BY-LAW BREACH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26793, 9 June 1948, Page 6

BY-LAW BREACH

USE OF WALLBOARD BAUANTYNE’S BUILDING CITY ENGINEER'S CHARGE P.A. CHRISTCHURCH, June 8. Under cross-examination at the Ballantyne fire inquiry to-day, Ewart Somers, City Council engineer, said the use of wallboard in Ballantyne's was a breach of the by-laws, and when permission had been given for the use of wallboard non-inflammable material had been available. No permits had been given for the use of inflammable wallboard in new buildings in the inner city area. The permits for Ballantyne's had been granted by a junior officer. Wallboard had probably contributed to the heat of the fire, but, perhaps, not so much to its rapid spread. He would, favour the prohibition of the use of wallboard for domestic and commercial buildings, unless it were treated with fireresistant material. Egress Code Not Adopted The openings at Ballantyne’s could have been one of the main factors in the disaster, said Somers. The City Council approved an egress code nearly three years ago, but had never adopted it, though pressed to do so by the Christchurch Fire Board. Somers said he considered it safe to rely on external fire escapes as an alternative means of egress. There was no provision in the by-laws requiring fire doors for openings. Similarly, there were no provisions dealing with unprotected floor space, fire partitions, internal fire walls, enclosed stairways, fire alarms, emergency lighting in exits or distance the inmates of a building had to travel to reach a fire escape. That made the by-laws unsatisfactory from the point of view of prevention of fire. The chairman, Sir Harold Johnston: If the council Is hopelessly behind the times with its by-laws, who considers that?—The Housing and Town-planning Committee. The matter has been in hand for months, but durirtg the war we could not get to it. Even so, that is hardly a reason for going to sleep on the matter —We were not asleep. It has been hard to obtain staff. What strikes me is that neither the City Council nor the Fire Brigade seems to have known anything about the inside of the buildings—We knew the buildings generally. . Two of the three City Council members of the Fire Board, John Edward Tait and William Percy Glue, appeared at the request of the commission to answer questions. Tait told Mr J. D. Hutchison, for the Fire Board, that there was full co-operation between the local body members and the fire underwriters’ representatives. Before Ballantyne’s fire he had no idea that there were deficiencies in the brigade's equipment, but since then the Fire Board had made inquiries about getting a ladder which could be used for life saving. For the Crown, Mr G. G. G. Watson cross-examined Tait at length on the council’s by-laws and inspections of buildings by brigade officers. Witness told Mr Watson he did not think there was much difference on the control of the brigade by the council or by the fire board. “ One of the very difficult questions which will arise is whether the control should be municipal or not,” saidthe chairman when he asked Tait if he were satisfied with the present system of control. Tait replied that he was satisfied but added that administration might be easier if the council had control. * Glue said he had been, on the Fire Board since 1941. He said he did not think the present control of the brigade would be improved if • the brigade were put under the City Council. There was room fo& “ quite a lot of improvement,” he said-to the chairman. Fire Brigade Praised Mr Watson: Are you satisfied with the efficiency of the brigade at Ballantyne’s? Witness: Absolutely. At Ballantyne’s fire there were 17 appliances, 18.000 feet of hose, 231 authorised firemen and 30 points of supply. “I think the results were excellent,” he said. The whole block might have gone. To further questions by Mr Watson. Glue said that the board had neither envisaged the possibility of a major fire taking place when the superintendent or his deputy were away at the same time nor . taken steps to meet the possibility. Mr Watson: Before Ballantyne’s fire, were you satisfied that there was no regulation or by-law to provide safe egress from buildings in Christchurch? —I did not know it was as bad as that, but I know-it was pretty bad. To another question by Mr Watson, Glue said: “ I am disappointed and surprised that we have not adopted the standard egress code before this."