SEPT. 23.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 2525

FOURTH SCHEDULE.

RULES FOR FITTING UP AND MAINTENANCE OF ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT, EMERGENCY LIGHTING, AND EXIT-SIGN LIGHTS IN CINEMATOGRAPH-THEATRES.

Use of Electricity for Projection.

(1) No person shall use any illuminant except electric light for the purpose of any cinematograph-film projection.

(2) Where the electric current used to provide such light is supplied otherwise than from a travelling or portable generating-plant, the following requirements shall be complied with :—

(a) The whole of the electrical installation used for such supply shall comply in all respects with the Electrical Wiring Regulations, 1927, or with any corresponding regulations for the time being in force that may be passed in substitution therefor.

(b) All switches and fuses and all electrical apparatus liable to arc or become hot, installed in the projection-room, shall be placed as far as practicable from any place where cinematograph-film is stored or handled, and shall be so protected that cinematograph-film cannot come in contact with any heated area.

(c) Where switchboards are installed in the projection-room the space between any switchboard and the wall shall be enclosed with fireproof material in such a manner that a fire cannot spread to the wiring at the back of the switchboard.

(d) All resistances for the cinematograph-machine shall be placed inside the projection-room. They shall be mounted on incombustible bases, and shall be so protected and placed at such a distance from any combustible material that no part of the resistance, if broken, can fall on such material, or vice versa.

(e) Conductors from any switchboard in the projection-room to the cinematograph-machine shall be enclosed in screwed conduits, and shall terminate in a suitable terminal-box. Conductors from such box to the lamp shall be covered with fire-resisting material. Such conductors shall be controlled by an efficient double-pole switch mounted on a switch-board within the projection-room.

(f) The maximum potential difference across the terminals of the arc on the lamp, or on any part of the arc circuit on the cinematograph-machine, shall not exceed 110 volts under any circumstances.

(g) All switchboards shall be constructed wholly of durable non-inflammable non-absorbent material. The various live parts shall be so arranged by suitable spacing or shielding with non-ignitable insulating-materials that an arc cannot be maintained between any such parts or between such parts and earth.

(h) All fuses shall be provided with a suitable incombustible and insulating carrier of such a form as to protect a person handling it from shock and burns, and contacts shall be provided on the carrier to which the ends of the fuse can be readily attached.

(3) Where the electric current used to provide such light is supplied from a travelling or portable generating-plant, the following requirements shall be complied with :—

(a) The electric cables running from such generating-plant to the projection-room shall be protected with tough rubber compound in accordance with the above-mentioned regulations.

(b) Such cables shall have a current-carrying capacity at least equal to the maximum requirements of the cinematograph-machine and all accessories.

(c) All temporary lights connected with such generating-plant shall be so connected with tough rubber compound flexible conductors.

(d) All such cables and conductors shall be maintained in good condition and free from electrical fault.

Emergency Lighting.

(4) In every cinematograph-theatre the following emergency lighting shall be provided :—

(a) Lights serving to illuminate every doorway, lobby, staircase, corridor, and other portions of the theatre to which the public may have access either generally or in cases of emergency (hereinafter referred to as “exit emergency lights”):

(b) Not less than two lights serving to illuminate the auditorium (hereinafter referred to as “auditorium emergency lights”).

(5) The exit emergency lights shall be sufficient in number and lighting-power to provide illumination for exit purposes, and shall be kept continuously alight for the period during which the public is admitted to the auditorium for the purposes of a performance.

(6) The auditorium emergency lights shall each be of not less than 200 candle-power. Lights in an auditorium normally used at intervals during a performance and controlled from the projection-room shall not be deemed emergency lighting for the purposes of complying with these rules.

(7) The illuminant for any emergency lighting shall be either gas or electricity.

(8) The whole of the emergency lighting shall be controlled in one place, which shall be a lobby or other convenient place, and shall be in the front of the building and so situated as to be readily accessible to the theatre staff in case of emergency, and no emergency lighting shall be controlled from the projection-room.

(9) Where the illuminant used is gas—

(a) All burners shall be fitted with efficient by-pass jets :

(b) The whole of the exit emergency lights shall be controlled by a single and separate cock :

(c) The whole of the auditorium emergency lights shall be controlled by a single and separate cock :

(d) The “on” and “off” positions of each cock shall be clearly indicated.

(10) Where the illuminant used is electricity—

(a) The emergency lighting system shall have a source of supply entirely separate from the source of supply to the auditorium, projection-room, and stage lighting ; or

(b) If the supply is generated at a source not situated upon the theatre premises, it shall be fed through independent service fuses ; or

(c) If the supply is generated at a source situated upon the theatre premises, it shall be fed through independent main fuses.

(11) Where the illuminant used is electricity, and the emergency lighting-system has a separate source of supply as referred to in paragraph (a) of the last preceding clause, such source of supply shall be either—

(a) A generator driven by a prime motor which does not derive its power from the same source as that supplying the remainder of the circuits in the theatre ; or

(b) A storage battery.

(12) Where the illuminant used is electricity, the emergency lighting-circuits shall not be fed through more than one switchboard, and these circuits shall on no account enter or be carried through the projection-room.

(13) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, the emergency lighting equipment of any cinematograph-theatre where the electric current used to provide light for cinematograph-film projection is supplied from a travelling or portable generating-plant shall be sufficient for the purposes of these regulations if such theatre is supplied with one or more oil-lamps permanently fixed in a safe and suitable position outside every doorway leading from the auditorium that is capable of being used as an exit either generally or in cases of emergency, and giving an adequate light and kept continuously alight for the period during which the public is admitted to the auditorium for the purposes of a performance.

Exit-sign Lights.

(14) In every cinematograph-theatre there shall also be provided on the wall of the auditorium above every doorway leading from the auditorium that is capable of being used as an exit either generally or in cases of emergency an exit-sign.

(15) Every exit-sign shall consist of the word “exit” in plain letters formed in translucent glass with a dark ground.

(16) Every exit-sign shall be lighted from the back of the glass either with at least two oil-lamps, or with at least one gas-burner, or with at least one incandescent electric lamp, and if lighted with an electric lamp, such lamp shall be connected with an emergency lighting-circuit.

(17) Every exit-sign lamp shall be kept continuously alight for the period during which the public is admitted to the auditorium for the purposes of a performance.

(18) Clauses 14 to 17 hereof shall not apply to any cinematograph-theatre where the electric current used to provide light for cinematograph-film projection is supplied from a travelling or portable generating-plant.

F. D. THOMSON,
Clerk of the Executive Council.

(I.A. 13/11/147.)

By Authority: W. A. G. SKINNER, Government Printer, Wellington.

Price 6d.]