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PART IV. —REQUIREMENTS IN PARTICULAR CASES. Buildings for Public Meetings. 28. No building for public meetings shall be constructedjotherwise than with a structural frame of steel or reinforced concrete : Provided that this requirement shall not apply to any such building which contains no room having a total floor-space exceeding 2,500 square feet in area, and of which the height of any wall does not exceed 35 ft. measured from the mean level, or mean intended level at the time of completion of the building, of the footpath or ground adjoining the wall to the eaves, or top of parapet, or half-way up a gable, whichever is the greatest: Provided also that this requirement shall not apply to any such building, which is entirely or substantially of [wooden construction in cases where the erection of such a building of such a construction is not contrary to the provisions of any other by-law for the time being in force. Institutions. 29. (a) No room of which the length or breadth exceeds 30 ft. in a building intended for use as a mental or other hospital, orphanage, hostel, or otherwise for the use as an institution for young children, aged or infirm persons, or persons subject to any form of legal detention, and having a height of more than one story, shall be constructed otherwise than with a structural frame of steel or reinforced concrete. (b) Every building intended for such use as aforesaid and having a height of more than one story shall, in respect of design, construction, and materials, be of such a nature as in the opinion of the Council to offer reasonable and adequate resistance to fire. Areas Liable to Severe Risk. 30. (a) The Council may, if in its opinion the whole or any part of the borough constitutes an area in which buildings may be subject to particularly severe earthquake-shocks, by resolution declare that the whole or such part of the borough be an area in which additional strength of buildings shall be required. (b) The Council may, in any area so declared, require that in the designing and construction of a building an increased horizontal force be provided against, in addition to the horizontal force which a building is to be designed and constructed to withstand pursuant to Part 111 of this by-law. Public Buildings. 31. (a) The Council may require that in the designing and construction of a building— (i) Intended for use as a building for public meetings or of any public nature ; or (ii) In any case where in the opinion of the Council the security of important public services is involved ; or (iii) In any case where in the opinion of the Council the nature of the building or site makes it advisable so to require— such building shall be designed and constructed to withstand earthquake-shocks, whether in the nature of a horizontal force or otherwise, greater in magnitude than the forces which a building is to be designed and constructed to withstand pursuant to Part 111 of this by-law. (b) In any case referred to in the last preceding subclause hereof the Council may impose restrictions on the choice of materials to be used and the general lay-out of the building, in addition to the restrictions imposed by Part 111 of this by-law. PART Y.—MISCELLANEOUS. Inspection. 32. (a) Any Inspector duly appointed by the Council shall be entitled at all times during the day or while work is being done, with such assistants as he may think necessary, to enter the premises and inspect the whole or any part of the work. (b) The owner, and builder, and every person engaged in the erection of a building shall give every reasonable facility to an Inspector and his assistants to inspect the whole or any part of the work. (c) In particular, the builder shall provide facilities for the Inspector to examine the foundations after excavation and immediately prior to concreting, and to examine all reinforcement or structural steel immediately before the same is covered in. Alterations to Existing Buildings. 33. In the case of alteration to buildings which were erected or the erection of which was commenced prior to the coming into force of this by-law it shall be sufficient compliance with this by-law if the requirements hereinbefore contained are observed and complied with so far as is reasonably possible, having regard to the design, [construction, and materials ofi the building, and the purpose for which it is used or intended to be used : Provided that no alteration shall be permitted which will, in the opinion of the Council, tend materially to reduce the resistance of the building to earthquake-shocks, unless the building is deemed to have a reserve ofjstrength against earthquake-shocks, and in that case no alterations shall be permitted which will, in the opinion of the Council, reduce the final strength of the building below the requirements specified in Part 111 of this by-law.

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