Chapter: 123B Building (Construction) Regulations Gazette Number Version Date

Empowering section E.R. 1 of 2012 09/02/2012

(Cap 123, section 38)

(Enacting provision omitted—E.R. 1 of 2012)

[28 December 1990]

(Originally L.N. 439 of 1990)

(*Format changes—E.R. 1 of 2012)
____________________________________________________________________________
Note:
*The title of the Regulations has been updated to the current legislative styles.

Part: I General E.R. 1 of 2012 09/02/2012

(*Format changes—E.R. 1 of 2012)

____________________________________________________________________________
Note:
* The format of Part I has been updated to the current legislative styles.

Regulation: 1 Citation E.R. 1 of 2012 09/02/2012

These regulations may be cited as the Building (Construction) Regulations.

(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 2 Interpretation E.R. 1 of 2012 09/02/2012

In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires-

carriageway (車路) means that part of a private street, cul-de-sac or access road used or intended to be used by
vehicular traffic;
chimney (煙囱) means any structure designed as a flue and any structure enclosing a flue or flues;
cinema (電影院) means any building or part of a building which is designed for, and contains facilities (including a
projection room) and projection or other apparatus or equipment for use in connection with or otherwise for the
purposes of cinematographic displays; (L.N. 195 of 1996)
dead load ( 恆載 ) means the weight of walls, floors, roofs, finishes, permanent partitions and other permanent
construction;
flue (煙道) means a duct through which smoke or other products of combustion or fumes from any cooking apparatus
or stove or oven, or vitiated air, pass or are intended to pass for the purpose of reaching the open air;
foundation ( 基礎 ) means that part of a building, building works, structure or street in direct contact with and
transmitting load to the ground;
imposed load (外加荷載) means load other than dead load or wind load;
load bearing (承載) in relation to any part of a building, building works or street means any such part bearing a load
other than that due to its own weight and to wind pressure on its own surface;
masonry (砌石) means an assemblage of bricks or building blocks;
non-combustible material (不可燃物料) means material which satisfies a recognized non-combustibility test;
pile (樁) means a columnar foundation element which is-
(a) pre-manufactured and inserted into the ground by driving, jacking or other method; or
(b) cast-in-place in a shaft formed in the ground by boring, excavating or inserting a shell;
plain concrete (素混凝土) means concrete in which no reinforcement is included for structural purposes but in which

Cap 123B - Building (Construction) Regulations 1

 reinforcement may be provided for the purpose of restraining shrinkage or other movement;
site investigation (地盤勘測) means investigation of the physical characteristics of the site and includes documentary
studies, site surveys and ground investigation;
wind load (風荷載) means any load due to the effects of wind pressure or suction.
(16 of 2011 s. 40)
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 3 Materials E.R. 1 of 2012 09/02/2012

All materials used in any building works or street works shall be-
(a) of a suitable nature and quality for the purposes for which they are used;
(b) adequately mixed or prepared; and
(c) applied, used or fixed so as to perform adequately the functions for which they are designed.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 4 Appropriate limitations not to be exceeded E.R. 1 of 2012 09/02/2012

The structure of every building, street, building works and street works shall be capable of safely sustaining and
transmitting to the ground the combined dead loads, imposed loads and wind loads, determined in accordance with the
provisions of Part III, in such a manner as not to-
(a) cause any deflection, deformation or other movement, which would impair the stability of, or cause damage
to, the whole or any part of that building, street, building works or street works or any other building,
structure, land, street or services; or
(b) exceed the appropriate limitations of design stresses of the whole or any part of that or any other building,
street, building works or street works.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 5 Method of design E.R. 1 of 2012 09/02/2012

Structural designs submitted to the Building Authority for approval under the Ordinance shall comply with the laws of
mechanics and recognized engineering principles.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 6 Overloading E.R. 1 of 2012 09/02/2012

(1) Subject to subregulation (2), no building, street, building works or street works shall be subjected to a load
beyond its proper bearing capacity.
(2) This regulation shall not apply with respect to any load which may be required for the purpose of testing.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 7 Adjoining and other building or land not to be adversely E.R. 1 of 2012 09/02/2012
affected

No building works shall be carried out which may affect adversely the stability of any adjoining building, structure,
land, street or services.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 8 Changes in level E.R. 1 of 2012 09/02/2012

(1) At the outer edge of all balconies, verandahs, staircases, landings or projections, or where there is a difference in
adjacent levels greater than 600 mm, protective barriers shall be provided to restrict or control the movement of
persons and vehicles.
(2) Protective barriers provided under this regulation to restrict or control the movement of persons shall be-
(a) designed and constructed to minimize the risk of persons or objects falling, rolling, sliding or slipping

Cap 123B - Building (Construction) Regulations 2

 through gaps in the barrier, or persons climbing over the barrier;
(b) at a height above the higher of the adjacent levels of not less than 1.1 m; and
(c) constructed as to inhibit the passage of articles more than 100 mm in their smallest dimension.
(3) At the outer edge of all balconies, verandahs, floors, accessible roofs, or similar areas, the lowermost 150 mm of
the protective barrier shall be built solid, but this subregulation shall not apply to roofs where no access is
provided to the roof other than such access as may be necessary for maintenance work.
(3A) (a) As regards a place of public entertainment, in addition to those of subregulations (1) to (3), the requirements
of paragraph (b) shall apply.
(b) The protective barrier provided at the outer edge of any upper tier shall be-
(i) constructed so that any horizontal surface is inclined towards the seating at an angle of 30 degrees and
is concave in section; or
(ii) provided in such other manner as will allow only small articles to be placed on such barrier and will
ensure that articles are not liable to fall to any tier or area below. (L.N. 195 of 1996)
(4) This regulation shall not apply to a stage in an assembly hall, a loading bay in a factory, or spaces within
domestic premises for occupation by one family.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 9 Site investigation E.R. 1 of 2012 09/02/2012

Site investigation in respect of any building works or street works shall be carried out in such a manner and to such
recognized standards as to provide adequate geotechnical and other relevant data for the design and construction of the
building works or the street works.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 9A Building design and construction in connection with lifts E.R. 1 of 2012 09/02/2012
and escalators

(1) Where a building is to have a lift or escalator installed in it-

(a) the building shall be designed and constructed; or
(b) where the building already exists, it shall be altered,
so as to provide adequate-
(i) structural strength;
(ii) space;
(iii) protection;
(iv) access; and
(v) ventilation,
for the safe operation, maintenance and inspection of the lift or escalator, as the case may be.
(2) Where doors or other forms of access are provided for the purpose of-
(a) inspection, maintenance or repair of a lift or escalator installed in a building; or
(b) the rescue of people from a lift installed in a building,
the owner of the building shall post notices that comply with subregulation (4) warning users of the building of
the danger of entering the area to which access is provided or otherwise interfering with the operation of the lift
or escalator.
(3) The owner of a building shall, at all entrances where passengers enter a lift, post notices that comply with
subregulation (4) warning users of the building not to use the lift when there is a fire.
(4) Notices required to be posted under this regulation shall comply with the following-
(a) the notice shall be posted in a conspicuous place;
(b) the words on the notice shall be in English and in Chinese and shall be incised or embossed;
(c) the height of the letters and characters on the notice shall be, in the case of a sign referred to-
(i) in subregulation (2), 25 mm; and
(ii) in subregulation (3), 15 mm; and
(d) the notice shall be made of metal, plastic or other durable material and shall be affixed in a manner that will
ensure permanence.
(5) This regulation applies to buildings in which a lift or escalator is to be installed other than-
(a) a lift or hoist provided, in connection with any building which is being constructed, for the use solely of

Cap 123B - Building (Construction) Regulations 3

 persons employed in the construction thereof or for carrying materials used therein;
(b) a lift or hoist used solely for the carriage, stacking, loading or unloading of goods or materials-
(i) which does not pass through any floor; and
(ii) the height of travel of which does not exceed 3.5 m;
(c) a lift or hoist used solely for the raising of motor vehicles-
(i) which does not pass through any floor; and
(ii) the height of travel of which does not exceed 3.5 m;
(d) a skip hoist or hoist used mainly for charging furnaces or similar appliances;
(e) a hoist used solely for lifting or feeding material directly into a machine;
(f) a belt, bucket, scoop or roller conveyor and any similar machine;
(g) a ramp connected with any wharf or pier;
(h) an amusement device;
(i) a stage or orchestra lift;
(j) a stairlift for transporting a person or person with a wheelchair between 2 or more levels by means of a
guided carriage moving substantially in the direction of a flight of stairs and travelling in both upward and
downward direction; and
(k) a lifting platform for use by persons with a disability, with or without wheelchairs, travelling between fixed
levels, which may include intermediate levels, where the maximum height of the platform above the lowest
level does not exceed 1.98 m. (L.N. 240 of 1997)
(6) A building to which this regulation applies shall not, after the lift or escalator has been installed in it, be altered
in any way that would result in the building no longer complying with any of the requirements of this regulation.
(L.N. 96 of 1994)

Part: II MATERIALS 30/06/1997

Regulation: 10 Cement 30/06/1997

Cement for general use shall be ordinary or rapid hardening Portland cement of such composition, manufacture
and chemical and physical properties as are suitable for its intended purpose.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 11 Sand 30/06/1997

(1) Sand shall-

(a) consist of naturally occurring sand, crushed stone or a combination of both;
(b) be hard, clean and free from adherent coatings;
(c) contain no appreciable amount of clay balls or pellets;
(d) contain no greater proportion of fine clay, silt or fine dust (being such clay, silt or dust as will pass
through a 63 μm sieve) than-
(i) 5% by mass in the case of naturally occurring sand; and
(ii) 10% by mass in the case of crushed stone.
(2) Sand used in mortar or plaster shall contain no harmful material in such quantity as may adversely
affect the hardening strength or durability of the mortar or plaster.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 12 Water 30/06/1997

Water for general use shall be clean, fresh water free from harmful matter.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 13 Materials for damp proofing 30/06/1997

Materials for damp proofing shall be durable, impervious to moisture and in all respects suitable for their

Cap 123B - Building (Construction) Regulations 4

purpose, having regard to the particular circumstances of the case.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 14 Chunam 30/06/1997

(1) Chunam shall-

(a) be composed of cement, hydrated lime, non-organic soil and water to form a durable and impermeable
material;
(b) be applied in 2 layers, each about 20 mm thick, with a well-keyed surface to the bottom layer and with
lapped daywork joints; and
(c) where the surface gradient exceeds 1 in 2, be adequately restrained from slipping.
(2) A weep hole, with an internal diameter of not less than 50 mm, shall be provided to every 1.5 m2 of the face
of chunamed surface and in areas of localized seepage.
(Enacted 1990)

Part: III LOADS 30/06/1997

Regulation: 15 Resistance to sliding, uplift and overturning 30/06/1997

(1) Except where otherwise provided in these regulations, a building, street, building works or street works
shall be so designed and constructed that-
(a) the resistance to the sliding force acting thereon shall be not less than 1.5 times the sliding force due to
any loads;
(b) the resistance to the uplift force acting thereon shall be not less than 1.5 times the uplift force due to
any loads; and
(c) the resistance to the overturning moment acting thereon shall be not less than 1.5 times the overturning
moment due to wind loads and 2 times the overturning moment due to loads other than wind loads.
(2) The resistance to the uplift force shall be calculated as the sum of the downward force due to the minimum
dead loads plus that due to any permitted anchoring resistance.
(3) The resistance to the overturning moment shall be calculated as the sum of the stabilizing moment due to
the minimum dead loads plus that due to any permitted anchoring resistance.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 16 Dead loads 30/06/1997

(1) In calculating dead loads, the unit weights of the materials shall be based on reliable data.
(2) When the position of permanent partitions is indicated on the plan of a building, the weights of those
partitions shall be included in the dead loads.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 17 Imposed loads L.N. 3 of 2011 01/08/2011

(1) The imposed load on any building, street, building works or street works shall be the greatest applied load likely
to arise from the intended use or purpose of the building, street, building works or street works (including forces
exerted by the adjacent ground), but subject to this regulation-
(a) the minimum imposed load on a building or street shall be-
(i) the distributed load specified in column 3 of Table 1 applied uniformly on plan; or
(ii) the concentrated load specified in column 4 of Table 1 applied on plan over any square with a 50 mm
side (or over any square otherwise specified in that column) or the line load specified in that column,
(L.N. 3 of 2011)
(iii) (Repealed L.N. 3 of 2011)
whichever shall produce the most adverse effect;
(b) (Repealed L.N. 3 of 2011)

Cap 123B - Building (Construction) Regulations 5

 (c) where the floor of a building is to support partitions but the position of the partitions is not indicated on the
plan of the building, the weight of such partitions shall be regarded as imposed distributed load applied
uniformly on plan and shall, in addition to other imposed loads, be- (L.N. 3 of 2011)
(i) not less than 1/3 of the weight per metre length of the partitions uniformly distributed per square
metre; and
(ii) not less than 1 kPa if the floor is used for office purposes; (L.N. 3 of 2011)
(d) where the floor of a building is to support any equipment, machinery or display item that will result in a
greater imposed load than that specified in Table 1, the load of any of those items has to be considered in
determining the imposed load on the floor. (L.N. 3 of 2011)

Table 1

Minimum Imposed Loads

1 2 3 4
Concentrated
load in kN to be
applied on plan
Distributed load over any square
in kPa to be with a 50 mm
Class Use applied side (unless
uniformly on otherwise
plan specified in this
column), or line
load in kN per
metre length
1 Floors for—

domestic use;

dormitories;

private sitting rooms, bedrooms and

toilet rooms in hotels, motels and
guesthouses;

wards, bedrooms and toilet rooms in

hospitals, nursing homes and
residential care homes for elderly
persons 2.0 2.0
2 Floors for—

medical consulting or treatment

rooms;

hospital operating theatres and X-ray

rooms 2.5 3.0

Floors for—

laboratories;

light workrooms with neither central

power-driven machines nor

Cap 123B - Building (Construction) Regulations 6

 storage;

offices for general use;

rooms for lightweight electrical and

electronic installations 3.0 4.5

Floors for—

banking halls;

kitchens and laundries not in

domestic buildings 4.0 4.5
3 Floors for—

childcare centres and kindergartens 2.5 3.0

Floors for—

billiard rooms and bowling alleys;

classrooms, lecture rooms, tutorial

rooms, computer rooms and
reading rooms without book
storage;

dance practice rooms;

leisure, recreational and amusement

areas that cannot be used for
assembly purposes 3.0 4.5

Floors for—

assembly areas with fixed seating(1);

chapels, churches and places of

worship with fixed seating(1);

restaurants, night-clubs, lounges,

bars, canteens, fast food shops and
dining rooms not in domestic
premises 4.0 4.5

Floors for—

art galleries and museums;

grandstands;

public halls;

theatres and cinemas 5.0 4.5

Cap 123B - Building (Construction) Regulations 7

 Floors for—

assembly areas without fixed

seating(1);

dance halls;

footbridges between buildings;

footpaths, terraces, plazas and areas

used for pedestrian traffic;

gymnasia;

karaoke establishments and

discotheques;
5.0 4.5
refuge floors

Floors for—

stages and television studios used as

stages 7.5 9.0
4 Floors for—

department stores, supermarkets,

markets and shops for display and
sale of merchandise 5.0 4.5
5 Floors for—

library rooms with book storage

(excluding library stack rooms);

offices for storage and normal filing

purposes 5.0 4.5

Floors for—

(a) stack rooms in book stores and 3.5 for each metre of to be determined according
libraries storage height(2) but not less to the weight of storage
than 10.0 material, but not less than
9.0

(b) old storage 5.0 for each metre of to be determined according

storage height(2) but not less to the weight of storage
than 15.0 material, but not less than
9.0

(c) paper storage in printing plants 8.0 for each metre of to be determined according
storage height(2) to the weight of storage
material, but not less than
9.0

(d) battery rooms and 10.0 for each metre of to be determined according

Cap 123B - Building (Construction) Regulations 8

 uninterruptible power supply storage height(2) to the weight of storage
rooms material, but not less than
9.0

(e) general storage other than those 2.5 for each metre of to be determined according
specified in (a), (b), (c) or (d) storage height(2) to the weight of storage
immediately above, including material, but not less than
storage in warehouses 9.0

Floors for—

plant rooms, boiler rooms, fan rooms,

motor rooms and the like 7.5 9.0

Floors for—

workshops, factories and other

buildings or parts of buildings of
similar category for industrial use
—
5.0 9.0
(a) for light weight loads

(b) for medium weight loads 7.5 9.0

(c) for heavy weight loads 10.0 9.0

(d) for printing plants 12.5 9.0

6 Areas for—

car parking, carriageways, floors,

driveways and ramps used by
vehicles—

(a) for vehicles not exceeding 3000 3.0 20.0 to be applied on plan
kg gross weight over any square with a 200
mm side (instead of a 50
mm side)

(b) for vehicles exceeding 3000 kg to be determined according to be determined according

gross weight to recognized engineering to recognized engineering
principles principles
7 Inaccessible roofs (where no access is
provided except such access as may
be necessary for maintenance work
only) with a slope—

(a) of or less than 5o 2.0 1.5

(b) greater than 5o but less than 20o 0.75 1.5

(c) of or greater than 20o but less linear interpolation from 1.5
than 40o 0.75 to 0 according to the
slope

Cap 123B - Building (Construction) Regulations 9

 (d) of or greater than 40o 0 1.5

Accessible roofs (where access is

provided in addition to such access as
may be necessary for maintenance
work only) with a slope—

(a) of or less than 20o 2.0 1.5

(b) greater than 20o but less than 40o linear interpolation from 1.5
2.0 to 0 according to the
slope

(c) of or greater than 40o 0 1.5

8 Floors for—

Utility platforms same as the floors to which line load of 2.0 kN per
they give access but not metre length to be applied
less than 4.0 along the outer edge
Floors for—

Balconies same as the floors to which line load of 2.0 kN per

they give access but not metre length to be applied
less than 3.0 along the outer edge
Stairs, landings and corridors same as the floors to which 4.5
they give access but not
less than 3.0 and not more
than 5.0
Notes:

(1) Seating is regarded as fixed if the removal of the seating and the use of the relevant space for other purposes are unlikely to
occur.

(2) Storage height (貯存高度) means the height of the space between the following: the floor, and a physical constraint to the
height of storage formed by a ceiling, soffit of a floor, roof or other obstruction.
(L.N. 3 of 2011)

(1A) The greatest applied load mentioned in subregulation (1) must be derived from reliable data obtained from a
source recognized by the Building Authority. (L.N. 3 of 2011)

(2) (a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b), (c), (d) and (e), in calculating the total imposed load on any column,
pier, wall or foundation, the distributed imposed load on the roof and every floor carried thereby may be
subject to the reductions specified in Table 2.
(b) Where a single span of beam supports not less than 45 m2 of floor at any one level the distributed imposed
load for the purpose only of determining the design of the beam may be subject to a reduction of 5% for
each complete 45 m2 of that floor so supported but not more than 20% in all.
(c) The reduction specified in paragraph (a) or (b), whichever is the greater, may be taken into account in
calculating the total load on any column, pier, wall or foundation.
(d) For factories and workshops designed for a distributed imposed load of 7.5 kPa or more the total imposed
load shall not be reduced below that obtained if all the floors had been designed for a distributed imposed
load of 7.5 kPa without the reduction specified in Table 2.
(e) No reduction of the imposed loads shall be applied with respect to-
(i) plant or machinery which is specifically allowed for; or
(ii) floors of factories and workshops designed for a distributed imposed load of less than 7.5 kPa; or
(iii) floors used by vehicles ; or (L.N. 3 of 2011)

Cap 123B - Building (Construction) Regulations 10

 (iv) office areas used for storage and filing purposes; or
(v) forces produced by dynamic effects; or (L.N. 3 of 2011)
(vi) floors used for storage purposes; or (L.N. 3 of 2011)
(vii) loads from partitions the positions of which are not indicated on the plan of the building. (L.N. 3 of
2011)

Table 2

Reductions of Total Distributed Imposed Loads

Number of floors Percentage reduction of total distributed imposed load

(including the roof) with on all floors (including the roof) carried by the
loads qualifying for member under consideration
reduction carried by Workshops and factories under Class 5
the member Classes 1, 2, 3, 4 and of Table 1 with distributed imposed
under consideration 7 of Table 1 load of not less than 7.5 kPa
1 0 0
2 5 10
3 10 20
4 15
5 20
6 25
7 30 25 maximum
8 35
over 8 40 maximum
(L.N. 3 of 2011)

(3) Protective barriers installed to restrict or control the movement of persons shall be designed to resist the
minimum horizontal imposed loads specified in Table 3 when separately applied or the wind load (where
applicable), whichever shall produce the more adverse effects.

Table 3

Minimum Horizontal Imposed Loads on Protective Barriers to Restrict

or Control Movement of Persons

Line load to Uniformly Concentrated

be applied at distributed load load to be
a height of 1.1 to be applied applied on any
Category m above floor on the infill part of the infill
level between floor between floor
and top rail and top rail
kN/m kPa kN
Areas where congregation of
people is not expected 0.75 1.0 0.5
Areas where people may
congregate but overcrowding
is not expected 1.5 1.5 1.5
Areas susceptible to
overcrowding 3.0 1.5 1.5
(L.N. 3 of 2011)

(4) Vehicle barriers for carriageways, floors, driveways and ramps used by vehicles must be designed to withstand
the greatest impact force anticipated subject to the following requirements—

Cap 123B - Building (Construction) Regulations 11

 (a) the minimum design impact force on vehicle barriers is to be [0.5 Mv2/ (δc + δb)] kN,

where—

M is the gross mass in kg of the heaviest vehicle to be accommodated,

v is the velocity of the vehicle normal to the barrier in metre per second,

δc is the deformation of the vehicle in mm, and

δb is the deflection of the barrier in mm; and

(b) the impact force is to be uniformly distributed over any length of 1.5 m and acting horizontally at the
bumper height of the vehicle. (L.N. 3 of 2011)

(5) (a) Forces produced by dynamic effects shall be considered as additional imposed loads in the design of
buildings, streets, building works and street works.
(b) The forces produced by dynamic effects in any workshop, factory or other building for industrial use may
be determined on the basis of information about the particular building, but if not so determined shall be
presumed-
(i) for the purpose only of determining the design of slabs and beams, to be an additional vertical imposed
load of 2.5 kPa; and
(ii) for the purpose of determining the design of structural frames and foundations, to be an additional
horizontal force (which may be assumed not to act together with the wind load) of 10% of the vertical
imposed load specified in subparagraph (i) acting simultaneously on the N number of floors which will
produce the most adverse effects, where N is a whole number not less than 0.2 times the total number
of floors subject to dynamic effects.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 18 Wind loads 30/06/1997

The wind load on any building, street, building works or street works shall be based on the response of that
building, street, building works or street works to the velocity and gust effect of winds from any direction suitably
determined from a return period of not less than 50 years.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 19 Notice as to load 30/06/1997

(1) In every storey of every industrial building or warehouse, there shall be exhibited by the owner, at each
staircase or at some other appropriate place, permanently and conspicuously, a notice in English and Chinese incised
or embossed, of metal, plastic or other suitable material, in letters and figures not less than 15 mm high, stating the
distributed imposed load (not including dynamic effects) for which the floor has been designed in terms of weight per
square metre, in the following form-

BUILDINGS ORDINANCE

(Chapter 123)

NOTICE

The imposed load on this floor is not to exceed ........................................

kilograms per square metre.

Cap 123B - Building (Construction) Regulations 12

 建築物條例

(第123章)

告示

此樓面之外加荷載每平方米不得超逾 ...............公斤
(L.N.98 of 1997)

(2) Where floors of different rooms or different parts of floors have been designed for different distributed
imposed loads, a notice in the form in subregulation (1) shall be suitably displayed in each room or on each part of the
floor, as the case may be, indicating the variations.
(3) For the purposes of this regulation the distributed imposed load designed in units of kPa shall be indicated
in the notice in the form in subregulation (1) in units of kilograms per square metre by the conversion of 1 kPa to 102
kilograms per square metre.
(Enacted 1990)

Part: IV SITE FORMATION WORKS 30/06/1997

Regulation: 20 Site formation works 30/06/1997

(1) Site formation works shall be designed and constructed so that during construction and thereafter there is an
adequate margin of safety of the works and the remainder of the site.
(2) The carrying out of site formation works shall not render inadequate the margin of safety of, or cause
damage to, any building, structure, land, street or services.
(Enacted 1990)

Part: V BULK EXCAVATION 30/06/1997

Regulation: 21 Bulk excavation in area number 1 of the scheduled areas 30/06/1997

(1) Bulk excavation in area number 1 of the scheduled areas shall not be carried out below levels determined by
the Building Authority.
(2) For the purposes of this regulation "bulk excavation" ( 大型挖掘工程 ) means all excavation except
excavation for ground investigation, public utility trenches, drains, sewers or piles.
(Enacted 1990)

Part: VI FOUNDATIONS 30/06/1997

Regulation: 22 Interpretation 30/06/1997

In this Part-
"ultimate bearing capacity" (極限承載力) in relation to ground that supports foundations, means the value of the
loading intensity at which the resistance of the ground becomes fully mobilized or undergoes substantial
deformation;
"working load" (工作荷載) means the loads calculated in accordance with Part III which the foundation is designed
to carry.
(Enacted 1990)

Cap 123B - Building (Construction) Regulations 13

Regulation: 23 Foundation works 30/06/1997

(1) Foundation works shall be carried out so as not to render inadequate the margin of safety of, or impair the
stability of, or cause damage to any building, structure, land, street or services.
(2) Where dewatering is to be undertaken, appropriate procedures shall be adopted and precautionary measures
shall be provided to prevent any undue resultant deformation or other movement which could impair the stability of,
or cause damage to, any building, structure, land, street or services.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 24 Site investigation 30/06/1997

Where foundations are to be constructed, a site investigation shall be undertaken to provide all the necessary
information for the design and construction of the foundations.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 25 Allowable capacity for bearing, bond or friction of ground 30/06/1997

(1) The allowable capacity for bearing, bond or friction of the ground supporting any foundation under working
load shall not exceed-
(a) the ultimate capacity for bearing, bond or friction of that ground with an adequate factor of safety
against failure; or
(b) the value in relation to bearing, bond or friction of that ground such that the deformation or movement
(including total settlement, differential settlement and lateral movement) will not be greater than that
which can be tolerated by the building, building works, structure or street supported by the foundation,
whichever is the less.
(2) The ultimate capacity for bearing, bond or friction of the supporting ground shall be determined by-
(a) suitable tests to establish the engineering properties of the supporting ground together with the
application of recognized foundation engineering principles; or
(b) testing of the foundation on site; or
(c) other suitable methods.
(3) Where the allowable bearing capacity is to be determined on the basis of the ultimate bearing capacity of
the supporting ground, due consideration shall be given to all the circumstances, including the ground water
conditions, the shape and depth of the foundation, the inclination and eccentricity of the loads, and the nature and
slope of the surrounding ground, and, in the case of rock, the presence of dissolution features, the jointing of the rock
and the spacing, dip, thickness and degree of weathering of the joints and any other relevant characteristics.
(4) The allowable capacity of foundations for bearing, bond or friction resisting the combined effects of dead,
imposed and wind loads may be increased by not more than 25% where such increase is solely due to wind loads.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 26 Pile foundations 30/06/1997

(1) All pile foundations shall be of adequate load carrying capacity and of recognized type suitable for the
ground conditions.
(2) The allowable load on pile foundations shall be determined by-
(a) acceptable foundation engineering principles; or
(b) tests on the foundations on site,
with an adequate factor of safety appropriate to the type of pile, taking into account ground conditions, the method of
installation and group effects.
(3) Where pile foundations are installed through a stratum which is likely to undergo consolidation after the
foundations are in place-
(a) the frictional resistance of the consolidating stratum and the overlying soil shall not be taken into
account in the determination of the load carrying capacity; and
(b) the downward frictional force exerted from the consolidating strata and the overlying soil shall be
considered as imposed load.

Cap 123B - Building (Construction) Regulations 14

 (4) Subject to the provisions of subregulation (5), the spacing of piles shall be determined with due regard to
the nature of the ground, the method of construction and the group effects and shall be sufficient to prevent damage to
the piles or any adjacent construction.
(5) The centres of all piles deriving their resistance mainly from friction and of all driven piles shall be placed-
(a) not less than the length of the perimeter of the pile or 1 m, whichever is the greater, from the centres of
adjacent piles; and
(b) not less than half the length of the perimeter of the pile or 500 mm, whichever is the greater, from the
site boundary.
(6) Where piles are placed in such proximity that the load carrying capacity of the piles may be affected by
other piles a pile group shall be deemed to exist and the allowable load on any group of piles shall not exceed the sum
of the load carrying capacities of the piles in the group multiplied by a group reduction factor determined in
accordance with subregulation (7).
(7) The group reduction factor shall be determined by recognized foundation engineering principles with
respect to the bearing capacity and settlement of the pile group taking into account all the circumstances including the
nature of the ground, the length and spacings of the piles, the size of the group and the method of construction.
(8) The driving of piles shall take into account the properties and deformation characteristics of the pile,
hammer and cap-block in order that the driving energy will be applied in such a manner so as not to damage the
material of the pile.
(9) Subject to the provisions of subregulation (8), all driven steel and precast reinforced concrete piles shall be
designed with an average compressive stress on the nominal cross sectional area at working load not exceeding-
(a) 0.4 uw/F, in the case of precast reinforced concrete piles; and
(b) 0.6 fy/F, in the case of steel piles,
where fy is the yield stress of the steel, uw is the specified grade strength of the concrete, and F is the design safety
factor on driving, with a minimum value of 2 for dead and imposed loads and 1.6 for combined dead, imposed and
wind loads.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 27 Cast-in-place concrete foundations 30/06/1997

(1) The concrete stresses in cast-in-place concrete foundations at working load shall not exceed-
(a) the appropriate limitations of design stresses of the concrete, in the case of concreting in dry
conditions;
(b) 80% of the appropriate limitations of design stresses of the concrete, in the case where groundwater is
likely to be encountered during concreting.
(2) Subject to the provisions of subregulation (1) the average compressive stress on the nominal cross sectional
area of cast-in-place concrete piles of least lateral dimension not exceeding 750 mm shall not exceed 5 MPa under
working load due to dead and imposed loads and shall not exceed 6.25 MPa under working load due to combined
dead, imposed and wind loads.
(3) In-situ concrete linings in all cast-in-place concrete piles shall not be considered as contributing to the
structural strength of the foundation.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 28 Horizontal restraints to piles and pile caps 30/06/1997

Adequate horizontal restraints in at least 2 directions shall be provided to individual piles or pile caps.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 29 On site tests to be made where doubt exists 30/06/1997

Where the Building Authority has any doubt as to the design assumption or load carrying capacity of any
foundation, he may require tests to be made on site on the foundation or on the ground in which the foundation is
placed by the imposition of a test load or any other suitable method.
(Enacted 1990)

Cap 123B - Building (Construction) Regulations 15

Regulation: 30 Proof tests on foundation units 30/06/1997

A sufficient number of proof tests are to be carried out on representative foundation units to ascertain the
performance of the foundation under load by means of-
(a) the imposition of test loads; or
(b) core drilling of the completed cast-in-place concrete foundation; or
(c) any other suitable method,
as appropriate to the type of foundation.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 31 Ground treatment 30/06/1997

(1) Where improvement of the load carrying capacity of the ground is to be achieved by ground treatment,
adequate proof of the suitability of the method and materials to be used shall be given.
(2) Where ground treatment has been carried out, adequate tests of the treated ground shall be carried out.
(3) Where the ground treatment may affect any building, structure, land, street or services, adequate
precautionary measures shall be taken.
(Enacted 1990)

Part: VII SITES AND FLOORS 30/06/1997

Regulation: 32 Covering of sites 30/06/1997

The ground surface within the external walls of every building shall be covered with suitable materials for
protection against the penetration of moisture.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 33 Areas to be paved 30/06/1997

(1) The ground surface of every external area of every building unless landscaped shall be suitably paved.
(2) Such surface paving shall be laid to fall at a gradient of not less than 1 in 80 to a gully trap or drainage
channels connected to a surface water drain.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 34 Certain floors to be impermeable 30/06/1997

The floor of every room to which a water supply is provided shall be constructed of suitable impermeable
material.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 35 Floor next above external ground level 30/06/1997

The level of the floor next above the external ground of every building shall be not less than 150 mm above the
level of the external ground or paving at the entrance to that floor.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 36 Skirting 30/06/1997

Every skirting shall be solidly bedded against the wall to which it is attached.
(Enacted 1990)

Cap 123B - Building (Construction) Regulations 16

Part: VIII WALLS 30/06/1997

Regulation: 37 Interpretation 30/06/1997

In this Part-
"cladding" (覆蓋層) means a facing or architectural decoration additional to the external walls of any building.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 38 External wall of buildings 30/06/1997

Every external wall of a building shall be constructed of-

(a) masonry not less than 225 mm thick;
(b) plain concrete or reinforced concrete not less than 100 mm thick;
(c) any of the materials mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) in combination with a framework of steel or
reinforced concrete; or
(d) other suitable materials of permanent, non-combustible and impervious construction.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 39 Cladding 30/06/1997

(1) Cladding shall-

(a) be constructed entirely of such non-combustible materials, of such thickness, strength and durability,
and shall be fixed and supported in such manner and in such sequence as to provide long term stability
and integrity; and
(b) be provided with sufficient permanently flexible joints horizontally and vertically to allow for
differential movement in the cladding and in the structure to which it is attached.
(2) Any metal dowels and fixings securing the cladding shall be suitable, permanent and adequately protected
from corrosion.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 40 No timber in walls 30/06/1997

No timber shall be built into the thickness of any brick, concrete or masonry wall.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 41 Protection against penetration of moisture 30/06/1997

Every wall of a building in contact with a possible source of damp shall be provided with adequate protection
against the penetration of moisture.
(Enacted 1990)

Part: IX CURTAIN WALLS 30/06/1997

Regulation: 42 Interpretation 30/06/1997

In this Part-
"curtain wall" (幕牆) means a non load-bearing enclosure fixed on to the load-bearing structure with its dead loads,
imposed loads and wind loads transferred to the structure through fixings.
(Enacted 1990)

Cap 123B - Building (Construction) Regulations 17

Regulation: 43 Curtain walls 30/06/1997

(1) Every curtain wall shall safely sustain and transmit to the load-bearing structure the combined dead loads,
imposed loads and wind loads without such deflection or deformation as will cause the curtain wall damage or impair
its stability.
(2) Every curtain wall shall-
(a) be constructed entirely of non-combustible materials; and
(b) be designed in accordance with recognized engineering principles relating to the design and structural
use of materials for curtain wall construction.
(3) The connection of curtain wall supports to the load-bearing structure shall not in any way impair the
structural integrity or behaviour of the member to which the support is being fixed and the supports shall be fixed to
the structure by-
(a) a cast-in anchorage in a structural concrete member; or
(b) being welded to a structural steel member.
(4) Where the penetration of a curtain wall by water or moisture occurs, or where condensation cannot be
prevented, provision shall be made for the collection and discharge of any seepage or condensed water without
damage to the curtain wall.
(5) Where materials or a combination of materials used in the construction of a curtain wall may be affected by
electrolytic or chemical action the surface of such materials shall be satisfactorily treated or separated to prevent
corrosion.
(6) The suitability and adequacy of every curtain wall shall be demonstrated by tests.
(Enacted 1990)

Part: X CHIMNEYS AND FIREPLACES 30/06/1997

Regulation: 44 Application of regulations 30/06/1997

This Part shall apply to all chimneys and flues the internal size of which exceeds 200 mm in diameter, breadth or
width, or 3 m in height.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 45 Provision of flues 30/06/1997

Every appliance producing products of combustion shall have adequate provision for the discharge of the
products of combustion to the outside air.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 46 Construction of chimneys and fireplaces 30/06/1997

(1) Every chimney, flue, hearth and fireplace recess shall be-
(a) constructed of non-combustible materials of such a nature, quality and thickness as not to be unduly
affected by heat, condensation or the products of combustion;
(b) so constructed and of such thickness or, in the case of a flue, placed or shielded as to prevent the
ignition of any part of any building.
(2) Every chimney shall be so constructed that-
(a) the temperature of the exposed faces shall not reach a level that would cause damage to nearby parts of
the building;
(b) the products of combustion shall not escape through the walls of the chimney.
(3) Every flue shall-
(a) whether inside or outside the building, be so placed or shielded that there is neither unnecessary risk of
accidental damage to the flue nor unnecessary danger to persons in or near the building;
(b) terminate in such a position that the products of combustion cannot enter nearby windows or other
openings, fresh air inlets, mechanical ventilation inlets or exhausts.

Cap 123B - Building (Construction) Regulations 18

 (Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 47 Corrosion 30/06/1997

(1) Any metal used in the construction of a flue or chimney shall be protected against corrosion.
(2) Metals shall not be used in such combinations as to cause electrolytic or chemical action which could
adversely affect any part of a flue or chimney.
(3) At the point where a chimney or flue penetrates the wall or roof of a building a flashing shall be provided
that is suitable and takes into account different co-efficients of expansion and electrolytic or chemical action.
(Enacted 1990)

Part: XI ROOFS 30/06/1997

Regulation: 48 Roofs to be weatherproof 30/06/1997

Every roof shall be weatherproof.

(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 49 Flat roof 30/06/1997

(1) A flat roof adjoining any building shall be at a level of not less than 150 mm below any adjoining usable
floor space.
(2) Access for maintenance shall be provided to every flat roof.
(Enacted 1990)

Part: XII STRUCTURAL USE OF CONCRETE 30/06/1997

Regulation: 50 Cement 30/06/1997

Materials

(1) Cement for concrete shall be ordinary, rapid hardening or sulphate resisting Portland cement of such
composition, manufacture and chemical and physical properties as are suitable for the production of concrete.
(2) High alumina cement shall not be used for concrete.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 51 Aggregate 30/06/1997

(1) Subject to subregulations (2) and (3) aggregates used shall be crushed or uncrushed natural mineral
substances and shall comply with the quality and grading requirements suitable for the production of concrete.
(2) Separate fine and coarse aggregate shall be used for concrete.
(3) No concrete containing embedded metal shall have in it unwashed marine sand.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 52 Water 30/06/1997

Water for concrete shall be clean, fresh water free from harmful matter.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 53 Admixtures 30/06/1997

(1) The admixtures used for concrete shall be suitable and effective for the purpose of modifying the

Cap 123B - Building (Construction) Regulations 19

workability, rate of stiffening or hardening, or colouring of concrete.
(2) The chloride ion content of admixtures for concrete containing embedded metal or for concrete containing
sulphate resisting Portland cement shall not exceed 2% by mass of admixture or 0.03% by mass of the cementitious
content, whichever is the less.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 54 Reinforcement 30/06/1997

Reinforcement for concrete shall be hot rolled steel bars, cold reduced steel wire or steel fabric of suitable
composition, manufacture, and chemical and physical properties.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 55 Pre-stressing tendons 30/06/1997

Pre-stressing tendons for concrete shall be high tensile steel wire and strand or high tensile alloy steel bars in the
hot rolled or hot rolled and processed condition of suitable composition, manufacture, and chemical and physical
properties.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 56 General 30/06/1997

Designed mix concrete

(1) Subject to regulation 60, each grade of concrete shall be designed mix concrete and shall be denoted by a
specified grade strength in MPa with the suffix D and the nominal maximum size of aggregate in millimetres.
(2) The cement content of any concrete mix shall not exceed 550 kg per cubic metre of the compacted concrete.
(3) The total chloride content of the concrete mix shall not exceed the limits specified in Table 4 expressed as a
percentage relationship between chloride ion and mass of cement in the mix.

TABLE 4

MAXIMUM TOTAL CHLORIDE CONTENT OF CONCRETE MIX

Type of concrete Maximum total chloride content

Pre-stressed concrete 0.1
Steam-cured concrete
Concrete made with sulphate resisting Portland cement 0.2
Concrete containing embedded metal and made with ordinary or rapid 0.35
hardening Portland content
(4) All concrete shall be considered as being subjected to one of the following exposure conditions namely-
(a) moderate exposure conditions, which are those conditions experienced by surfaces protected by
adequate permanent finishes or otherwise sheltered from driving rain, surfaces of buried concrete in
contact with the ground and concrete continuously under fresh water; or
(b) severe exposure conditions, which are those conditions experienced by surfaces exposed to driving
rain or alternate wetting and drying, surfaces subject to heavy condensation or corrosive fumes, and
surfaces in contact with flowing aqueous solutions including sea-water.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 57 Designed mix concrete strengths 30/06/1997

(1) Designed mix concrete shall have the specified grade strength in accordance with Table 5 for the particular
application of the concrete except for marine works or where the concrete is exposed to particularly corrosive
conditions a higher grade strength than that specified may be required.

Cap 123B - Building (Construction) Regulations 20

 TABLE 5

DESIGNED MIX CONCRETE GRADE STRENGTHS AND APPLICATIONS

Application Lowest specified grade strength

of concrete permissible
Plain concrete except in carriageways 15D
Reinforced concrete made with light weight aggregate (moderate exposure
condition)
Piles 20D
Bond courses in masonry retaining walls
Footpaths
Reinforced concrete made with light weight aggregate (severe exposure
condition)
Reinforced concrete made with normal weight aggregate (moderate exposure 25D
condition)
Carriageways
Liquid-retaining structures (moderate exposure condition) 30D
Reinforced concrete made with normal weight aggregate (severe exposure
condition)
Pre-stressed concrete with post-tensioned tendons (moderate exposure condition)
Pre-stressed concrete with post-tensioned tendons (severe exposure condition) 35D
Liquid-retaining structures (severe exposure condition)
Liquid-retaining structures (severe exposure condition) including those retaining 40D
salt water
Pre-stressed concrete with pre-tensioned tendons (moderate exposure condition)
Pre-stressed concrete with pre-tensioned tendons (severe exposure condition) 45D

(2) The cement content of concrete shall be not less than the appropriate amount given in Table 6.

TABLE 6

MINIMUM CEMENT CONTENT KG/M3 OF FINISHED CONCRETE

MADE WITH NORMAL WEIGHT AGGREGATES

40 mm 20 mm 10 mm
maximum maximum maximum
aggregates aggregates aggregates
Reinforced concrete 260 290 340
Pre-stressed concrete 300 300 360

(3) Concrete shall be tested in accordance with regulation 58 for compliance with the specified grade strength
set out in regulation 59.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 58 Concrete cubes 30/06/1997

(1) The compressive strength of concrete shall be determined by testing standard 150 mm cubes 28 days after
mixing.
(2) A representative sample shall be taken from the fresh concrete to make test cubes and each sample shall be
taken from a single batch.
(3) The rate of sampling fresh concrete shall be at least that specified in Table 7 and at least one sample shall
be taken from each grade of concrete produced on any one day.
(4) From each sample of concrete taken 2 cubes shall be made by a suitable method.

Cap 123B - Building (Construction) Regulations 21

 (5) Each concrete cube shall be given a number in serial sequence and no serial number shall be duplicated or
omitted.
(6) All cubes shall be adequately cured on site or in the laboratory until ready for testing.
(7) 28 days after mixing, all cubes shall be tested for compressive strength by a recognized method and the
average compressive strength of each pair of cubes made from the same sample shall be taken as the test result.

TABLE 7

SAMPLING RATES

Type or part of building, building Quantity of concrete to be

works or street
Masts, cantilevers more than 3 m in length, columns,
shear walls, prestressed and other critical elements
Solid rafts, pile caps, caisson caps and mass concrete
retaining walls
All other types or parts
represented by each sample
10 m3 or 10 batches whichever is the smaller volume
100 m3 or 100 batches whichever is the smaller volume
25 m3 or 25 batches whichever is the smaller volume
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 59 Acceptance criteria 30/06/1997

(1) The specified grade strength for concrete shall be deemed to have been attained if the individual test results
and the average results of all overlapping sets of 4 consecutive test results comply with the criteria specified in Table
8.
(2) When there are more than 4 test results the average of each set of 4 consecutive test results shall be
calculated and checked for compliance each time a new test result is produced, using that test result and the
immediately preceding 3 test results.
(3) Where there are only 2 or 3 test results available, those results shall be treated for the purposes of this
regulation as if they were 4 consecutive test results.

TABLE 8

COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH COMPLIANCE CRITERIA

Column A Column B
Average of 4 consecutive test results Any individual test result shall not be
shall exceed the specified grade less than the specified grade strength
Specified grade strength strength by at least minus
20 D and above 5 MPa 3 MPa
Below 20 D 2 MPa 2 MPa
(4) If the average strength determined from any group of 4 consecutive test results does not satisfy Column A
of Table 8 then the batches of concrete represented by the first and last samples in the group and all intervening
batches shall be deemed not to have attained the specified grade strength.
(5) If an individual test result does not satisfy Column B of Table 8 then only the particular batch of concrete
from which the sample was taken shall be deemed not to have attained the specified grade strength provided that the
averages of all groups of 4 consecutive results in which the individual test result appears all satisfy Column A of Table
8.
(6) If the requirements in subregulation (1) are not satisfied by any test result, investigations shall be made to
establish whether the concrete represented by the test result is acceptable or not.
(7) If the difference between the compressive strengths of any pair of cubes made from the same sample of
concrete for specified grade strength 20 D and above exceeds 15% of the test result for that pair of cubes action shall
be taken to ensure that the sampling and testing procedures as required under regulation 58 are being followed.
(8) If the difference between the compressive strengths of any pair of cubes made from the same sample of
concrete for specified grade strength 20 D and above exceeds 20% of the test result for that pair of cubes that test

Cap 123B - Building (Construction) Regulations 22

result shall be disregarded and investigations shall be made to establish whether the concrete represented by the test
result is acceptable or not.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 60 Concrete for minor structural and non-structural works 30/06/1997

Prescribed mix concrete

(1) Concrete may be a prescribed mix concrete as an alternative to designed mix concrete when it is used in
minor structural or non-structural works.
(2) Prescribed mix concrete shall be denoted by the specified grade strength in MPa with the suffix P.
(3) Prescribed mix concrete shall be made using mix proportions, batching by weight, selected from Table 9
depending on its intended use.
(4) Prescribed mix concrete shall comply with regulations 51, 52, 54, 61 and 62.
(5) The cement used in prescribed mix concrete shall be ordinary Portland cement.

TABLE 9

PRESCRIBED MIX CONCRETE

Weight of aggregate per bag of cement kg

Specified grade strength Material 45 kg bag of cement 50 kg bag of cement
10 P Fine aggregate 145 160
20 mm coarse aggregate 185 205
15 P Fine aggregate 120 130
20 mm coarse aggregate 165 180
20 P Fine aggregate 95 105
20 mm coarse aggregate 145 160
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 61 Formwork 30/06/1997

Construction

(1) The formwork for concrete shall support safely the combined effects of all loads so that the final concrete
structure is within the limits of acceptable dimensional tolerances.
(2) The minimum period which must elapse before formwork may be removed shall not be less than that given
in Table 10.

TABLE 10

MINIMUM PERIOD BEFORE STRIKING FORMWORK

Type of formwork Minimum period before

formwork may be removed
Vertical formwork to column, walls and large beams 12 hours
Soffit formwork to slabs with props left in 4 days
Soffit formwork to beams with props left in 7 days
Props to slabs 10 days
Props to beams 14 days
(Enacted 1990)

Cap 123B - Building (Construction) Regulations 23

Regulation: 62 Minimum cover of reinforcement 30/06/1997

(1) Subject to Part XV, the thickness of the concrete cover to reinforcement (exclusive of plaster rendering or
other applied covering or decorative finish) shall not be less than the size of that reinforcement or the dimension as
specified in Table 11, whichever is the greater and the cover to the ends of bars shall not be less than 25 mm.

TABLE 11

MINIMUM THICKNESS OF CONCRETE COVER TO REINFORCEMENT

Reinforced concrete Prestressed concrete Slabs and walls in

Specified grade Conditions of exposure Conditions of exposure enclosed
strength Moderate Severe Moderate Severe buildings
mm mm mm mm mm
20 30 -- -- -- 20
25 30 40 -- -- 20
30 30 35 30 35 20
35 25 30 25 30 15
40 25 30 20 25 15
45 25 30 20 25 15
(2) In marine works or where the concrete is exposed to particularly corrosive conditions or where the concrete
is made with lightweight aggregates the cover shall be suitably increased.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 63 Core testing 30/06/1997

Further testing

(1) When concrete is considered from visual inspection to be suspect or when the specified grade strength has
been deemed not to be attained under regulation 59 the compressive strength of the concrete in the structure may be
determined by drilling a sufficient number of cores from the concrete at suitable locations.
(2) The nominal minimum size of the core shall be 150 mm diameter for 40 mm aggregate and 100 mm
diameter for 20 mm aggregate or less, and the length of the test sample cut from the core shall be at least 95% of the
core diameter.
(3) Cores drilled from concrete shall be prepared and tested by a recognized method to determine compressive
strength.
(4) No adjustment shall be made to the measured strength in respect of the age of the core when tested.
(Enacted 1990)

Part: XIII RETAINING WALLS 30/06/1997

Regulation: 64 Interpretation 30/06/1997

In this Part-
"retaining wall" (擋土牆) means a structure retaining earth or fill.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 65 General requirement 30/06/1997

(1) Retaining walls shall be designed and constructed to support safely the earth or fill they retain and other
loads without impairing the stability of, or causing damage to, any other building, structure, land, street or services.
(2) The design and construction of minor retaining walls shall comply with subregulation (1) but shall be
exempted from regulations 66 to 84.

Cap 123B - Building (Construction) Regulations 24

 (Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 66 Filters 30/06/1997

Materials

Any filter used in a retaining wall shall when placed against soil be such as to allow water to flow through it
while restraining the migration of particles from the soil.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 67 Backfill material 30/06/1997

Backfill placed adjacent to retaining walls shall consist of material capable of being compacted to form a stable
fill.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 68 Earth pressure 30/06/1997

Loads

Pressure from earth or fill shall be determined from soil mechanics theory with due consideration of the
acceptable deformations of the surroundings.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 69 Water pressure 30/06/1997

Water pressure shall be determined-

(a) from an assessment of geological conditions, ground water and surface water conditions, services and
other relevant matters, due account being taken of any drainage measures provided; or
(b) by any other suitable method.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 70 Minimum pressure 30/06/1997

The design pressure for a retaining wall shall be not less than the pressure due to an equivalent fluid of unit
weight 5 kN per cubic metre.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 71 Retaining wall design 30/06/1997

Design

Retaining walls shall be designed in accordance with engineering principles.

(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 72 Loading condition 30/06/1997

The design of a retaining wall shall take due account of the most onerous loading conditions whether during the
construction or the service life of the wall.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 73 Site investigation 30/06/1997

The design of a retaining wall shall be based on data from an appropriate site investigation.

Cap 123B - Building (Construction) Regulations 25

 (Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 74 Adequate factor of safety 30/06/1997

Retaining walls shall be designed to provide adequate factors of safety against sliding, overturning and ultimate
bearing failure and against failure on a surface passing beneath the retaining wall.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 75 Validity of design earth pressure 30/06/1997

Compatibility shall be ensured between the designed earth pressure and the deformation of the retaining wall.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 76 Masonry and mass concrete walls 30/06/1997

Retaining walls constructed of unreinforced masonry or mass concrete shall be so designed that tension does not
develop in the wall or at the foundation.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 77 Drainage measures to preserve stability 30/06/1997

Where it is likely that construction of a retaining wall will cause a rise in ground water level such that the
stability of any building, structure, land, street or services are likely to be impaired, preventive drainage measures shall
be installed.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 78 Performance of drainage system 30/06/1997

Where a drainage system is provided to reduce any water pressure that may be imposed on the retaining wall,
such drainage system shall be designed and constructed so as not to be rendered ineffective during service by the
penetration of soil or by any other cause.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 79 Surface channels 30/06/1997

Adequate channels laid to suitable gradients, or paving laid in accordance with regulation 33 shall be formed at
the top and in front of every retaining wall to carry away any seepage or surface water.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 80 Safety required during excavation and construction 30/06/1997

The design of retaining walls at all stages of construction and excavation shall provide adequate factors of safety
against piping and bottom heave and have an adequate margin of safety for the stability of the toe of the retaining
wall.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 81 Weep holes 30/06/1997

Further requirements for masonry retaining walls

(1) Adequate weep holes shall be Provided through the face of every masonry retaining wall other than a
retaining wall which is subject to regulation 48 of the Building (Planning) Regulations (Cap 123 sub. leg. F).
(2) A layer of drainage and filter material at least 300 mm thick shall be provided at the back of every masonry
retaining wall.

Cap 123B - Building (Construction) Regulations 26

 (Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 82 Copings 30/06/1997

Retaining walls constructed of masonry shall be provided with a proper coping of concrete or other suitable
material.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 83 Bonding and foundation required 30/06/1997

Retaining walls constructed of masonry shall be bonded and solidly put together with mortar and provided with
a foundation of concrete on solid undisturbed ground or on piles.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 84 Bond courses required 30/06/1997

(1) Retaining walls constructed of masonry exceeding 4 m in height shall be provided with one or more bond
courses of-
(a) concrete at least 300 mm in depth; or
(b) reinforced concrete.
(2) The distance between the foundation and the first of such bond courses and the distance between any 2
adjacent bond courses shall not exceed 2 m measured vertically.
(Enacted 1990)

Part: XIV WELLS 30/06/1997

Regulation: 85 Permission from Building Authority to sink or reopen 30/06/1997

wells

No well associated with a building or building works shall be sunk or reopened without the permission of the
Building Authority.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 86 Performance 30/06/1997

Wells shall be designed, constructed and operated so as not to impair the stability of, or cause damage to, any
building, structure, land, street or services.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 87 Wells prohibited in certain places 30/06/1997

No well shall be sunk in the vicinity of any septic tank, cesspool, sewage sump or in any foul ground.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 88 Wells to be covered and lined 30/06/1997

(1) The top of every well shall be suitably protected to prevent the direct entry of any surface water or sullage
water.
(2) Every excavated well of finished diameter greater than 500 mm that is not sunk into solid rock shall be
properly lined for its entire depth with brickwork or other suitable material.
(3) Every well of finished diameter less than 500 mm shall be properly lined where support to the sides of the
well is needed.
(4) The lining of every well shall seal the well to a sufficient depth below ground level to prevent

Cap 123B - Building (Construction) Regulations 27

contamination.
(5) Where a well is liable to be rendered ineffective by the accumulation of particles drawn out of the ground a
suitable filter shall be provided.
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 89 Safety measures required 30/06/1997

(1) Every well of finished diameter greater than 500 mm shall be provided with suitably fixed rungs or foot
rests not more than 600 mm apart for the entire depth.
(2) Around the top of every well of finished diameter greater than 300 mm not provided with a fixed pump
installation, a suitable parapet wall, not less than 750 mm in height, shall be provided.
(3) All wells with a fixed pump installation shall be provided with a securely fixed cover which may be locked
to prevent public access and all other wells shall be fitted with a close-fitting cover.
(Enacted 1990)

Part: XV FIRE RESISTING CONSTRUCTION 30/06/1997

Regulation: 90 Fire resisting construction 30/06/1997

Every building shall be designed and constructed so as to-

(a) inhibit the spread of fire within the building and to nearby buildings by dividing the building into
compartments;
(b) provide adequate resistance to the spread of fire and smoke by the separation of different uses in a
building by compartment walls and floors and by the separation of the building from any adjoining
building or site;
(c) maintain the stability of the building in case of fire; and
(d) provide adequate resistance to the spread of fire over the roof of one building to another having regard
to the position of the building.
(Enacted 1990)

Part: XVI MISCELLANEOUS 30/06/1997

Regulation: 91 Harbourage of vermin 30/06/1997

No building shall be constructed so as to provide harbourage for any vermin.

(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 92 (Omitted as spent) 30/06/1997

(Omitted as spent)
(Enacted 1990)

Regulation: 93 Transitional 30/06/1997

Where plans of building works, street works, lift works or escalator works are submitted to the Building
Authority within 12 months after the coming into operation of these regulations, he may approve any such plans which
comply with the provisions of the law before the coming into operation of these regulations and give consent to the
commencement of the works shown on such plans.
(Enacted 1990)

Cap 123B - Building (Construction) Regulations 28