BUILDING BY-LAWS.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XLV, Issue 6853, 16 April 1917, Page 4

BUILDING BY-LAWS.

Concrete Roofs

At a special meecing of the Borough Council held on tha 3rd inst. the following letter was read from -Mr C. Kirk, architect: "I understand that your building by-lawa now provide for 3ft high flank and rear parapet walls to all fulure buildings within the brick area. Sucb parapets, separating adjacent roofs, constructed- hating wood framing covered with iron, would undoubtedly grestly facilitate iv confining a fireoccurring to the building in which it started, and I take it, that this primarily ia your object in adopting parapet walls. But in ths case of buildingp constructed having roofs of concrete say sin thick; the necessity of parapets does? not arise, for, witb out doubt uny fire occurring within would be confined there by the nature of the construction of the building, end would, therefore, not jeopardise adjacent property. Assuming the foregoing fo be correct, I wish to place before you for consideration the mat ter of omitting parapets to rear and flank walla of buildings having concrete roofs covered with non-inflam-mable material such as Neuchatel Asphalt. My object in bringing this matter before you ia that a building t is prposed to have erected for his E. J. Tennent will probably be constructed having a roof to meet the conditions suggested in which parapet walls may be omitted. Therefore I shall be pleased if you will early consider thepoint, and inform me of your decision."

After^sorae discussion it was resolved on the motion of Cr Badger, seconded by Cr Whiting, that the subtituting of concrete for the roofing of Mrs Tennent'a building, the same to be covered with a non-inflammable material instead of the ordinary roof, is, in tbe opinion of ths Council, quite consistent with the spirit of ; by-law No. 4, and therefore quite relevant, and grants the application. ' . N

A further phase of the matter presented itself at the ordinary meeting of the Council on Tuesday when Cr Green moved the following motion, of which he had given notice:— : "That in order to encourage the builnding of structures of a fire proof nature this Council is of opinion that where the roof is of concrete or similar material the parapet could be emitted."

Thie was seconded by Cr Whiting and carried without discussion.