Practice Note for Authorized Persons,

Buildings Department Registered Structural Engineers and APP-19

Registered Geotechnical Engineers

Projections in relation to Site Coverage and Plot Ratio

Building (Planning) Regulations 20 & 21

In accordance with regulation 2 of the Building (Planning) Regulations

(B(P)R), site coverage (SC) means the area of a site that is covered by the buildings
erected thereon. Hence all components of a building, including all projections, should
be accountable for SC. SC is also a measure to control the building bulk.

Minor projecting features

2. In the case of plot ratio (PR), the definition of gross floor area (GFA) uses
the term “external wall”. Clearly “wall” does not just mean concrete or brick material,
and windows and parapet railings should obviously also be included. For projections
from a building, it is accepted that if the projections are not at a floor level, or potential
floor level, and do not dominate the face of a building, measurement as accountable GFA
is not required.

3. It follows from the above that the following projections from the face of a
building, having no significant impact on building bulk, need not be counted for SC and
PR:

(a) pitched roof eaves and flat roof overhangs complying with the
projection and clear height limits in regulation 7(1) of the B(P)R
(provided they are not contained within parapet walls as part of
an accessible flat roof);

(b) individual air-conditioner boxes and platforms of reasonable

size and projecting not more than 750 mm, which have a built-in
system for condensate disposal;

(c) air-conditioner platforms complying with Appendices B and C

of Code of Practice on Access for External Maintenance;

(d) individual projections/window hoods complying with B(P)R

and porches having projection not exceeding 2 m;

(e) window cills and window surrounds projecting not more than
100 mm;

(f) string courses, fins and architectural mouldings complying

with the projection and clear height limits in regulation 7(1) of
the B(P)R (but not structural beams and columns);

/(g) …
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(g) window flower boxes projecting not more than 500 mm and
complying with the design requirements as illustrated in
Diagram 1 in Appendix A;

(h) external drainage pipes and gutters complying with the

projection and clear height limits in regulation 7(2) of the B(P)R;

(i) sunshades solely used for the purpose of energy conservation

projecting not more than 1.5m from the external wall complying
with the criteria set out in Practice Note for Authorized Persons,
Registered Structural Engineers and Registered Geotechnical
Engineers (PNAP) APP-67 and PNAP APP-156;

(j) reflectors projecting not more than 1.5 m from the external walls,
subject to submission of quantitative assessment of
environmental benefits to the Building Authority (BA) for
consideration in case they project over 0.5 m from the external
walls;

(k) canopies projecting not more than 2 m over an entrance to a

building;

(l) drying racks and supporting frames for light fittings,

antennas or transceivers for public telecommunications
services complying with the projection and clear height limits in
regulation 7(3) of the B(P)R;

(m) retractable awnings for external wall openings complying with

the projection and clear height limits in regulation 7(4) of the
B(P)R and applicable positional, projection and clear height
requirements under minor works item 2.43 in Schedule 1 of the
Building (Minor Works) Regulation; and

(n) metal supporting frames for growing of plants (including

vertical frame for climbing and/or weeping plants and
panel/modular planters) projecting not more than 300 mm from
the external walls within lot boundary. A sample is provided in
Diagram 2 in Appendix A.

4. It is emphasised that, notwithstanding paragraph 3 above, if any of the

listed features is so exaggerated, excessive in scale, or defeats the provisions of the
Buildings Ordinance (BO) (for example, a structural beam doubling as a flower box) or
is provided or designed in an unusual way, that feature will be counted for SC and, if
appropriate, also for PR.

Projecting windows

5. It follows from the above that all other projections must be included in SC
and PR calculations. However, projecting windows will not be regarded as GFA and
will be accepted as not counting for SC and PR, if they satisfy all the following criteria
within the storey from which they project:

/(a) …
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(a) the projecting window is from living room, dining room or

bedroom of domestic accommodation only;

(b) only one such projecting window is allowed per room and it should
be located on one external wall only;

(c) the elevational area 1 of the projecting window does not exceed
50% of the area1 of the external wall where the projecting window
is located;

(d) the extent of the projection is not more than 100 mm from the outer
face of the main external wall;

(e) the base is not less than 500 mm above finished floor level;

(f) the window complies fully with regulation 3A of the B(P)R. For
the purposes of this requirement, the height of 1 100 mm
protective barrier will be measured from floor level and any part
of the window within this dimension should be fixed or otherwise
suitably protected in line with paragraph (2) of the said Regulation;
and

(g) the projecting windows will not form a piecemeal addition to

existing buildings.

Covered areas under large projecting/overhanging features

6. For innovative building designs (excluding shopfront overhead, signboard

and the like), the BA has been taking a pragmatic approach on the acceptance of different
projecting/overhanging features. Save for the areas covered by projecting features
which provide a weather-protected shelter capable of functional use, it is accepted that
where there is no objection from the relevant government departments and the clear
height of the projecting feature is more than 7.5 m above the covered areas, the covered
areas satisfying the following criteria will not be regarded as GFA and thus are not
required to be included in the GFA calculation:

(a) The ratio of horizontal width of the covered area to the clear
height of the projecting features above the covered area is not
less than 1:8, or

(b) Access to the covered area is not possible and abuse is unlikely.

7. For the covered area under special design of projecting/overhanging

features which do not satisfy the requirements in paragraph 6 above, such as twisted
building form, inclined external wall design, etc., justifications should be provided with
the merits of the design for consideration of GFA exemption (please also see PNAP
APP- 2).
/Air-conditioner …

1
For the avoidance of doubt, while the thickness of the enclosures of the window should be
included in the elevation area of the window, the thickness of the enclosure walls and slabs (floor
and ceiling) of the room where the projecting window is located should be discounted for the
purpose of calculating the area of the external wall.
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Air-conditioner boxes/platforms projecting over street

8. Except those complying with Part II of the B(P)R, no projections will

normally be allowed over streets unless they can be justified in the public interest. In
this context the projection of individual air-conditioner boxes/platforms not exceeding
750 mm and window hoods not exceeding 500 mm may be permitted, provided they are
at a height of not less than 2.5 m above ground (please also see PNAP APP-42). For
proposals relating to wholesale conversion of industrial buildings and other similar
alteration and addition works, application for exemption from section 31(1) of the BO
and/or modification of regulations 20 and 21 of the B(P)R for the erection of individual
air-conditioner boxes/platforms with a projection of more than 750 mm from the external
walls with or without projection over a street will be favourably considered only if there
is sufficient justification to demonstrate that there are difficulties in placing the air-
conditioners inside the premises due to the design and layout constraints in the existing
building. As a condition for the granting of the exemption/modification, Grade 1 room
air-conditioners as specified in the Code of Practice on Energy Labeling of Products
issued by the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department should be installed upon
completion of the proposed works.

Projecting greenery at common parts of building

9. To encourage the provision and proper maintenance of greenery at

building exterior while controlling the impact on building bulk, the BA will consider
favourably on application for exemption from PR and SC calculations of the following
projecting features within lot boundary and located in and only accessible from the
common parts of the building 2:

(a) Planters (with or without vertical frames for climbing and/or

weeping plants) projecting not more than 600mm from the
external walls as illustrated in Diagram 3 in Appendix A. The
planters should comply with the relevant safety provisions under
the Code of Practice on Access for External Maintenance and be
provided with an automatic irrigation system and an adequate
drainage system. The granting of GFA concession for such
planters is NOT subject to compliance with the pre-requisites and
the overall cap on GFA concessions stipulated in PNAP APP-151.

/(b) …

2
Undertaking letter should be submitted by the developer or owner to designate the features as
common parts in the Deed of Mutual Covenant (DMC) with details of the use and location
clearly indicated. Such DMC should contain binding and enforceable terms and conditions
included for the control, management and maintenance of the facilities where applicable, of
such features. Where no DMC is to be in force for a development, such designation shall be
incorporated into the Sales and Purchase Agreement, Assignment, Tenancy Agreement or
conveyancing document such that the future owners or tenants are aware of their rights and
liabilities (if applicable). The letter of undertaking should be registered in the Land Registry
before applying for the occupation permit.
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(b) Maintenance walkway projecting from the external walls

providing maintenance access to the planters in paragraph 9(a)
above 3 or metal supporting frames for growing of plants in
paragraph 3(n) above as illustrated in Diagram 4 in Appendix A.
The maintenance walkway should satisfy the following criteria:

(i) There is a minimum 150mm drop in level from the area

which leads to the maintenance walkway;

(ii) Relevant safety provisions under the Code of Practice on

Access for External Maintenance are complied with;

(iii) The width of the maintenance walkway should be not less

than 400mm and not more than 600mm; and

(iv) The granting of GFA concession for the maintenance

walkway is subject to compliance with the pre-requisites
and the overall cap on GFA concessions stipulated in PNAP
APP-151.

Drainage provisions for cantilevered reinforced concrete structures

10. PNAP APP-68 has given guidance on the safe design and construction of
cantilevered reinforced concrete structures. For projects incorporating cantilevered
reinforced concrete structures, means to prevent the accumulation of water and
corresponding surface water drainage provisions for such structures conforming to the
recommendations of paragraph 4 in Appendix A of PNAP APP-68 should be shown on
the general building plans and drainage plans respectively for approval.

( YU Po-mei, Clarice )
Building Authority

Ref. : BD GP/BREG/P/2 (V)

This PNAP is previously known as PNAP 68

First issue March 1980
Last revision September 2020
This revision September 2023 (AD/NB1) (Paragraph 3 amended, paragraph 9 and
Diagrams 2 to 4 in Appendix A added)

3
It should be noted that if the overall projection of the maintenance walkway and planter
exceeds 750mm, they will be regarded as causing obstruction to prescribed windows.
 Appendix A
(PNAP APP-19)

Window flower box design requirements

Diagram 1

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Sample of metal supporting frames for growing of plants

Diagram 2

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Sample of projecting planters

Diagram 3

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 Sample of metal supporting frames for growing of plants
and projecting planters with maintenance walkway

Diagram 4

(Rev. 9/2023)

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