Q1.

Differentiate the difference between “Gross Floor Area” and “Non-

Accountable / Disregarded Goss Floor Area”.

A1. (3) (a) Subject to sub-paragraph (b), for the purposes of regulations 19, 20, 21 and 22, the gross
floor area of a building shall be the area contained within the external walls of the building
measured at each floor level (including any floor below the level of the ground), together with the
area of each balcony in the building, which shall be calculated from the overall dimensions of the
balcony (including the thickness of the sides thereof), and the thickness of the external walls of the
building.
(b) In determining the gross floor area for the purposes of regulations 20, 21 and 22, the Building
Authority may disregard any floor space that he is satisfied is constructed or intended to be used
solely for parking motor vehicles, loading or unloading of motor vehicles, or for refuse storage
chambers, refuse storage and material recovery chambers, material recovery chambers, refuse
storage and material recovery rooms, refuse chutes, refuse hopper rooms and other types of
facilities provided to facilitate the separation of refuse to the satisfaction of the Building Authority,
or for access facilities for telecommunications and broadcasting services, or occupied solely by
machinery or equipment for any lift, air-conditioning or heating system or any similar service. (L.N.
406 of 1987; 39 of 2000 s. 7)

Q2. How to define the height of building?

A2.
B(P)R s.23 - Height of Building:- measured from mean street levels of the lowest street to mean
height of roof over the highest usable floor space in building

Roof Lift machine room

▽

Domestic or non-domestic
height

Height of roof
 Stairhood, LMR, water
tank

Mean roof level over

highest usable floor
Height of space
building

Sloping street ≧
4.5m

Mean street level

Mean street level with sloping ground

Building service

Height of
building
Street ≧ 4.5m

Street ≧ 4.5m Mean street level → average level

of all street at lower or lowest
level
Mean street level – site with different levels

Mean height of roof

(average height of
roof)
Height of
building

Mean street level

Mean roof level with sloping roof

B(P)R s.23 Provision supplementary to Regulations 19, 20, 21 and 22

Comments:-
For paragraph (1)
In case of a site have buildings of different heights, the height of the highest building shall be
adopted for the determination of plot ratio and site overage of the site.
Q3. Define “Class A site”,”Class B site” and “Class C site”.

A3.
“Class A site”
Comments: a site, not being a class B site or class C site, having a frontage upon one street not less
than 4.5m wide (abuts on one street), or forming one street and backing upon another, or a corner
site where less than 40% of the boundary abuts a street.

Street ≦ 4.5m Street ≧ 4.5m

Adjoining Adjoining Adjoining

lot lot lot
site site

Street≧4.5m

a
f
site e b
site
Θ > 140° d
c
street ≧ 4.5m
street ≧ 4.5m

c+d
< 40%
a+b+c+d +e+ f

“Class B site” – a corner site that abuts on 2 streets neither of which is less than 4.5m wide
Comments: one street that has a bend with an internal angle of 140° or less may be regarded as
two streets for this purpose and at least 40% of the total perimeter of the site must abut the streets.
A corner site shall not be regarded as abutting on 2 streets unless at least 40% of the boundary of
the site abuts on the streets. [B(P)R2(2)]. Thus if less than 40%, it is only a Class A site.
 a
f
y site e b
site
d Θ ≦ 140°
x c
street ≧ 4.5m street ≧ 4.5m

x+y ≧ 40% site boundary length i.e.

40%≦
c+d
≥
a+b+c+d +e+ f

“Class C site” – a corner site that abuts on 3 streets neither of which is less than 4.5m wide
Comments: a corner site shall not be regarded as abutting on 3 streets unless at least 60% of the
boundary of the site abuts on the streets. Thus, if less than 60%, it is only a Class B, not Class C,
site.

Street≧4.5m wide
b

a site c
d

If the width of a street varies above and below 4.5m, or if a site does not abut onto any street, the
Building Authority is empowered under B(P)R s.6 to determine the width of a street if so required.

site
site

Street < 4.5m Street ≧ 4.5m

A street of 4.5m wide is considered to be a minimum standard for external air, i.e., for satisfactory
natural lighting and ventilation, and minimum width for services vehicles, refuse collection
vehicles, fire engines, etc. to pass through. If there are more streets, the higher the population
density a site can hold within it. If a site abuts on a street not less than 4.5m wide, the maximum
permitted height, site coverage and plot ratio of the building is automatically governed by B(P)R
s.20 and 21.

However, if a site does not abut on a street or abuts on a street less than 4.5m wide, the site is not
classifiable into class A, B or C sites; and the maximum permitted height, site coverage and plot
ratio will be left to the discretion of the Building Authority. Land such as sea, public open space that
does not provide access as a street is not classified as a street [PNAP No. APP-164 (263)].

Q4. Define “External Air” and “Open air”.

A4. (2) Such natural lighting and ventilation shall be provided by means of one or more windows which
shall be-
(a) so constructed that-
(i) the aggregate superficial area of glass in the window or windows is not less than one-tenth of the
area of the floor of the room; and
(ii) the windows can, to an extent at least equal in the aggregate to one-sixteenth of the area of the
floor of the room, be opened in such manner that the top of the opening of each window is at
least 2 m above the level of the floor or, in the case of detached and semi-detached buildings, at
least 1.9 m above the level of the floor; and (L.N. 294 of 1976)
(b) such that not less than the area required by sub-paragraph (a)(i) (hereinafter referred to as the
prescribed window) faces directly into the external air.

Q5. What is the requirement of Firemen lift?

A5.

Q6. What is the requirements of Access Staircase for Firefighting Rescue

Stairway?
A6.