GREYMOUTH TOWN HALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 October 1946, Page 10

GREYMOUTH TOWN HALL

FIRE RISK IN PROPOSED.' . .NEWBUILDING ■ SAFETY'MEASURES PLANNED Suggested plans to overcome fire risk in the Greymouth Town Hall following the completion J . R??' posed reconstruction, are contained, in a letter received by the Greyinouth Borough Council from the architect, Mr. Pt. S. D. Harman, of Christchurch. The suggestions willb’e considered at next month’s meeting of the council. ■ , Mr. Harman pointed out that the four most recent fires in cinemas hag all begun at the stage end of the buildings, but the cause had _m no. case been definitely established. Ke suggested that a continuation of the wall above the proscenium opening right ■' up to the roof covering might be an advantage in checking the early' stages of an outbreak or -fire. This might be required by law in, the near future, he.added. This addition Would increase production costs, but it. might delay the spreading of a fire long enough tor the fire brigade to “nip in the bud” a possible major conflagration. x . •, . The architect also suggested in his letter that a sprinkler system be installed, with some points placed along the ridge of the roof. Fixed above and' below the ceiling, a sprinkler system, he considered, should give very fair protection. Question of Exits. Pointing out that the question of exits was often left in the hands, of the local authority or the Superintendent of the Fire Brigade, Mr. Harman suggested that the circle containing approximately 160 seats, was fairly well provided. One exit was by the main stairs, another by a mezzanine stair from the front of the circle and an emergency exit through a cloak-room on the south side of the landing to open on to the roof over the shops. The stalls, seating 400 to 450, presented a more difficult problem, he said. There were the main entrance doors and an exit under the stage, but he suggested that an exit opening half-way down the hall leading down a passage to Mackay, street should also be provided. This passage could be. constructed either by reducing the width of the adjoining shop by five feet or by encroaching on the theatre’s space and removing about 30 seats. " Alterations to Plan. Mr. Harman also forwarded a plan showing alterations to the library, engineer’s office and the caretaker’s flat, made as a result of councillors’ suggestions. The children’s library, it was proposed, would be enlarged to absorb a proposed staff-room on the Albert street southerly corner of the building. Thus the library would be left as it is now. A new strong room would be constructed next to the engineer’s office on the first floor and the office room accordingly reduced, a spare room occupying the original-ly-proposed site of the strong room. Some of the caretaker’s rooms, which had been overlarge, had been reduced in size and a kitchenette provided. After explaining other altered features, Mr. Harman contended that fine coal should remain as the fuel for heating the boiler, but the problem, he said, was one best left until the details of the heating layout had been gone into. The shops remained unaltered, stated Mr. Harman, except for one store, which had been reduced to permit an external staircase, to give accress to the roof, to be placed. The council deferred consideration of Mr. Harman’s proposals last evening, until a copy of the letter is dis • tributed to members.