COMMITTEE'S WORK

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 69, 23 March 1931, Page 11

COMMITTEE'S WORK

INTERIM REPORT

-, At tlio,present'time all those,planning new buildings in(New Zealand: are:-, more or less in doubt as to the best typo of construction' to, adopt for various needs. There is also apprehension in, the! public- mind as to 'the''safetyof existing buildings. ' The Building Kegulatibhs .Committee.-feelsi that .'the fears' of ..the public have been '.'.perhaps, increased unduly, by^he publicity given to the build?. ing: failures iu.HawltesJ.Bay,■'■ The.fall, of buildings was undoubtedly dramatic,, spectacular, and unexpected.' ,'. Equally spectacular ..are ,the buildings which have stood. ~. "■:';' ■■•',.',."..... ..' .-•■,;, At the outset it .may be. stated,that the .recent earthquake i was Very severe and buildings were subjected to an extreme'test,, yet certain buildings, built with due regard to ._ established, principles of construction, successfully with-,. stood the shock. In an overwhelming majority of cases where buildings failed, the wreckage revealed serious faults' in design or construction, and frequentl ly in both design, and construction,, which it should not have required an earthquake to briiig to light. The efforts of the .committee aro being directed to the preparation of a comprehensive. building code adapted to the needs of the whole Dominion, and consolidating the rules of good design and construction in steel, and concrete, brick, stone, and wood. The task of perusing "existing bylaws is a formidable bae^ but such a study points to the great economic advantage rt6 the country _which will; ensue from.;-the:, existence,, of .a ..standardised code., of practice. 'The latest data from rese.areh, workers in other countries subject to earthquake are -being obtained. ;The permissible height in relation ,io .bulk and occupancy for different; classes of construction is a.major.question, .while minor items ;; such^as wall ties, an.chprsj andl bonding' metal .have su&h d'ar-reach-ing; effect'■that 'determination ,of the best-types warrants'deep research. : The preparation of a complete code which will be acceptable to the building interests of New Zealand .will, require much time; but it should be possible to publish interim reports for:. the guidance of the public, and the following is now submitted:—- : -.•;''■,;.. "The fundamental ■principle underlying, nearly all- ;earth'quake : resisting construction is that every; minor' part shall be thoroughly bonded to surround,ing parts and the whoje-fabric1 bound together to form, ; as nearly.as. possible, one unit or monolith.- Thus in steel frame ...construction beamsVand columns should be thoroughly-interconnected to provide 'continuity'of action/.botween beams and columns and;-between'- columns and foundations^ In reinforced cpne^ete,.similarly,; 'continuity'-,of action between adjacent members should be carefully provided for. ;, l; In unit masonry construction—whether brick or stone—a. good niort.ii- and metallic tying of the components''is required. In foundations, where isolated piers occur, these should be interconnected in two directions1 at right angles to one another. In wooden buildings' the, superstructure should be well fastened to- the foundations and the walls' and roof well braced.' . . "Turning now to the, dangers from existing buildings;' in- the case of buildings- with shop -.windows on the ground floor, the front, walls should be tied well back into the building at.each floor level and at the roof. 'Merely bolting to woodwn floor joists parallel to the front wall-is quite inadequate. Certain terminals and nnials can doubtless bo removed with' advantage, and parapets reduced in heights Any cornice which, depends in" any way on the weight of tho parapet for, its stability should be cut back and masonry balconies and heavy projections removed unless well anchored through the'walls. Few of tho older brick buildings have tho wall plates at upper floors and roof adequately anchored to the walls, .and in all such cases rods should 'be inserted across the building and bolted through the walls. By such means tho danger of walls swinging out and permitting the floor or roof to drop will be averted. The cpmuiittee.is of opinion that owners should, in their own interests, obtain competent advice andtake,. qarly steps;. to remove, any risk which may be present. "Architects, structural cngineors, and.buildors are urged, where possible, to see Hawkcs Bay before the debris is cleared away, where a. never-to-be-forgotten lesson, is now to bo learned."