13 May]

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE

PART I—CLASSIFICATION OF FIRE DISTRICTS

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.

The classification of fire districts is the factor on which all require-
ments 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 Part II 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 Part II of this Code, and in which some arrangements
have been made for first-aid fire fighting operation pending the arrival
of the brigade.