INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22809, 19 February 1936, Page 5

INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS

NEW BUILDING CODE MOVEMENT TOWARDS UNIFORMITY (Peb United Press Association) AUCKLAND, February 18. The importance to the Dominion of the new building code which was undertaken by the New Zealand Standards Institution at the request of the Government and was completed towards the end of last year was emphasised by Mr W. Gray Young, of Wellington, in his presidential address at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Institute of Architects. The code at present, said Mr Young, covered earthquake resisting design and construction in general, and embodied in detail regulations for construction in steel, reinforced concrete, and masonry. Other sections, such as those covering the design of wooden buildings and welding, would, it was expected, be produced later. If, as was anticipated, the code became accepted by the local authorities throughout the Dominion, there would be in New Zealand for the first time a uniform code covering the most important phases of building construction. Furthermore, in embodying as it did the latest results of building research, it would result in considerable economy in building costs. Needless to say, the institute was anxious to see this code printed and adopted as soon as possible. Its adoption would make all future buildings in the Dominion safe in case of an earthquake of considerable magnitude. NEED FOR INCREASED FEES. Dissatisfaction with the existing scale of remuneration which, it was contended, was insufficient in view of the increasing complexity of modern building design and construction was expressed by members. The question was raised by Mr UK. Ford of Auckland, who said he felt the time'had come when architects would have to consider increasing their fees. With earthquake regulations and modern building requirements design was becoming more and more complicated, and the work of architects had increased tremendously compared with that done a, few years ago. An architect could not expect to be an expert in every branch of construction, and it was frequently necessary for him to call in men such as structural engineers, electrical engineers, heating engineers, and ventilation engineers. All this advice meant additional expense to the architect today. He had also to make provision in his design for miles and miles of piping in large buildings. It was said that building costs were increasing and that architects' fees, being on a percentage basis, were also increasing. ThOße taking that view, however, failed to give consideration to the additional expense that had to be faced by an architect. If architects were to make a living, and if the profession was to be placed upon the plane it waa entitled to, the fees would have to be increased. Other professions were in a much better position. Mr Ford's view was endorsed by other members. ;

It was decided to amend the institute's regulations so that wherever the amount of a fee was mentioned it would be preceded by the word "minimum." Secondly, it was decided that competitions should make provision for the seals of charges being part of the conditions and for the scale of charges and conditions to be part of the contract between the owner and the successful architect. Thirdly, it was resolved that the premium should not be included in the fee.