BUILDING FOR SAFETY

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 35, 11 February 1931, Page 8

BUILDING FOR SAFETY

Numerous correspondents have written to "The Post" drawing attention to various lessons to be learned from the earthquake concerning building construction. All the views 'expressed do not agree and the differences make it plain that this question cannot be determined , offhand. Safety depends not only on the material used, but on the way it is used and the place. The parable1 of the house built on rock and the house built on sand has a direct application. Because the issue is so complicated it cannot be settled by the casual observer, or even by the careful observer, through newspaper discussion. But it should be determined, after, thorough investigation, by competent engineers, architects, and builders. It may not be easy now to separate earthquake damage from fire damage. / That is another reason for careful study of the whole question; Moreover, in deciding the type of building to be erected in earthquake zones, fire risk must be considered as well as shake risk. It would be foolish to build structures which would escape destruction by shock only to be destroyed by fire. The subject is one for attention by the Government in association with the bodies interested in the building industry. The latter have the expert knowledge and can inform the Government of the precautions which should be taken. When the lines of safe building are determined it will be for the Government to see that they are adopted. At present local governing bodies have a free hand to control buildings. Some i)f these bodies may be well-guided ana some may not, be. It is, we believe, necessary to institute some form of national supervision. Just before the earthquake we drew attention _to the proposal of a leading ' British architect that there should be national standardisation of building bylaws. This was supported by a correspondent of "The Times" who cited the movement for similar standardising in America. The reason advanced for national, standards was the removal of obsolete y bylaws so that full advantage might be taken of advances in building practicethus reducing the cost of building in many instances. It is even more necessary that standards should be set to assure the greatest measure of safety. _^__—-