall discharge into a private sewage disposal system such as a septic tank and disposal field provided the design and installation is approved. 7.23 VENTILATION 7.23.1 Scope 7.23.1.1 This section applies to the ventilation of rooms and spaces in residential occupancies but does not apply to the ventilations of rooms intended to be used for the lawful detention of any person other than a mentally disordered person. 7.23.1.2 Ventilation of rooms and spaces other than residential occupancies shall be in accordance with approved engineering practice. 7.23.1.3 A garage for parking more than five cars shall be ventilated in accordance with Part 3 and Part 9.1 of this Code. 7.23.2 Natural ventilation 7.23.2.1 Except as provided in Article 7.23.2.3 any habitable room shall (unless it is adequately ventilated by mechanical means) have one or more ventilation openings so constructed that:

i. their total area is equal to not less than 1/20 of the floor area of the room; and

ii. some part of such area is not less than 1.75m above the floor.

7.23.2.2 A door which opens directly to the external air shall be deemed to be a ventilation opening if:

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i. such door contains a ventilator with an area of not less than 10,000mm2 capable of being opened (without the door being opened); or

ii. the room contains one or more ventilation openings having a total area of not less than 10,000mm2; in addition to such door.

7.23.2.3 A habitable room opening into an enclosed verandah, conservatory or similar place shall be deemed to comply with the provisions of this regulation if such room and such enclosed place together have one or more ventilation openings which, if they ventilated a room having a floor area equal to the combined floor areas of such habitable room and such enclosed space would comply with the requirements of Article 7.23.2.1. 7.23.3 Ventilation openings onto courts 7.23.3.1 No ventilation opening constructed in compliance with subsection 7.23.2 shall be so situated as to open on to a court enclosed on every side, unless the distance from the ventilation opening to the opposite wall of the court is either:

i. 15m or more; or

ii. not less than ½ the vertical distance between the top of the wall containing the opening.

7.23.3.2 No ventilation opening constructed in compliance with requirements of Subsection 7.23.2 shall be so situated as to open onto a court which has one unobstructed side, exceeds twice the width, unless such ventilation opening:

i. is in the side of the court opposite the unobstructed side; or

ii. (if it is situated in either of the long sides) is within a distance from the unobstructed side not exceeding twice the width of the court; or

iii. (if it is situated in either of the long sides) is in such a position that the distance from such

opening to the opposite wall of the court is either 15m or more; or not less than the vertical distance between the top of such opening and the top of the wall containing the opening.

7.23.4 Ventilation of larders 7.23.4.1 Any larder for the storage of perishable food (other than an enclosed space having means of refrigeration) shall, unless adequately ventilated by mechanical means be ventilated to the external air by means of one or more windows or two or more ventilations capable of being closed of which one is in the upper part and another in the lower part of the larder. 7.23.4.2 Windows used for the ventilation of larders shall be fitted with durable fly‐proof screen and be so constructed that a total area of not less than 85,000mm2 is capable of being opened.

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7.23.4.3 Ventilators used for the ventilation of larders shall be:

i. fitted with a durable fly‐proof screen; and

ii. so constructed as to permit (when open) the passage of air through an opening having an unobstructed area of not less than 45,000mm2; and

iii. either situated in an external wall of the building or separately connected with the external air by a duct not less than 16,000mm2 in cross‐sectional area and having a smooth internal surface.

7.23.5 Ventilation of common stairways 7.23.5.1 Any part of a stairway which is intended for common use within any building constructed for occupation as separate dwellings by more than one family and above the ground storey and not open to the external air shall have adequate means of ventilation. 7.24 ELECTRICAL FACILITIES 7.24.1 General 7.24.1.1 Electrical installations, including the service capacity of the installation and the number and distribution of circuits shall meet the requirements of the appropriate local government statutes. Guidance for electrical installations are given in Part 9.2 of this Code. 7.24.1.2 Unless otherwise approved, electrical facilities shall be provided for every building and every dwelling unit and public shared space in building containing dwelling units. 7.24.1.3 Electrical facilities shall have sufficient capacity to provide, without overloading, electrical energy for lighting appliances, outlets and equipment installed in the building. 7.24.1.4 Entrance switches, meters, panel boxes, time clocks and other similar equipment shall not be located in any public area unless adequate precautions are taken to prevent interference with the equipment. 7.24.2 Lighting outlets 7.24.2.1 Exterior lighting An exterior lighting outlet with fixture controlled by a wall switch located within the building shall be provided at every entrance to buildings of residential occupancy. 7.24.2.2 Requirements for lighting outlets Except as provided in Article 7.24.2.3 a lighting outlet with fixture controlled by a wall switch shall be provided in kitchens, bedrooms, living rooms, utility rooms, dining rooms, bathrooms, water closet rooms, vestibules and hallways in dwelling units.

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7.24.2.3 Where a receptacle controlled by a wall switch is provided in bedrooms or living rooms, such room need not conform to the requirements in Article 7.24.2. 7.24.2.4 Lights in stairways Every stairway shall be lighted. Wall switches located at head and foot of every stairway shall be provided to control at least one lighting outlet with fixture for stairways with four or more risers in dwelling units. 7.24.2.5 Storage room A lighting outlet with fixture shall be provided in storage rooms. 7.24.2.6 Lighting of garages and carports A lighting outlet with fixture shall be provided for an attached, built‐in or detached garage or carport. Such outlet shall be controlled by a wall switch near the doorway where the fixture is ceiling mounted above an area normally occupied by a parked car. Where a carport is lighted by a light at the entrance to a dwelling unit, additional carport lighting is not required. 7.24.2.7 Lighting in public areas Every public or service area in buildings shall be provided with lighting outlets with fixtures controlled by a wall switch or panel to illuminate every portion of such areas.