(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)