BUILDING SAFELY

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21195, 19 August 1940, Page 9

BUILDING SAFELY

EARTHQUAKE PROTECTION AMERICAN SUMMING UP (By Telegraph.— Press Association) WELLINGTON, Saturday Observations on earthquake precautions were made by Mr F. W. Furkert, former under-secretary and engineer-in-chief of the Public Works Department. “In the tumult of war such a thing as an earthquake which kills only a dozen people is apt to be overlooked,” said Mr Furkert. “On May 18 of this year an earthquake, felt over 60,000 square miles, more than half the area of New Zealand, in California, and an unknown but probably equal area in Mexico, occurred in South California, with its epicentre near the Mexican border. Widespread damage was caused. “The summing-up of the position as given in a summary at the end of the report of the official investigation was as follows:—‘As in practically every other earthquake of which analysis has been made, the fact has again been emphasised that adequate design will prevent earthquake damage to buildings, and that any standard material may be used safely if construction methods are sound. Masonry failures are attributable directly to improper design and poor mortar, concrete failures to inadequate reinforcing and poor design, failure in wood frame building to inadequate foundations and improper bracing. Once again an earthquake has proved that a “uniform building code,” if correctly enforced, will help to prevent loss of life and property and will in large measure alleviate the serious aftereffects of even a major earthquake.’ ” Local Bodies’ Duty “The moral for New Zealand is plain,” said Mr Furkert, “The New Zealand Standards Institute has drawn up model by-laws to deal with earthquake - resistant construction. Many boroughs and cities are adopting them, but all other local bodies controlling building construction would find it hard to justify their neglect to do the same if their district were the scene of another earthquake involving loss of life and property.”