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installed in special cases but no such adaptation can be followed to introduce or
increase natural light except to a very limited extent by borrowed light in the
form of reflectors refracting glass and by the maintenance of cleanliness of walls
ceilings and windows and the prevention of lightobstructing conditions generally
In practice it is very rarely found that in the absence of natural light insufficient
artificial light is provided in workrooms it being essential to efficient work
Difficulties in providing natural light and ventilation will depend upon the
degree to which the room is below the surface of the surrounding ground the
proximity and height of other adjacent buildings and the area and position of
available openings
There is no definition in either the Factory and Workshop Act 1901 or the
Public Health (London) Act 1891 of an underground workroom except an underground
bakehouse which is considered to be such if the floor of the baking room is
more than three feet below the surface of the adjoining street or ground adjoining
or nearest the room
The Public Health (London) Act contains a similar clause defining an underground
room if occupied separately as a dwelling
In each of the foregoing use of the rooms so specified is forbidden unless they
comply with certain requirements which though embodying useful powers with
regard to light and ventilation do not with one exception fix standards ; the exception
being that of an underground room of a dwelling house the window
(or windows) of which must be equal to onetenth the floor area half the window
must be made to open at the top and an area be provided in front of it
The Act of 1901 indirectly empowered Local Authorities to fix standards of
lighting and ventilation in underground bakehouses by requiring the District
Council to certify the premises to be suitable for use as a bakehouse In the City
of London it was laid down that all such premises should be lighted naturally if
possible failing this only electric light was to be used for illuminating purposes
Through ventilation was insisted upon and inlets required to be at least 12 inches
above any footway surface and then only if other higher positions were not practicable
These standards are useful as a guide in dealing with basements generally
and might usefully be applied in principle in any future action taken
All basement workrooms may be considered to form part or come within the
terms of a factory workshop or workplace The supervision of these premises
varies within certain limits and may be broadly stated to be as follows :—
In Factories all matters with the exception of watercloset accommodation
are controlled directly by His Majesty's Inspector of Factories
In Workshops and Workplaces the local Sanitary Authority is directly responsible
for the general conditions including cleanliness ventilation and air
space in workrooms as well as for enforcing special regulations in certain cases
The Inspector of Factories however exercises a supervisory control and has
power to act if a Local Authority makes default in relation to any matter to which
the Inspector has called attention and which it is the duty of the Local Authority
to deal with
A basement workroom which forms part of a factory does not come within
the jurisdiction of the Sanitary Authority but one forming part of a workshop or
workplace does
No definition of " workplace " is given in either the Factory or Public Health
Acts though the term is quoted in both ; but it has been interpreted to mean any
place not being a factory or workshop where persons are employed and regular
work of some kind is carried on Offices warehouses and restaurants kitchens &c
would therefore be classed as workplaces
Statutory powers relating to workshops and workplaces are given to Local
Authorities in London by the Factory and Workshop Act 1901 in conjunction with
the Public Health (London) Act 1891 They contain no provision whatever for
the lighting of workrooms either by natural or artificial means and it would appear
that light of any particular description cannot be enforced under these Acts in
general workrooms Moreover there is no power to secure even adequate lighting
With regard to ventilation it is laid down in the Factory and Workshop Act
1901 that " every room in any factory or workshop sufficient ventilation shall be
provided and sufficient ventilation shall be maintained" Workplaces are excluded
from this requirement but it may be noted that the whole of any premises within
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