BUILDING FOR SAFETY

Taranaki Daily News, 19 February 1931, Page 7

BUILDING FOR SAFETY

THE NEW CENTRAL SCHOOL ARCHITECT? SUBMITS REPORT,

DEPARTMENT HAS FINAL WORD.

That whereas in the past ideas in nrick construction had been centred principally on fire resistance, architects must now design buildings primarily to resist earthquake pressure was the opinion expressed by Mr, Jones at a meeting of the Taranaki Education Board yesterday during a discussion on the question of the re-erection of the new Central school, and of school buildings in general. The recent earthquake in Hawke’s Bay had, he said, focussed public attention on the necessity for exercising every precaution in the erection’ of public buildings, particularly schools, and there was a strong feeling against the use of brick. A lengthy report was read from the board’s architect (Mr. C. H. Moore) upholding the present Central school plan, and also one from Mr. Rhodes, an expert on the staff of the Fletcher Construction Company. The latter was not Made available to the Press, but from the comments of members thereon it appeared to be of a very favourable nature. A circular letter was received from the Education Department to the effect that it had been decided that work of construction of educational buildings in brick must cease forthwith. The department also asked that the board’s architect, together with the district Public Works Department engineer, should inspect and report on all brick and concrete buildings used for educational purposes in the district. Members thought this would apply also to the High School boards. /• Mr. Jones considered that the architect should first visit Napier so as to be fully 1 conversant with what had happened to the different types of building. Personal inspection would make all the difference to his judgment. Members agreed that this was advisable and it was resolved to accede to the request, and also that the architect •be instructed to proceed to Napier if necessary. Mr. White (chairman of the building committee) and Mr. Jones were asked to accompany him if he goes. ! THE CENTRAL SCHOOL. The architect' reported that the first group of’ classrooms at the Central school ■ were completed and were in occupation.. Good progress was made with the second group. The work was now held up pending the decision to proceed in brick or otherwise.

In a special report the architect stated:-—

“Naturally at the present'time there is a great deal of concern and fear about the safety of schools built in brick, and the parents have a right to raise the question. At the same time it is a bit premature to publish so many wild statements without a calm and careful, 'investigation', by practical men. ,No doubt inere will be some eyeopeners in regard to the construction and material used in some of the concrete as well as brick buildings. However, I wish to assure parents of the Central school children of the safety of the new school in course of erection. In a sense it is not even a one-storey in brick.

“Owing to the special construction of what is now known as the Taranaki fresh air type of school, it is.only necessary to carry the walls of the classrooms in brick 9ft. high from the floors and between each window is a reinforced concrete pier faced oirthe outside by 4Jin. brickwork The partitions between the classrooms are Sin. by 9ft. high (where has this been done in any other part of New Zealand?) and on top of this will be a reinforced concrete head encircling each classroom. There are also £in. tie rods across. The walls of the cloakroom are only. 10ft. high and of 44 cavity wall construction. What practical man would say a building of this sort is not as safe as anyone could reasonably expect it to be? •

“We are using a cement mortar composed of, one of cement to five of the mixed lime mortar. The bricks are bedded in this and the whole becomes practically a concrete wall. How many of the brick buildings erected in New Zealand have-only lime mortar held by the .cement pointing, and if this were removed after a few years the lime mortar could be washed or raked out like sand. VALUE OF COMPARISONS. "To make a comparison. Hero we are constructing 9in. walls 9ft. high practically only carrying their own weight, and in the recent earthquake area I understand there are 4J partitions carrying more than one storey. If this is true jt simply meant there was only an outside shell to stand the earthquake, with heavy floors to flop. “I have made some feature of the front over the main entrance and teachers’ rooms but the highest part is only 27ft. and will be so bonded together that it will stand almost anything. There are no heavy projecting cornices or over-hanging. I noticed it was mentioned that all schools should have two doors. I may point out that this new type of classroom opens direct to the outside by a door on either side, whereas the ordinary room opens into corridors and may easily become congested during .a panic. “In wish to say that I have worked life on building construction and no one is more fully alive to the necessity of making everything as safe as. possible for the teachers and children. There can ba no question about the material and workmanship, and that is a bigger factor than the ordinary layman is aware of. I therefore trust that the board and school committee will not be stampeded or influenced by the natural nervous state of everyone to scrap the present work on the Central school. It would be a wanton and wilful waste of public money.” Mr. Jones said that the building of the Central school could not be held up indefinitely. MATTER OUT OF BOARD’S HANDS. The acting-chairman (Mr. Valentine) said that the matter had been taken or of their hands and the responsibility was now on the department. It was reassuring to have- the report of the expert that the Central school had been de'igned on right lines, and could not really bo biassed as a brick one. Mr. White said that the board had been of that opinion from the_ first. With the department, however, it was not a case of the Central school, but of policy concerning the whole of the public buildings of the Dominion. Though all the evidence appeared to be against brick bui.lings, Mr. Jones thought that opinions might be modified when all the facts were known. From the remarks of an eminent architect, Mr. Ford, he gathered that brick buildings were not to be condemned wholesale. Wholesale condemnation would not be justified until there was definite evidence as to what had actually

happened, and how the buildings were constructed.

Mr. Lees: There should be ample evidence available in Hawke’s Bay.

Mr. Jones stressed the point that they had to scrap their whole ideas regarding building design, and adjust their ideas chiefly to build against earthquake. A member pointed out that Mr. Rhodes had had experience of the San Francisco earthquake and also had been in close touch with the findings of the Japanese earthquakes. Mr. White said that the design of the Central school provided for reinforced columns with a, roof specially constructed. With minor alterations suggested by Mi-. Rhodes they would have an earthquake proof building, but they could not proceed until they obtained authority from the department. He was not in favour of scrapping the building, as he thought the architect was to be congratulated on having designed, without the recent knowledge of tbc recent earthquake effects, a building so nearly approaching earthquake proof. The acting-chairman said that Mr. Rhodes had remarked that the Central school as designed was practically a bound box and with minor alteration wa ■> as proof against earthquake as possible. PUBLIC TO BE CONSIDERED. Mr. Jones said that in order to satisfy public opinion the board must get the very best authoritative opinion that could, be obtained, and not accept Mr. Rhodes’ opinion as the last word. The department had then to take the responsibility of what was to be done. Mr. Lees said that there was not only the children’s safety to consider but also the severe mental strain some of the parents would be subjected to. It looked to \im as if the building would have to be scrapped. Mr. Moore did not think it would be necessary to scrap the building. Mr. P. Keller, the district Public Works Department engineer, and another departmental officer had inspected the building and their views were in line with those of Mr. Rhodes.

The master in charge of the Opunake school wrpte suggesting that an additional exit should be provided at Opunake in case of earthquake, and the Waitara :Scliool Committee forwarded a resolution to the effect that building schools in brick should cease.

It was resolved that the Opunake and Waitara school committees be advised that a comprehensive report was being prepared on the whole question of concrete and brick schools.