DANGER OF FIRE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 31, 7 February 1939, Page 8

DANGER OF FIRE

RULED OUT IN NEW SOCIAL SECURITY BUILDING PLANS NOW COMPLETED [ Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, Feb. 6. Announced by Hon. R. Semple as the result of collaboration between his engineers, Government architects and engineers of the Fletcher Construction Company, details of the new Social Security building have been completed. This had necessitated continuous workingn since Friday of a very large staff and reflected great credit on those concerned. “One of the lessons we had to learn from the destruction of the previous buildingn was the danger of fire and in the construction of the new buildinng the fire hazard has been reduced to an absolute minimum. The three blocks are so designed as to be entirely separate with fire waits between each block. The whole of the outer walls are to be lined with fire-resist-ing materials and then plaster is to be placed on top of these materials. Inner walls will also be similarly treated, while to prevent the spread of fire from one block to another it is proposed to use steel sashes and wired glass. The roof is to be constructed of corrugated asbestos roofingn. Even in the remote case of fire there will be no possibility of the fire spreading as there would be no adjacent building," said Mr. Semple.