Practice Guidebook on Compliance with Building Safety Requirements for Adaptive Re-use of and Alteration and Addition Works

to Heritage Buildings under the Buildings Ordinance (Interim Edition)

Buildings Department June 2009

Contents Preamble 1. 2. Introduction Interpretation Heritage building Declared monument Graded historic building RHBTPS Adaptive re-use 3. Legislation on Building Control Background Submission of proposals to BD Compliance with BO requirements 4. Approaches in dealing with adaptive re-use of heritage buildings Balanced approach Alternative and performance-based approach Principles of accepting alternative design 5. Practical advice Structural issues Fire safety issues Protective barrier Barrier free access
Appendix I : Appendix II : Case studies Evolution of Design Standards for common structural materials

Appendix III : Useful information for Reference

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Preamble According to Professor Bernard Feilden (1919-2008), who is an outstanding leader in the post-war conservation movement, adaptive use of buildings is often the only way that the historic and aesthetic values can be saved economically and heritage buildings brought up to contemporary standards. Generally speaking, as most of the heritage buildings were built long time ago, their design and facilities provided usually do not comply with current standards and requirements. Certain degree of alterations is usually required if new facilities are to be installed or if the buildings are to be adapted for re-use other than their original use. Structural strengthening may be required if the new use demands a greater loading requirement. Hence, for most cases of adaptive re-use of heritage buildings in private ownership, submission of proposal for alteration and addition (A&A) works to the Buildings Department (BD) for approval under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) is invariably required if the proposed works are not exempted from approval by virtue of section 41(3) of the BO. However, if it is not intended to alter or change the use of an existing heritage building, then there is no provision under the BO requiring the existing building to be brought up to the current standards. In facilitating private sectors participation in heritage conservation, a dedicated Heritage Unit (HU) has been set up in the BD in 2008 to process all building and structural plan submissions involving alteration and addition (A&A) works to and adaptive re-use of heritage buildings for approval under the BO. Submissions to be handled by the HU include development projects involving historic buildings that have been declared as monuments under the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance, graded buildings accorded by the Antiquities Advisory Board, historic buildings selected in the Revitalizing Historic Buildings through Partnership Scheme, and redevelopment and revitalization projects involving conservation and adaptive re-use of historic buildings. This Practice Guidebook intends to provide design guidelines on the compliance with building safety requirements under the BO for adaptive
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re-use of and alteration and addition works to heritage buildings. This interim edition is prepared by the BD in consultation with the Antiquities and Monuments Office (AMO), the Fire Services Department (FSD) and the Architectural Services Department (ArchSD). It is compiled based on the experience gained in the past and by making reference to some successful heritage conservation projects in Hong Kong and overseas. The BD is conducting a consultancy study to establish a set of design guidelines and methodologies for the compliance with building safety requirements under the BO so as to facilitate adaptive re-use of and A&A works to heritage buildings. Upon completion of the study, the BD will revise this interim edition into a full edition by incorporating the findings of the study and enriching the design guidelines in this Practice Guidebook.

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1. 1.1

INTRODUCTION This Practice Guidebook aims to provide design guidelines in terms of straight-forward practical solutions and suitable methodologies that may be adopted for compliance with building safety requirements under the Buildings Ordinance so as to facilitate the planning and design of adaptive re-use of as well as A&A works to heritage buildings. This Practice Guidebook may not only be read by persons or organizations intending to propose adaptive re-use of or A&A works to a heritage building but also by architects, engineers, surveyors and designers who are engaged for this type of projects. The main focus of this Practice Guidebook is on the building safety requirements for the adaptive re-use of and A&A works to heritage buildings under the BO and its allied regulations. The policy and principles of heritage conservation are under the jurisdiction of AMO. When the Building Authority (BA) makes a decision on a submission involving a heritage building, comments made by the AMO will be duly considered. The designer should carefully consider requirements set out in the Conservation Guidelines issued by the AMO on a project basis. To facilitate the design process, the authorized persons (AP) and the registered structural engineers (RSE) concerned with the planning and design of projects involving adaptive re-use of or A&A works to a heritage building are encouraged to approach the relevant government departments including AMO, BD and FSD, with adequate information, to establish all the requirements at an early stage. Such early contact may help to identify key design constraints and potential problems before the detailed design stage. The contact points of these departments are available at the end of this Practice Guidebook. AP and RSE are also encouraged to refer their enquiries to the HU for advice through the pre-submission enquiry service as provided for in the Practice Note for AP and RSE (PNAP) 272.

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1.3

1.4

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2.

INTERPRETATION

Heritage building 2.1 For the purpose of this Practice Guidebook, a heritage building is taken as either a declared monument defined under the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance, Cap. 53 (A&MO), a graded historic building accorded by the Antiquities Advisory Board (AAB) or a historic building selected under the Revitalizing Historic Buildings through Partnership Scheme (RHBTPS). Where a building has not been declared under the A&MO nor graded by the AAB and yet possesses a cultural significance1 in terms of aesthetic, historic, scientific , social or spiritual value, etc, the project designer should consult the AMO on whether or not the building is a heritage building.

Declared monument 2.2 Under section 3 of the A&MO, a declared monument means a place, building, site or structure declared to be a monument, historic building or archaeological or paleontological site or structure. Such a declaration shall be made by the Authority2, after consultation with the AAB and with the approval of the Chief Executive, by notice in the Gazette. Once a building has been declared as a monument, the building is legally protected and no person shall undertake building or other works on it without a permit granted by the Authority. For the list of declared monuments and their respective location plans, please visit the Heritage Discovery Centre Reference Library or the AMOs website http://www.amo.gov.hk/en/monuments.php. For the exact boundary of the Declared Monuments, please consult the AMO.

Graded historic building

1

According to the Burra Charter, cultural significance means aesthetic, historic, scientific, social or spiritual value for the past, present or future generations. 2 Under the A&MO, the Authority means the Secretary for Development.

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2.3

Other than the formal declaration of monument, the AMO has adopted a three-tier grading system to accord buildings of considerable historical and architectural significance. They are: Grade 1: Buildings of outstanding merit, which every effort should be made to preserve if possible. Grade 2: Buildings of special merit, efforts should be made to selectively preserve. Grade 3: Buildings of some merit, preservation in some form would be desirable and alternative means could be considered if preservation is not practicable. The grading system could be regarded as a reserve list from which historic buildings could be selected for declaration as monuments. As such, unlike the declared monuments, a graded building does not enjoy the protection under the A&MO. The list of graded historic buildings is available at the AMOs website: http://www.amo.gov.hk/en/built3.php. It is the onus of the owner and/or his agent to identify the status of the building before any works are carried out.

RHBTPS 2.4 In his Policy Address of 2007, the Chief Executive pledged to step up the Governments work on heritage conservation. As one of the new initiatives in this respect, the Development Bureau has launched a Revitalizing Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme (RHBTPS) to engage building professionals, stakeholders and the public to help revitalize historic buildings in public ownership. An office of the Commissioner for Heritage has been set up in the Development Bureau to provide a focal point for the Governments heritage conservation work as well as public participation in such work.

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As a pilot, seven government-owned buildings that are suitable for adaptive re-use have been identified for the RHBTPS in 2008. More buildings are being identified to join the scheme. Details of the scheme are available at the heritage website: http://www.heritage.gov.hk.

Adaptive re-use 2.5 For the purpose of this Practice Guidebook, adaptive re-use of a heritage building may be defined as modifying a building for use other than its original use, such as from a residential home to an In other exhibition hall or a tea house for public access.3 words, adaptive re-use will involve a material change in use. Through adaptive re-use, a heritage building may be rejuvenated in terms of both physical and economic values. Some local remarkable examples include the Western Market (a declared monument) and the Kom Tong Hall (a Grade 2 Historic Building).

Photo 1: Western Market, traditional trades, arts and crafts centre converted from a market building

It differs slightly from Burra Charters definition of Adaptation which includes modifying a place to suit the existing use or a proposed use.

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Photo 2: Kom Tong Hall, once the residence of Mr. Ho Kom-tong, a wealthy Hong Kong merchant in the early 20th century, has been adapted into the Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum

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3.

LEGISLATION ON BUILDING CONTROL

Background 3.1 The Buildings Ordinance, Cap. 123 (BO) and its allied regulations together with other related enactments, constitute the legal framework of the building control system for all private buildings and building works in Hong Kong. All buildings in Hong Kong are subject to the control under the BO unless exempted under section 41(1) thereof. For example, Government buildings or public housing under the control and management of the Housing Authority are exempted from the provisions of the BO. The objective of the BO is to provide for the design, planning and construction of buildings and building works to ensure public health and safety in buildings by setting therein the minimum health and safety standards. Apart from the BO, the following legislations also contain fire safety requirements concerning the building fabric and the fire service installations that may be applicable to certain existing buildings :(a) Fire Services Ordinance, Cap 95 and its subsidiary regulations; Fire Safety (Commercial Premises) Ordinance, Cap 502; and Fire Safety (Buildings) Ordinance, Cap 572

3.2

3.3

(b)

(c) 3.4

The two Ordinances mentioned in paragraph 3.3 (b) and (c) above require the upgrading of fire safety measures in certain existing buildings prescribed or specified under the said Ordinances to modern standards. For information on the types of buildings that are affected and the fire safety measures required to be upgraded under the said Ordinances, reference

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may be made to the guides jointly issued by BD and FSD4. Submission of proposals to BD 3.5 As provided for in section 14(1) and 41(1) of the BO, except for buildings belonging to the government, buildings upon any land vested in the Housing Authority or over which the Housing Authority has control and management, buildings upon any unleased government land or any land vested in any person on behalf of Her Majestys naval, military or air force services, proposals for A&A works with or without a material change in use of a heritage building are required to be submitted to BD for approval and consent prior to commencement of the works. An AP, who is an architect, engineer or surveyor registered under the BO, shall be engaged to prepare the necessary submissions. An RSE should normally be required in view of the need to conduct structural appraisal and structural integrity assessment of the heritage building, taking into consideration the age of the building.

Compliance with BO requirements 3.6 In principle, buildings constructed before any new standards come into force are not required to be upgraded to the new standards, except for certain commercial or composite buildings which may be required to upgrade their fire safety measures to the modern standards, which only come into force after the buildings are constructed, under new legislations specifically enacted for such purpose as outlined in paragraph 3.3 above. However, when buildings undergo change in use or structural A&A works, those parts of the buildings so affected may need to be upgraded to comply with the current standards. From the perspective of heritage conservation, the major building

3.7
4

An Introduction to the Fire Safety (Commercial Premises) Ordinance Cap. 502 and An introduction to the Fire Safety (Buildings) Ordinance Cap. 572 jointly issued by the Buildings Department and Fire Services Department.

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safety requirements which may affect the design and construction of buildings for the adaptive re-use may be categorized as follows:(a) Structural Considerations Structural Design for Alteration and Addition works (i) The adaptive re-use of or A&A works to a heritage building may involve the design of new structural works and/or the checking of structural adequacy and structural strengthening of an existing building. All new structural elements in the A&A works should be designed in accordance with the current building regulations and relevant codes of practice. In principle, the building regulations and codes of practice prevailing at the time of construction of the building may be used for checking the structural adequacy of the existing portion of the building affected by the proposed A&A works, provided that the design assumptions on which the building was originally based still apply. For example, the structural adequacy of the new roof of a traditional masonry-timber house should comply with the current standards, while the existing gable walls so affected by the new roof would only be required to comply with the then prevailing standards to which it was designed.

Structural Appraisal (ii) As heritage buildings are often constructed long time ago, it is necessary to investigate into their current conditions and identify the extent of defects, deterioration and any damages. The RSE should re-assess the validity of the design assumptions. When the structural documentation record is not available, site measurement, non-destructive

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investigation and destructive tests such as coring of existing structure for core compression tests, and opening up of selected locations for structural investigation are effective but not always necessary for assessing the design assumptions. As to the locations of any destructive tests and opening up, prior agreement with AMO should be made for proposals involving declared monuments, whereas advice from AMO may be sought for proposals involving other types of heritage buildings. (iii) Current codes are usually more comprehensive and contain more accurate findings and well-proven concept for structural design. Most of the current codes are readily applicable for structural appraisal of buildings built before these codes are available. In conducting a structural appraisal to substantiate the stability of heritage buildings, the RSE may use either the then prevailing code to which the buildings were designed or current codes, and they should not overlook alternative load paths or over-simplify the structural model. It is an essential step to understand how the structure stands and its load paths before embarking on any A&A works.

(iv) Structural appraisal for heritage buildings should be carried out in a scientific and rational way, taking into consideration the change of material properties over time and other design assumptions. The detailed methodology of structural appraisal can be found in the document Appraisal of Existing Structures published by the Institution of Structural Engineers.

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Design Imposed Loads (v) Many heritage buildings were constructed with timber floors resting on masonry or brick walls. These constructions were often based on traditional practice, working experience and relevant prescriptive requirements that were prevalent at the time. Detailed structural calculation using the design imposed load was not always required. In this connection, the accuracy of design imposed loads adopted for a heritage building without approved plans and records cannot be ascertained. Taking into account the age of these buildings, it is more reliable to carry out a structural assessment with site measurements to substantiate the structural adequacy of these elements. Buildings constructed in different periods, even if they are of the same class, may have been built based on different design imposed floor loads as statutory requirements have changed over time. For instance, the minimum design imposed load for buildings of domestic use varied from the equivalent load of 3.35 kPa in accordance with the 1915 version of the London County Council By-laws (LCC 1915) to 2.35 kPa in LCC 1938, 1.90 kPa in LCC 1952, 2.40 kPa in the Building (Construction) Regulations (BCR) 1975 and 2.50 kPa in BCR 1976 and thereafter. The evolution of design standards for common structural materials is summarized in Appendix II. Hence, all structural appraisals should start with a study in the history of the building, since part or the entire floor of the building could have been re-built while some might have suffered serious damage

(vi)

(vii)

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and the floors could have been re-built after the Second World War. In essence, direct comparison of design imposed load of the current use against that of the original use is not recommended for heritage buildings, which do not have records of approved plans or other building records available. (b) Fire safety provisions (i) The current major requirements on fire safety aspects are laid down in the three codes of practice issued by BD5 (the fire safety codes). For A&A works without involving change in use, only the areas affected by the proposed A&A works (e.g. shared exits) will need to comply with the standards prescribed in these current fire safety codes. The three fire safety codes issued by BD generally govern the passive fire protection measures including the provision of means of escape (MOE), means of access for fire fighting and rescue (MOA) and fire resisting construction (FRC) in a building. Active fire protection measures such as the fire alarm, detection and suppression systems are mainly governed by the Code of Practice for Minimum Fire Service Installations and Equipment (FSI Code) issued by FSD. The primary objectives of the fire safety standards prescribed in the codes of practice mentioned above are to ensure that occupants are able to escape from the building safely, fire fighters can

(ii)

(iii)

The three codes of practice include the Code of Practice for the Provision of Means of Escape in Case of Fire (1996), the Code of Practice for Fire Resisting Construction (1996) and the Code of Practice for the Provision of Means of Access for Firefighting and Rescue Purposes (2004).

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enter the building safely to fight the fire, and to prevent the spread of fire within the building and to adjacent properties. Protection of the properties themselves against damage by fire is not the primary concern. As such, owners and designers may wish to enhance the fire safety provisions in their heritage buildings to protect such properties of high heritage value against damage by fire. (c) Protective Barriers (i) The requirement for the provision of protective barriers was first introduced in 1956 when the Building (Planning) Regulations and Building (Construction) Regulations were first enacted. These early requirements were subsequently found to be inadequate. Incidents of people or objects falling over or through gaps in the barriers causing injury and litigation against the building owners have led to tighter controls on the design of the barriers. Current statutory requirements on the design and construction of protective barriers are set out in regulation 3A of the Building (Planning) Regulations and regulation 8 and 17(3) of the Building (Construction) Regulations.

(d)

Barrier Free Access (i) The Disability Discrimination Ordinance (DDO), Cap 487 6 , has made it unlawful to discriminate against a person on the basis of a disability. The requirements for the provision of barrier free access for persons with a disability are prescribed in section 84 of the DDO, regulation 72 of the Building (Planning) Regulations and the Design

Section 84(1) of the DDO stipulates that any new building or alterations or additions to an existing building must be provided with such access as is reasonable in the circumstances to the building or premises for persons with a disability.

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Manual for Barrier Free Access 2008 issued by the BD. 3.8 Apart from the building safety requirements identified in paragraph 3.7 above, there are also building requirements of a planning nature such as site coverage, plot ratio, lighting and ventilation etc. Application for exemption from or modification of such requirements will be considered on individual merits of each case. The adaptive re-use of and A&A works to heritage buildings could have safety implications on geotechnical features associated with the buildings, e.g. slopes and retaining structures adjoining or adjacent to the buildings, basement or screen walls, foundations etc. Since the adaptive re-use of and A&A works to heritage buildings are subject to the control under the BO, Registered Geotechnical Engineer (RGE) should be engaged where appropriate for geotechnical tasks in accordance with PNAP 294.

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4. APPROACHES IN DEALING WITH ADAPTIVE RE-USE OF HERITAGE BUILDINGS

Balanced Approach 4.1 Successful conservation of heritage buildings requires an optimal balance between the degree of conservation (the originalities to be maintained) and the type of adaptive re-use and/or the extent of A&A works proposed. Not all historic buildings can be adapted into any other uses and the selection of an appropriate use is most crucial to minimize the possible conflict between preserving the heritage values and upgrading the building to current standards to make it suitable for the new use.7 Every heritage building has its unique historical and cultural significance. Its character-defining elements that account for its heritage values may vary from case to case. In order to identify the character-defining elements and to comply with the conservation requirements, it is advisable for the AP/RSE responsible for the project to consult a conservation expert and carry out a conservation study or a heritage impact assessment of the building and seek the comment or agreement from the AMO on the requirements of heritage conservation at an early stage. An understanding of what should be retained and what can be altered will dramatically help the AP/RSE in coming up with a holistic plan before embarking on the adaptive re-use project. In this connection, the AP/RSE are advised to make reference to some international principles in conservation, including the Charter of Venice (by ICOMOS), the Burra Charter (by ICOMOS Australia) and the Principles for the Conservation of Heritage Sites in China (by China ICOMOS) in dealing with an adaptive re-use project. In particular, adapting the historic buildings to a compatible use, introducing minimal intervention to the elements

4.2

4.3

The Burra Charter points out that Compatible use means a use which respects the cultural significance of a place. Such a use involves no, or minimal, impact on cultural significance.

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of heritage values, carrying out alteration in a reversible manner and upholding authenticity will be the four key issues for AMO to consider in granting permit under section 6 of the A&MO (Cap. 53) for any proposed adaptive re-use projects. 4.4 In certain heritage buildings, incorporation of facilities that are necessary to fulfill modern needs may have adverse effects on the architectural and conservation value. Careful treatment and sensible design in preserving the heritage value of the building may reconcile the two distinctive needs. To name but a few, an access ramp for persons with a disability has been added inside the Forbidden City in Beijing to take care of the needs of these persons. It may not be possible to summarize what ought and what ought not to be done.

Photo 3:

An access ramp for persons with a disability in the Forbidden City, Beijing.

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Owing to the age of heritage buildings, the intended change in the use of such building will invariably create difficulties for building designers to tackle, which in turn would make compliance with the statutory building safety requirements a challenge. Another balance to be considered by the AP is the need for preservation of certain heritage features in the building and the need to comply with the minimum building safety standards stipulated under the Buildings Ordinance and other relevant legislations. In many cases, the AP has to consider what requirements can be met by the prescribed methods and what requirements need to be met by alternative methods to

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achieve the equivalent safety standards in performance or function. For instance, the design of protective barriers may vary to suit the heritage conservation needs in each individual case. Some successful examples of these are provided in Appendix I. Designers may consider merits of each of these examples when devising their solutions.

Photo 4: A protective barrier on the parapet wall of a building at the Tombs of the Thirteen Ming Emperors

Photo 5: A glazed panel added behind the existing balustrade to meet the current safety requirement.

Alternative and Performance-based Approach 4.6 As stated in paragraph 3.2 above, the objective of the BO is to ensure public health and safety by setting the minimum health and safety standards in the design and construction of private buildings. The safety of a heritage building adapted for re-use, in particular, should not be compromised at all.

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4.7

In recognition of the needs for preservation of the whole or part of a heritage building, BD adopts a pragmatic and flexible approach to consider the proposals for adaptive re-use of or A&A works to heritage buildings. An alternative design, though deviating from the prescriptive requirements, will be accepted if equivalent safety standards of its performance or function can be explicitly demonstrated to be achieved on a case-by-case basis.

Principles of accepting alternative design 4.8 In vetting an alternative design for meeting equivalent standards of the relevant prescriptive building safety requirements, BD would consider if the alternative design can achieve equivalent performance to ensure the safety of the users and occupants of a heritage building. When determining the merits of each design option, the views of the AMO towards the preservation of specific heritage features are important which in many cases would dictate how any specific features or areas in the heritage building should be used, upgraded or strengthened. Hence, the designer should liaise with BD and AMO to arrive at an alternative design that can satisfy both needs. From conservation point of view, AMO may consider the compatibility of the proposed use, the reversibility of the proposed A&A works, and the degree of disturbance. Very often, to achieve fire safety in a heritage building, a fire engineering approach may be adopted to work out an alternative design which has equivalent performance standard as that of the prescriptive code. In general, a variety of compensatory measures may be taken to achieve fire safety in a building. These measures may include, but not limited to, early warning by an automatic detection and warning system, facilities for control of smoke and rate of spread of fire such as sprinkler systems, and a capacity for fire containment through compartmentation, etc. A guideline on adoption of this approach for the fire safety design of new buildings or A&A works in existing buildings is provided in PNAP 204.

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4.10

In the event that no other alternative design of equivalent standards is found to be feasible or practicable, building safety achieved by adopting a management approach may be critically considered. The acceptance of this alternative is based on the merits of each individual case. In this connection, application adopting this approach should be accompanied with suitable justifications and undertaking to demonstrate that there is a reliable and effective management system during the life of the building and that a monitoring system could be effectively and reasonably implemented to avoid abuse. The management approach would be subject to the approval of the BA and should therefore be considered as a last resort.

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5. PRACTICAL ADVICE 5.1 The practical advice given in this section aims to provide guidance to resolve some obvious problems that may be encountered in complying with the current building safety requirements while taking due care on the objectives of heritage conservation. As every case has to be considered on its own merits and the heritage value of a building feature varies from one case to another, the examples of the alternative design described in this section are by no means suitable for universal application. Designers are advised to fully understand the conservation requirements as agreed with the AMO before adopting any one of these examples. Structural issues 5.2 The common structural concern in conservation works is the lack of approved plan/construction plan and structural records. This causes difficulty in ascertaining the loading capacity of the existing building and gives rise to problems in repairing and strengthening of the existing building. PNAP 249 provides guidance on the structural aspects of A&A submissions for buildings with record plans kept by BD. For buildings without approved plans and structural records, a detailed structural appraisal should be adopted. The following measures are practical solutions to some typical structural issues: (a) The lack of approved plan and structural record (i) The Use of archaic records BD maintains an archive of approved plans and structural records including calculations and material test reports. However, the whole archive for all pre-war (i.e. pre 1946) buildings was lost in the Second World War. As most of the historic buildings are pre-war buildings, it is unlikely that approved plans and structural records can be found from the BD archive. In such cases, attempt should be made to trace

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the archaic records of the building from other sources such as the current and previous owners or tenants, including other Government departments. Old photographs may reveal valuable information on the probable period when the building was built, the annex was added or the roof was replaced, etc. Other useful sources of reference include the Public Records Office, University libraries, the ArchSD, the AMO, the Lands Department, the Hong Kong Museum of History, etc. (ii) Full survey and structural appraisal When the design information of the existing building is unavailable, the structural system of the building may be ascertained by conducting full survey and structural appraisal of the existing building in order to re-establish the structural framing information, the load path, the construction details of the structural elements, the robustness of the structure, the material strengths and the current condition of the existing structures including the foundations. Coring and opening-up or other destructive tests are usually employed to obtain the construction details and material strengths. The AP/RSE should adopt the use of non-destructive tests as far as practicable and supplemented by opening-up or destructive tests which should be kept to an absolute minimum. The AP/RSE should note that destructive tests carried out on the existing structure may constitute building works requiring prior approval and consent from the BA. Significant breaking up of structure can cause danger and persons instructing or carrying out such building works without prior approval and consent from the BA may be liable to prosecution under the BO. Moreover, as destructive tests may incur irreversible damage to the specific feature of a heritage building, the AMO should be consulted for agreement in advance on the sampling/test locations and any reinstatement proposals after the sampling/opening up tests. With respect to the safety issues, the AP/RSE should liaise with the BD to

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arrive at an appropriate solution. (b) Difficulties in repairing and strengthening the existing structures Since most heritage buildings were built a long time ago, some of the building fabrics will likely have suffered deterioration in varying degrees. Selection of appropriate repair methods for these building fabrics without damaging the heritage value of the building is of great importance. There are innovative methods and techniques for investigation, strengthening and repairing that can be devised to fit the aesthetic and heritage constraints of a particular project. Below are some practical examples for strengthening methods. (i) Addition of new structural elements Addition of new structural elements such as lateral ties, shear walls, braced frames or concrete lining to the existing building is often found necessary to improve structural adequacy. The addition of these new structural elements should be identified at an early stage of the design and their design should be submitted to the AMO for comment. Elements for strengthening such as tie rods to the gable walls may either be concealed in the roof, in the floor screed or under the floor. In some cases, these elements can be exposed as these provisions were often found in old timber structures. The AMO should be consulted to obtain the desired architectural and heritage treatment of them. (ii) Re-distribution of design loads Re-distribution of the design loads that may act on the

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existing building may be considered to reduce the extent of the required strengthening works and hence maximizing the heritage value of the building. For example, the lateral stiffness of an old building may be significantly improved by adding a few shear walls inside concealed rooms instead of strengthening every frame in the building. To consider the redistribution of loads, the RSE must have a thorough understanding of the load path of the structure. This relies on the carrying out of full survey and structural appraisal. Cracks found in the full survey may reveal how the loads have been redistributed within the structure in the past history of the building. (iii) Additional supports to reduce the span Deficiency of the load carrying capacity of a floor or beams may be resolved by putting in additional supports in specified locations. Often, large rooms need to be sub-divided through re-planning by constructing new dividing walls designed as structural supports to reduce the floor span. The designer must ensure that the addition is acceptable from the conservation perspective. It is also possible to put in additional columns of such style and material that are compatible with but distinguishable from the existing ones to share the loading from the existing structures. (c) Management approach In extreme cases where it is impracticable to carry out structural strengthening works, a management approach may be considered to restrict the use of such areas. The acceptance of management approach is to be considered on a case-by-case basis and the merit varies with the effectiveness of the management control that can possibly be maintained. The management approach would be subject to the approval of the BA and should be

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considered as a last resort.

Fire Safety Issues 5.3 When a heritage building undergoes adaptive re-use, improvement to the fire safety provisions is necessary to cater for the possible increase in occupancy load and fire risk in association with the new use. As such, the existing fire safety provisions, both active and passive, may need to be upgraded to provide the adequate means of escape, means of access for fire fighting and rescue, fire resisting construction, and fire service installations and equipment. These solutions cannot be considered in isolation, as a solution for one particular situation may not be valid for another. It is imperative that an overall fire safety package is developed for the building which takes into consideration the level of risk, the overall fire safety strategy and the specific building conservation needs. Adoption of a fire engineering approach may also provide a holistic design to resolve the various fire safety issues at one go. (a) Inadequate width and number of exit routes In cases where additional means of escape in terms of the number and the width of exit routes, staircases and doors are necessary, the following practical measures may be considered. (i) Installation of new exit doors and exit staircases at inconspicuous location When the existing width of a staircase or the number of staircases available is not adequate, new staircases may be erected in areas of less heritage value e.g. areas which are not identified character-defining elements and where there is minimal visual impact to the building, or a room inside the building where the room carries less heritage value than the exterior of the

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building. However, since each historic building has its unique character-defining elements, the acceptable location of new staircases from conservation point of view varies from case to case. As the location of new staircases may affect the fundamental planning of the building layouts, early consultation with the AMO is highly recommended. In view of the adverse impact on the existing structures by adding new exits and staircases, existing exits and staircases should be re-used as far as possible from conservation point of view. As such, the possibility of reusing, modifying and adopting (with management approach if considered appropriate) the existing exits and staircases should be explored before new exits and staircases are introduced. (ii) Management approach Management approach may be adopted to limit the number of occupants in the licensed premises. This approach may only be acceptable where a proper and reliable management would be in place. The proposed number of occupants with respect to the use, size and layout of the rooms, the anticipated fire risk and the extent of the deficiency will also be considered. The approach would be subject to the approval of the BA and should be considered as a last resort. (b) Exit door not opening in the direction of exit According to the current Code of Practice for the Provision of Means of Escape in Case of Fire (MOE Code), every exit door from a room or a storey shall open in the direction of exit where the capacity of the room exceeds 30 persons. If it is impractical to have an existing inward opening door altered to swing in the direction of exit, then the following options may be considered:-

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(i) Door kept open If the door is not required to perform a fire or smoke separation function, such door may be kept fully opened permanently using a door holder, to remove the impediment to egress. (ii) Subdivision of room A room may be subdivided into smaller compartments so as to accommodate not more than 30 people in each sub-divided room. (iii) Addition of new door New doors that open in the direction of exit may be added at suitable locations of the room for exit. (iv) Management approach Management approach may be adopted to limit the number of occupants in licensed premises. This approach may only be acceptable where a proper and reliable management system would be in place. The proposed number of occupants with respect to the use, size and layout of the rooms, the anticipated fire risk and the extent of the deficiency will also be considered. The approach would be subject to the approval of the BA and should be considered as a last resort. (c) Timber door of inadequate fire resistance When a heritage building undergoes adaptive re-use, some of the existing doors may need to be upgraded to provide the requisite fire resistance. If it is necessary to retain the original door fabric, the following options may be considered:-

28

(i) Installation of new fire door An additional door may be provided in the vicinity to take up the role of fire protection, leaving the existing door intact as a decorative feature. The appearance of the additional door shall be compatible with but distinguishable from the existing building fabric from conservation point of view. (ii) Upgrading of existing door There are available techniques to upgrade the fire resistance rating of a timber panelled door without altering the external appearance (at the front) of the door. The AP should check and submit test evidence for the proposed upgrading methods at plan processing stage. Implementation of the upgrading should be carried out by experienced personnel of the trade in accordance with the manufacturers recommendations. Such upgraded fire door is required to be included in the Schedule of Building Materials and Products under PNAP 53 when applying for occupation permit or certifying completion of the respective A&A works. Depending on the type of upgrading methods, some may cause irreversible changes to the elements to be preserved. Thus, this approach would be subject to the approval of the AMO and should be considered as a last resort. (iii) Assessment of existing door If an existing door to be preserved is of solid construction, of adequate thickness and with a suitable rebate provided by the door frame, an assessment may be carried out by a HOKLAS accredited laboratory or equivalent to determine whether the door and its associated door frame could meet the requisite fire resistance rating. Fire test on a door of similar construction may need to be carried out to provide further evidence on the fire resistance property of the existing door.

29

(d)

Timber floor A floor is an element of construction and in some circumstances may also be required to act as a compartment floor. Furthermore, it should not be constructed of combustible material. Hence, some form of modification or A&A works on a floor constructed of timber may be inevitable. However, methods (e.g. by fire engineering approach) of full retention of a timber floor as structural element and to expose both sides of the floor should be sought as far as possible when the floor is identified as an element of high heritage value. In other situations, the following options may be considered to suit specific needs:(i) Installation of structural deck with adequate fire resistance If it is required to expose one side of a timber floor, an additional structural steel deck with adequate fire resistance can be erected on the other side of the floor. The timber floor is then preserved in-situ. Stability of the timber floor in case of fire should be considered and justified. (ii) Sandwich approach In cases where it is decided to retain a timber floor, it may be upgraded to achieve the requisite fire resistance rating by using a sandwich approach. Fire-resisting materials could be installed on the top and soffit of the floor to achieve the required fire protection. However, the heritage value of the floor would be grossly affected by adopting this approach. It should be noted that the actual improvement in fire resistance performance depends on the details of the construction and condition of the existing floor. A technical assessment should be conducted to ensure that appropriate decisions and choices could be made to suit the specific situation. Details of the upgraded timber floor should also be included in the Schedule of Building Materials and

30

Products under PNAP 53 when applying for occupation permit or certifying completion of the respective A&A works. (iii) Erection of new reinforced concrete floor slab A new reinforced concrete floor slab may be constructed to replace the deficient existing timber floor. (e) Timber staircase A required staircase including the landings and supports thereto being an element of construction is required to be fire rated, unless it is enclosed within walls having the required fire resistance period (FRP), and should be constructed of non-combustible materials. In order to fulfill this safety requirement, a new staircase may be added so that an existing timber staircase, being one of significant heritage value, may be maintained to serve as a circulation staircase or monument. In this case, paragraph 5.3 (a)(i) above should be noted while considering the choice of location to erect the new staircase. The condition of the existing timber staircase should also be assessed and upgraded where necessary to ensure structural safety if it is to serve as a circulation staircase. (f) Inadequate protection to adjoining building Existing openings in the external walls of a heritage building that are within 900 mm of an adjoining building can be protected by fire resisting glass panels installed at the inner side of the openings. (g) Emergency vehicular access An emergency vehicular access (EVA) is required for new buildings. The AP can make reference to the current Code of Practice for the Provision of Means of Access for Firefighting and Rescue (MOA Code) on the typical enhanced fire safety measures to compensate for the non-provision or deficiency of

31

EVA. Besides, reference can also be made to PNAP 288 on the guidelines on the exemption/modification in special circumstances. Early consultation with FSD on the upgrading works and compensatory measures required is recommended. (h) Structural and spatial constraints for the provision of major fire service installations In case where major fire service installations are required, the following practical measures may be considered. (i) Emergency Generator Secondary power supply before the incoming main switch from the electricity company may be considered as a substitute on a case by case basis. (ii) Sprinkler system Improvised sprinkler system with water supplied from the fire hydrant/hose reel water tank may be acceptable. Fire engineering approach may be used to devise an alternative means to achieve equivalent performance as the prescriptive standards. Protective Barrier 5.4 Many existing protective barriers in the form of parapet walls or balustrades to stair-wells, balconies or verandahs are of insufficient height or have excessive gaps to prevent falling of persons or objects, or have not been designed to prevent persons from climbing over the barrier. To improve safety, the following options may be considered: (a) Secondary protective barrier To preserve the existing barrier, a secondary protective barrier, such as a glass panel or steel balustrade that complies with the

32

current safety requirement, may be installed behind the existing one. (b) Adding height to existing protective barrier To achieve the required height, a glass panel or additional railings which are compatible with the existing may be added on top of the existing barrier. The existing barrier, the fixing and the structural strength of the additional members together with their effects at the support should meet the current structural requirements. In this case, the fixing details should be agreed with the AMO for compatibility with and preservation of the existing heritage elements. (c) Adding mesh or grille to reduce the opening dimensions Wires, wire mesh or metal grille may be added behind the existing protective barrier to reduce the size of its openings. These additions should be securely fixed to the existing barrier or adjacent structures to meet the current structural requirements. In this case, the fixing details should be agreed with the AMO for compatibility with and preservation of the existing heritage elements.

(d) Management approach For existing balustrades around voids, it may be possible to prevent access to the balustrade by providing a distance barrier on the inside of the balustrade such as a fixed display cabinet of a suitable depth. This approach may only be acceptable where a proper and reliable management system would be in place. The proposed number of occupants/users, the use of the premises and the extent of the deficiency will also be considered. The approach would be subject to the approval of the BA and should be considered as a last resort.

33

Barrier Free Access 5.5 Most heritage buildings are not designed to cater for access of persons with a disability. Improving access to these buildings may benefit many people, not only to persons with a disability, but also the elderly and families with children. It is therefore essential that all reasonable steps should be taken to ensure proper access to heritage buildings. In order to minimize any adverse effect on character-defining elements that give heritage values to the building, the following options may be considered: (a) New ramp and lift at areas of less heritage values An accessible lift should be conveniently located. It should also be placed at a location which is not identified as a character-defining element. If placed externally, it should impose minimal visual impact to the building. Alternatively, it may be placed inside the building, within a space that carries less heritage value than the exterior of the building. Where a ramp is required for entry into the building, elegant solutions that compliment the architecture of the building may be explored. Since each historic building has its unique character-defining elements, the acceptable location of a new lift from conservation point of view varies from case to case. As the location of the new lift or ramp may affect the fundamental planning of the building layouts, early consultation with the AMO is highly recommended.

(b) New entrance at a lower level To overcome the initial flight of entry steps which have been identified as a character-defining element of a heritage building, an alternative access via a lower ground floor that matches with the external floor level may be explored. Appropriate and sensible solutions such as incorporating a new lower ground

34

floor and subtly modifying the external floor level at the entrance may also be considered. This alternative main entrance should be prominently located and designed to be commonly used by the public. (c) New entrance via an alternative access route It may be possible to change the way in which a building is managed by opening up an alternative main entrance that is accessible to all. Altering an existing window to form a doorway for creating a side entrance may be possible subject to AMOs agreement. While the original main entrance with its entry steps is retained, the alternative main entrance should be prominently located and designed to be commonly used by the public.

Unjustifiable hardship 5.6 Where it is impracticable to provide reasonable access within the building, bearing in mind the physical location and immediate environs of the building, and where providing such access would impose unjustifiable hardship on the person seeking approval in relation to plans submitted for A&A works or change in use of an existing building, the BA may accept applications to vary the provisions required under regulation 72 of the Building (Planning) Regulations and the Design Manual-Barrier Free Access 2008. 5.7 In considering such applications to vary the required provisions, the BA will consider the special circumstances of the case and may seek advice from the Advisory Committee on Barrier Free Access (ACBFA). The terms of reference and membership of ACBFA are set out in PNAP 112. In this respect, the applicants should demonstrate the nature of the unjustifiable hardship and any practicable alternatives for consideration of the BA. 5.8 Applications falling within the following categories may be acceptable to the BA having regard to the special circumstances of

35

the case: (a) For A&A works to existing buildings where initial access for persons with a disability is not provided, the BA would be satisfied with the design of the building in respect of the non-provision of facilities for persons with locomotory disabilities in cases where the provision of a ramp access would involve alteration works to the common parts of a building and where the applicant can demonstrate that: (i) (ii) the applicant has no control over the area; consent from co-owners or owners' corporation to permit the carrying out of the alteration works to the common parts of the building is declined or cannot be obtained; and

(iii) where ground beam is involved, there is spatial or structural constraint.

36

Appendix I Case studies The purpose of this Appendix is to illustrate, through case studies, how the approaches mentioned in section 4 of this Practice Guidebook could be adopted to meet the needs for preservation of those building fabrics of significant heritage value and compliance with building safety requirements when planning the adaptive re-use of a heritage building. The examples illustrated are for general reference only. The appropriate solution for a particular case should be worked out on its own merit by adopting the approaches as mentioned in section 4 of the Practice Guidebook.

Local cases Case 1 - Kom Tong Hall at 7 Castle Road, HK This case involves adapting an old residential building known as Kom Tong Hall built in 1914 into the Dr Sun Yat Sen Museum. This building has been graded as Grade 2 Historic Building by the AMO i.e. a building with special merit. The 3-storey building is of classical Edwardian style and is the first steel-frame mansion in the territory. According to the AMOs advice, the faade comprising Greek style granite columns and the curved balconies behind them at the front elevation and main timber staircase are of significant values and hence should be preserved.

37

Photo 2

Front elevation of Kom Tong Hall (from Caine Road)

Photo 1

Front elevation of Kom Tong Hall

Photo 3 and Photo 4

The grand timber staircase preserved by using management approach

38

(a) Structural issues Due to lack of information on the structural design of the building, a comprehensive structural survey and appraisal was necessary to ascertain the framing plan, construction details and structural capacities. Moreover, to verify the load carrying capacity of the existing reinforced concrete slab, a full-scale static loading test for a few selected slab panels were carried out with a test load of 1.25 times the designed live load. Partial replacement of a timber joist at the landing of the timber stair which was deteriorated seriously by termite attack was necessary. (b) Fire Safety Issues The existing means of escape provisions in terms of number and width of staircases, width of corridors, existence of winders in a staircase and travel distance were inadequate to accommodate the increase in occupancy load upon re-use.

Photo 5

Existing staircase with winders

With a view to minimizing the visual impact on the heritage value of the building, fire engineering approach was adopted to work out an alternative fire safety design demonstrating that the performance standards of the prescriptive requirements

39

could be achieved with little alteration works. In essence, a management approach was adopted to restrict the occupancy of the venue to 300 people at any one time. A new staircase was added (similar to paragraph 5.3 (a)(i) of the Practice Guidebook). An automatic sprinkler system is provided in the office and back of house areas. Air aspirating detection system is provided to all areas not protected with sprinklers i.e. all public areas. The provision of adequate attendants and reliable management team were taken into account in accepting the alternative design.

Air aspirating detection system

Photo 6

Air aspirating detection system provided at areas not protected with sprinklers

(c) Protective barrier to the grand staircase In order to preserve the architectural value of the grand staircase which forms a major circulation staircase for the building, a management approach has been adopted to ensure the safety function of the stair balustrade can be achieved. Decorative planters are placed along the balustrade to prevent people from approaching the balustrade so as to eliminate danger of falling from height. The situation is closely monitored by CCTV.

40

Photo 7

Decorative planters provided along staircase to keep users away from balustrades

(d) Barrier Free access Due to the spatial constraint within the building and the visual impact on exterior elevation, a lift for persons with a disability has been carefully placed in the rear courtyard where the effect on external elevation is acceptable and to the satisfaction of the AMO.

41

Photo 8

Disabled lift placed at the rear part of the building

Case 2 - Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre in Kowloon Park This project involves adapting two blocks of 2-storey barracks (S61 and S62) into a heritage centre for research, public education and promotion of heritage conservation in Hong Kong. Built in 1910, the buildings were designed in accordance with the discipline and rules of the European colonial architecture with true brick arches, timber flooring and pitched roof. They were listed as Grade 3 Historic Building under the guidelines set by the AAB assuring their historic merit. The major issues relating to building safety encountered are summarized below. (a) Structural issues The masonry slab, the suspended slab constructed of steel channels with infill masonry, at the verandah at 1/F was found deteriorating and hence had to be replaced with a new reinforced concrete slab. (b) Fire resisting construction The timber floor at 1/F, which has to be upgraded to 2 hr fire resistance period, has to be preserved. Accordingly, fire

42

resisting boards were added on the top and bottom of the timber floor to provide the requisite fire resistance period.

Photo 9

Durasteel boards added on top of the

Photo 10

Fire-rated boards provided to the soffit

existing timber floor

of timber floor

Automatic sprinkler provision is provided in accordance with the FSI code requirement. The sprinkler water tank is housed on the roof of the new extension block connecting the two blocks. Moreover, an EVA is provided along the front entrance faade.

Photo 11

Automatic sprinkler system provided

Photo 12 Centre

EVA of the Heritage Discovery

in the whole building

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(c)

Protective barrier The old barriers at the arch openings along the verandah at G/F have been replaced to ensure safety of the visitors and occupants of the buildings. Effort has been made to design the new barriers in such a way that it can blend in with the existing architectural details of the building faade without compromising the building safety.

Photo 13 New protective barriers matching the original style and complying with current safety standards

Photo 14 New window frames blended in with the existing architectural details

(d)

Barrier free access Provisions for persons with a disability such as ramp, lifting platform, lift, tactile warning strips and guide paths and toilets are provided.

44

Photo 15 Access ramp, tactile warning strips and guide paths provided at the main entrance

Photo 16

Accessible toilet provided

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Case 3 - Bethanie at Pokfulam The Bethanie was built by the French Mission in about 1875 and was used as a sanatorium for a century. It is a 3-storey building above a basement. It was graded as Grade 2 historic building in 1981. The building was occupied by the Dairy Farm Company in 1975 and then by the University of Hong Kong in 1978. Since 1997, it has been left vacant as a Government building. In 2003, the Government funded the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) to restore Bethanie and two adjacent cowsheds as its second campus and a new theatre. The conversion work, which was completed in 2006, has restored the building's original features, in particular, its external elevations and the neo-gothic chapel.

Photo 17

Front elevation of Bethanie

46

Photo 18

Original timber door with historical and architectural significance preserved

(a) Protective barrier The existing balustrades along the verandah on the external walls are less than 1100 mm high, glazed panels have been installed to meet the current safety requirement.

(b) Barrier free access Facilities for persons with a disability are generally provided. However, a lifting platform in lieu of a lift is provided in such a position as not affecting the aesthetic value of the building.

47

Photo 19

Provision of tactile warning strips at

Photo 20

Provisions

of

wheelchair

lifting

the landing of the new staircase

platform and tactile warning strips along the existing staircase

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Case 4 URA Project (H16) at Johnston Road, Wanchai, H.K. This case involves the adaptive re-use of the historic buildings at No.18 Ship Street and Nos. 60-66 Johnston Road. This is the first project in Hong Kong in which historic buildings are integrated with a new residential development. The location plan of the development is shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1 Site location plan

The pre-war buildings at Nos. 60-66 Johnston Road and No.18 Ship Street were identified by AMO as historic buildings because of their significant townscape value. Both buildings are characterized by their unique faades and terrazzo decorative walls and floor finishes as well as many other rare features. The building at No. 60-66 Johnston Road is a row of four typical verandah type building built in the 1920s. The building at No. 18 Ship Street was first constructed in the 1930s and later rebuilt shortly after World War II. The building at Ship Street was accorded with Grade 2 merit by AAB in 2000.

49

(a) Structural issues Due to inadequacy of the load carrying capacity, the existing concrete floor may need to be rebuilt. However, the existing mosaic floor tiling has significant heritage value and temporary removal of these tiles is not possible. Instead of taking down and re-casting the whole floor slab, the lower layer of the concrete slab was carefully hacked off, added with new re-bars and then plastered with special concrete at the end as structural strengthening. Tests were carried out later to verify the design assumptions and structural strength intended to achieve.

Photo 21 Existing floor slab strengthened by adding reinforcement bars and then reinstated with special concrete (grey colour) at the slab soffit.

(b)

Fire safety The timber floor at No. 60-66 Johnston was substandard in terms of its adequacy in fire resisting construction and structural load carrying capacity. The non-destructive timber floor joists with heritage value were salvaged and re-installed at the ceiling after a new concrete floor slab was constructed at a higher level. Preservation of the original building elements should be done in-situ as far as practicable. However, the method of restoring the timber floor members to their original position after casting a new RC slab above may be acceptable in view of the difficulties encountered, subject to AMOs approval. The solution was considered as a last resort and

50

justifications on the need to temporarily dismantle a historic building element were required for AMOs consideration and acceptance.

Photo 22 The salvaged timber joists re-installed at the new concrete slab soffit.

(c)

Protective barriers to existing verandah The low parapet height and wide spacing of the bottle-shaped balustrades of the verandah at nos. 60-66 Johnston Road were substandard. In order to avoid damage to the original fabric of the verandah, new glass panels as protective barriers were added in front of the balustrades.

Photo 23

New glass panels added in front of existing parapet

51

(d)

Barrier Free access Provision of new barrier free access for persons with a disability in the historic buildings at Ship Street and Johnston Road was different due to spatial constraint. Integration with the new residential development provides a solution to make these heritage buildings accessible. For example, a new annex with ancillary facilities had been constructed at the rear of Nos. 60-66 Johnston Road while No. 18 Ship Street shares the new disabled lift and exit staircases that serve the podium of the new development. As a result, some of the existing staircases of the heritage buildings can be preserved.

Photo 24 New annex building added to provide disabled facilities

52

No. 60-66 Johnston Road

No. 18 Ship Street

FIREMENS ACCESS ACCESSIBLE ROUTE

Figure 2 floor

Plans showing the integration of the heritage buildings with the new development at 1st

53

Case 5 - London Mission Building at 78-80 Robinson Road, HK Built in 1893, the London Mission Building was originally the quarters for the missionaries of the London Missionary Society. In 1939, the building was used as the quarters for the nurses of Nethersole Hospital. Since the nurses moved out in 1950, it had been left vacant until 2001 when it was converted into a part of the clubhouse of the adjoining property development. As one of the town planning approval conditions for the property development, the conversion works to this Grade 3 historic building had to be carried out to the satisfaction of the then Secretary for Recreation and Culture. The following major building planning issues were encountered in this project.

Photo 25

Front elevation of the London Mission Building

(a)

Fire Safety issues Before the conversion, the 3-storey building was only provided with a single timber staircase with winders serving both as the means of circulation and escape. After the conversion, a new staircase was added at the rear. The provision of this new staircase and the existing timber staircase is considered adequate for means of escape purpose for the 2/F floor in view of the following: (i) The accommodation in the building is relatively small. The total capacity is only 69 persons. The population of 2/F is 15 persons.

54

(ii)

The building is only three-storey high in which G/F and 1/F have direct exits discharging into the exterior; (iii) There is an open verandah on one entire frontage at 2/F; (iv) The timber staircase is separated from the remainder of the building by fire resisting walls and doors; (v) The timber staircase is of great architectural merit and should be retained as far as possible as advised by the AMO.

(b)

Inadequate width of exit door The existing double-leaf doors which are to be retained as exit doors are substandard in that the width of each leaf of these doors is only 540 mm instead of 600 mm. This deficiency is considered acceptable in view of: (i) The width of the door openings are restricted by the load-bearing pillars of the existing building and cannot be easily enlarged; (ii) The alteration works will cause drastic change to this small building totally defeating the purpose of its preservation and AMO has a strong view to re-use all the existing doors; and (iii) A total of eight exits are available for the relatively small rooms. The total exit width is in excess of the prescribed requirement.

55

Photo 26 Automatic sprinkler system provided

Photo 27

Existing timber staircase preserved

(c)

Barrier Free Access 1/F and 2/F of the building are not provided with a lift for persons with a disability in view of the following considerations: (i) The provision of external lift was not acceptable to the AMO; (ii) It would be undesirable to make a lift shaft opening in the aged floor slab of the building; (iii) Access and toilet facilities for persons with a disability are provided on G/F; (iv) Only a limited number of rooms are accommodated on the upper floors; and (v) The activities provided on the upper floors are duplicated in the club areas with the main building of the adjoining development which is accessible to persons with a disability.

56

Overseas examples Case 6 The International Library of Childrens Literature, Ueno Park, Tokyo, Japan It is a branch of the National Diet Library and is a renovation and expansion of the former Imperial Library built in 1906 and expanded in 1929. The existing balustrades do not comply with the current safety standard in that the height is less than 1100 mm while the opening dimensions are larger than 100 mm. In order to preserve the existing balustrades, a secondary glass panel of a height of 1100 mm was constructed behind the existing balustrade.

Photo 28

The existing balustrades with glass panels, The International Library of Childrens Literature, Ueno Park, Tokyo (Photos from the BD Study Tour to Japan)

57

Case 7 Asian Civilizations Museum (Court House to Museum), Singapore The building was built in 1864 65 and declared as a monument in 1992. It was previously used as a court house, government office and art museum, and re-used as the Asian Civilizations Museum in 2002. An access ramp with railings on both sides is provided for persons with a disability.

Photos 29 & 30

The existing faade is preserved (top) and an access

ramp for persons with a disability is provided (below) (Photos from the BD Study Tour to Singapore)

58

Case 8 Somerset House at London, UK The Somerset House was built in 1776. It was once the Naval quarter and the offices amongst other Government offices. In 1997, Somerset House Trust was established to conserve and develop the House. It is now a major cultural hub with galleries, restaurants, and other cultural spaces. An access ramp with railings on both sides is provided at the main and rear entrances respectively of the House for persons with a disability.

Photo 31 The existing faade preserved

Photos 32

An elegant access ramp for persons with a

disability provided at the building entrance (Photos from the BD Study Tour to United Kingdom)

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Appendix II
Evolution of Design Standards for Reinforced Concrete in Buildings in Hong Kong Period Pre-war Buildings 1903 ~ 1945 Structural Standards for Use of Reinforced Concrete in Buildings Design records of these buildings were lost in the War. The Public Health and Buildings Ordinance 1903 required all exceptional buildings to be approved by the Building Authority. Design standard for exceptional building was not specified in the Ordinance but it is believed that design method of L.C.C. By-laws 1915 was generally applied after 1915. By its Exceptional Building Regulations in Schedule B of the Buildings Ordinance (BO) 1935, it required reinforced concrete structures to be designed in accordance with the Reinforced Concrete Regulations made by the London County Council on 6.7.1915 (L.C.C. By-laws 1915). Design records of buildings approved by the Building Authority are kept by the Buildings Department. While still being controlled under Buildings Ordinance 1935, exceptional buildings in reinforced concrete were designed to the Reinforced Concrete Regulations made by the London County Council on 6.7.1915 (LCC By-laws 1915). Design records of buildings approved by the Building Authority are kept by the Buildings Department. Buildings Ordinance 1955 and the subsidiary regulations Building (Construction) Regulations (BCR)1956 came into force on 1.6.1956. Regulation 77 of the BCR 1956 requires that steel framed structures, reinforced concrete structures and structural timbers shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the provisions of (i) L.C.C. By-laws 1938; (ii) L.C.C. By-laws 1952; (iii) any subsequent amendments to L.C.C. By-laws 1952. The first Code of Practice for Wind Effects in Hong Kong was issued in 1960. The use of LCC By-laws 1938 was later repealed in 1969. Thus, LCC By-Laws 1938 co-existed with LCC By-Laws 1952 between 1956 and 1969.

1946 ~ 1955

1956 ~ 1974

-i-

1975 ~ 1989

Design records of buildings approved by the Building Authority are kept by the Buildings Department. Buildings approved by the Building Authority shall be designed to Building (Construction) Regulations 1975, which contained design formulae and material properties adopted from the UK building code CP 114 modified for local conditions. The Code of Practice for wind effects in Hong Kong 1983 superseded the 1960 version. Design records of buildings approved by the Building Authority are kept by the Buildings Department. Buildings shall be designed to satisfy performance requirements specified in the BCR 1990. Initially, the Code of Practice for Structural Use of Concrete 1987 was deemed satisfactory for structural design of reinforced concrete buildings while the Limit state design in accordance with BS 8110:1985 might also be used as alternative. The Code of Practice for Structural Use of Concrete 2004 was put into use in December 2004. It replaced the 1987 code. In principle, any other code that can be demonstrated to satisfy the performance requirements specified in BCR 1990 may also be used. The Code of Practice for Wind Effects in Hong Kong 2004 superseded the 1983 version. The Code of Practice for Foundations 2004 was issued 20.12.2004.

1990 ~ now

- ii -

Evolution of Design Standards for Structural Steel in Buildings in Hong Kong Regulations Pre-war Buildings 1903 ~ 1945 Structural Standards for Use of Structural Steel in Buildings Design records of these buildings were lost in the War. The Public Health and Buildings Ordinance (PHBO) 1903 required all exceptional buildings to be approved by the Building Authority but the design standard was not specified in the Ordinance. Structural steel design for buildings was not codified at the time. Various specifications for material and sectional sizes existed. Steel buildings were designed with fundamental engineering principles and to the steel producers specifications. Buildings Ordinance 1935 required iron structures to be designed and constructed in accordance with the London County Council By-laws at the time. BS 449 for the structural use of steel was first published in 1932 in the UK. Compression members were often load tested instead of being designed for. Design method for buckling behaviour of columns and compression flange of beams were not yet developed. Hence, steel sections were often encased in concrete to prevent buckling. Design records of buildings approved by the Building Authority are kept by the Buildings Department. Buildings Ordinance 1935 was still the prevailing law for iron structures to be designed and constructed in accordance with the London County Council By-laws at the time. The revised steel code BS 449 and the building code for steel CP113 were both published in 1948 in UK. Design records of buildings approved by the Building Authority are kept by the Buildings Department. Buildings Ordinance 1955 and the subsidiary regulations Building (Construction) Regulations 1956 came into force on 1.6.1956. Regulation 77 of the BCR 1956 required that steel framed structures, reinforced concrete structures and structural timbers shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the provisions of (i) L.C.C. By-laws 1938; or (ii) L.C.C. By-laws 1952; or (iii) any subsequent amendments to L.C.C. By-laws 1952. L.C.C. By-laws 1938 contained only fundamental concept of design in steel. It made reference to BS

1946 ~ 1955

1956 ~ 1974

- iii -

449:1935 regarding compression load design for steel columns. L.C.C. By-law 1952 contained full design provisions for structural steel in buildings which was primarily adapted from B.S.449. It contained flexural torsional buckling check for beams. All these were removed in L.C.C. By-laws 1964, which simply referred to B.S.449:1959 for design of structural steelworks. The use of L.C.C. By-laws 1938 was later repealed in 1969. BS 449 could be regarded as the basic reference for steel design and construction during the whole period. The first Code of Practice for wind effects in Hong Kong was issued in 1960. 1975 ~ 1989 Design records of buildings approved by the Building Authority are kept by the Buildings Department. Building (Construction) Regulations 1975 contains imposed floor loadings and all the design formulae adapted from L.C.C. By-laws 1952 and 1964. B.S.449:1969 was also used as an alternative design code between 1975 and 1989 when the design was carried out by the RSE. The Code of Practice for wind effects in Hong Kong 1983 superseded the1960 version. Design records of buildings approved by the Building Authority are kept by the Buildings Department. Buildings approved by the Building Authority shall be designed to satisfy performance requirements specified in the BCR 1990. Initially, the Code of Practice for Structural Use of Steel 1987 was deemed satisfactory for structural design of steel buildings. Limit state design in accordance with BS 5950:1990 might also be used as an alternative. The Code of Practice for the Structural Use of Steel 2005 was put into use in September 2005. It also replaced the 1987 code. In principle, any other code that can be demonstrated to satisfy the performance requirements specified in BCR 1990 may also be used. The Code of Practice for Wind Effects in Hong Kong 2004 superseded the 1983 version. The Code of Practice for Foundations 2004 was issued in December 2004.

1990 ~ now

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Evolution of Design Standards for the Structural Use of Timber in Buildings in Hong Kong Regulations Pre-war Buildings 1903 ~ 1945 Structural Standards for Use of Timber in Buildings Design records of these buildings were lost in the War. The Public Health and Buildings Ordinance 1903 banned the construction of timber building (faade and columns in timber) within the city limits. Thus, all buildings in the city were built of brick walls for strength and control of fire spread. Timber was commonly used for floors above ground and roof support before reinforced concrete became common in construction in Hong Kong. Chinese fir, a kind of soft wood, was commonly used before the 1920s. As timber became more expensive and reinforced concrete more common, timber floor construction was phased out in the market in 1930s. Construction of timber floor was a builders skill. Timber joists were usually of sawn-cut rectangular section or circular log of Chinese fir. The joists were capable of spanning up to about 14 feet, usually at 18 inch spacing. Their design was based on working experience while the law requires it to satisfy London County Council By-laws at the time. The London County Council Timber By-laws 1938 came into force on 1.1.1938 provided design method for use of timber materials. The code used for the design and construction of the timber at the time is of lesser significance as the size of the timber members can be measured on site. Nevertheless, the soundness of the timber is more important. Timber flooring is normally of simple construction consisting of floor boards laid on joists simply supported on brick corbels in the brick walls. The strength of a timber floor should be structurally appraised with reference to BS 5268, the current code for timber, based on the measured dimensions of the joists, spacing and the type of timber. Controlled load tests may also be carried out. Design records of buildings approved by the Building Authority are kept by the Buildings Department. For the period between 1946 to 1974, design and construction of timber structures should follow the relevant L.C.C. By-laws. The London County Council Timber By-laws 1938 may have been used. The London County Council By-laws 1952 also provided design method for use of timber materials in its Part VIII. The Building

1946 ~ 1988

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(Construction) Regulation 1975 first included in its Part X the structural design for use of timber materials. However, record of timber floors of permanent construction in post-war buildings could not be identified. 1989 ~ now The Code of Practice for Fire Resisting Construction 1989 required that all compartmentations must have fire resisting period of 1 hour minimum. The code does not ban the use of timber in buildings but the requirements on fire resisting period and non-combustibility mark the phasing out of timber materials in structural application.

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Evolution of Design Standards for Masonry in Buildings in Hong Kong Period Pre-war Buildings 1903 ~ 1945 1946 ~ 1955 Structural Standards for Use of Masonry in Buildings Design records of these buildings were lost in the War. The Public Health and Buildings Ordinance 1903 laid down prescriptive dimensions for masonry wall construction. Design records of buildings approved by the Building Authority are kept by the Buildings Department. While still controlled under Buildings Ordinance 1935, prescriptive wall dimensions for masonry wall construction were identical to those in the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance 1903. Design records of buildings approved by the Building Authority are kept by the Buildings Department. Buildings Ordinance 1955 and the subsidiary regulations Building (Construction) Regulations 1956 came into force on 1.6.1956. Prescriptive wall dimensions for masonry wall construction were laid down which were similar to those in the Buildings Ordinance 1935. The first Code of Practice for Wind Effects in Hong Kong was issued in 1960. Design records of buildings approved by the Building Authority are kept by the Buildings Department. Building (Construction) Regulations 1975 provided more details on the design of piers and buttresses but prescriptive wall dimensions were identical to those in the BCR 1956. The Code of Practice for wind effects in Hong Kong 1983 superseded the 1960 version. Design records of buildings approved by the Building Authority are kept by the Buildings Department. Buildings should be designed to satisfy performance requirements in the Building (Construction) Regulations 1990. In principle, any other code that can be demonstrated to satisfy the performance requirements

1956 ~ 1974

1975 ~ 1989

1990 ~ now

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specified in BCR 1990 may be used. BS 5628 is commonly used for design. The Code of Practice for Wind Effects in Hong Kong 2004 superseded the 1983 version. The Code of Practice for Foundations 2004 was issued 20.12.2004.

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Appendix III
Useful information for Reference Legislations 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance, Cap 53 Buildings Ordinance, Cap 123 Building (Construction) Regulations, Cap 123, Sub Leg B Building (Planning) Regulations, Cap 123, Sub Leg F Disability Discrimination Ordinance, Cap 487 Fire Services Ordinance, Cap 95 Fire Safety (Buildings) Ordinance, Cap 572 Fire Safety (Commercial Premises) Ordinance, Cap 502 Fire Service (Installations and Equipment) Regulations, Cap 95 Sub Leg B

Codes of Practice 10. Code of Practice for Structural Use of Concrete 2004, Buildings Department 11. Code of Practice for the Structural Use of Steel 2005, Buildings Department 12. Code of Practice for Foundations 2004, Buildings Department 13. Code of Practice on Wind Effects in Hong Kong 2004, Buildings Department 14. Code of Practice for the Provision of Means of Escape in Case of Fire 1996, Buildings Department 15. Code of Practice for Fire Resisting Construction, 1996, Buildings Department 16. Code of Practice for Means of Access for Firefighting and Rescue 1995, Buildings Department 17. Design Manual : Barrier Free Access 2008, Buildings Department 18. Code of Practice for Minimum Fire Service Installations and Equipment 2005, Fire Services Department

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Practice Notes 19. PNAP 175, Antiquities and Monuments, Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance, Cap 53 20. PNAP 202, Application of the Revised Fire Safety Codes 21. PNAP 204, Guide to Fire Engineering Approach 22. PNAP 249, Structural Requirements for Alteration and Addition Works in Existing Buildings 23. PNAP 272, Re-engineering the Building Approval Process Relevant Design Standards 24. BS 7913: 1998, The Principles of the Conservation of Historic Buildings, British Standards Institute Relevant Guidelines and Publications 25. An Introduction to the Fire Safety (Commercial Premises) Ordinance Cap. 502, jointly issued by the Buildings Department and Fire Services Department. 26. An introduction to the Fire Safety (Buildings) Ordinance Cap. 572, jointly issued by the Buildings Department and Fire Services Department. 27. Review of Built Heritage Conservation Policy 2.2004, Home Affairs Bureau 28. Appraisal of Existing Structures, The Institution of Structural Engineers, 1996 29. Increasing the Fire Resistance of Existing Timber Floor, Building Research Establishment, BRE Digest 208 30. Timber Panelled Doors and Fire, Guidance Note, 1997, English Heritage 31. The Use of Intumescent Products in Historic Buildings, Guidance

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Note, 1997, English Heritage 32. Upgrading the Fire Resistance of Timber Panelled Doors, Technical Information Sheet 3, 1980, The Heritage Council of New South Wales

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Enquiries For enquiries on the Practice Guidebook, please contact the Heritage Unit of the Buildings Department: Telephone : 2626 1354 / 2626 1576 Fax: 3157 1412 Email: enquiry@bd.gov.hk For enquiries on fire service installations, please contact the New Projects Division of the Fire Services Department: Telephone : 2733 7854 Fax : 2722 6234 Email : fschq@hkfsd.gov.hk For enquiries on conservation guidelines, please contact the Antiquities and Monuments Office : Telephone : 2208 4400 Fax: 2721 6216 Email: amo@lcsd.gov.hk

Buildings Department June 2009