1120
7. Clause 8 adds a proviso to paragraph (1) of section 43 of the principal Ordinance to permit of modification of its requirements as to the dimensions of treads and risers in new staircases of existing buildings. In some cases it is found impracticable or economically impossible to erect a new staircase with a tread of nine inches and a riser of seven inches, whereas a smaller tread and higher riser would be preferable to the old staircase which it is intended to replace.
8. Section 78 of the principal Ordinance forbids the obstruction of windows in any tenement house by the erection of any structure whatever. Clause 9 of this Bill will enable the Building Authority to give permission for such obstruction in proper cases. There are cases where a rear window is to some extent obstructed by a stair partition whilst the room gets ample light and air from other sources.
J
9. Clause 10 adds the word {{
roofs to section 85 of the principal Ordinance. There are instances where the substitution of a reinforced concrete roof would be beneficial from a fire fighting point of view but the substitution is not undertaken because at present it would result in the building becoming an exceptional building involving the provision of additional open space.
10. Clause 11 repeals the proviso to the first paragraph of section 120 of the principal Ordinance as that proviso seems to authorise the presence of occupants in a dangerous building for a period of at least seven days.
11. Clause 12 adds section 43 to the list of sections set out in section 160 of the principal Ordinance enabling the Building Authority to grant modification or exemption in certain cases. This amendment is consequential on the proviso added to section 43 by clause 8.
12. Clause 13 amends the form of notice in Schedule A to the principal Ordinance so as to provide for the speci- fication of the building work intended to be undertaken.
13. Clause 16 adds a new clause to the form of under- taking with respect to verandahs or balconies to be erected on or over Crown Land provided by Schedule E to the prin- cipal Ordinance. When such new verandahs or balconies are to be erected on a building which requires a scavenging lane, it has been the practice to indicate the line of the future lane on the building plan and to grant the owner a modification on condition that the owner registers in the Land Office an undertaking to the effect that he will open up the scavenging lane when required to do so by the Building Authority. When the verandah undertaking has been regis- tered the new clause will operate to obviate the necessity of further registration with respect to the scavenging lane.
14. Clause 17 repeals the proviso to regulation 3 of the Drainage Regulations in Schedule J to the principal Ordinance. The installation of water closets and all private drainage works are controlled by the Building Authority. It has been found necessary for record purposes to deal with such works in files distinct from the building plan files and consequently to provide for the repeal of the proviso in question.
December, 1936.
C. G. ALABASTER,
Attorney General,