DANGER FROM EARTHQUAKES

Evening Star, Issue 23511, 27 February 1940, Page 3

DANGER FROM EARTHQUAKES

• DEATH-TRAPS " IN CHRISTCHURCH imLMNfiS NOT. SHOCK-PROOF BfNEWN CONFORMS TO MODERN BY-LAWS Christchurch is the only main centre in New Zealand (Dunedin conforming to the standard) which has not adopted .the model building by-laws requiring all new buildings to be of earthquakeresistant construction. Conformity with the New Zealand Standard Code of Building By-laws was recommended recently by the Christchurch City Council’s By-laws Committee, which stated that in the last five years many buildings had been erected or reconditioned in Christchurch which must collapse in any major earthquake shock, hut that the construction of these “veritable death-traps ” could not be prevented under the existing by-laws. The committee’s recommendation was adopted, and it was decided that as there are many clauses in the existing city by-laws dealing with matters not hovered by the standard code, pending the consolidation of the city by-laws, the existing city by-laws should be read subject to the standard code as provided for in clause 106, which is as follows: — “ AH by-laws heretofore in force relating to the erection and use of buildings shall be read subject to this bylaw, and in the event of conflict between the provisions of any such bylaw and the provisions of this by-law the provisions of this by-law shall prevail” IMPROVEMENT IN MATERIALS. The committee reported that at its last meeting the city engineer (Mr A. R. Galbraith) had strongly recommended the adoption of the code and had submitted the following report:— “This standard code,'which has just been published, in parts I. to IV. covers the basic requirements of building construction, part V. the detailed specification for plain and reinforced concrete, and part VI. the construction of panel walls, in framed structures, and is the outcome of the careful revision of the corresponding parts of the model building by-law, the adoption of- which by the Christchurch City Council has been strongly advocated from time to time since its issue in 1935, but so far without success. • “ Since the last revision of the city building by-laws there have been many improvements in building materials and methods of construction, _ and , it is essential that our existing by-laws should be brought up to date from time to time. There is no better way of doing this than by adopting the standard code, which embodies the combined knowledge and experience of the leading engineers, architects, and builders of this Dominion.- “ The standard code,, which has been evolved after several years’ experience - with the model building by-law by the other three main centres, represents an even greater improvement over the present city by-laws by recognising, the improvement in the strength and the greater uniformity of present-day building materials, especially steel and reinforced concrete, by permitting the use of higher working stresses of these materials. Moreover, . provision is made for still higher stresses when the degree of excellence of the design, supervision, workmanship, 'and testing of materials ensure that' these

of materials ensure mat mo>e stresses may be safely allowed. RESISTANCE TO EARTHQUAKES. *“ In addition to this, especially since the Murchison and Napier earthquakes, it has been generally recognised that buildings in New Zealand must be designed and constructed to have a definite resistance to earthquake shocks. For this purpose the code divides buildings into three classes:— (a) Electric power" stations anddistribution sub-stations. “(b) Public ■ buildings, such as halls, theatres, schools, etc., and buildings housing essential services, such as hospitals, fire stations, pumping .stations. “ (c) Other buildings. “It should be pointed out that the required degree of strength against earthquake shock is greater for buildings in class (a) than for those in class (o). but even buildings in class (c), if built in accordance with the requirements of the standard code, should withstand, without danger to the buildings. its contents, or occupants, an earthquake shock of intensity equal to that of the earthquakes mentioned. .“During the last five years there have been erected or reconditioned in Christchurch many buildings which, by their construction, must collapse in any major earthquake shock, and the construction of these veritable death-traps could not be prevented under the existing city by-laws. To these there must, of course, also be added the far greater number of old buildings which y reason of their construction or decay are also incapable of resisting earthquake shocks. Furthermore, under the existing by-laws these buildings can be altered, usually in order to provide greater snow window area, so that their resistance to earthquakes is still i further reduced.”

SKY FINISH FOR BRASS

Unlacquered brass can bo given a beautiful grey finish in the following manner; Mix.loz tartar-emetic with just enough muriatic acid to dissolve it; add water equal to one-third of the mixture. Now apply the solution to the brass and the colour will soon change to a pleasing grey.