(1) In reinforcement brickwork, the reinforcement shall have the cover prescribed by this section:

Provided that the local authority may require a cover greater than that so prescribed where it considers that the latter is not adequate to prevent corrosion of the reinforcement under the particularly corrosive conditions which exist at the building site.

(2) The cover of mortar or grout in the joints between reinforcement and bricks shall be not less than one-quarter of the diameter of bars or thickness of strip, and in no case less than 3 millimetres.

(3) The minimum clear distance, disregarding applied surface finishes, of bar reinforcement from exterior (exposed) faces of brickwork shall be 40 millimetres.

(4) The minimum clear distance, disregarding applied surface finishes, of bar reinforcement from interior faces of brickwork shall be as follows-

a) for slabs, walls and beams, 20 millimetres or the bar diameter, whichever is the greater;

b) for columns, 25 millimetres;

c) for any structural member in contact with the soil, such as a footing, foundation or retaining-wall, 75 millimetres.