Evening star., 1935-05-04
CODE COMMITTEE
TO AID BUILDING
Solution of Many Difficulties
Blocking Progress. Seen
in Plan.

A solution of many Of the difficulties
blocking the way toward greater prog
ress in the construction field will be
made possible when the work of the
American Standards Association Build
ing Code Correlating Committee, now
being organized in New York. gets
actively under way. The organization
of this new committee was approved
by Standards Council at q recent
meeting.
For years architects, engineers, build
ers, manufacturers, and others whose
work or products go into building con-
struction, have complained bitterly
about existing building regulations.
Architects have said that their free
dom of design has been unnecessarily
restricted. Engineers and builders
have claimed that obsolete or ill-con-
sidered code provisions increased build
ing construction costs without adding
any compensating benefits in the way
of increased public safety or health.
Manufacturers of building materials
have repeatedly pointed out that their
tested and tried products have been
compelled to run a gantlet Of con-
fiicting regulations, and that promis-
ing new materials and methods some
times died in the struggle for recog-
milton.
Poor Buildings Opposed.
The public, on the other hand, has
voiced its disapproval of poor or un-
controlled construction in no uncer-
tain terms following the destruction
wrought by earthquakes, tornadoes,
fire, time and other causes. In addi-
ton. those who advance money on
building construction, those who in
sure building loans, and those who
insure buildings demand sound build
ing regulations as a protection Tor
their investment.
When questions of public health and
safety, requirements for countless va
rieties of building materials, and de-
sign and construction problems are
blended together to form building
code it is obvious that the blending
process must be done fairly and con-
cisely. Such a premise requires a
broad range of representation and a
permanent, long-range plan for in
surfing retention of advances made, as
we'll as providing machinery for neces-
sary revisions.
A special committee, composed OF
representatives of national organlza-
tions having an interest in the entire
building code field and private experts,
was apopinted to investigate methods
for continuing the work on building
g 81 oyfy,7 ont nf
Building Code Committee. recently
disbanded. under the procedure OF the
American Standards Association.
Immediate Action Sought.
This main correlating committee is
to be organized Immediately, Stand
ards Council of the American Stand
ards Association voted. In general
its task will be to consider matters OF
general interest with respect to build
ing codes; to act as an advisory COM
mittee to the association; to consider
what subjects are appropriate for de-
yelorment In the A. S. A; to define
and limit the scope of projects for
which it recommends sponsors; to fol-
low up work in progress in the devel-
opment of projects; to review the per-
sonnel OF committees responsible for
building code projects to insure their
having a representative character; to
examine recommendations submitted
BY sectional committees and to har-
monte conflicts between the several
recommendations, and to act upon
such other matters that may be
brought before it with relation to the
development of building codes as 1t
may consider within its province.
Individual projects will be handled
by sectional committees, thus afford
ing representation for all those hav-
ing an interest in one or more phases
of building codes, but not in the en-
tire field. The organization of spe-
cific sectional committees will result.
Of course, from the recommendations
of the correlating committee as 1ndi-
Gated in the duties of that committee.
Advantages Seen.
The breakdown of the component
parts of a building code under CO.
ordinated plan has definite technical
advantages. 1t permits use of stand
ards in existence that logically fit into
the pattern. Development OF the
most Immediately desirable subjects
can take place without waiting for the
last word on other subjects of lesser
importance, or which require extend
ed investigation before requirements
for them can be developed.