Evening star., 1934-10-13
UNIFORM BUILDING
MATERIAL URGED
Economies May Be Made in
Public Structures, In
stitute Says.

Economies in the construction of
buildings erected by tax-supported
agencies can be effected by co-ordi-
mating the sizes Of building materials,
the American Institute of Architects
declared in indorsing the movement
for uniform sizes fostered by the Ma
tional Bureau Of Standards.
The institute pointed out that the
development of such standards should
not exclude or discourage the manu-
facture of odd-sized brick for special
purposes or esthetic reasons.
1T is the intention of the co-ordi-
nation movement 10 .Conhne activities
to units for use in structures where
economy in materials and labor are
deciding factors, such as Federal
State and local government buildings,
commercial structures, industrial
buildings, mass production projects
and low-cost housing" it is explained.
For these reasons there is nothing
In the proposed project that should
be Objectionable to architects on the
basis of being contrary to their desires
for freedom in design. The minor
adjustments in sizes of units will be
negligible and should have the desir-
able effect of simplifying matters for
the designer.
Architects Help.
"The architectural profession is in
- ~
in the program. 1t is apparent that
If architects throughout the country
will specify definite sizes of units
which have been designed to fit with
other units to form well knitted
structure, a demand will be created
for such approved sizes which will
automatically insure close co-opera-
ton from those engaged in producing
such materials.
"A study of sizes Of manufactured
building units shows room for con-
siderable improvement in correlation,
especially in the case Of units which 90
to make up a wall system. such as
brick, tile, block. windows, etc. Vari-
ations in basic dimensions cause con-
fusion in design and assembling and
result in increased costs and faulty
construction.
THE present lack of coordination
and variations in sizes Of building
units. particularly between different
sections of the country, should not
be attributed to the vagaries Of the
manufa cturers Deviations from the
standard sizes adopted by the masonry
unit industries, for example, can to
a large extent be traced to the de-
mands of users of those materials and
recognizing this situation, the manu-
facturers should not be too severely
criticized for producing sizes which
seem to fit the popular demand.
Standard Bricks.
''In order that a more stable unit
may be maintained as a basis Of
measurement, the brick manufacturers
throughout the country with the help
full cooperation of all concerned
should be encouraged to adhere as
closely as possible to the standard
dimensions adopted by that industry
with the assurance that brick
sizes would remain constant, leaders
in other industries have indicated the
manufacturers of adjoining units will
be glad to make such minor adjust
ments in their products as may be
necessary to conform to the require
ments of the correlation pattern"
After widespread investigation into
the many factors involved, it is re-
ported by the institute that the most
satisfactory results for all concerned
might be obtained by taking the
standard common brick dimensions,
8 by "a by 80. inches, with a slightly
increased depth of 81 inches mini
mum to 2 and 4-10 inches maximum,
and with half inch mortar joint as a
basis Of measurement for adjoining
units.
THE slight increase in depth is
needed to provide the desirable
1852 ratios for brick laid in any
position" 1t is said. These combina-
tions seem to provide the most sat
isfactory basis for design of adjoin-
ing units, with the least disturbance to
the manufacturing processes Of the
majority of industries. This is partic-
ularly true with regard to such ma
terials as clay tile and concrete block,
the sizes of which are now based on
standard brick dimensions