FAULTY WORK

Evening Post, Issue 20, 24 January 1935, Page 12

FAULTY WORK

SCHOOL BUILDINGS

SUPERVISOR'S DISCOVERY

ACTION.-BY BOAKD

| Two reports presented to the \y relI lington Education Board at its' meeting this morning by the draughtsmansupervisor (Mr. G. Druuimond) showed that construction work carried out at two schools under the board's supervision had been done in a very faulty manner, foundations being incomplete and reinforcing materials omitted. The reports, which vrure received in committee, provoked indignant comment regarding the contractor, and the bourd agreed that the matter should be published, but that the names of the contractor and the schools should be suppressed in the meantime. The board decided to refer the reports of the supervisor to the architect with a request that he should make a statement on the niatter. The supervisor was instructed to prepare a report on ■ the work required to put the buildings into proper order.

The draughtsman-supervisor reported having visited a school building where the contractor was working on the foundations. A close examination of the work showed that the whole of it .was'entirely-unsatisfactory. One foundation wall was filled to within nine inches of the ground line with loose filling on which water was being poured. On top of this a start'had been made to deposit mixed concrete. The reinforcing rods required by the specifications had not been put in. Another wall that had been filled in was examined, and -it was found that- it had been filled in with rubble in a similar way. The porch was then examined, and the foundations were found to bo eight inches instead of two feet deep. . ■ . . ■

DUMMY REINFORCING RODS,

As there were no rods protruding from the completed wall, the,contractor was asked if they had been put in. He said they had been. The concrete was then cut away and only one rod was found, and this was hooked back at the end and was easily .removed. "This, I believe," Mr. Drummond reported, "to be. only a short length of rod; There are two rods protruding from the end of the porch foundation (which should have three Kods), and an endeavour was made to move these, with the result that they proved to be only dummies."

The contractor had stated that the work was left to the men on one halfday as he was absent from the job, but tho north trench was being- filled in whilo he was present, the report continued. The contractor said that the piles contained tho two rods specified, but when two piles were broken through no rods were visible. Upon digging down beside a pile it was found that it extended only six inches into the ground and the bolts used for securing the piles were, eight inches long instead of, eleven inches, there being only three'inches of the bolt in the concrete. ■•.•'.

Tho contractor admitted that drainlaying work! had been done by a earpenfer instead of by a licensed drainlayer. . . ■

THE EXECUTIVE'S ACTION.

A second visit was made to the school, when the board's chairman (Mr. W.i V.: Dyer), Messrs.. L. J. McDonaJd, C. 11. W. Nichplls, ahdCplonpl T. W. McDonald were present.

After examining the work the executive resolved:

"That tho contractor be asked to clear the sito of all loose earth and 'concrete, and thereafter make a fresh start with the foundations in accordance, with the plans and specifications; and,that all concrete be mixed under supervision." .-■•...

By direction of tho executive and in the presence of the chairman the following verbal instructions were issued to the contractor:—■

1., "That the whole of the ' concrete ! and, loose earth now on the site of the additions be removed and deposited ov6r the bank in the position pointed out at the rear of the shelter shed. 2. "That all trenches and pile, holes be excavated to their respective clepths, cut square and true, boxing erected plumb, and rods placed in position with cuds hooked and hung in stirrups-^-all in accordanco with the plans and specifications. 3. f'That no concrete shall bo mixed or deposited in the trenches until an inspection has been made. 4. "That all concrete required for the works must be mixed under supervision. 5. "That the lengthening of-the storm drain be carried out by a registered drainlayer. 6. "That tho broken earthenware storinwater pipe (not gully trap) be made good by the contractor at his expense." TAULTY PLASTERING.

Reporting on work dono by the saino contractor when building additions to another school the supervisor stated that the plaster on the baso was poor, the ventilators being out of plumb. The plaster in the chimney shaft was from 1-8 to i inch thick instead of 5-8 inch, and tho finished plaster work was full of trowel" marks and other defects. Tho window operators, which did not conply with tho specifications, had been removed from the windows. Galvanised cabin hooks had been fixed for staying back the entrance doors instead of colonial gate catches and eycbolts. Split timbers, bad shakes in two lengths of timber, and badly-cut timbers were noticed. I

An examination of thq- chimney from -the roof' showed that it was 7-J inches short and was a quarter of an inch out of plumb in four feet. The chimney liners and chimney pot were not linable and the flue liners stopped short near the top of the chimney, the short remaining height being lined with galvanised iron-which had been battered back in an endeavour to adjust the' chimney pot to a central position.

An examination of the foundations showed that the south wall had a total over-all depth of 2 feet 2 inches instead of 5 feet 10 inches. The contractor said that two .rods instead of three had been put in the foundations, tied with stirrups five feet apart instead of two feet six inches apart. He admitted that certain parts of the work were not reinforced according to the specifications. Some of the piles had no rods and others had only one rod. The rods specified had not been pvit in tho floor of the latrines. !

The contractor was instructed to open up certain parts, and after this was done another inspection was made. The north wall foundations were found to be twelve inches in the ground instead of four feet;' the base of the chimney was two feet seven inches instead of five feot, and the width and thickness of the footing was under the specifications; tho foundations of the latrines were five and a half and six inches in the ground instead of sixteen inches.

MEMBERS' COMMENTS,

The chairman said that the contractor could do nothing but plead guilty. Ho had made the excuse that ho was off the job for half-a-day, but to say that it was not possible for him to know what was going on on such a small job was ridiculous.

The. reports made him ver^r worried

about tho safety of school buildings, Mr. C. H. Nicholls' said, Tho reports showed that there was a positive scandal. The lives of" the children were being endangered by faulty work. "It seems to me," he said, "that we will have to have a reliable man there to sco that tho work is done properly.'' Mr. Nicholls congratulated the supervisor on tho way he had examined and reported on the jobs. The chairman said that action had been taken to see that the work was properly done. Mr. W. E. Gascoignc said that the i board ■ should have . some security, against such faulty work. j Mr. P. C. Meyer said that all concrete work should be done under supervision.

Tho board agreed that the action taken by the executive to ensure the faulty work being corrected should be endorsed.

Mr. W. 11. Jackson: And the contraotor black-listed. ■

The Chairman: Yes,

Discussing tho second, school, Mr. Nicholls said he was astounded to hear such a report. Thero seemed to be nothing right in tho job. If they could look under the foundations of other schools thero was no telling what they would find.

Mr. Jackson said tho report showed that the board had been subjected to daylight robbery.

The chairman said ho had inspected the job and the' Contractor had pleaded guilty to every point in tho report except the chimney, which was not discussed. "The ouly thing we can do," ho said, "is to ask the supervisor to say what is tho best thing to do to make the thing right. We may be able to put some piles down to strengthen what has been done, and all concrete, work that has not .been put in should not bo paid-for."

WARNING THE COMMUNITY.

At this stage tho chairman said that ho had received a request from, the Press for permission to report the discussion, as jt was a matter of public interost.

- Mr. L. 'J. McDonald moved that, subject to no names being mentioned, the Press be permitted to report the matter. Such a course, ho said, would warn other public bodies of the need for caution. Nothing but good could come from giving the community warning. . • Mr. Nicholls, in seconding the motion, said that tho community had to find tho money for tho work: and should be informed that the board was taking steps to prevent Shoddy work. The motion was carried, and after further discussion it was agreed that tho architect should bo asked for a statement before the matter was carvied furthe* I