STANDARD CODE

Evening Star, Issue 23689, 24 September 1940, Page 3

STANDARD CODE

BUILDING BY-LAWS FIRST REGULATIONS FOR ADOPTION The standard code of building bylaws, which has been under consideration for a Jong time, was discussed at tho meeting of the City Council last night, when it was brought forward by Cr J. Wilson in presenting the Works Committee’s report. As an outcome the recommendations were referred back to tho committee for further consideration. Tho completed code will come forward in parts suitable for adoption by local bodies from time to time. Parts one to six have now been finalised, and are recommended for adoption by the executive of the Municipal Association. These parts deal with the following matters:— Part 1: A preliminary clause which permits the code, if and when adopted by the council, to become part of the council’s by-laws relating to building construction and provides penalties for non-conformity with the by-laws. Part 2: Healing with procedure. Part 3; Considering design and construction in general terms. Part 4: Relating to basic dead loads, live loads, and wind loads to be used in design, and earthquake loads to be resisted. Parts 5 and 6: Dealing with materials, workmanship, and detailed design of concrete and reinforced concrete construction. Parts 1 to 4, therefore, cover basic requirements common to all classes of , building work, leaving detailed methods \of their application to the later parts. .In addition to the views of a deputation from the Otago branch, New Zealand Institute of Architects, the committee has had the benefit of lengthy reports on the standard code from the city building surveyor and the city engineer, and is of the unanimous opinion that the standard code should be approved in orderTo bring the local building regulations into conformity ■with those of all other main centres. The existing city building by-law was made very many years ago, is out of print, anil is known to be very much out of date. It would be a highly technical bud onerous task to attempt to frame fresh local regulations, and on that and all other aspects the adoption of the standard code, with necessary modifications as detailed in the recommendation hereunder, is, in the opinion of the committee, the better course to follow. ■ . . , The Works Committee recommended that these parts be adopted, subject to several modifications. These "were set out as follows :

(a) Further to define the word “ building ” as the definition given appears to be limited in the ‘ Standard Code.’ . . ~ (b) To clarify the position regarding the interpretation of “ repair work. (c) To include under the definition of “ party wall ” provision for the approval of such walls by the council after evidence of the agreement between the parties concerned has been submitted. (d) To permit ready-mixed concrete to be delivered by approved means in other than an agitator truck at the discretion of the engineer. (e) To clarify the fact that loading tests must be carried out at the cost of the applicant for the building permit. '(f) To include the regulations regarding procedure for building permits approved by council on May 6, 1940. (g) To set out an adequate seismic co-efficient applicable to Dunedin. The committee had received a deputation from the Otago branch of the New Zealand Institute of Architects in connection with the matter. As already reported to the council, thip ‘ Standard Code ’ has been in Course of preparation over a number of years by the New Zealand Standards Institute, which set up committees comprising members fully qualified to deal with every possible aspect of a ‘ Building Code.’ including legal, architectural, technical construction, draining, plumbing, water supply, 'heating, and all allied matters relating to buildings and their erection. The intention was to produce a complete standard building code for local authorities in New Zealand, and considerable progress has nor been made with what is admittedly a very technical and important task. All local bodies from time to time were given the opportunity of perusing drafts and forwarding suggestions and comments, and these have, no doubt, proved helpful to the compilers. Presenting the report, Cr J. Wilson said that the amendments were recommended because the existing by-laws were out of date. The new proposals

had been adopted in every city in New Zealand. The recommendations were the most important the Works Committee had yet brought forward, said Cr Smith. They were highly technical and sweeping reforms, and it seemed to him that it would be better to refer the whole matter back to the Works Committee to enable the Otago Architects’ Institute and others likely to be interested to consider it in relation to local conditions.

To adopt the recommendations in toto might be a serious thing for the citizens of Dunedin. In all there were six parts to be adopted, but details of only four were at present available. There were matters pertaining to brickwork, plumbing, etc., which were not yet detailed, although the adoption of the clause as it stood would mean the adoption of those other parts. “To adopt this would probably land us into serious trouble,” continued Cr Smith. “ There will be an increase in building costs; one architect has said that it would mean an increase of 10 per cent., and an even greater increase on public works.” He moved that consideration of the clause be deferred a fortnight to enable the Architects’ Institute and others likely to be interested to look into it.

Cr j. M'Crae stated that builders appeared to be in favour of the proposals, and they had said they were a stop in the right direction. Replying, Cr Wilson said that the matter had been before his committee for some time. The committee would be extremely reluctant to do anything that would be likely to increase building costs. Cr Wilson declared that the amendments were intended to simplify the department’s own internal workings. Cr Smith’s motion was carried.