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(a) All windows and other openings for the purpose of light or ventilation, located within 30 inches above the existing ground or roof level immediately below such openings, shall be covered, if necessary, for their entire height and width, including frames, with wire cloth of 19 gauge or heavier, having a mesh of not larger than one-half inch.
(b) All windows and other openings for the purpose of light or ventilation in the exterior walls, which may be accessible to rats by way of exposed pipes, wires, conduits and other appurtenances shall be covered with guards of wire cloth of 19 gauge or heavier, having a mesh of not larger than one-half inch, or, in lieu of wire cloth covering, such pipes, wire, conduits and other appurtenances shall be blocked from rat usage by installing sheet metal guards as provided in the following section.
(1964 Code, § 19-359)
(a) Poles, wires, conduits and other appurtenances which may cause openings to be accessible to rats shall be blocked from rat usage, where such openings are not ratproofed as provided in the preceding section, by installing sheet metal guards of 24 gauge or heavier.
(b) Such guards, when used on horizontal pipes, wires, conduits or other appurtenances, shall be placed in a vertical position and shall be snugly fitted around the pipe, wire, conduit or other appurtenances. Such guard shall measure not less than 12 inches beyond and on all sides of the pipe, wire, conduit or other appurtenances where the intervening space between the wall and pipe permits, and shall extend 30 inches in an upward direction and 12 inches in a downward direction, and shall be securely fastened to the pipe, wire, conduit or other appurtenance and also to the adjacent wall wherever practicable, so that the guard will remain in a vertical position at all times.
(c) Such guards, when used on vertical pipes, wires, conduits or other appurtenances, shall be fitted snugly around the pipe, wire, conduit or other appurtenance, shall be placed in a horizontal position at a right angle thereto, and shall extend horizontally from the pipe, wire, conduit or other appurtenance for a minimum distance of 12 inches beyond and on all sides of the pipe, wire, conduit or other appurtenance where the intervening space between pipe and wall permits, and shall be securely fastened to the pipe, wire, conduit or other appurtenance and also to the adjacent wall wherever practicable, in such manner that the guard will remain in a horizontal position at all times.
(1964 Code, § 19-360)
Light wells with windows in exterior walls that are located below the outside ground level shall be protected from the ingress and egress of rats by one of the following methods.
(a) Installing over light wells cast iron or steel grills or steel gratings or other material of equal strength and rat-resisting properties, with opening in grills or gratings not to exceed one-half inch in shortest dimension.
(b) Installing securely to and completely covering existing metal grills that are broken or have openings larger than one-half inch in shortest dimension, or otherwise defective, with expanded metal of 18 gauge or heavier, having openings not greater than one-half inch in shortest dimension, or with 16 gauge or heavier wire cloth with one-half inch mesh.
(c) At the option of the person in custody of the business building, the opening in the wall of the building below the grate may be entirely closed with brick or concrete or partially closed and the remaining open space covered with 19 gauge or heavier wire cloth, with mesh not to exceed one-half inch.
(1964 Code, § 19-361)
(a) Business buildings constructed on piers having wooden floors with sills less than 18 inches above the surface of the ground shall have the intervening space between the floor sill and the ground protected against the ingress or egress of rats by installing a solid masonry or concrete wall not less than four inches thick or solid sheet metal curtain wall of 18 gauge or heavier around the entire perimeter of the business building, extending such curtain wall to a depth of not less than 18 inches below the surface of the ground level and extending outward laterally a distance of 12 inches from bottom of the curtain wall and fastening securely such curtain wall to the outside of the building with 24 gauge sheet metal in such manner as will prevent rats from entering the building.
(b) Business buildings constructed on piers having the lower surface of wooden floor sills more than 12 inches above the ground level shall have the intervening spaces between the floor sill and the ground protected against the ingress or egress of rats by installing curtain walls in accordance with the preceding subsection (a) above, or by protecting such business buildings against the ingress or egress of rats as provided in § 16-383.
(c) In lieu of the installation of curtain walls, all ground floors of wood construction may be replaced with concrete of not less than three inches in thickness, with the exterior walls protected for a height of 24 inches above the concrete floor with masonry, concrete or solid sheet metal of 24 gauge or heavier. Such exterior wall protection shall be securely tied into the concrete floor at all points.
(1964 Code, § 19-362)
In business buildings constructed on piers having wooden floor sills greater than 18 inches above the ground level, solid sheet metal coverage of 24 gauge or heavier may be installed snugly around each pipe, cable, wire, conduit or other utility service passing through wooden ground floor in lieu of curtain walls. The diameter of such metal coverage shall not be less than eight inches larger than the diameter of pipe, cable, wire, conduit or other utility service, and shall be securely fastened to the wooden floor. All other openings in wooden ground floors through which rats may gain entrance into double walls or the interior of business buildings, such as openings that may exist in floors and double walls above floor sills, shall be closed with 24 gauge or heavier solid sheet metal or 16 gauge or heavier wire cloth of one-half inch mesh, or with concrete or masonry. The intervening space between the ground and the floor sill shall be kept clean and clear. If the distance from the top of the floor sill to the under surface of a wooden floor is less than 18 inches, rat-stoppage treatment, as provided in other sections of this article, shall be used.
(1964 Code, § 19-363)
Wood frame constructed business buildings having concrete or masonry foundation walls shall have ventilators in foundation walls protected as provided in § 16-377. All miscellaneous wall openings, doors and windows shall be protected in accordance with this article.
(1964 Code, § 19-364)
In addition to the other provisions of this article relative to the protection of business buildings, the building shall be further protected by compliance with the following provisions.
(a) Leaning objects against buildings. No person in custody of such business building shall permit any fishing poles, ladders or other objects to lean against the side or wall of such business building in such manner that rats could climb on and reach any part of the structure or roof.
(b) Elevator shafts, etc. The person in custody of a business building shall also protect elevator shafts, fire escapes and guy wires in such manner that rats will not be able to gain ingress into such business buildings.
(c) Adjacent trees and limbs. It shall be the duty of any person in custody of a business building to trim the branches of all trees extending over, against or near any business building, and the same shall be cut and trimmed and kept cut and trimmed so that no part of any branch or any part of such tree shall be closer than ten feet to any business building, and the tops of all trees shall be cut back ten feet from the line extending perpendicularly from any exterior wall of a business building.
(1964 Code, § 19-365)
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