Fire Safety Sacrificed For Displays

Chronicle (Levin), 15 April 1948, Page 6

Fire Safety Sacrificed For Displays

CHRISTCHURCH, April 14. There was an urgent need for tae universal adoption throughout New Zealand, of a standard code ofs building by-la\vs covering not only the conU struction of new buildings bnt also tneadoption of the pri'nci^ies of such codes to existing buildings, said Mr.« Victor Robert John Hean, arehitect ra the P.W.D., Christchurch, when he gave evidqnee before the Royal CommisSion inquiring into Ballantyne's fire on November 18: With the''Completion or the New Zealand 8tandard' Institutcs code of building by-laws, completeunilied by-laws would be available, Mr. Hean said. "In my opinion steps should be taken to ensurc that all local bodxes aro bound to adopt the standard code ' in lieu of their local by-laws as tb buildings and fire prevention." Re-ferring to existing buildings, Mr. Hean said the'onus should be on • tne owner to make his buildings contorm to modern standards of human safety. If complete compliauce were impossible, provisjon should be made for u relaxatiou of the strict terms of the building code only on condition that a sprinkler or similar fire prevention system was* instalied. If non-coriipliance was causod by the shortagc of steel ,or other materials, the position of substandhrd buildings should be roviewed from year to year as the supply position changed, he added. The latest trend in retail and deparlmental stores was to have large open spaces for displav and large interior staireases and escalators giving a commg,nding view of interior displays. Tliere were many examples of shops built 40 to 50 vears- ago- — Ballantyne's was one — which were remodelieci to the detriment of the original buildings. "An attempt to modernise old store buildings can vvell lead to the sacrilicihg' of fire safety to an effective display and the apparent convenience oi the,. customer," he continued. Arr. Hean said that the chief iirc risks in Ballantyne's were the thor- . oughly seasoned bone dry timber floors, I timber partitions and ceilings, dry match lining, numerous 'wood fibre boards, lack of firebreaks in the roofs, and open windows. The list of building permits issued by tlie City Council sinee 1903 for wora ilt Ballantyne's was produced by witness who said it would appear that considerable work was done without authority, in particular several of the larger openhigs between the buildings. When the chainnan, Sir Harold Johnston, asked Mr. T. P. Cleary, counseJ for Ballantyne 's, ivhether he • agreed with the list of permits, Mr. Cleary replied that there were certain cases in which the firm'could not credit that a permit was. not granted but in some others it was agreed no permits were issued. The Commission adjourned until tomorrow. '