Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering

CA3629 Building and Fire Safety Control

– Building (Planning) Regulations (4)
Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering
City University of Hong Kong
 LIGHTING AND VENTILATION
B(P)R Part IV
Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering
Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering

Prescribed Windows
Building (Planning) Regulation 29: Every storey of
every building used or intended to be used for the
purpose of an office or for habitation shall be
provided with effectual means of lighting and
ventilation.
Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering

Habitable rooms in
domestic usage require
Office usage requires ‘prescribed windows’
‘prescribed windows’
Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering

Windows in habitable rooms

should have adequate
glazing and openable area
facing an unobstructed area
(plane)
 B(P)R 30
Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering

• Natural lighting & ventilation for room for

habitation, office and kitchen
• Prescribed windows:
– Glass area = room area / 10
– Opening area = room area / 16
– Top of opening – min 2 m above floor
(1.9m for detached/ semi-detached bldg)
– Glass to face directly into external air
 External Air
Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering

• Prescribed window to face into street or

• unobstructed space delineated by
rectangular horizontal plane
• Rectangular horizontal plane:
– Min 21 sq.m. in area
– Min length of base 2.3m
– Min length of side 4.5m

– refer to B(P)R 31
Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering

Facing a Prescribed
street Window of a
domestic
habitable
room

Street > 4.5m

 min. 4.5m
Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering
 min. 4.5m
Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering
 min. 2.3m
Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering
 min. 2.3m
Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering
Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering

Rectangular unobstructed
plane > 21 sq.m.

Base line > 2.3m

Habitable Room

Remarks: Refer to PNAP APP-130 Para.4 for allowance for tilting 15° of
rectangular plane.
 Open Air
Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering

• Room containing soil or waste fitment to

have window to open into open air
• Glass & opening area = room area / 10
• Top of opening min 2m above floor level
• Room not to open directly to room for
preparation/ storage/ manufacture of food
• refer to B(P)R 36
Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering

With window open to “open

air” > Room Area/10 (top
part not to less than 2m
above F.L.)
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Relaxation – Bathroom & Lav

– artificial lighting and mechanical
ventilation
– permanent ventilation to open air or
external air
– requirement of B(P)R 35A complied with

B(P)R35A – to provide room-sealed gas water heater in bathrooms

(except buildings with centralized hot water supply)

refer to PNAP APP-98 & APP-27

 Open air External air
Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering

• Vertically • Face into a street > 4.5m

unobstructed space wide
• Dim. - min 1.5m • Face into uncovered and
• Area - not less than unobstructed space
1 sq.m. for every 6m delineated by rectangular
high of enclosing horizontal and inclined
wall plane
• refer to B(P)R 2 – rectangular horizontal
plane
•min 21 sq.m.
•base min 2.3m
•length of side min
4.5m or 2.3m
•refer to B(P)R 31
Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering

Not to open directly:

Building (Planning) Regulation 36(4):
No room containing a soil fitment shall open directly
into a room used or intended to be used for the
manufacture, preparation or storage of food for
human consumption or into the auditorium or any
space in a place of public entertainment in which
persons await admission to public entertainment.
 END
Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering