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65
Before the underground bakehouse can be certified, the Borough Council must
be satisfied that it is suitable as regards construction, light, ventilation, and in all
other respects.
In order to give information to the various bakers as to what would be considered
sufficient light, ventilation, and as to the necessary construction, the Council
approved of certain regulations, which were supplied to each baker.
The Council required that the bakehouse should have a capacity of at least
1,500 cubic feet, and should be at least 8 feet high. The floor and walls should be
of smooth and impermeable material. There should be a suitable means of access
other than by a ladder, and no entrance from the shop floor would be tolerated.
The areas should be constructed of glazed bricks or tiled faces. The window should
have a total superficial area clear of the sash frame equal to one-tenth of the floor
space. There should be permanent inlets and outlets for ventilation. Proper provision
should be provided for the storage of flour elsewhere than in the bakehouse,
and for personal ablution, as well as for the depositing of wearing material. All
troughs and tables should be provided with strong ball-bearing castors. The bakehouse
should not be in communication with a washliouse, nor with any room containing
objectionable material.
These regulations were strictly enforced, save that in a very few, a slight modification
of the height was made. The Public Health Committee decided " that in.
very exceptional cases, where the cubical capacity of a bakehouse is sufficient, and the
general conditions are such as to inflict a great hardship, should a certificate be refused
in consequence of its being found impossible to attain the height mentioned,
owing to the position of the sewer, and not on the ground of expense, the Committee
does not propose to insist upon a height of more than 7 feet 6 inches."
It is satisfactory to know that in only four bakehouses was it found necessary
to lower the standard from 8 feet to 7 feet 6 inches.
70 underground bakehouses complied with our regulations and certificates were
granted.
Conveniences for depositing the wearing material of the workmen and for personal
ablution were newly provided in all of them. This will tend to secure enhanced
cleanliness in the baking of bread. All the troughs and tables were without ballbearing
castors. It was therefore impossible to keep the floors as clean as it will be
in future, now that the castors have been provided. Five bakehouses were found to
have less than the required 1,500 cubic feet capacity, and had to be enlarged. The
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