ARCHITECT’S WARNING

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6944, 25 June 1929, Page 10

ARCHITECT’S WARNING

Earthquake Risks in Buildings

HaOPER PRECAUTION NEEDED

"To rebuild brick chimneys in Westport in the same old way through the roofs of wooden bungalows, an inherently different type of construction, is directly courting further disaster and loss of life.

"To construct lofty parapets or other structures, which arc dependent for stability upon their weight, and which when shaken or’ moved but a lit lie from the vertical, must collapse, is tempting Providence.” Thus, Mr. vI. Crookes, junr., lecturer in . building construction at the. Auckland Univorsity College, appeals to local bodies and Government departments to adopt earthquake-resist-ing construction for buildings to prevent repetition of wreckage in the South Island disaster. The statement, which is issued by the School of Architecture declares ‘ that, although earth-

quake resisting type of construction on a large scale is more expensive, experience lias shown it is penny wise and pound foolish to ignore the danger in somo areas. Detailed study of the effects oa buildings in the .Californian and Japanese disasters lias enabled architects to design buildings which aro virtually earthquake proof. In this connection, Mr. Crookes referred to the book "Earthquakes and Building Construction,” published by the Auckland architect, Mr. C. E. Ford.

"The large number of ’quakes, more or less severe, to -which many parts of New Zealand have been subjected, the cvcr-incrcasing height of city buildings with the proportionately gteater risk to life in event of collapse and havoc that may be wrought by tho failure of a few large structures, all point to tho fact that non-application of the lessons of the past is unjustifiable,” states Mr. Crookes.

Ho suggests that all those investing capital in buildings should stipulate that the type of construction incorporate sonje measure of resistance. In fact, in all areas known to be subject to ’quakes, the building regulations should make reasonable ’quake:proof construction mandatory. There are many precautions which could be taken to ensure a greater measure of safety with 'very littlcr incerasc in expenditure; to ignore precautions was foolhardy. Some of theso safety measures could be incorporated in the by-laws' of local authorities in affected areas.

"For permanent construction, buildings with reinforced concrete or steel frame,, for buildings having a short economic life, a timber frame, all specially designed and erected on suitable foundations should be adopted,” lie continued. "If the lessons of the past were taken to heart and the architect was given freedom to apply his knowledge of ’quake-resisting buildings, there would be less cause for fear that many New Zealanders live and work iu buildings that might collapse like a pack of. cards. . "There are many ways in which tho most common type of construction aro extremely defective in regard to earthquake resistance. But as long as tho general mass of the population, and large firms and institutions and even Government departments, "with hundreds of thousands invested in buildings in dangerous areas, fail to take advantage of tho architect’s knowledge --fail to take even the simplest precautions—there is always the possibility of a still more serious disaster. ’ ’