London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Stoke Newington 1910

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Stoke Newington, The Metropolitan Borough]

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68
following regulations, 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, namely:—
(a) Such room shall in every part thereof have at least three
feet of its height above the level of the surface of the
street or ground adjoining, or nearest to such room.
Provided that if the width of the area hereinafter
mentioned is not less than the height of the room from
the floor to the said surface, or is 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 damp-proof 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
and at least four feet wide in every part; provided
that the width of such area may be not less in any part
than three feet, if the mean width of the area be not
less than four feet; provided also that in the 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 buildings above the
room, if the steps are so placed in such case as not
to be over or across any external window of the room.
(d) The space, if any, beneath the floor of such room shall
be provided with adequate mean's of ventilation.
(e) Every drain passing under any such room shall be
properly constructed of a gas-tight pipe.