USE OF TIMBER

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 146, 21 June 1924, Page 11

USE OF TIMBER

IN BUILDING CONSTRUC-

TION

SEASONING AND PRESERVATION

RESPONSIBILITY FOR DRYING.

The milling conference was continued m Wellington yesterday afternoon, when' tho B committee reported on timber seasoning, preservation, etc., with a view to the conference making recommendations through the Forestry Department with reference to the kinds of timbers which should be used, their preservation, economy in building, hygiene, etc. ' Mr. W. M. Page presided.

The committee which dealt with the matter recommended to general conference as follows:—"In connection with the recommendation of tiie Department with respect to sa\vmillers seasoning timber, while this may be an^ ideal, after looking closely into the matter, the committee is of the opinion that it was not practicable for the following reasons: (L) That usually the sites of sawmills do not present tho most suitable places for the purposes of seasoning timber; (2) the risk of fire would be great; which leads to an abnormal insurance premium, amounting to £7 per cent, in the ca^e of timber on such a site, as against on average of 25s per cent, in the town where the timber merchant stores and seasons his timber; (3) it would involve an enormous capital outlay on the sawmiller, which would preclude its feasibility in the case of the majority of the people engaged in the sawmilling industry, and would-thus increase the cost of the finished article."

Suggesting a possible means of assisting in the difficulty the committee reported: "The committee has considered the question regarding the adoption of a specification which requires that no timber shall have a moisture content greater than 15 per cent, based on the oven-dry weight'of the wood, and isci tho opinion that iv. would be impossible for the committee to arrive at a definite decision on this point until some further information is available regarding a satisfactory sj'steni of kiln drying. In this connection the committee recommends that the Government, through tho Forestry Department, should hava investigations made with a view to finding some satisfactory kiln drying system for New Zealand timbers."

Mr. J. Read (Trades and Labour Council) presented the B' committee's report, and in doing so remarked that in bringing down the recommendations the committee desired to stress the point .that, generally speaking, while recognising tliut the Department was properly aiming at a high standard in all its recommendations relating to the uses and tieatnient of timber, the committee had had to keep in mind the effect on the cost of the article to the consumer. Seei;ig that it was so' desirable to keep down building costs, this phase of the question had necessarily entered into their considerations very largelly.

On the matter of protecting timbers from fungoid and insect attacks, tlio conference was addressed by Mr. Miller, Government Entomologist, who outlined the methods of attack, and the results of experiments with regard to treatment by creosoLe, gases, etc. Mr. Miller, in tcply to a question, eaid it was a fact that insects were being brought in in imported timbers. He had never seen a bug brought in in Oregon pine, though ho had seen the timber attacked by the - big house bug after • importation. Several bugs, had bten brought into New Zealand with imported Australian poles. So far there had been nothing to raise a scare about. He said that, in dealing with borer, creosote was quite effective, more particularly if the wood was thoroughly dry and tlio creosote. was hot. He did not know whether the- wood could be painted after creosote, but if there was any difficulty the creosote could be painted on the side opposite the paint, but not in sufficient quantities to go., right through the board. Inner boards and studs could all be treated. In the case of a house badly affected witli borer, lie did not think a great dual could be done. " ' The conference recommended concerted action on the part 'of all concerned to minimise the depredations of\ fungoid and insects, and deleted the reference, reported yesterday, to the success of patent gas as an eradicator. _ The conference then went on to consider the question regarding the adoption of- a ■ specification requiring that no timber shall have a moisture content greater than 15 per cent, based on tlio oven-dry weight of the wood] and the recommendation, .of B committee that the Forestry Department investigate with a view to finding a satisfactory kiln-drying system. ■ • Mr. A. E. Entrican stated that the onus should not be on the consumer to have the timber seasoned. He was not suggesting that the millers should carry i. cut all. the seasoning, or that all timber should be put through a kiln process. It was a part of the production "i the .article for sale. Mr. W. J. Butler said the sawmillers had done their full share towards securing a better method of seasoning. It was pointed out in discussion that .there were a number of "hot boxes" in the country, and kiln drying had not been tried sufficiently to enable an expression of opinion. Mr. T. Bloodworth said he would prefer timber straight from the bush than kdn-dried timber, for framing. Another delegate pointed out that the real question was as to who should be responsible for the seasoning. THE BUILDER'S BURDEN. One of the building delegates stated that he was pleased to know there was a chance of someone else helping in the seasoning. The builders had carried the burden for years. Ho preferred airdried timber every time, compared with kiln dried.

.Mr. ]<\ Turlcy said that if they expected the millers to season the timber they were expecting something beyond the bounds of even possibility Mr W. H. Winsor saict the millers could help immediately by stackfti" the timber, so that tho rain could get through it, instead of the timber bein" left lying in heaps. ° The cqnferenco adopted tho recommendation concerning kiln-drying investigations, and recommended that all timber, other than framing timbers, used m wooden construction, shall be thor oughly seasoned. Thoroughly seasoned" timber was defined as timber which has dried to the a moisture content in conformity with the humidity of the atmosphere of the place in which used. Mr. J. Butler, on the matter of seasoning at the mills, said timber would iot on the West Coast before it would dry.

Tho conference did not get further' than expressing •an opinion that, the seasoning of limber was a natural and logical function.

The conference recommended the establishment of creusolirig plants in H,' o lour main centres, a chargo to b,. Illlu ( o fur every 100 Feet li-oated. fJ.'i;n a ui>~ purU;K considered llie plants wca-'uo-

cessary, but that the Government was the only body that could possibly undertake the work.

The motion recommending the strict est supervision of removing old buildings was carried.

It was agreed that in rimu and matai "sap" be defined as exclusive of white wood. The sawmillers' present definition of heart timber was accepted. It was pointed out that the sawmillers' Custom was to regard the dark centre of the, tree as true heart, the remaining portion out to the white sap as sap, and the outer section about one inch wide as white sap. The "A" Committee's recommendation, as follows, was accepted:—"That with a view to the higher utilisation of our native timbers the Forestry Department be asked to conduct ■ experiments to determine whether all classes of three-ply wood are immune from the attack of borer, and, if so, will that Department endeavour to include three-ply woods for use in buildings." "C" Committee reported on technical matters referring to foundations, ventilation, division walls, plates j studs, braces, etc. In most cases the recommendations submitted by the Department, as a basis for discussion, were amended to a minor- extent and were adopted. GARAGES. The "C" Committee recommended that garages attached to or constructed underneath or within six feet of buildings, should be entirely constructed in brick or concrete, no opening should be allowed between the garage and ' the dwelling; and no pits be allowed for any purposes. One member considered there was no danger whatever in a. garage unless some one was very stupid with lights. The committee pointed out that the prohibition of pils was intended as a life-saving measure, owing to the danger of the heavy exhaust fumes entering the pit. After discussion the reference to pits was deleted, and the recommendation was adopted. FACTORIES AND MILLS. The committee deleted three pages of recommendations referring to mills, warehouses, and factory buildings, and recommended that all such buildings must be in fire-resistant materials except in certain cases in which the local authority might approve of some other form of construction, in which case fireextinguishiug appliances be provided. The recommendation was adopted. With reference to building statistics mentioned by the chairman in his opening address, a motion was passed recommending the Government to compile more detailed building statistics. | A motion recommending legislation requiring town-planning was passed. A conference to consider bylaws referring to and economical production of bucks and concrete was recommended Ihe conference closed with an expression of appreciation to the chairElan (Mr. W. M. Page) and to Mr. A K. JMitncan. The chairman said the recommendations would be forwarded to the Government, and would be printed and circulated.