DOMESTIC SHELTERS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 12, 4 February 1942, Page 5

DOMESTIC SHELTERS

STANDARD SPECIFICATION

DESIGNS FOR FIVE TYPES

The New Zealand Standard Institute has published a standard specification for five types of domestic raid shelters. The specification is based on the general principles set out in the recently published code for public and commercial shelters, which is founded on the latest and most authoritative information available from Great Britain. A covering memorandum points out that the first responsibility for the safety of a family rests on the householder, and is not removed by the provision which commercial interests and local authorities may make. The Standards Institute emphasises that tliQ information given is advisory only, and does not dispense with the need for seeking competent local guidance before starting work. The design that should find most favour is for a trench shelter lined; and roofed with timber, 011 and around which earth is heaped, the depth on top being not more than lft 9in. Access may be by steps, a ladder or a hatch. The framework, is covered with lin boards, and building paper is laid over the top. Trenches of this type may be from 3ft Gin to sft Gin deep. In many cases the excavated earth will not. be sufficient to provide a covering, and more will have to be "borrowed," the amount dejjending on the depth of the trench and the allow- ; ance of headroom. Another type of trench intended for firm ground has a timber roof supported by dwarf walls, not more than lft Gin high of brickwork or concrete blocks, the whole being covered with earth as before. The fourth comprises surface shelters, completely above ground. These are boxes floored and roofed with concrete and having walls 14in thick of 'brickwork, precast solid concrete block masonry or mass concrete. Roofs are Sin concrete slabs, either-reinforced or supported by timber joists. The entances are screened against blast and missiles. Finally, there are designs for shelters constructed inside a common New Zealand type' of garage which has concrete walls and is partly or principally below ground level. Suggestions are also given for building shelters in the tuiStmeßls—■ of houses with concrete foundation walls, particularly where there is an inset porch floored with concrete.