(1) Places of worship not exceeding three storeys in height, dwelling-houses and open-air parking-garages shall be excluded from the provisions of this section.

(2) In this section, “opening” shall mean any portion of an external wall which has a lower fire-resistance rating than that prescribed in this Chapter for such wall, but shall not include any window, less than 0,5 square metre in an area which serves a water-closet, bath-room or cloak-room:

Provided that, if any two or more windows are not separated from one another by a horizontal distance of at least 215 millimetres or a vertical distance of at least 1,2 metre, they shall be regarded as one opening.

(3) The fire protection of openings in external wall of a building shall be as set forth in Table XII, when the distance from such an opening to the nearest lateral boundary of the stand on which such building is erected, or to another building on the same stand is the relevant distance set out in that Table:

Provided that such protection need not be provided to openings facing a lateral boundary, if there is erected on such boundary a baffle-wall having a fire-resistance rating of not less than one and a half hours, and of such a height and length as will, in the opinion of the local authority, render the protection of such openings unnecessary.

(4) Where an external wall of one building is built against an external wall of another building, and an opening is formed in both such walls so as to provide means of access between such buildings, the opening so formed shall be deemed to be an opening in a division-wall, and such opening shall be protected on each side of such composite wall by approved fire-doors or fire-shutters having an aggregate fir-resistance rating for both doors or both shutters of not less than four hours.

(5) Any opening formed in an external wall of a building, which opening is within the range of distances from the nearest lateral boundary of the stand on which such building is erected or from another building on the same stand set out in column 2 of Table XII, shall be fitted with an approved automatic or self-closing fire-door or fire-shutter having a fire-resistance rating of not less than one and a half hours.

(6) Any opening formed in an external wall of a building, which opening is within the range of distances from the nearest lateral boundary of the stand on which such building is erected or from another building on the same stand set out in columns 3 and 4 of Table XII, shall be fitted with an automatic or a self-closing fire-door or fire-shutter having a fire-resistance rating of not less than one hour.

(7) Any opening formed in an external wall of a building, which opening is within the range of distances from the nearest lateral boundary of the stand on which such building is erected or from another building on the same stand set out in columns 5 and 6 of Table XII, shall be fitted with an approved non-openable or self-closing fire-window or with an approved automatic or self-closing fire-door or fire-shutter, and every such window, door or shutter shall have a fire-resistance rating of not less than half an hour.

(8) Any external wall of building, in which the total area of openings or the total use of combustible exterior wall-lining exceeds 55 per centum of the area of such wall, shall be not less than 9 metres from any lateral boundary of the stand on which such building is erected or from another building on the same stand and facing such wall, and not less than 6 metres from the centre-line of any street exceeding 4,5 metres in width.

(9) The distances referred to in the foregoing subsections shall be taken as the least distance between the opening or the wall, as the case may be, and the nearest lateral boundary or building concerned.

TABLE XII
FIRE PROTECTION OF OPENINGS IN EXTERNAL WALLS REQUIRED IN RELATION TO DISTANCE

(10) Subject to the provisions of subsection (10) of section 12, any opening which is located vertically above or below another opening on an external wall and which is not protected by a fire-shutter or fire-door or a fire-wind shall be –

a) Separated by a vertical distance of not less than 1,2 metres from such other opening; or

b) Protected by a hood or canopy under the opening, projecting not less than 1 metre from the wall-face, and projecting not less than 1 metre beyond the vertical lines drawn through the sides of every such opening.

(11) If a hood or canopy is constructed in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (b) of subsection (10), such hood or canopy shall be of non-combustible material and shall have a fire-resistance rating of not less than one hour.