The Washington herald., 1907-08-19
BUILDING LAWS LAX
CareleSSneSS Shown in Con-
crete Construction.
FEDERAL EXPERT REPORTS
Methods of Contractors, Not the
Process, Declared to he RespOR-
Investigation Emphasizes the Need
for New Regulations in Cities.

The recent collapse of a number Of re-
enforced concrete buildings, with loss of
life and Of several hundred thousand dol
lars, has brought forcibly to the atten-
ton OF structural material experts the
need for an immediate revision Of the
building regulations Of the great cities
Of the country.
II IS declared that inattention 10 this
new material on the part of officials OF
municipalities and the haphazaTd man
ner in which It is being handled by some
contractors have led to most serious
problem, and win result in more dis
asters unless there is a remedy at once.
Richard L. Humphrey, expert in charge
OF the United States Geological Surveys
structural material laboratories in st.
Louis. No. and Norfolk. Va. declares
that the danger Of collapse Of concrete
structures exists in nearly every i'm
portant city in the United States.
II have examined carefully nearly every
one of the buildings that have collapsed
within the last year." says Mr.. Hum
phrey, ''and in every instance the fan Of
the structure has been due TO careless
ness Of construction. From what I have
seen Of other concrete buildings in process
Of construction 7 am satisfied that the
same errors are being repeated.
Must Revise Building Laws.
IN order to meet this problem squarely,
every city in the United States should re
wise its building laws in such a manner
that either the owner or the contractor
Of a concrete building shall be compelled
to employ a competent inspector.
Some Of the causes that have produced
failure are: carelessness in proportion
ing and mixing the Concretei poor or un-
suitable sand, stone, or gravel. poor joints
in the forms and insufficient bracng, and
often a too early removal of these forms;
insufficient and incorrectly placed re-en-
forcement. and bad alignment of the
work
Each failure tends 70 discourage the
use Of concrete, for the reason that Il IS
almost universally attributed TO the ma
terial rather than 10 the improper condi-
ton under which il is used.
1.-THE Geological Survey. IN connection
with its experiment. has made it a point
10 investigate promptly the failure of con-
crete structures. and the collapse Of those
already examined has been due TO care
lessness on the part Of the contractors
or defective design or forms, and not 20
the materials used
In the Lass ruined concrete building I
inspected 1 found many evidences Of
carelessness in construction. There We're
indications that the building was being
rushed 10 completion, with little attention
to vitally important details.
Forms Removed Too soon.
The evidence shows that the contractor
was using the lumber forms In another
building. and was. therefore, pulling of
the forms before the concrete had be-
come sufficiently hardened 10 support it
self. Again. the atmospheric conditions
at the time were not conducive 20 a rapid
hardening of the concrete. Despite all
these defects in construction. the collapse
OF this building was undoubtedly caused
by the premature removal of the sup
ports by an ignorant workman"
The Geological Survey, through its
branch. is now conducting ex-
periments at its laboratories in ST. Louis.
Mo. and also at Norfolk. Va. These eX-
periments include tests of the strength
of concrete and Of REINFORCED concrete
beams. columns. and floor slabs Al
though these tests are made primarily in
behalf Of the government their results
viii be published for the benefit also Of
the builders of the country.