STEEL INSTEAD OF WOOD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22398, 20 October 1934, Page 20

STEEL INSTEAD OF WOOD

SAFEGUARD AGAINST FIRE (From L'db Own Cosbespondent.) LONDON, September 14. Several speakers, at a luncheon of the British Steelwork Association, in connection with the International Trades Exhibition at Olympia, made a plea for the more extensive use of steel in the interior construction of liners. Sir Charles Wright said that the aim of the association’s stand at the exhibition was to show the advantages of steep sheets and structural steel in housing, office, and general building construction. “ We are hopfeul, too,” he added, “ that the shipbuilding industry will not overlook the wider use of steel sheets for internal and fire-resisting purposes.” Sir Charles pointed out that in motor car manufacture the sheet industry had made the greatest possible strides, and had adapted itself to the stringeut t requirements imposed by the new technique of motor body construction. “ In the use of sheet metal in this direction a new manufacturing technique has been evolved,” he added, "and we are fiimly convinced that there are considerable possibilities in carrying this into the field of the oldest and most traditional of all industries, that of building. Architects and builders will find ns, as an industry, ready to co-operate with them in their problems of producing good buildings and good homes.” CONSTRUCTION TO LAST TOO LONG. Mr Francis Lome said that they were concerned with the new aesthetic treatment oL steel in accordance with the . demands of the age. The average life of a building in London was 100 years, but an architect could not visualise the life of a building for more than half that ueriod. For the remainder of the time the building was a “misfit.” Steel buildings, on the other / hand, could be taken down, remoulded, and rebuilt to current requirements. Within recent years three large liners had been burned at sea, with considerable loss of life, owing to the fact that much of the material used in ships was combustible. It was probably the result of the demands of the public for interior decorations in period styles. President Roosevelt intended to make a definite effort to pass legislation calling for the elimination of wood construction on all passenger vessels built in American ship yards. Referring to the fires on the Morro Castle, the Georges Philippar, and the Atlantique, Mr Lome added, “Very much of the material entering into the decoration of these liners is combustible. I was glad to learn that President Roosevelt has announced the probable passing of legislation calling for the elimination of wood construction in all future passenger vessels built in America. I hope that similar steps may be taken on this side of the Atlantic. It seems a pity that such legislation should be confined to the United States. It should be universal.”