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The Laws of Fiji
Last Updated: 1 December 2016

[PHA 25,145] Condition of premises — private hotels and boarding houses8 

8
In every private hotel or boarding house—
(1) the dining room shall be at least 15 feet long, 12 feet wide, with walls at least 8 feet high;
(2) the kitchen shall have a minimum area of 120 square feet and the ceiling shall be at least 8 feet high;
(3) the floors of the dining room and kitchen shall be constructed of cement concrete covered with tiles or well-smoothed and properly jointed wood;
(4) the internal walls of the dining room and kitchen shall be covered with non-absorbent material having a smooth surface or shall be of wood joined vertically with tongued and grooved joints, provided that the use of traditional materials may be permitted for the walls of any dining room at the discretion of the local authority;
(5) the internal walls of the dining room and kitchen shall be painted, in the first instance, with at least 3 coats of paint, the final coat of which shall be a light colour to the satisfaction of the local authority, and at intervals of not more than 2 years with one coat, provided that—
  • (a)if in the opinion of the local authority the appearance is satisfactory the interval of 2 years may be increased to such longer period as the local authority may determine;
  • (b)this subregulation shall not apply to traditional materials used for decorative purposes in any dining room or to the wall of any kitchen which is tiled;
(6) there shall be provided in the kitchen and every habitable room one glazed window or glazed door at the least opening directly to the external air, and the total area of such window, or if there be more than one, of the several windows, clear of the sash frames shall be equal to at least one-tenth of the floor area of such room.

Every window so provided shall be constructed so that one-half at the least may be opened;

(7) there shall be provided in every room for every 100 feet or part thereof of floor space, 120 square inches at the least of unobstructed ventilation to the outer air by means of air bricks or other efficient ventilators situated at or near the level of the ceiling, provided that this subregulation shall not apply where the building is of iTaukei bure type construction and has a thatched roof;

[subreg (7) am Decree 7 of 2011 s 4, effective 1 March 2011]

(8) there shall be provided in every bedroom having a window or windows in one external wall cross-ventilation by means of at least 40 square inches of unobstructed opening in some wall of the room other than that in which the window or windows are situated. Such opening may be by an additional window, fireplace, fan-light, air-brick or other suitable means, provided that this subregulation shall not apply where the room is air conditioned and the air conditioning plant is in use at all times when the room is occupied;
(9) all rooms shall be ceiled with tongued and grooved boarding, masonite, plaster board, soft board or other such material approved by the local authority, provided that this subregulation shall not apply where the building is of iTaukei bure type construction and has a thatched roof;

[subreg (9) am Decree 7 of 2011 s 4, effective 1 March 2011]

(10) 
  • (a)there shall be provided separate sanitary conveniences for each sex in accordance with the following scales—
    • (i)where accommodation is provided for not more than 8 occupants, at least one closet for males and one closet for females;
    • (ii)where accommodation is provided for any number of occupants exceeding 8—
      • (aa)for males: at least one closet for every 8 males or fraction thereof;
      • (bb)for females: at least one closet for any number of females up to 6; and one additional closet for each additional 8 females or fraction thereof;
    • (iii)one urinal shall be provided for any number of males up to 8; and one additional urinal for each additional 16 males or fraction thereof, provided that where the premises are connected to a public sewerage system or to a septic tank, a pedestal closet having a lift-up seat shall be deemed to be a urinal;
    • (iv)in the case of licensed premises, such additional closets and urinals shall be provided as, in the opinion of the local authority, the needs of the public frequenting such premises may require;
    • (v)for the purposes of subparagraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) of this paragraph, “occupant” shall include servants and other employees whether or not resident on the premises;
  • (b)wash-hand-basins with water laid thereto shall be provided in convenient association with all closets or groups of closets; and the number and position of such wash-hand-basins shall be such that, in the opinion of the local authority, the needs and convenience of all occupants or users of such building will be adequately served;
(11) 
  • (a)if the private hotel or boarding house is constructed to accommodate not more than 8 persons there shall be provided—
    • (i)a bathroom equipped with either a plunge bath, a shower and a wash-hand-basin, with water laid to each or 2 separate showers and wash-hand-basins with water laid to each; or
    • (ii)a separate bathroom for each bedroom, equipped with a shower and a wash-hand-basin, with water laid to each;
  • (b)if the private hotel or boarding house is constructed to accommodate more than 8 persons there shall be provided—
    • (i)one bathroom, equipped as prescribed in regulation 8(11)(a)(i) for each sex for every 6 bedrooms or part thereof contained in such building; or
    • (ii)a separate bathroom for each bedroom, equipped with a shower and a wash-hand-basin with water laid to each;
  • (c)in every such private hotel or boarding house wash-hand-basins, or other approved means of performing personal ablutions shall be provided; and where wash-hand-basins are not provided in all bedrooms, the number of such wash-hand-basins shall be not less than the number of bathrooms required by paragraphs (a) and (b);
  • (d)where grouped bathrooms are provided, each such group shall be confined to use by persons of one sex only;
  • (e)the total floor area of a grouped bathroom shall be not less than the total area calculated by allowing 15 square feet for each shower compartment, 30 square feet for each bathroom, 6 square feet for each wash-hand-basin and an adequate area for access to the same;

[subreg (11) am LN 60 of 1967 reg 3, effective 7 July 1967]

(12) no dining room or kitchen shall be used as a sleeping room or living room or have direct communication with a sleeping or living room or have in it any opening into any drain or sewer, not equipped with a trapped soil or waste pipe;
(13) the kitchen and dining room shall be maintained free from flies and other insects, at all times;
(14) all rooms and furniture shall be maintained in a clean and wholesome condition and free from fleas, bugs, cockroaches, ants and other like insects, and for this purpose all cracks, crevices, lodgements, bedding and other harbourage shall be thoroughly treated with approved insecticide or other approved method at least once in every 3 months or as often as the medical officer of health or sanitary inspector may direct;
(15) all bed linen shall be kept clean at all times and shall be changed after use by each occupant;
(16) all pillows shall be covered by a bag made of suitable impervious material and this shall be placed between the pillow and the pillow slip;
(17) in every kitchen there shall be provided electric or other suitable lighting without undue glare or shadow and sufficient for the efficient carrying on of the preparation and cooking of meals;
(18) there shall be provided a sufficient number of refrigerators or other proper and sufficient accommodation for the storage and preparation of all food and drink, so constructed as to be readily cleansed and so as to protect food from damp and from access by rats or other vermin and from contamination of any sort, and free from dust and flies at all times;
(19) there shall be provided sufficient and suitable receptacles for the storage of all uncooked vegetables and no other food shall be stored in such receptacles;
(20) there shall be provided and maintained at least 2 portable metal receptacles of a size and shape approved by the local authority and fitted with efficient tight-fitting metal lids for the disposal of refuse and all refuse from the hotel shall be placed therein, and the bins shall be secured in such a manner as to prevent their being overturned by dogs; where there is no public garbage disposal service, all such refuse shall be disposed of to the satisfaction of the local authority;
(21) a hood of hard, smooth, impervious material connected to a flue and with a good draught and proper chimney to the open air shall be provided for every stove used for cooking purposes;
(22) there shall be provided in every kitchen at least 2 sinks and draining boards of a type approved by the medical officer of health or sanitary inspector with a constant supply of hot and cold water sufficient for the adequate washing, cleansing and rinsing of all glasses, crockery and other utensils, and there shall be provided and used a suitable detergent for the proper sterilisation of all such glasses, crockery and utensils to the satisfaction of the medical officer of health or sanitary inspector, such detergent being of sulphonated fatty alcohols, quarternary ammonium compounds, sodium hypochlorite or other tasteless, odourless and harmless sterilent which may from time to time be approved by the local authority;
(23) there shall be provided in every kitchen and bar at least one wash-hand-basin with a constant supply of hot and cold water, with a clean towel or a supply of paper towels, soap and a nailbrush for the use of persons employed in the preparation, storage and service of food or drink for sale;
(24) there shall be provided proper and sufficient racks, stands or boards for the efficient draining of any water from all freshly cleansed glasses, crockery, cutlery or utensils, and no cloth shall be used for the purpose of drying any such glasses, crockery, cutlery or utensils, nor shall any other method be employed whereby cleansed glasses, crockery, cutlery or utensils may become recontaminated;
(25) 
  • (a)there shall be provided under every beer bowser a waste trap or tray containing a quantity of methyl violet sufficient to impart to the contents thereof a distinct violet colour;
  • (b)no glass, mug or other receptacle shall be placed in any such waste trap or tray.

[subreg (25) insrt LN 22 of 1964 reg 4, effective 20 March 1964]