Display Shows Quality Of Timber For Building

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31097, 28 June 1966, Page 24

Display Shows Quality Of Timber For Building

The New Zealand Forest Service has opened a display at Ham University to demonstrate the engineering qualities of timber. The display is broadly divided into four sections, each supported by exhibits, and is aimed at bringing to the notice of engineers, builders and architects the special features of timber as a building material. One section is devoted to wood preservation and how it helps timber to stand up to the hardest wear. Another section deals with glued lamination illustrating how pieces of timber can be bonded together into beams of strength equal to that of steel. Ravages of Fire The third section shows the permanence of timber and its ability to stand up better to the ravages of fire. It is claimed that timber beams will support a building better than steel girders. While steel girders will buckle in severe heat, timber will form a protective coating of charcoal which acts as an insulator. The fourth section deals with the non-destructive testing of timber showing how machines will grade its strength without breaking it

A moisture meter to measure the water content of timber is also on display. The Forest Service opened the display at. the invitation of the School of Engineering. It will be staged for a month, and is expected to attract considerable interest among those associated with the building industry. The Lyttelton Harbour Board, New Zealand Railways, the Ministry of Works and the Addington Timber Company have co-operated with the Forest Service in the display.