52
Every room to be provided
with sky- light or window.
26
77. No room shall be constructed in any storey of any existing domestic building, or of any domestic building here- after erected, unless such room is provided with a sky-light, or with a window or windows opening either directly or across a [cf. s. 160]. verandah or balcony into the external air and having an area, clear of any obstruction to the light, equal to at least one tenth the floor area of such room and being so constructed that at least one half can be opened. In the case of a window or windows the opening shall extend as far as is practicable above the floor level.
Obstruction of windows
in tenement houses,
Open space between new building
[^/. s. 160).
Provided that, in the case of existing domestic buildings, the Governor in Council shall have power to modify the requirements of this section in respect to the external air upon such conditions, if any, as may be deemed expedient.
78. No window of any tenement house shall be obstructed by the erection of any structure whatsoever.
Open spaces, lanes, etc.
79. No person who shall erect a new domestic building or alter any existing domestic building on a site excavated out and hill-side. of a slope or declivity shall permit such building or part thereof to abut against the hill-side, but a clear intervening space or area of a width of not less than one-fourth of the height of the cutting shall be left between such building, along its whole extent, and the toe of the cutting: Provided that such inter- vening space or area shall in no case be of a less width than eight feet in any part as measured on the ground level of such building, and shall not encroach in any way upon any street; Provided further that the Governor in Council may grant ex- emption in any case in which the provisions of this section may appear to him to be inapplicable.
Sub-soil
drainage of such open
spaces.
Structures
in areas
prohibited.
The height of the cutting shall be measured on a vertical line drawn from the toe of such cutting, and extending from the finished ground or concreted surface to a point where it meets a line drawn at an angle of thirty degrees with the horizontal from the top of the cutting.
80. Every person who shall, under the provisions of section 79 leave a clear intervening space or area between a new domestic building and the hill-side, shall make the surface of the floor of such area at least six inches lower than the level of the lowest floor of such building, and he shall, if so required by the Building Authority, lay, to the full extent of such area, along the toe of the slope of the hill-side, and to a depth of at least twelve inches below the surface, a line of hard sound, stone-ware field-pipes, of not less than three inches diameter, for the purpose of effectually draining the sub-soil of such area, and he shall not cause such sub-soil drain to be passed out under the floor of any building, unless any other mode of outlet may be impracticable; and, in such case, he shall cause the sub-soil drain to be so laid under the ground floor of such new building, that there shall be a distance of at least nine inches between the top of such drain and the surface of such ground floor. The floor of every such area shall have a fall of not less than 1 in 40 towards the outlet for the drainage of such area, and shall be covered with a layer of impervious material, as provided for in this Ordinance, and shall be channelled.
81. Every area shall be kept, at all times, free and unobstructed by structures of any kind other than a bridge or flight of steps not exceeding three feet and six inches in
27
width, nor shall such area be roofed in or covered over with glass or other material. No bridge or flight of steps shall be placed over any window opening into such area. Every area shall be provided with a suitable parapet wall, or safe iron railing or fence, along its upper edge.
82. (1) Every domestic building hereafter erected or Provision re-erected shall be provided by the owner with an open space spaces and
of open
for domestic
in the rear, or partly in the rear and partly at the side, access lanes exclusively belonging to such building, equal in area to not buildings. less than one half of the roofed-over area of such building; [cf. a. 160]. and the level of such open space shall not be less than 6 inches below the floor of the lowermost storey. Provided that in the case of a domestic building hereafter erected or re-erected on a site leased from the Crown prior to the 21st February 1903 and having a depth of forty feet or under the open space may be equal in area to not less than one third of the roofed-over area of such building.
In addition to such open space the owner shall provide a lane to the satisfaction of the Building Authority, giving access to some public or private street and shall submit a plan of such proposed lane to the Building Authority for approval. Such plan shall be prepared with a view to promoting uniformity in the laying out of such lanes.
Every lane shall be formed to such levels as the Building Authority may direct.
(2) A lane shall not be required in the case of any detach- ed or semi-detached domestic building which has a side lane or yard extending the entire depth of the building and of a width of not less than five feet and also has a clear and unobstructed area in the rear of the building of a depth of not less than eight feet and extending for the full width of the site, but no such building shall be deemed to be semi-detached unless it is one of a pair of buildings each of which has a side lane or yard as above described.
(3) Kitchens, bathrooms and latrines not exceeding ten feet in height above the highest point of the surface of the open space may be erected in the aforesaid open space, but such buildings shall not cover more than one fourth of such open space.
(4) In the event of the open space being provided partly in the rear and partly at the side, the proportion of such open space shall not in either case be less than one half of the whole area required under this section.
(5) The open space in the rear or at the side shall not be inclosed except by boundary walls or fence of a height not exceeding eight feet, containing a doorway communicating with the lane in the rear or the side lane provided under sub-section (2) of this section.
(6) In no case shall any obstruction whatever be placed or erected in any lane or open space provided under this section except as hereinbefore permitted.
(7) In no case shall the Building Authority require the space for a lane, expressly provided for one building, to be of a greater width than five feet and when such a lane is on land leased from the Crown prior to the 21st February, 1903, and the building for which the lane is provided has no
53