§ 82-398. Wood frame exterior construction.

(a)

Business buildings constructed on piers having wooden floor sills less than 12 inches above the surface of the ground shall have the intervening space between floor sill and ground protected against the ingress of rats by installing a solid masonry or concrete, not less than four inches thick or solid sheet metal curtain wall of 24 gauge, or heavier, around the entire perimeter of the business building and extending such curtain wall to a depth of not less than 36 inches below the surface of the ground level and fastening securely to the exterior wall of the business building in such manner as will prevent rats from entering the building.

(b)

In lieu of the installation of curtain walls, all ground walls and 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. Exterior wall protection shall be securely tied into the concrete floor at all points.

(c)

Business buildings constructed on piers having wooden floor sills greater than 12 inches above the ground level shall have the intervening spaces between floor sill and ground protected against the ingress of rats by installing curtain walls in accordance with subsection (c) of this section or by protecting such business buildings against the ingress of rats by installing solid sheet metal coverage 24 gauge or heavier snugly around each pipe, cable, wire, conduit or other utility service passing through any such wooden ground floor. Such metal coverage shall not be less than eight inches in diameter larger than the diameter of the pipe, cable, wire, conduit or other utility service and shall be securely fastened to the wooden floor. All other openings in a wooden ground floor through which rats may gain entrance into double walls or in 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 cloth of one-half inch mesh or with concrete or masonry. Wood frame constructed business buildings having concrete or masonry foundation walls shall have ventilators in the foundation walls protected as herein provided in section 82-394. All miscellaneous wall openings, doors and windows shall be protected in accordance with the provisions of this article.

(Code 1956, § 54-13)