XN000022-1987-12-18 — Page 11

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1987

BUILDING REGULATIONS AMENDED TO IMPROVE

PLANNING STANDARDS

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BUILDING DESIGNERS WILL ENJOY

DESIGN OF BUILDINGS WHEN AMENDMENTS

GREATER

FLEXIBILITY IN THE ΤΟ THE BUILDING (PLANNING)

REGULATIONS COME INTO FORCE ON JANUARY 8 NEXT YEAR.

IN FUTURE, BUILDINGS PLANNED FOR SITES WITH A FRONTAGE OF LESS THAN 8.5 METRES NEED NOT BE CONFINED TO A DEPTH OF LESS THAN THREE TIMES THEIR WIDTH WHICH WAS INTENDED ORIGINALLY ΤΟ ENSURE ADEQUATE VENTILATION AND NATURAL LIGHTING.

"THE DELETION OF THIS REGULATION HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE WITH MODERN BUILDING DESIGN AND THE PREVALENCE

OF AIR-CONDITIONING INSTALLATIONS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT

SAID.

THE MINIMUM CEILING HEIGHT FOR EVERY TYPE OF BUILDING HAS BEEN STANDARDISED TO 2.5 METRES WITH THE REMOVAL OF CERTAIN REFERENCES ΤΟ DETACHED AND SEMI-DETACHED BUILDINGS.

UNDER THE AMENDED REGULATIONS, PROTECTIVE BARRIERS WILL NEED TO BE PROVIDED ALONG THE OUTER EDGE OF ALL BALCONIES AND VERANDAHS ABOVE GROUND. ALSO, ALL OPENINGS ON EXTERNAL WALLS ABOVE GROUND, SUCH AS FULL-HEIGHT WINDOWS OR INDUSTRIAL BUILDING MACHINERY ACCESS DOORS, SHOULD BE PROTECTED BY BARRIERS.

THESE PROTECTIVE BARRIERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO BE BUILT TO A SPECIFIED HEIGHT AND TO MINIMISE THE RISK OF PERSONS OR OBJECTS FALLING OR SLIPPING THROUGH GAPS IN BETWEEN.

TO CATER FOR MODERN TALL VEHICLES, THE CLEARANCE ABOVE GROUND LEVEL FOR BUILDINGS HAS, IN SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES, BEEN INCREASED FROM THE PRESENT 5.0 METRES TO 5.5 METRES.

ALL AMENDMENTS TO THE REGULATIONS HAVE BEEN ENDORSED BY THE LAND AND BUILDING ADVISORY COMMITTEE WHICH INCLUDES REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.

DETAILS OF THE AMENDED REGULATIONS ARE PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).

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