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21
Regulations in respect of underground sleeping roams (Housing
and Town Planning, &c., Act, 1909, sect. 17 (7), were approved by the
Council and the Local Government Board in 1911; they are in the
following terms:—
REGULATIONS.
Prescribed, under section 17 (7) of the above Act, by the Mayor, Aldermen, and
Councillors of the Metropolitan Borough of Hampstead, with which a room
habitually used as a sleeping place, the surface of the floor of which is more
than three feet below the surface of the part of the street adjoining or nearest
to the room, shall comply
(a) Such room shall have in every part thereof at least three feet of its
height above the surface of the street or ground adjoining or nearest to the room
—Provided that if the width of the area hereinafter mentioned be not less than
the height of the room from the floor to the said surface of the street or ground,
or be not less than six feet, the height of the room above such surface may be
less than three feet, but not in any case less than one foot.
(b) Every wall of such room shall be constructed with a proper dampproof
course, and if in contact with the soil shall be effectually protected against
dampness from that soil by means of a vertical damp-proof course or otherwise.
(c) There shall be outside of and adjoining such room and extending
along the entire frontage thereof and open upwards from six inches below the
level of the floor thereof an area properly paved and effectually drained at least
three feet wide in every part, and of a mean width not less than four feet—
Provided that in tlie area there may be placed steps necessary for access to the
room, and over and across such area there may be steps necessary for access to
any building above the room if the steps in each case be so placed as not to be
over or across any external window of the room.
(d) The subsoil of the site of such room shall be effectually drained by
means of a subsoil drain properly trapped and ventilated wherever the dampness
of the site renders such a precaution necessary,
(e) The space, if any, beneath the floor of such room shall be provided
with adequate means of ventilation.
(f) Every drain passing under any such room, other than a drain for the
drainage of the subsoil of the site of the room, shall be properly constructed of a
gas-tight pipe.
(g) Such room shall be effectually protected against the rising of any
effluvia or exhalation by means of a layer of asphalte or of good cement concrete
at least six inches thick, or four inches thick if properly grouted, laid upon the
soil of the site of the entire room, or in some equally effectual manner; any such
concrete shall be composed of clean gravel, broken hard brick, properly burnt
ballast, or other suitable hard material, well mixed with cement in the proportion
by measure of one part of cement to not more than eight parts of the other
material.
(h) Every such room which is without a fire-place and a flue properly
constructed and properly connected with such fire-place shall be provided with
special and adequate means of ventilation by a sufficient aperture or air shaft
which shall provide an unobstructed sectional area of 54 square inches at the
least, and every part of which shall be not less than six feet above the level of
the floor of the room.
(i) Such room shall have one or more windows opening directly into
the external air with a total area clear of the sash frames equal to at least onetenth
of the floor area of the room, and so constructed that one-half at least of
every such window can be opened, and that the opening may in every case
extend to the top of the window.
Section 132 of the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901, requires every
Medical Officer of Health in his Annual Report specially to report on
the administration of the Act, and the five tables that follow were
framed by the Home Secretary with a view to such reports being made
upon uniform lines,