H—44A

brochure it is intended also to set up a standing committee to consider the adoption of the American Standards Zl.l-1941 and Z1.2-1941 for statistical methods of qualitycontrol, in order that New Zealand may derive the advantage of its application already enjoyed by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and South Africa, where it is regarded as a most valuable instrument of the production engineer, which promotes industrial efficiency and economy in substantial degree. Stretchers Committee (One meeting) The Stretchers Committee is engaged in revising the New Zealand Emergency Standard Specification (N.Z.S.S. E.l) for Ambulance Stretchers, with a view to its reissue in the normal series of New Zealand standard specifications. BUILDING STANDARDS Building Code Sectional Committee Building Code Technical Committee .. .. .. Ten meetings. Structural Welding Committee .. .. .. .. Two meetings. Fire-prevention Committee.. .. .. .. .. Two meetings. Theatre By-law Sub-committee .. .. .. .. Five meetings. Timber Building Code Committee .. .. .. .. Three meetings. Masonry Buildings of Bearing-wall Construction. —During the year the formulation of a standard by-law for masonry buildings of bearing-wall construction was completed and, as soon as these provisions have been edited, they will be issued as Part X of the New Zealand Standard Code of Building By-laws. This part of the Standard Code will establish minimum requirements for buildings in which the structural loads are carried by walls of unit masonry, including brick, natural stone, and solid or hollow concrete blocks. The Code establishes minimum requirements in relation to materials, including the quality of cement, mortar, bricks, concrete blocks, and metal bonding, and the workmanship relating to the use of these materials. It also incorporates the necessary provisions in respect of foundations, including their thickness, reinforcement, and form of construction, according to the nature of the ground and site, and the load the building is intended to carry. An over-all height limit is specified for this form of construction, together with a maximum unsupported length of bearing walls between adequate cross-walls. The thickness of all bearing walls is specified in relation to their height and the load to be carried, while special provisions relate to reinforced-concrete bands designed to strengthen the building against earthquake stresses. Further provisions refer to openings in bearing walls, which stipulate their maximum lengths and minimum distance from intersecting walls and from each other in relation to the height of the opening in each case. The code also establishes requirements relating to brick veneer and brick and timber structures, which will supplement provisions already contained in Part IX, Light Timber Construction. The Masonry Code, furthermore, provides for the use of hollow-block construction and continuous cavity walls, as well as for arbitrarily reinforced concrete in place of unit masonry. Theatre By-law.—A special sub-committee has been set up to undertake the formulation of a separate standard by-law relating to the design and construction of theatres and similar places of public assembly. This by-law will, within practical limits, ensure public safety and health by establishing minimum requirements relating to all aspects of theatre-construction, including materials, design, fire-prevention, fire-fighting equipment, electrical installations, lighting, including emergency lighting, sanitation, ventilation, linings, furnishings, and anti-panic precautions. The sub-committee has made good progress, and is now proceeding with the formulation of draft proposals.

8