- A permanent building shall inter alia fulfill the following requirements:(i)it shall be provided with an efficient lightning conductor;(ii)if entirely detached the minimum distance between it and other buildings shall be not less than 20 feet with a free all-round space so as to enable the audience to disperse quickly in the event of a fire and to permit easy access to fire engines and fire fighting appliances:(iii)in not entirely detached, it shall about on two or more different ways or open spaces shall have sufficient width to enable the audience to disperse quickly in the event of fire and to permit easy access to fire engines or other fire fighting appliances:Provided that one of the above means of exit shall have a clear width of 35 feet including the footpath and shall be thoroughfare;(iv)The frontage shall be of adequate length and the building shall have verandahs on two sides;(v)if accommodation is meant to be provided for more than 1000 persons, its distance from other buildings shall be such as THE Licensing Authority may by a special written order require;(vi)it shall not be constructed under or on the top of any other building without the special written sanction of the Licensing Authority;(vii)where it is in close proximity of another building, a wall or other structure of fire-resisting material in a manner approved by the Licensing Authority shall separate it there from, whose decision as to whether any building is in close proximity shall be final. No opening in the walls or in any part of the building as may be likely to communicate fire to a neighboring building shall be made:(viii)the distance between the floor of the auditorium and the ceiling or any covering immediately above shall not be less than 12 feet;(ix)the landings, doors, staircases, lobbies and corridors shall be not less than 4 feet 6 inches in width if accommodation is meant for 400 persons or less and not less than 6 feet in width when accommodation is provided for more than 400 persons:Provided that for the purposes of the sub-rule, the balcony shall be treated as a separate accommodation but for the ground floor the total seating capacity of the auditorium shall be taken into consideration;(x)all staircases shall be constructed of non- inflammable material with stapes not less than 10 inches wide and more than 7 inches high. Each flight shall have not more than 15 and not less than 3 steps;(xi)the floor of all landings, staircase, passages and gangways shall be of sufficient strength to carry 120 lb. live load per squire feet and shall be constructed of fireproof material;(xii)every staircase forming an exit from an upper story to the ground floor shall have on both sidewalls of bricks or other fire-resisting material in the stores through which it passes and no opening shall be made into the auditorium except when required for an exit from the upper story, which it serves. The staircase leading to the upper story may, however, on one side, instead of a wall, be provided with extra stout handrails or balusters. Enclosed staircases except on platforms and landings with a length exceeding the width of the stairs shall have on both sides strong handrails firmly secure to the walls by strong metal led brackets sunk into the walls to a depth of three inches. For all upper storeys intended for use by the public there shall be provided at least two staircases;(xiii)Stairs turning at angles shall have a proper landing at each turn and no wonders shall be introduced; all landings shall be provided with emergency lights;(xiv)Where possible gradients or inclined floors shall be used instead of steps, but no gradient or inclined floor shall be steeper than 1 in 10;(xv)all exit doors for the use of the public in cinemas already in existence shall be not less than 7 feet in height and 4 feet 6 inches in width, and not less than 7 feet 6 inches in height and 5 feet in width in cinemas licensed after the coming into force of these rules, the width being measured between levees of the doors in open position. The doors shall open outwards and when open shall not obstruct any gangway, passage, staircase landing or lobby, but rest flush against the walls;(xvi)cloak rooms where provided shall be so situated that their use causes no obstruction to the free use of any existing corridor or other passage for exit of the audience.
