Minimum ceiling heights

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Minimum ceiling heights

NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL CANADA D I V I S I O N O F B U I L D I N G RESEARCH MINIMUM C E I L I N G HEIGHTS by H. S t i n s o n and A. B r a s s R e p o r t prepared f o r t h e A s s o c i a t e C o m m i t t e e on t h e N a t i o n a l B u i l d i n g C o d e R e p o r t No. 188 o f t h e D i v i s i o n of B u i l d i n g R e s e a r o h O t t a w a A p r i l 1960

PREFACE

I t i s t h e p r i v i l e g e of t h e Division of Building Research t o r e c e i v e from t h e A s s o c i a t e Committee on t h e National Building Code s u g g e s t i o n s f o r needed r e s e a r c h a s demonstrated by t h e use of t h e National B u i l d i n g Code and q u e s t i o n s r e g a r d i n g minimum r e g u l a t i o n s included i n -the Code f o r which f a c t u a l evidence appears t o be l a c k i n g .

This r e p o r t d e a l s with a minimum dimension i n

b u i l d i n g codes t h a t i s most d i f f i c u l t t o j u s t i f y on s c i e n t i f i c grounds and which c l e a r l y c a l l s f o r renewed s t u d y , even

though much a t t e n t i o n has been devoted t o it i n a number of c o u n t r i e s , a s i s made c l e a r by t h e l i s t of r e f e r e n c e s

accompanying t h i s paper.

The r e p o r t i s a f u r t h e r p r o g r e s s statement with regard t o minimum c e i l i n g h e i g h t s and it i s hoped t h a t it

w i l l prove u s e f u l t o t h o s e who a r e concerned w i t h t h i s q u e s t i o n , even though 'it s t i l l does n o t r e s o l v e t h e m a t t e r completely.

The work now r e p o r t e d upon was done i n t h e B u i l d i n g Standards Section of DBR under i t s head, M r . R. S. Ferguson. M r . Allan Brass i s a J u n i o r Research O f f i c e r i n t h i s S e c t i o n , himself a graduate from t h e School of A r c h i t e c t u r e of t h e U n i v e r s i t y of Toronto. H i s co-author M r . S t i n s o n s p e n t t h e summer of 1958 with t h e Division on v a c a t i o n from h i s work a s a n undergraduate i n t h e School of A r c h i t e c t u r e of t h e

U n i v e r s i t y of Manitoba.

Ottawa

M I N I m d CEILING HEIGHTS H e S t i n s o n a n d A. B r a s s R e g u l a t i o n o f c e i l i n g h e i g h t s h a d an e a r l y p r e c e d e n t i n t h e b u i l d i n g by-law t h a t f o l l o w e d t h e g r e a t f i r e of London

i n

1666 a n d t h u s has a l o n g - s t a n d i n g t r a d i t i o n . N e v e r t h e l e s s , i t . seems t h a t i t s r e a s o n e d b a s i s w a s as o b s c u r e t h e n a s it i s now. !be one b a s i s commonly a s s o c i a t e d w i t h c e i l i n g h e i g h t r e g u l a t i o n s

i n r e s e a r c h r e p o r t s i s t h e p o p u l a r b u t f a c - t u a l l y unfounded b e l i e f t h a t a h i g h e r c e i l i n g w i l l p r o v i d e a more c o m f o r t a b l e i n t e r i o r e n v i r o n m e n t , p a r t i c u l a r l y w i t h r e s p e c t t o t e m p e r a t u r e . T h a t c e i l i n g h e i g h t r e g u l a t i o n s a r e p e r h a p s n o t a s r a t i o n a l a s t h e y m i g h t b e i s e v i d e n c e d b y t h e number o f i n v e s t i g a t i o n s t h a t h a v e b e e n made i n r e c e n t y e a r s b y v a r i o u s r e s e a r c h o r g a n i z a t i o n s . It i s t h e p u r p o s e o f t h i s s t u d y , t h e r e f o r e , t o d i s c o v e r j u s t what i n f o r m a t i o n i s a v a i l a b l e o n t h e s u b j e c t a n d w h a t r e m a i n s t o be i n v e s t i g a t e d . A s an i n i t i a l s t e p , an i n v e s t i g a t i o n was made o f c e i l i n g h e i g h t r e g u l a t i o n s i n v a r i o u s b u i l d i n g c o d e s a n d s t a n d a r d s , a n d t h e i n f o r m a t i o n r e c o r d e d i n D i v i s i o n o f B u i l d i n g R e s e a r c h T e c h n i c a l Note No, 256. E n q u i r i e s were d i s t r i b u t e d w i t h t h e t e c h n i c a l n o t e t o a u t h o r i t i e s whose r e g u l a t i o n s were t a b u l a t e d , r e q u e s t i n g a n y r e l a t e d i n f o l - m a t i o n t h a t t h e y c o u l d c o n t r i b u t e . T h e i r r e p l i e s were most u s e f u l i n t h i s r e g a r d a n d

i n

s e v e r a l c a s e s p r o v i d e d more u p - t o - d a t e i n f o r m a t i o n t h a n was o r i g i n a l l - y t a b u l a t e d . The r e v i s e d i n f o r m a t i o n i s g i v e n i n Table I a n d P i g . 1, a n d t h e t e x t o f t h e o r i g i n a l T e c h n i c a l Note No, 256 i s i n c l u d e d a s Appendix A . It may b e o b s e r v e d t h a t C a n a d i a n r e g u l a t i o n s demand h i g h e r c e i l i n g h e i g h t s t h a n do t h o s e o f o t h e r c o u n t r i e s

i n

t h e same l a t i t u d e , and t h a t i n g e n e r a l model r e g u l a t i o n s p e r m i t l o w e r c e i l i n g s t h a n do m u n i c i p a l b y - l a w s of t h e same c o u n t r y , A l i b r a r y s e a r c h f o l l o w e d t o d e t e r m i n e t h e e x t e n t of e x i s t i n g l i t e r a t u r e , o n t h e s u b j e c t . !he i n f o r m a t i o n g a t h e r e d

i n

b o t h - o f t h e s e s t a g e s o f t h e s t u d y i s o u t l i n e d i n t h i s r e p o r t . BASIS BOR EXISTING CEILING REGULATIONS

R e p l i e s t o e n q u i r i e s s e n t t o a u t n o r i t i e s whose r e g u l a t i o n s a r e t a b u l a t e d i n T e c h n i c a l Note No, 256 i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e i r m o s t

minimum t o e n s u r e p r o p e r l i g h t and v e n t i l a t i o n , and t h a t any f u r t h e r r e d u c t i o n would c r e a t e c o n d i t i o n s which would have a n a d v e r s e e f f e c t on t h e h e a l t h and w e l f a r e of t h e o c c u p a n t s , I t i s s i g n i f i c a n t t o n o t e , however, t h a t I n most i n s t a n c e s t h e e x a c t f i g u r e a r r i v e d a t h a s l i t t l e , if any, s c i e n t i f i c b a s i s t o

j u s t i f y it. The r e p l i e s a l s o i n d i a a t e t h a t c e i l i n g h e i g h t

r e g u l a t i o n s have f r e q u e n t l y been d e c i d e d upon by drawing compari- s o n s w i t h o t h e r codes o r by t h e d e s i r e t o cr>nform t o e x i s t i n g s t a n d a r d s ,

Of c o n s i d e r a b l e i n t e r e s t i s t h e i n f o r m a t i o n from t h e B u i l d i n g Research I n s t i t u t e i n Japan where t h e l o w e s t c e i l i n g h e i g h t r e q u i r e m e n t e x i s t s . It was made t o conform t o e x i s t i n g

d e s i g n p r a c t i c e s of a r c h i t e c t s who d e t e r m i n e c e i l i n g h e i g h t s a c c o r d i n g t o a formula r e l a t l n g h e i g h t t o t h e dimensions of t h e room and t h e h e i g h t of t h e d o o r , I n t h a t c o u n t r y , where t h e p e o p l e a r e accustomed t o s i t t t n g on t h e i r k n e e s on mats, i t i a r e a s o n e d t h a t t h e y do n o t r e q u i r e such h i g h c e i l i n g s a s would be n e c e s s a r y i f c h a i r s were used, and i t i s c o n s i d e r e d t h a t a h i g h

c e i l i n g might w e l l make t h o o c c u p a n t s uneasy. They a l s o acknow- l e d g e t h a t t h e lower c e i l i n g s p r e s e n t no problems t o n a t u r a l v e n t i l a t i o n s i n c e t h e wooden h o u s e s a r e by no means a i r - t i g h t . Another s i g n i f i c a n t f a c t r e v e a l e d i n t h e s e r e p l i e s i s t h a t i n s e v e r a l i n s t a n c e s where p r e s o n t r e g u l a t i o n s c a l l f o r 8-f o o t 0 - i n c h o r h i g h e r c e i l i n g h e i g h t s i n d w e l l i n g s , t h e r e h a s beon a n e f r o r t t o r e d u c e t h i s t o

7

f e e t

6

i n c h e s a s a means of r e d u c i n g t h e c o s t o f house b u i l d i n g and i n t h e b e l i e f t h a t t h e

l a t t e r f i g u r e i s a more r e a s o n a b l e minimum i f one must be r e q u i r e d a t a l l . Where t h e change h a s n o t t a k e n p l a c e , i t i s i n v a r i a b l y due t o t h e f a c t t h a t t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e a u t h o r i t i e s cannot be persuaded t h a t t h e change i s d e s i r a b l e .

LITERATURE REVIEW

The main c o n t e n t of t h i s r e p o r t comprises i n f o r m a t i o n r e v e a l e d by a l i b r a r y s e a r c h . S e v e r a l s i g n i f i c a n t r e p o r t s have been p u b l i s h e d p r o v i d i n g i n f o r m a t i o n d e r i v e d t h e o r e t i c a l l y and i n f o r m a t i o n which i s t h e r e s u l t of p r a c t i c a l exweriment. Not- a b l e among t h e s e i s a r e p o r t by GIP. Crotvden (81, p u b l i s h e d i n t h e J o u r n a l of t h e Royal S a n i t a r y I n s t i t u t e , which o u t l i n e s a

s e r i e s of t r i a l s u s i n g two rooms, one w i t h a f i x e d c e i l i n g and one i n which t h e c e i l i n g was lowered f o r t h e d i f f e r e n t t r i a l s ; t h e

t e s t s i n v o l v e h e a t i n g , v e n t i l a t i n g and t e m p e r a t u r e d i f f e r e n o e s , a n d t a k e i n t o a c c o u n t t h e e f f e c t s on, and t h e o p i n i o n s of, v a r i o u s

people. The d e t a i l and t h o r o u g h n e s s of t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n and t h e o p i n i o n s u r v e y of t e n a n t s of l o w - c e i l i n g e d d w e l l i n g s , b o t h of whiah r e v e a l f a c t s which were n o t e n t i r e l y p r e d i c t a b l e , make t h i s r e p o ~ t p a r t i c u l a r l y s i g n i f i c a n t .

" A S t u d y of t h e I n f l u e n c e of C e i l i n g Height In Dwelling

Housesv1, by t h e Bu%ldfng Research S t a t i o n a t t h e Technlon, I s r a e l

(4).

i s a r e p o r t more i l z t e r e s t i n g t h a n u s e f u l w i t h r e s p e c t t o Canadian

c o n d i t i o n s a n d c e i l i n g h e i g h t s , e x c e p t f o r t h e f a c t t h a t i t v e r i f i e s t h e t e m p e r a t u r e and v e n t i l a t i o n f i n d i n g s of t h e Crowden repor8t w i t h a n o t h e r d e t a i l e d s t u d y f u n d a m e n t a l l y s l r n i l a r . On t h e o t h e r hand, t h e r e p o r t by J e w . D r g s d a l s ( 1 0 ) from t h e Commonwealth E x p e r i m e n t a l B u i l d i n g S t a t i o n , A u s t r a l i a , c o n t a i n s no r e s e a r c h r e s u l t s but does c o n t a i n some u s e f u l d i s c u s s i o n on v e n t i l a t i o n and room s i z e , a s w e l l a s on c e i l i n g h e i g h t .

One o t h e r e p o r t t h a t i s e s p e c i a l l y s i g n i f i c a n t i s t h a t of

'i

S.J. R i c h a r d s

( 3

of t h e N a t i o n a l B u i l d i n g R e s e a r c h I n s t i t u t e , S o u t h A f r i c a . I t i s t h e r e s u l t of a t h o r o u g h l i t e r a t u r e study' and some

o r i g i n a l i n v e s t i g a t i o n on t h e h e i g h t and r e a c h of S o u t h A f r i c a n p e o p l e , There i s a u s e f u l d i s c u s s i o n of p o s s i b l e s t r u c t u r a l d i f f i - c u l t i e s a s w e l l , which i n d i c n t o s t h a t t h e r e a r e no s e r i o u s problems i n v o l v e d w i t h l i n t e l s and low c e i l i n g s . R _{common c h a r a c t e r i s t i c of t h e s e r e p o r t s i s worth n o t i n g :} t h e p r e s e n t a t i o n of t h e f a c t s i s n o t t o t a l l y o b j e c t i v e ; S t sooms

t h a t one i s b e i n g persuaded t h a t though he may n o t l i k e a low c e i l i n g , t h e r e i s n o t h i n g wrong w i t h i t ,

-

i t i s even good f o r h:tm, perhaps, and, l i k e s p i n a c h , he w f l 2 grow t o l i k e i t . Thf s i s p a r t i c u l a r l y t r u e of t h e R i c h a r d s repo-r't. I t i s , however, a d i f f i c u l t a t t i t u d e t o a v o i d , because when t h e f a c t s a r e examined t h e arguments which

supposedly j u s t i f y any p a r t % c u l a r c e i l i n g h o i g h t c l e a r a n c e u s u a l l y have l i t t l e s c i e n t i f i c b a s i s . C o n s i d e r a t i o n s A f f e c t i n g C e i l i n g H e i g h t s L i s t e d h e r e a r e t h e c o n s i d e r a t i o n s which may i n f l u e n c e t h e h e i g h t of c e i l i n g s i n d w e l l i n g s and t h e r e l a t e d i n f o r m a t i o n which f s a v a i l a b l e , Clearance

Various dimensions from 7 f e e t 0 _{i n c h t o 7 f e e t}

6

_{i n c h e s}

a r e g i v e n a s d e s i r a b l e minima f o r headroom, There i s some c o n f u s i o n a s t o d e f i n i t i o n of headroom; sometimes i t i n c l u d e s r e a c h overhead, sometimes i t does n o t . I n any c a s e , t h e d i s t a n c e g i v e n r e f e r s t o c l e a r d i s t a n c e below c e i l i n g f i t t i n g s . Recommended minimum c e i l i n g h e i g h t based on r e a c h v a r i e s from Le C o r b u s i e r r s 7 f e e t

5

i n c h e s t o , 7 f e e t

9

i n c h e s recommended i n A f r i c a . Whereas t h e d i f f e r e n c e between headroom c l e a r a n c e f i g u r e s s u g g e s t s a d i f f e r e n c e i n d e f i n i t i o n o r a d i f f e r e n c e i n allowance f o r t h e t a l l i n d i v i d u a l , t h e d i f f e r e n c e between r e a c h c l e a r a n c e f i g u r e s i s p r o b a b l y t h e r e s u l t of d i f f e r e n t s t a t i s t i c a l d a t a .

The R i c h a r d s r e p o r t

( 3 )

c o n c l u d e s t h a t f o r h e a d c l e a r a n c e 7 f e e t 0 i n c h i s s a t i s f a c t o r y , a s v e r y few p e o p l e a r e t a l l e r t h a n

6

f e e t

6

i n c h e s , o r 7 f e e t

5

_{i n c h e s i f 6 - i n c h a l l o w a n c e i s g i v e n} f o r a c e i l i n g f i x t u r e . C o n s i d e r i n g normal r e a c h w i t h u p r a i s e d a m ( w i t h o u t s t r e t c h i n g ) 7 f e e t

9

i n c h e s s h o u l d be a r e a s o n a b l e minimum

(4.5

p e r c e n t of male s t u d e n t s a t . S t o l l e n b o s c h U n i v e r s i t y c o u l d r e a c h 7 f e e t

9

i n c h e s ) . The D r y s d a l e r e p o r t ( l o ) s t a t e s t h a t : "When c e i l i n g h e i g h t i s c o n s i d e r e d i n t e r m s of headroom, o l e a r a n c e b e n e a t h a l i g h t i n g f i x t u r e i s l i k e l y t o be t h e l i m i t i n g f a c t o r , I n t h i s r e g a r d , it i s recommended t h a t l i g h t i n g f i t t i n g s shall be f i x e d n o t l o w e r t h a n 7 f e e t 0 i n c h above t h e f l o o r . " I t i s i n t e r e s t i n g t o n o t e t h a t t h e M a r s e i l l e s Apartments were b u i l t a c c o r d i n g t o LIe C o r b u s i e r l s "Modular'' w i t h c e i l i n g h e i g h t s a t 7 f e e t

5

i n c h e s e T h i s dimenston i s based on t h e h e i g h t of a 6 - f o o t man's u p s t r e t c h e d hand. To d e c i d e t h e h e i g h t of' c e i l i n g by c l e a r a n c e , o n l y one k i n d of i n f o r m a t i o n i s n e c e s s a r y : s t a t i s t i c s of h e i g h t and r e a c h ; b u t t h e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f s u c h s t a t i s t i c s c a n be a r b i t r a r y , It must be d e c i d e d what a l l o w a n c e i s t o be made f o r t h e t a l l m i n o r i t y . Temperature

E x h a u s t i v e experiments have been c o n d u c t e d i n warm clima t e s which d e m o n s t r a t e almost c o n c l u s i v e l y t h a t where H lower c e i l i n g

c a u s e s a h i g h e r t e m p e r a t u r e w i t h i n a room, t h o d i f f e r e n c e i s physio- l o g i c a l l y i n s i g n i f i c a n t , The one f a c t o r which i s s i g n i f i c a n t i s t h e e f f e c t of r a d i a t i o n from a h o t c e i l i n g , It i s more e f f e c t i v e t o overcome t h i s t r o u b l e by means of i n s u l a t i o n t h a n by a h i g h e r c e i l i n g ,

The Technion r e p o r t

(4)

s t a t e s t h a t : "A s e r i e s o f t e m p e r a t u r e r e a d i n g s were c a r r i e d o u t i n five t w o - s t o r e y b u i l d i n g s . two f l a t r o o f s and t h r e e p i t c h e d r o o f s , c e i l i n g h e i g h t s 2,32, 2,50, 2 ,

8,

2.86 m e t e r a ) t h r o u g h o u t t h e p e r i o d J u l y

3,

1355,

t o March 30,'

1956.

b

"1t was f o u n d t h a t g r o u n d - f l o o r f l a t s of 2 - 5 0 m e t e r s c e i l i n g h e i g h t ( a n d a l s o o f , 2,32 m e t e r s ) were c o o l e r t h a n t h e h i g h e r f l a t s , and t h a t t h e i r t e m p e r a t u r e s were u n a f f e c t e d by t h e t y p e of r o o f .I' U p p e r - f l o o r measurements showed d i f f e r e n c e s of up t o l.O°C between h i g h and low rooms, depending on t h e r o o f c o n s t r u c t i o n , c o l o u r , and v e n t i l a t i o n .

The Crovlrdel~ r e p o r t 8 p o i n t s o u t t h a t : "Simultaneous o b s e r v a t i o n s were c a r r i e d out i n two rooms, one of which had a c e i l i n g kept a t 8 f e e t a s a c o n t r o l , w h i l e t h e o t h e r was v a r i e d

from

8

f e e t 0 i n c h t o 7 f e e t 0 i n c h . The mean a i r t e m p e r a t u r e d i f f e r e d by l e s s t h a n 1°F' between t h e 7-f o o t and the 8-f o o t c e i l i n g s . "

S.J. R i c h a r d s ( 3 ) r e a d many of t h e same r e p o r t s r e f e r r e d t o i n t h i s r e p o r t , w i t h some f u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n on r a d i a t i o n of h e a t from t h e c e i l i n g , which r e v e a l e d t h a t c e i l i n g t e m p e r a t u r e h a s f a r g r e a t e r e f f e c t t h a n c e i l i n g h e i g h t and t h a t i t s c o n t r o l would

bo cheaper and f a r b e t t o r f o r comfort, T h e r e f o r e , one should " d e s i g n f o r the r e d u c t i o n of c e i l - i n g t e m p e r a t u r e s r a t h e r t h a n t o seek b e t t e r thermai c o n d i t i o n s by p r o v i d i n g a h i g h c e i l i n g v ( t h e i n f o r m a t i o n was t a k e n from c a l c u l a t i o n s by P r o f e s s o r Lee of Johns Hopkins U n i v e r s i t y ) .

A r e p o r t by B.C. Raychaudhuri s t a t e s " L i t t l e d i f f e r e n c e

was n o t i c o d i n t h e indoor temperature of f o u r i d e n t i c a l rooms of

12 by 1 0 f e e t and with c e i l i n g h e i g h t s v a r y i n between 8 and 11 f e e t , and i n f o u r o t h e r i d e n t i c a l rooms of 11 f e e t

%

i n c h e s b

9

f e e t

6

i n c h e s and w i t h c e l l i n g h e i g h t s v a r y i n g between

7

f e e t i n c h e s t o 1 2 f e e t 0 i n c h e s n ,

B

Temperature G r a d i e n t

Only extreme t e m p e r a t u r e g r a d i e n t s such a s t h o s e r e c o r d e d by A.D. Kent i n D,B,R I n t e r n a l Report No. 137 ( t h e A r c t i c Hut t r i a l s ) could be a p p r e c i a b l y a f f e c t e d by a changed c e i l i n g h e i g h t of a f o o t o r l e s s , and s u c h a c o n d i t i o n would n o t be s a t i s f a c t o r y f o r d w e l l i n g s , r e g a r d l e s s of c e i l i n g h e i g h t , s i n c e what would be a s a t i s f a c t o r y

temperature a t a n a d u l t ' s h e i g h t would n o t be s a t i s f a c t o r y a t a c h i l d l a h e i g h t and t h e f l o o r s would be very cold a

These r e p o r t s show t h a t d e s p i t e t r a d i t i o n a l b e l i e f t o t h e c o n t r a r y indoor temperature i s n o t s u f f i c i e n t l y a f f e c t e d by c e i l i n g h e i g h t t o be a d e t e r m i n i n g f a c t o r . V e n t i l a t i o n It has been e s t i m a t e d t h a t l o w e r i n g t h e c e i l i n g by a f o o t o r so does n o t a p p r e c i a b l y a l t e r e i t h e r s t a c k e f f e c t o r wind e f f e c t , but t h a t b r i n g i n g t h e head of t h e window n e a r e r t h e c e i l i n g should improve v e n t i l a t i o n . The Crowden experiment v e r i f i e s t h e s e supposl- t i o n s , S i x h u n d r e d c u b i c f e e t p e r h o u r p e r p e r s o n i s g i v e n a s t h e air-change-ra t e nece s s a r y t o keep odours from becoming p e r c e p t i b l e

t o t h e occupants of a room. The American P u b l i c H e a l t h A s s o c i a t i o n

( 9 )

s p e c i f i e s 400 cubic f e e t p e r p e r s o n a s a space requirement i n s t e a d of

g i v i n g a n a i r - c h a n g e - r a t e . The r a t e t h a t may be e x p e c t e d i n a t y p i c a l house, c l o s e d a s i t would be i n w i n t e r , i s 1/2 t o 1 change p e r hour. T h i s i s o n l y a n e s t i m a t e ; a n a c c u r a t e f i g u r e would have t o t a k e i n t o a c c o u n t such f a c t o r s a s f u r n a c e , wind, o u t s i d e tenipera- t u r e , s h e l t e r ( t r e e s , o t h e r b u i l d i n g s ) , and f i r e p l a c e (and whether o r n o t i t i s i n u s e ) .

I n t h i s r e g a r d t h e Crowden r e p o r t s t a t e s : " ~ x p e r i m e n t s had shovm t h a t by a p p r o p r i a t e use of t h e t o p hopper window, a c c e p t e d v e n t i l a t i o n r e q u i r e m e n t s c o u l d e a s i l y be met w i t h o u t d i s c o m f o r t i n f u l l occupied rooms

7

f e e t i n height." Numerical r e c o r d s a r e g i v e n and

g

00 c u b i c f e e t p e r p e r s o n p e r hour i s quoted a s t h e s t a n d a r d g i v e n by t h e B r i t i s h S t a n d a r d Code of Practice.

The R i c h a r d s r e p o r t s t a t e s t h a t n e i t h e r wind e f f e c t n o r s t a c k e f f e c t i s a p p r e c i a b l y i n f l u e n c e d by l o w e r i n g t h e c e i l i n g by a

f o o t o r so, Cubic space r e q u i r e ~ n e n t s a r e d i s c u s s e d t o l i t t l e e f f e c t ,

Drysdale a l s o r e f e r s t o t h e B r i t i s h S t a n d a r d Code of P r a c t i c e . Room v e n t i l a t i o n i s t r e a t e d i n f a i r d e t a i l , but mainly w i t h r e s p e c t t o c e r t a i n a i r - v e n t r e g u l a t i o n s i n t h e A u s t r a l i a n codes,

From t h e ' ' ~ a s i c P r i n c i p l e s of H e a l t h f u l Housingfr by t h e A.PoH,Ao comes t h e s t a t e m e n t : "The odours g i v e n o f f from t h e body have been proved t o e x e r t a d e f i n i t e l y harmful i n f l u e n c e upon

a p p e t i t e and t h e r e f o r e upon h e a l t h , With p e r s o n s of r e a s o n a b l e c l e a n l i n e s s t h e d i l u t i o n of t h e s e odours w i l l r e q u i r e a n a i r change of 1 0 c u b i c f e e t p e r p e r s o n p e r minute, Such a n a i r change a s t h i s , w i t h any o r d i n a r y t y p e of c o n s t r u c t i o n , w i l l be a u t o m a t i c a l . l y a t t a i n e d

i n c o l d weather by normal l e a k a g e t h r o u g h w a l l s and c e i l i n g s of o r d i n a r y p o r o s i t y and around normally c o n s t r u c t e d d o o r s and windows, provided t h e c u b i c space p e r occupant i s 400 cubic f e e t i n any

occupied room, and t h a t t h e normal r a t i o of f e n e s t r a t i o n i s s u p p l i e d . The n e c e s s a r y a i r change c a n be s e c u r e d i n summer by t h e opening of windows,

The n a t u r a l i n f i l t i o n of a i r i n two c l o s e d houses was s t u d i e d by t h e A.SeH.AeE.

755.

The s t u d y showed t h a t knowledge of t h i s s u b j e c t i s r a t h e r l i m i t e d , and i n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h d i s c u s s i o n s w i t h s t a f f members of t h e D i v i s i o n of B u i l d i n g R e s e a r c h s u g g e s t s

t h a t a house w i l l probably have a n a i r change of a t l e a s t one-half p e r hour when i t i s c l o s e d i n w i n t e r t i m e , a l t h o u g h t h e r e a r e a g r e a t many f a c t o r s t h a t might a f f e c t t h e r a t e of i n f i l t r a t i o n .

" P u b l i c H e a l t h Engineering" by E.Bo P h e l p s (13) i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e important f a c t o r i n s a t i s f y i n g a i r c o n d i t i o n s i n a room i s n o t t h e room s i z e , b u t r a t h e r t h e r a t e of change of a i r .

V e n t i l a t i o n i s one a s p e c t o f b u i l d i n g d e s i g n which may b e a r f u r t h e r i n v e s t i g a t i o n i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h c e i l i n g h e i g h t s . L i t t l e s c i e n t i f i c i n f o r m a t i o n i s known a b o u t r a t e of a i r change i n a house t h a t i s s e a l e d up t i g h t l y i n w i n t e r t i m e ( a s i s done i n some i n s t a n c e s ) , The r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r v e n t i l a t i o n a r e a l s o r a t h e r vague, b e i n g l a r g e l y a p h y s i o l o g i c a l m a t t e r . There i s a g r e a t d e a l of i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t v e n t i l a t i o n , b u t i t a p p l i e s m a i n l y t o warm c l i m a t e s and n o t t o t h e e x t r e m e l y v a r i e d c l i m a t e e x p e r i e n c e d i n Canada, L i g h t and Sound The R i c h a r d s r e p o r t p o i n t s o u t t h a t low c e i l i n g s n e c e s s i t a t e w a l l f i t t i n g s and m i r i n g which a r e s l i g h t l y more e x p e n s i v e , The

i n c r e a s e d g l a r e i s n e g l i g i b l e , To a c h i e v e t h e same n a t u r a l l i g h t i n g w i t h a

7

f o o t

6

i n c h c o i l i n g a s w i t h a

9

f o o t 0 i n o h c e i l i n g , 1 0 t o 20 p e r c e n t more window a r e a s h o u l d be p r o v i d e d . A b e t t e r d i s t r i - b u t i o n of l i g h t may r e s u l t from a c e i l i n g f l u s h w i t h window head.

With r e g a r d t o a c o u s t i c s , t h i s r e p o r t s t a t e s t h a t : "According t o t h e A c o u s t i c s D i v i s i o n ' o f t h e N a t i o n a l P h y s i c a l L a b o r a t o r y , t h e a c o u s t i c s o f rooms a n d b u i l d i n g s where low c e i l i n g s a r e l i k e l y t o be u s e d w i l l n o t be n o t i c e a b l y a f f e c t e d by a r e d u c t i o n i n c e i l i n g h e i g h t from

9

f e e t 0 i n c h t o

7

f e e t

6

i n c h e s . P s y c h o l o ~ i c a l Aspect There i s v e r y l i t t l e i n f o r m a t i o n a v a i l a b l e on t h e p s y c h o l o g i c a l e f f e c t of c e i l i n g h e i g h t on p e o p l e , The r e p o r t s of R i c h a r d s a n d D r s d a l e m e n t i o n t h a t c e i l i n g h e i g h t may be a f a c t o r i n m e n t a l h e a l t g , b u t n e i t h e r know

of any such s t u d y . Doubt i s e x p r e s s e d a s t o t h e p o s s i b l e r e l i a b i l i t y of s u c h t e s t s a s might be made, ( I t i s a l s o mentioned t h a t room

p r o p o r t i o n s may be more i m p o r t a n t i n t h i s r e s p e c t t h a n t h e c e i l i n g h e i g h t i t s e l f , ) O c o n s i d e r a b l e i n t e r e s t i s a r e p o r t by D r . Raymond F. S l e t t o ( l 1 5 of t h e U n i v e r s i t y of Minnesota s t a t i n g a h y p o t h e s i s r e g a r d i n g t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p between h o u s i n g s t a n d a r d s and m e n t a l h e a l t h . D r , S l e t t o l i s t s f a c t o r s which c o u l d be " s o u r c e s of i n t e n s e and p e r s i s t e n t d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n 1 ' , i n d i c a t i n g t h a t poor p l a n n i n g and i n a d e q u a t e f a c i l i t i e s may be i n v o l v e d a l t h o u g h i t would t a k e a p s y c h i a t r i s t t o d e t e r m i n e where c e i l i n g h e i g h t s f i t i n t o t h e p i c t u r e , I n t h i s r e g a r d h'!. K. Izumi, a n a r c h i t e c t i n Regina h a s d i s c u s s e d t h e q u o s t i c n of the p s y c h o l o g i c a l e f f e c t of c e i l i n g h e i g h t w i t h p s y c h o l o g i s t s and p s y c h i a t r i s t s , d u r i n g t h e d e s i g n of m e n t a l h o s p i t a l s . I n c o r r e s p o n d e n c e with t h e a u t h o r s , M r . Izumi h a s p o i n t e d

o u t t h a t h i 3 d i s c u s s i o n s were b a s e d p r i n c i p a l l y on t h e e f f e c t on p a t i e n t s who \?{ere m e n t a l l y ill, b u t t h a t i t was t h o u g h t t h a t

"some of t h e b a s i c c o n s i d e r a t i o n s were a p p l i c a b l e t o s o - c a l l e d normal p e o p l e " . H e s t a t e d t h a t , " G e n e r a l l y s p e a k i n g i f ' t h e

c e i l i n g h e i g h t of a room i s s u f f i c i e n t t o p e r m i t t h e i n d i v i d u a l c o n c e r n e d t o s t a n d u p r i g h t w i t h o u t p h y s i c a l d i s c o m f o r t , t h e h e i g h t of t h e room i n i t s e l f d o e s n o t seem t o m a t t e r . From t h e p o i n t of view of m e n t a l w e l l - b e i n g o f t h e o c c u p a n t , t h e h e i g h t of a c e i l i n g seems t o assume s i g n i f i c a n c e i f o t h e r t h i n g s s u c h a s t h e l e n g t h and b r e a d t h of t h e room, t h e s i z e of t h e window opening, t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p of t h i s opening i n a w a l l t o t h e c e i l i n g a r e n o t i n p r o p o r t i o n ; i n some c a s e s t h e l o c a t i o n of t h e room w i t h i n a l a r g e b u i l d i n g h a s s i g n i f i c a n c e

.

F o r e x a n p l e , h i g h e r c e i l i n g s i n ba sernent rooms t e n d t o minimize t h e e f f e c t of b e i n g p r e s s e d i n t o t h e ground. However, i f t h e room i s on a n o u t s i d e w a l l , t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p o f t h e window a r e a and i t s s i l l h e i g h t on t h e w a l l w i t h r e s p e c t t o t h e c e i l i n may t e n d t o e x a g g e r a t e t h e e f f e c t of b e i n g pushed i n

I$

t h e ground

.

T h i s i s a n a s p e c t of c e i l i n g h e i g h t s which may be i m p o r t a n t * I n i t s e l f ' t h e h e i g h t of' t h e c e i l i n g e n d a n g e r s n e i t h e r s a f e t y n o r h e a l t h , w i t h t h e p o s s i b l e e x c e p t i o n of m e n t a l . h e a l t h . M e n t a l h e a l t h , i f i n v o l v e d , becomes a v e r y i m p o r t a n t f a c t o r i n d e t e r m i n i n g c e i l i n g h e i g h t s ; L f n o t , t h e n p e r h a p s t h e r e i s n o j u s t i f i c a t i o n f o r a c e i l i n g h e i g h t r e g u l a t i o n a t a l l . P u b l i c Opinion I n t e r v i e w s w i t h o c c u p a n t s o f d w e l l i n g s w i t h u n u s u a l l y low c e i l i n g s ( a s lev? a s

7

f e e t 0 _{i n c h ) i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e r e i s l i t t l e} o b j e c t i o n i n p r a c t i c e . I t i s p e r h a p s s i g n i f i c a n t t h a t many d i d n o t r e a l i z e t h a t t h e c e i l i n g s were low. Tcvo c o n f l i c t i n g f a c t s must be t a k e n i n t o c o n s i d e r a t T o n ; most of t h o s e i n t e r v i e w e d l i k e d t h e i r low c e i l i n g s i n s p i t e of t h e f a c t t h a t t h e y were m o s t l y accustomed t o v e r y h i g h c e i l i n g s , b u t t h e r e remained a s m a l l m i n o r i t y who were n o t happy w i t h them. The Crovden r e p o r t g i v e s t h e r e s u l t s of i n d i v i d u a l i n t e r - views w i t h t h e o c c u p a n t s of 50 p o s t - ~ a r h o u s e s w i t h

7

f o o t 0 i n c h c e i l i n g s . F o r t y - f i v e t h o u g h t t h e i r c e i l i n g s were

'

j u s t r i g h t ' ; f i v e t h o u g h t t h e i r c e i l i n g s were ' t o o lovrl. O f t h o s e a n s w e r i n g t j u s t r l g h t t , t h i r t y - f i v e a p p a r e n t l y d i d n o t know t h a t t h e i r c e i l i n g s were low. hb. Crowden r e p l i e d i n d i s c u s s i o n t h a t " M r . JOB. Wilson had mentioned t h e h e i g h t of i n d i v i d u a l s and t h a t , no d o u b t , was a f a c t o r a f f e c t i n g comfort i n rooms of 7 f e e t 0 i n c h i n h e i g h t , b u t many of t h e o c c u p a n t s of t h e h o u s e s v i s i t e d i n t h e i n t e r v i e w s u r v e y were o v e r

6

f e e t and d i d n o t complain of rooms b e i n g t o o low a t 7

y[.\~/. m e i s e n ( 6 ) s t a t e s : "1,kny s c h o o l rooms h a v e been b u i l t - w i t h l o w e r c e i l i n g s

i n r e c e n t y e a r s

i n t h e U.S.A. E h q u i r i e s were made o f 69 s c h o o l s ( t h e l o w e s t was 7 f e e t 8 i n c h e s a t I n d u s t r y ,

T e x a s ) ,

.

.

.

o p i n i o n s of s u p e r i n t e n d e n t s a n d o t h e r s c h o o l

p e r s o n n e l were f o u n d , w i t h few e x c e p t i o n s , t o be h i g h l y f a v o u r a b l e . " (2T n a n a r t i c l e e n t i t l e d " S o c i a l Enquiry on. S c o t t i s h Housing Esta-te " it i s s t a t e d , " t h e g r e a t m a j o r i t y of t h o s e t e n a n t s i n

d w e l l i n g s w i t h 8 t - 0 " c e i l i n g s would n o t have l i k e d them t o be any h i g h e r . There was e v i d e n c e of some i n c r e a s i n g a c c e p t a n c e w i t h

e x p e r i e n c e of t h e 7'-6" c e i l i n g , b u t t h e r e remained a small, t h o u g h n o t n e g l i g i b l e , p r o p o r t i o n of h o u s e h o l d e r s who wore n o t e n t i r e l y happy a b o u t t h e l o w e r ceiling^.'^ (They were accustomed t o c e i l i n g s a s h i g h a s 1 2 f e e t . )

P u b l i c o p i n i o n depends v e r y much on what t h e p u b l i c i s accustomed t o . It i s a p p a r e n t t h a t i n t e r v i e w i n g p e o p l e who have had a c t u a l e x p e r i e n c e w i t h low c e i l i n g s i s t h e o n l y way t o g e t a v a l i d p i c t u r e of p u b l i c o p i n i o n . A r c h i t e c t u r a l A s p e c t

-

According t o t h e Technion a n d D r y s d a l e r e p o r t s , l o w e r c e i l i n g s w i l l h a v e t h e f o l l o w i n g r e s u l t s : windows w i l l r i s e c l o s e r t o t h e c e i l i n g , t h e r o o f overhang w i l l shade a g r e a t e r p a r t o f t h e tvall-, s t a i r w a y s p a c e w i l l be r e d u c e d , t h o t a l l n a r r o w room w i l l be a v o i d e d , and i t w i l l be p o s s i b l e t o b u i l d more s t o r i e s i n t o a b u i l d - i n g of t h e same h e i g h t . Economic Aspect The f o l l o w i n g a d v a n t a g e s of l o w e r c e i l i n g s a r e m e n t i o n e d i n t h e R i c h a r d s , D r y s d a l e , a n d Technion r e p o r t s : c o n s t r u c t i o n o p e r a t i o n s r e d u c e d , m a t e r i a l q u a n t i - L i e s r e d u c e d , n e c e s s a r y s t r u c t u r e r e d u c e d , m u l t i - s t o r y s a v i n g s , a n d s a v i x s i n h a n d l i n g , t r a n s p o r t , a n d a s s e m b l y o f s m a l l e r p r e f a b r i c a t e d w a l l e l e m e n t s . A c u r i o u s s u g g e s t i o n coming f r o m c o u n t r i e s with w a r m c l i m a t e s i s t h e r e d u c e d h e a t i n g l o a d i n w i n t e r b e c a u s e o f r e d u c e d i n t e r i o r a i r volume.

These economies would n o t be q u i t e as s i g n i f i c a n t i n Canada, s i n c e t h e r e d u c t i o n would n o t be as g r e a t a s i s p o s s i b l e i n t h e c o u n t r i e s where t h e above s t u d i e s were made.

CONCLUSIONS

The most important p o i n t which emerges from the above l i t e r a t u r e s e a r c h i s t h a t t h e h e i g h t of a c e i l i n g i s not l i k e l y

t o endanger l i f e o r h e a l t h , Unfortunately, however, t h e informa t i o n a v a i l a b l e f r o m published r e p o r t s i s n o t e n t i r e l y adequate f o r t h e i n t e l l i g e n t shaping of a c e i l i n g h e i g h t by-law f o r Canada which w i l l provide t h e p r o t e c t i o n demanded of i t and a t the same time n o t

p l a c e unnecessary b a r r i e r s i n the way of imaginative design. S e v e r a l a s p e c t s of the s u b j e c t appear t o r e q u i r e f u r t h e r i n v e s t i g a t i o n , p a r t i c u l a r l y w i t h r e f e r e n c e t o t h e Canadian scene : t h e psychological e f f e c t of c e i l i n g h e i g h t , Canadian public opinion o r r e a c t i o n , and t h e q u e s t i o n of n a t u r a l v e n t i l a t i o n i n cold c l i m a t e c o n d i t i o n s , Other f a c t o r s r e l a t e d t o c e i l i n g hei'ght and r e q u i r i n g f u r t h e r i n v e s t i g a t i o n a r e t h e amount of f r e s h a i r and space n e c e s s a r y f o r h e a l t h ,

1. Xzgchauclhuri, B.C. Comfort S u r v e y P r o j e c t . C o u n c i l o f S c i . a n d I n d . Res., G o v t t . o f I n d i a P r e s s , E k i s t i c a , p.114-115 Pkrch 1 9 5 8 . 2. P,?[adge, J. a n d V. H o l e . S o c i a l E h q u i r y o n S c o t t i s h H o u s i n g E s t a L e . A r c h i t e c t s t J o u r n a l , V. 1 2 7 , p.539-546, A p r i l 1 0 , 1 9 5 8 . 3 . R i c h a r d s , S . _{J . Ifiinimum C e i l i n g H e i g h t s i n S o u t h Africa.} N a t i o n a l B u i l d i n g R e s e a r c h I n s t i t u t e , S o u t h Africa. B u l l e t i n No.

1 5 ,

p.17-37, Jan. 1 5 5 7 . 4. A S t u d y o f t h e I n f l u e n c e o f C e i l i n g H e i g h t i n D w e l l i n g H o u s e s . R e s e a r c h P a p e r No. 6 , B u i l d i n g R e s e a r c h S t a t i o n , T e c h n i o n , I s r a e l I n s t i t u t e o f T e c h n o l o g y , H a i f a , 1 9 5 7 .

5.

B a h n f l e t h , D.R., T,D, M o s e l e y a n d W.S. H a r r i s . Measure- m e n t of I n f i l t r a t i o n i n Two R e s i d e n c e s , Trans., A.S.H.A.E.,

V. 63, ~ ~ 4 . 3 9 - 4 7 6 , 1 9 5 7 .

6. m e i s e n ,

W.K.

S c h o o l P l a n t S t u d i e s

-

Lorrer C l a s s r o o m C e i l i n g s . A.I.A. BT 1 - 1 6 , S e p t . - O c t . 1 9 5 4 .

7. A D i s c u s s i o n on B u i l d i n g Bye-laws

-

A t a G e n e r a l M e e t i n g . R.I.B.A., 1 5 J u n e

1954,

J . , R.I.B.A., V.61, No. 9 , p.360-366, J u l y 1 9 5 4 .

8. Crowden, G.P. The H e i g h t o f Rooms i n D w e l l i n g s i n R e l a t i o n t o H e a l t h a n d C o m f o r t . J o u r . , R o y a l S a n i t a r y I n s t i t u t e , V.2, p.108-120, 1 9 5 1 .

9. B a s i c P r i n c i p l e s o f H e a l t h f u l Housing. h e r . P u b l i c H e a l t h A s s o c . , Committee o n t h e H y g i e n e o f H o u s i n g , New York, 1 9 5 4

( 4 4 ~ ) .

10. D r y s d a l e , J .W. N a t u r a l V e n t i l a t i o n , C e i l i n g H e i g h t a n d Room S i z e . P.ustralia, Common~vealth E x p e r i m e n t a l B u i l d i n g S t a t i o n , D u p l i c a t e d Document No. 22, Sydney, J u l y 1 9 4 7 . 11. S l e t t o , R.F. The R e l a t i o n s h i p Be-tween Housing S t a n d a r d s

a n d M e n t a l H e a l t h . N a t i o n a l H o u s i n g Agency, F e b r u a r y 1 9 4 6 . 1 2 . P r o c e e d i n g s o f S h o r t C o u r s e f o r A r c h i t e c t s i n P l a n n i n g f o r H e a t i n g a n d A i r C o n d i t i o n i n g i n Sma.11 B u i l d i n g s . U r b a n a , I l l i n o i s , 1 9 5 2 . 13. R ? e l p s , E a r l e B, P u b l L c . H e a l t h E n g i n e e r i n g . V . 1 , J . W i l e y , New York 1 9 4 8 ,

TABLE I

MINLTU3Unl CEILING HEIGHTS FOR DWELLINGS

A

-

main f l o o r , o r l i v i n g , d i n i n g , k i t c h e n B

-

second f l o o r , o r bedxooms

C

-

bathroom

D

-

t h e minimum h e i g h t t o which t h e a t t i c c e i l i n g may s l o p e , and

E

-

t h e p e r c e n t of s l o p e d c e i l i n g which may be l e s s t h a n t h e r e q u i r e d second f l o o r o r bedroo~n c e i l i n g h e i g h t .

The minimum h e i g h t of c e i l i n g s i s 7 f t 6 i n . , e x c e p t i n t h e s t a t e s o f Alabama, C a l i f o r n i a , F l o r i d a , and Georgia wh8r.e i t i s 8 f t 0 i n . , and t h e s t a t e s of Arizona, Tennessee, and Texas where it i s 8 f t O i n . f o r t h e main f l o o r .

.-

Document Jana da N a t i o n a l B u i l d i n g Code 1953 NRC R a t i o n a l B u i l d i n g Code 1941 NRC S h o r t e r Form of N.B.C. 1953 Code f o r I h e l l i n g C o n s t r u c t i o n 1950 Housing Standards 1958 NRC B u i l d i n g S t a n d a r d s 1954 CCJIHC Apt. Bldg. S t a n d a r d s 1954 C1I";KC Apt. Bldg. Standards 1944 CMIlC St. John' s, N f l d 1948 S a i n t John, N.B. 1954 Montreal 1918 Toronto 1947 Winnipeg 1947 Dauphin 1948 Vancouver By-law 2445, 1957 Aklavik 1956 J.S.A. B a s i c B u i l d i n g Code 1955 BOCA Uniform B u i l d i n g Code 1955 PCBOC S t a t e B u i l d i n g Code ( d r a f t ) 1955 N.Y. D e t r o i t 1956 Chicago 1947 Los Angeles 1949 F.H.A. Standards ( d r a f t ) 1957 P.H.A. D i s t r i c t s ( e x c l . P.R. & V . I . ) 1947 F.H.A. F u e r t o Rico and V i r g i n I s l a n d s pmER COUNTRIES

E n g l i s h Model Byelaws 1953 London B u i l d i n g By-law 1952 New Zealand Standard Code 1943 Sweden 1950

Japanese Bldg. Stds. Law Enforcement O ~ d e r 1950

B r a z i 3 Chile3

Egypt 3

S y r i a ( i n c l . c e i l i n g t h i c k n e s s )

Union of South A f r i c a Model Bldg. Regs. Union of South A f r i c a Reef Unif o m B u i l d i n g

and Cinematograph By-laws

These f i g u r e s come from a U.N. document d a t e d 1951 and t i t l e d "Minimum S t a n d a r d s of Occupancy and F i t n e s s f o r H a b i t a t i o n o f Urban lXlellings Ehforceable Under P e n a l t y

-

Third I n t e r i m Report of t h e S e c r e t a r y General (U.N. ) I 1 .

B f t i n . 7- 6 7- 6 7- 6 7- 6 7- 6 7- 6 7- 6 7- 6 7- 6 8- 0 8- 0 8 - 0 8- 0 8- 0 8- 0 7- 6 7- 6 7- 6 7- 6 7- 6 7- 6 8- 0 7- G2 7- 6 7- 64 7- 6 8- 0 c e i l i n g 9-10 11- 6 8- 0 8- 6 A~ f t i n . 8 - 0 8- 0 8- 0 8- 0 8- 0 8- 0 8- 0 8- 0 8- 0 8- 0 8- 0 8 - 0 0- ₀ 8- 0 8- 0 8- 0 7- 6 7- G 7- 6 8- 0 7- 6 8- 0 7- G2 7- 6 9- 0 7- 6 8- 0 8- 0 No 6-11 9-10 9- 2 9-10 13- 2 8- 0 8- 6

This dimension a p p l i e s only t o t h e "topmost s t o r y " .

These r e g u l a t i o n s a r e b e i n g prepared by t h o South A f r i c a n Bureau of Standards and a r e s t i l l i n d r a f t form. C f t i n . 7- 0 7- 0 7- 0 7- 0 7- 0 7- 0 7- 0 7- 0 7- 0 8- 0 8- 0 8 - 0 8- 0 8- 0 8- 0 7- 0 7- 6 7- 6 7- 0 7- 6 7- 6 7- 6 7- G2 7- 6 7- 0 h e i g h t 7- 6 7- 0

PLEASE NOTE: The f i g u r e s l i s t e d i n t h i s t a b l e a r e b a s i c f o r t h e code r e f e r r e d t o . S l i g h t d e v i a t i o n s a r e p e r m i t t e d i n most i n s t a n c e s . D f t i n . 4- 6 4- 6 4- 6 4- 6 4- 6 4- 6 4- 6 4- 0 4- 0 4- 6 5- 0 5- 0 5- 0 5- 0 5- 0 5- 0 3- 0 5- 0 r e g u l a t i o n s E: 25-50 5 0 50 5 0 50 50 50 50 50 5 0 50 5 0 50 50 33.3 50 66 50 50 50 50 ( 5 0 ) 50 50 50 50 5 0 J

FIGURE

I

3 2 I 0 9 8 7 I - - ~ - TURES ' I 6 5

CEILING HEIGHTS FOR DWELLINGS AS REQUIRED

BY BUILDING REGULATIONS IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

NOTE AVERAGE JANUARY AND JULY TEMPERATURES ( O F )

THE INDICATED TEMPERATURE RANGES ARE FROM T H E COLDEST TO 'THE WARMEST TEMPERA LISTED FOR THE GIVEN COUNTRIES IN THE RAND M ~ N A L L Y COSMOPOLITAN WORLD A T L A S

1953 EDITION.

APPENDIX A

C E I L I N G HEIGHTS FOR DViELLINGS

He S t i n s o n

(DBR

Technical Note NO,

256)

A t t h e r e q u e s t of tho Associate Committee on t h e N a t i o n a l Building Code of t h e N a t i o n a l Research Council t h e Building

S t a n d a r d s S e c t i o n of t h e D i v i s i o n of Bull-ding Research i s i n v e s - t i g a t i n g c e i l i n g h e i g h t s f o r dwellings, The r e s u l t s of t h e

i n v e s t i g a t i o n w i l l be used by t h e Associate Comriiittee i n t h e

development of a n a t i o n a l housing code f o r Canada and w i l l be made a v a i l a b l e t o a l l i n t e r e s t e d ,

The f i r s t s t e p i n t h i s i n v e s t i g a t i o n h a s been a review of a s e l e c t i o n of b u i l d i n g codes, s t a n d a r d s , and municipal by-laws frorn many countr-ies. The minimum c e i l i n g h e i g h t s f o r d w e l l i n g s s p e c i f i e d i n t h e s e documents a r e l i s t e d i n Table I , The t a b l e i n d i c a t e s t h a t c e i l i n g h e i g h t s a r e h i g h e r i n warmer r e g i o n s and l o n e r a s one goes towards the c o l d e r r e g i o n s

-

except i n Canada. The r e l a t i o n s h i p between c e i l i n g h e i g h t and temperature i s g r a p h i - c a l l y shown i n F i g , 1.

It should be n o t e d t h a t t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s t a b u l a t e d a r e n o t a l l on the same b a s i s , I n Canada, f o r i n s t a n c e , h e i g h t i s governed according t o room use whereas i n t h e United S t a t e s s e p a r a t e v a l u e s a r e s t a t e d f o r t h e f i r s t and second s t o r i e s , Cubic a r e a c o n t a i n e d i s given a s a secondary q u a l i f i c a t l o n i n t h e C a l i f o r n i a Housing Act and i n t h e st'andards from C h i l e , I n some i n s t a n c e s diagrams a r e used t o i l l u s t r a t e the i n t e n t ,

Minimum c e i l i n g h e i g h t s f o r occupancies o t h e r t h a n d w e l l i n g s a r e n o t u s u a l l y s p e c i f i e d a l t h o u g h the Uniform B u i l d i n g Code, t h e New York S t a t e Building Code, and t h e Building By-law of Chicago do

c o n t a i n such r e g u l a t i o n s .

The next s t e p i n t h i s i n v e s t i g a t i o n w i l l be an a t tempt t o determine t h e b a s i s f o r t h e v a r i o u s requirements l i s t e d . For t h i s purpose o r g a n i z a t i o n s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h the development of t h e documents

l i s t e d will be asked t o comment on t h e a t t a c h e d t a b l e and t o f a v o u r t h e D i v i s i o n with any information they may be a b l e t o c o n t r i b u t e with r e f e r e n c e t o t h e i r own s t a n d a r d s f o r room h e i g h t .

Research work a l r e a d y c a r r i e d o u t on t h i s s u b j e c t i s a l s o being analysed. Besides g i v i n g t h e Associate Committee on t h e

N a t i o n a l Building Code i n f o r m a t i o n f o r the development of a housing code f o r Canada, t h i s study may point o u t the need f o r f u r t h e r

r e s e a r c h . It i s theref ore hoped t h a t t h e r e s u l t s of t h i s study may e v e n t u a l l y be published f o r g e n e r a l information.