(1) Every place of assembly of an indoor nature shall comply with the requirements of this section.

(2) Submission of plans. – In respect of every building to be used as a place of assembly, plans in duplicate shall be submitted to the local authority for approval, showing—

a) The arrangements of movable and permanently fixed seating for the accommodation of an audience; and

b) The position and area where it is proposed that standing audience be accommodated; and

c) The number of standing persons which it is proposed to accommodate; and

d) The position or positions where it is proposed that wheel chairs shall be accommodated.

(3) Such plans shall be on approved material to a scale of 1:50, provided that in special circumstances the local authority may permit plans to a smaller scale, and a copy of the approved plan shall be exhibited in the building where it can be seen by the public.

(4) Seating. – All seats in any theatre or cinema shall be tip-up seats unless written exemption is obtained from the local authority. The seats shall be provided with both arms and backs, and shall be fixed in an approved manner to the floor in rows, excepting those in a theatre box.

(5) In places of assembly involving closely seated audiences other than a theatre or cinema, where the seats are not fixed to the floor, they shall be rigidly fastened together when in use in an approved manner in groups of not less than 20 seats, with not less than three rows of seats one behind the other and not less than three seats side by side:

Provided that in such places are used primarily for serving food or drinks on tables and containing not more than 150 seat, individual unfixed seats may be used.

(6) All seating for an audience arranged in rows shall comply with the following requirements –

a) The width of the seats shall be –

i) Not less than 510 millimetres centre to centre where arms are provided to the seats;

ii) Not less than 460 millimetres centre to centre where no arms are provided to the seats;

b) A clear walkway of not less than 305 millimetres shall be retained between perpendiculars between the back edge of one seat and the front edge of the nearest part of the seat immediately behind when the seats are in the down position;

c) The spacing of rows of seat measured between perpendiculars between the back edge of one seat and the back edge of the seat immediately behind shall be as follows—

i) Where restaurant service is provided in a place of assembly during a performance at times other than during an interval, not less than 1,065 metres;

ii) In other cases, not less than 815 millimetres where backs are provided to seats and not less than 710 millimetres where no backs are provided to seats;

d) There shall be not more than seven seats intervening between any seat and a longitudinal aisle running at right angles to the rows of seats:

Provided that—

i) Where a clear walkway between rows measured in the manner set out in paragraph (b) is not less than 555 millimetres; and

ii) Where there is a longitudinal aisle of not less than 1,37 metres in width at both ends of such rows;

Not more than thirty-five seats may be fixed in any row;

e) Provision shall be made within the seating area for not less than two wheel-chairs unless written exemption is obtained from the local authority.

(7) Aisles. —The width of every longitudinal aisle shall be not less than 915 millimetres plus 40 millimetres for every 1,5 metres or remaining portion thereof of its length and such aisle shall maintain a constant width throughout its length from the beginning of such aisle to its intersection with a cross-aisle or to a point of access to an exit-way.

(8) Cross-aisles, that is aisle running parallel to the rows of seats, shall be provided so that no longitudinal aisle serves more than 25 rows of seats, in the case of cross-aisles on the ground storey, or more than 15 rows of seats, in the case of any other storey.

(9) Every cross-aisle shall discharge at both ends directly to a point of access to an exit-way.

(10) The width of every cross-aisle shall be not less than the greater of the following widths –

a) The maximum width of any longitudinal aisle which intersects such cross-aisle; or

b) Such width as would be required in terms of section 26, if such cross-aisle were a component of a required exit-way.

(11) Every cross-aisle shall be provided with railings of not less than 760 millimetres in height, fixed between adjacent rows of seats, except where the backs of seats adjoin the aisle and project at least backs of seats adjoin the aisle and project at least 760 millimetres above the floor of the aisle.

(12) No aisle shall have a slope greater than 1 in 12, and all aisles shall have sufficient friction under all conditions to allow the public to negotiate the surface in complete safety.

(13) Anny steps in an aisle shall extend across the full width of the aisle and shall be uniform in height of rise and width of tread with the nosing of every tread –

a) Illuminated at all times when the public I in occupation of the building; and

b) Conspicuously marked.

(14) No steps up or down from aisles to seating platforms shall be permitted.

(15) Aisles shall be widened to the full unobstructed width of exit doors to a distance of at least 2 metres from such doors.

(16) No part of the main area assigned for the seating or standing of any person shall be measured as part of any aisle.

(17) Exit-ways. – Exit-ways shall comply with the following requirements—

a) Every gallery, balcony or other similar portion of an auditorium, and the main floor of such auditorium, shall each be provided with its own separate and distinct exit-ways:

Provided that no more than 50 per centum of the capacity of each such separate and distinct exit-way may discharge into a common main lobby, foyer or vestibule, were such lobby, foyer or vestibule itself discharges directly to street or public place;

b) No curtains or other hangings shall be hung across, or in front of, any doorway forming a component of an exit-way or a point of access to such exit-way;

c) Every salient angle formed by the walls of an exit-way shall be rounded off to a radius of not less than 250 millimetres, and, except in the case of lobbies, foyers and vestibule, every re-entrant angle formed by the walls of such exit-way shall be covered to a radius of not less than 600 millimetres;

d) Every stairway forming a component of an exit-way or steps in any aisle, shall have riser not exceeding 180 millimetres or less than 75 millimetres in height and treads of not less than 230 millimetres in width of which nosings shall not exceed 25 millimetres;

e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in section 31 –

i) Where an exit-court serves any public and assembly occupancy-unit of an indoor nature having a population not exceeding 600 persons, such exit-court shall be not less than 1,8 metres in unobstructed width; and

ii) The minimum width prescribed in sub-paragraph (i) shall be increased by 150 millimetres for every additional 100 persons or remaining part thereof of population over 600;

f) Provision shall be made for ramped or other approved access to the area referred to in paragraph (e) of subsection (6) for wheel-chairs unless written exemption is obtained from the local authority.

(18) Access doorways to exit-ways. – Every auditorium, including every gallery and balcony or other portion of an auditorium, shall be provided with a number of access doorways opening direct into required exit-ways, according to the population to be accommodated in such auditorium.

(19) Such doorways shall be not less than 1,12 metres wide and of such aggregate width, as is required in terms of section 26, and shall comply with the requirements of section 30.

(20) Such doorways shall be opposite aisles, and any additional doorways shall be so arranged as to achieve an even flow of the population into the exit-ways, and at least one such doorway shall be placed near the stage.

(21) The number of access doorways shall be not less than the appropriate number calculated from Table XVI:

Provided that a box or gallery capable of accommodating a maximum of 35 people may have only one exit.

TABLE XVI
ACCESS DOORWAYS IN AUDITORIA

(22) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (21), any auditorium referred to in subsection (13) of section 36 shall have not less than one access doorway leading to an exit-way for very 150 persons or remaining portion thereof of the population of such auditorium.

(23) Railings. – Railings, constructed to withstand a horizontal load of 3 kilonewtons per metre assumed to act at the top of the rails, shall be provided in the following cases—every audit

a) The front of every balcony, gallery or box shall be provided with substantial metal railings, or other approved protection against falling, of not less than 760 millimetres in height, measured from the floor-level of such balcony, gallery or box;

b) In every balcony, gallery or other similar structure, where seats in rows are arranged in successive tiers and the height of the rise from one tier to another exceeds 280 millimetres, a substantial metal railing or other approved protection of not less than 760 millimetres in height, measured from the floor of such tier, shall be fixed as near as practicable to the edge of such tier along the entire row of seats.

(24) Lighting. – Lighting shall comply with the following requirements –

a) Every auditorium, including exit-ways and exit signs pertaining thereto, shall be lighted by natural or electric light to an intensity of not less than 10,76 lux;

b) Every place of assembly used during the hours of darkness shall be provided with lighting, including an emergency lighting system, in accordance with C.A.S. No. CCI;

c) The control of such system shall be accessible only to a responsible member of the auditorium staff or fire department of the local authority;

d) Where the local authority considers it necessary, an additional and separate room shall be erected for the accommodation of any emergency source of electric power;

e) In every theatre, cinema or concert-hall, portable emergency light, such as electric flash-lights, shall be kept available in sufficient number in case of complete failure of all electrical installations.

(25) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (24) –

a) The local authority may exempt any place of assembly intended for use by less than 250 people from the provision of an emergency lighting system on receipt of a written application, and under such conditions as it deems fit;

b) Every place of assembly used or intended for use exclusively for public worship shall be exempt from the provision of an emergency lighting system.

(26) Communication with fire department. – Every place of assembly used or intended for use by more than 500 persons shall be fitted with department of the local authority.