Sept. 11.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 2767

PART VI—FOOTWAY OF FIRE-ESCAPES.

LANDINGS AT EXITS.

34. The footway of the fire-escape in front of every part of any exit shall be in the form of a horizontal landing or platform, or have a pitch of not more than one in ten.

FOOTWAYS NOT TO CROSS WINDOWS.

35. The footway of any fire-escape shall not pass across the front of any window or other opening in the exterior wall of the building which it serves, nor be less than 2 ft. 6 in. below the lowest point or 1 ft. above the highest point of any such window or other opening:

Provided that this stipulation shall not relate to any window or other opening which is intended to be an exit to such fire-escape, or which is normally kept closed by means of iron shutters, wire-glass set in metal frames, or other approved fire-resisting material:

Provided also that the requirements of this clause shall not apply to a fire-escape the footway of which is connected with lower terminations at each side of the window or other opening or series of windows or other openings across the front of which it passes.

CONSTRUCTION OF FOOTWAY.

36. The footway of every fire-escape shall be constructed as a stairway or a runway or a combination of both.

MATERIAL OF FOOTWAY.

37. The footway of every fire-escape shall be of good iron or other substantial material and shall be continuous, save that if made of wooden strips a space of not more than three-quarters of an inch may be allowed between strips, and if made of bars of iron set transversely a space of not more than three-quarters of an inch may be left between bars.

WIDTH OF FOOTWAY.

38. The footway of any fire-escape shall—
    (a) Not be less than 30 in. wide;
    (b) Not be diminished in width between any exit and the end of the fire-escape nearest the ground;
    (c) Not be wider at any exit than at any other part thereof between such exit and either end of the fire-escape.

DESIGN OF STAIRWAY.

39. (a) No stairway shall have a pitch of more than one in three-quarters or less than one in one-and-three-quarters.
    (b) The tread of any step of a stairway shall be not less than 9 in., measured as provided by clause 5 of this by-law.
    (c) The riser of any step of a stairway shall be not more than 9 in. and not less than 7 in.
    (d) In any fire-escape the tread and the height of the riser shall respectively be the same for every step thereof.

PITCH OF FIRE-ESCAPE.

40. No part of a fire-escape shall have a pitch of between one in two-and-a-half and one in one-and-three-quarters.

SLOPING FOOTWAYS.

41. No footway shall have a pitch of more than one in two-and-a-half.
42. All footways with a pitch of more than one in twelve shall have the footway covered with either—
    (a) Transverse battens of wood or similar material of rectangular section stretching the full width of the footway each of a breadth of not less than 1 in. nor more than 3 in. with spaces between of not less than 4 in. nor more than 7 in., and extending above the footway a height of not less than ½ in. nor more than 1½ in.; or
    (b) An approved non-slipping tread in an approved manner.

LANDINGS TO BE PROVIDED.

43. Every portion of a fire-escape, whether built as a runway or stairway, having a pitch of more than one in five-and-a-half shall be provided with horizontal landings or platforms at convenient intervals, and the space between landings or between a landing and the end of the fire-escape shall not, if in stairway form, contain more than fifteen steps, and shall in no case exceed a length equal to 15 ft. measured on a horizontal projection.

DESIGN OF LANDINGS.

44. Every horizontal landing or platform shall be of the full width of the footway and of a length at least equal to that width.

D

BENDS.

45. Whenever the direction of a stairway changes in plan a horizontal landing or platform shall be provided, and no stairway shall be constructed with winders.

PART VII.—HANDRAILS.

HANDRAILS TO BE PROVIDED.

46. Every fire-escape having a side or sides not placed against a building shall have such side or sides provided with a substantial handrail at a height above the footway (measured in the case of a stairway from the front edge of each step) of not less than 33 in. nor more than 38 in.

HANDRAILS TO BE SMOOTH.

47. Such handrails shall have a continuously smooth surface:

Provided always that an iron handrail may be attached to its supports by tee-pieces projecting not more than 3/16ths of an inch from the surface of the handrail.

BENDS IN HANDRAILS.

48. Where a handrail changes direction either vertically or horizontally it shall be made in the form of a curve not sharper than a circular curve with an 8 in. radius.

GOOSENECK FINISH.

49. At the landing forming the upper termination of a fire-escape every handrail shall be shaped substantially in the form of a gooseneck.

PART VIII.—DISCRETIONS AND APPEALS.

DISPENSING POWER.

50. If in the opinion of the Superintendent safeguards other than fire-escapes are provided for prevention of danger from fire or for facilitating the escape of persons in case of fire in connection with any building then, according to the extent to which such safeguards are in the opinion of the Superintendent adequate for the purposes aforesaid, the Superintendent may, by notice in writing to the owner, waive compliance with any requirement of this by-law in respect of such building, either wholly or in part or for a limited time, and subject to such conditions as in any particular case he may think fit:

Provided that no such waiver shall restrict the right of the Superintendent at any time thereafter, upon giving notice in writing to the owner of his intention so to do, to exact full compliance with any requirement so waived:

Provided also that the powers hereby conferred shall not be exercised so as to permit any of the following matters:—
(a) The provision at an access of a door or window arranged so as to open vertically contrary to clause 27 hereof or otherwise than by swinging outwards or sliding laterally (except where permitted under the provisoes to the said clause 27).
(b) The substitution of a fire-escape in the form of a ladder with rungs in any case where this by-law requires a fire-escape to be provided in the form of a stairway.
(c) The use for the purposes of a fire-escape or any part thereof of rope or any other perishable material.

BOARD MAY ASSUME POWERS OF SUPERINTENDENT.

51. Where by this by-law power is given to the Superintendent to decide any matter, exercise any discretion or power, waive any requirements, or approve anything, the Board may of its own motion, and either before or after the Superintendent has taken action thereon, take such matter into its own consideration, and the opinion or discretion of the Board shall be substituted for that of the Superintendent, and the action of the Board shall be substituted for any action theretofore taken by the Superintendent.

OWNER’S RIGHT OF APPEAL.

52. Where by this by-law power is given to the Superintendent to decide any matter, exercise any discretion or power, waive any requirements, or approve anything, and action has been taken accordingly by the Superintendent, or by the Board in place of the Superintendent, any person affected thereby may, by notice in writing addressed to the Board or the Secretary and delivered at the office of the Board, apply to the Board to reconsider such action, and the Board shall thereupon take the matter into its consideration, and after the person affected has been afforded a reasonable opportunity of submitting to the Board any relevant matters of fact or opinion and any evidence thereon, the Board may either confirm, modify, reverse, or otherwise deal with the action previously taken.