14 APRIL] 593

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE

PART I—CLASSIFICATION OF DISTRICT

1. The classification of fire districts is the factor on which all requirements for the service are based and is as follows:

(a) Class A Risk (The highest possible category).—This applies only to those areas of the largest cities in which the property, by reason of its construction, contents, and density, presents a serious risk of a major conflagration and includes the following types of property:

(i) Large wharf areas in the major ports and their ranges of warehouses, shipping, etc.

(ii) Large oil and petrol installations and their processing plants situated in commercial areas.

(iii) Highly concentrated commercial and business areas where narrow streets and high buildings predominate and the construction and contents of the buildings create a serious risk of spread of fire.

(b) Class B Risk.—This applies to the congested industrial and commercial areas in the cities having large departmental stores, factories, commercial and office property, theatres and cinemas, and similar congested areas, and includes the following particular types of property.

(i) Concentrations of factories and medium sized warehouses within the towns.

(ii) The main shopping and business areas in the metropolitan cities.

(iii) Wharf areas (other than those in Class A), oil and petrol depots where there is congestion, also block risk areas including timber and sawmilling yards, or densely grouped buildings where there is likelihood of spread of fire from one building to another.

(c) Class C Risk.—This is normally applicable to the concentrated built-up areas of the secondary cities and larger towns not falling within Class A or Class B and to any other areas in which there are a number of major industrial risks, and includes the following types of property:

(i) Extensive shopping centres predominantly of two or more stories in height without effective fire separation.

(ii) Smaller industrial centres and factory areas.

(iii) The older congested timber property in the cities and larger towns.

(NOTE.—A belt or belts of property falling into Category C are usually found adjacent to any A or B risk area, but it may be convenient to regard the A or B risk as extending to the point at which residential property and other small buildings falling into either Class D or E begins.)

(d) Class D Risk.—This is normally applicable to the business and commercial areas of towns of medium size not falling within Classes A, B, or C, and comprises the following types of property:

(i) Continuous ranges of commercial buildings as in the centre of towns which are the principal marketing centres for rural areas.

(ii) Shopping areas of the suburban areas of large cities.

(e) Class E Risk.—This is normally applicable to towns without risks which would place them in a higher category and includes:

(i) The business and commercial areas of towns devoid of serious commercial and industrial risks.

(ii) Detached or semi-detached housing property in suburban areas.

(iii) All property in rural areas situated within the effective cover distance as indicated in clause 4 of this code.

(f) Class F Risk.—Comprises the business and residential areas of small towns in which a brigade is established and also all risks, including both small urban areas and individual premises, situated in the more remote rural areas but within the effective cover distance of the brigade as indicated in clause 4 of this Code, and in which some arrangements have been made for first-aid fire fighting operation pending the arrival of the brigade.

2. The fire risk classification is not effective to determine the fire protection requirements with mathematical accuracy and the larger towns will in any case have more than one classification within the fire district. To provide further discrimination it may also be necessary to subdivide the respective classifications, and this will be indicated by a plus or minus sign.