Evening star., 1938-04-02
ANCIENT BUILDING
CODESARE SCORED
Drastic Revision Is Urged
to Reduce Construction
Costs of Homes.

Drastic revision of antiquated mu-
nicipal building codes, some Of which
are more than 20 years old, is urged
as q stimulus to better housing
through the reduction Of excess con-
struction costs by D. Knickerbocker
Boyd, fellow of the American Insti-
tute Of Architects. Mr.. Boyds rec
concentrations are contained in re-
port issued by the Committee on Pub
lie Information of the institute, which
holds its SEVENTEEN convention in New
Orleans April 10 to %. with housing
as the principal topic.
Mr.. Boyd's report deplores the lack
OF initiative shown by most cities in
the United States in establishing
proper building codes to effect econ
omies which will meet the low cost
requirement of most prospective home
owners.
I'm an almost unbelievable number
Of cities" Mr.. Boyd reported, build
ing codes are now in operation which
were prepared 10 to 20 years ago and
have not been revised or amended
since. These codes fail to take into
consideration the advances made in
the scientific and efficient use of struc-
tural materials. In all such codes
numerous changes could be made
which would in the aggregate reduce
building costs while still retaining safe
structural requirements"
Appeal Made to Architects.
This condition exists, Mr.. Boyd
stated, in face of housing conscious
Nation" stimulated by the possibilities
Of improving the living conditions of
their citizens and their community
aspect by slum clearance and the
erection Of new low-cost homes. The
report adds that new homes and the
rehabilitation and modernization of
sound old homes and other buildings
can be accomplished now, under suit
able conditions, under the Wagner
Steagall Act and through other gov
ernmental assistance.
The appeal for the revision of codes
which have outlived their usefulness
was directed to members of the Amer
lean Institute of Architects, who
were asked to inaugurate movements
to modernize cumbersome and useless
building codes throughout the United
States.
Municipal officials, with proper
technical guidance, can sponsor codes
that will enable them to take ad-
vantage of the vast field of accumu-
lated data and to effect justifable
economies in construction and in plan
requirements" Mr. Boyd suggested.
Principal sources of this information
have been governmental departments
or technical institutions. But some
material manufacturers, through an
enlightened spirit of cooperation in
ascertalning and presenting reliable
and informative data on their prod
ucts. have also contributed to their
more intelligent and economical unit
utilization and therefore increased
total sales"
Cites Lack of knowledge.
Calling some of the older codes
largely a cross between fear, lack
OF knowledge and the misguided de-
sires Of some producers of materials
to load them,'" Mr. Boyd pointed to
regulations relating to wall thickness
as one OF the items in need Of COM
plete revision.
An investigation Of 100 building
codes throughout the country by the
Department of Commerce Building
Code Committee. brought the recon-
mendation for 8-inch walls of brick,
hollow tile or concrete block. The
investigation disclosed that in some
cities 1t was possible to construct a
tWo-story dwelling with 8-inch walls
for both stories above the basement,
while in a neighboring city-less than
10 miles aWay-12-inch walls were
required throughout. Why should the
thicker wall be required for both
stories in l9 cities and for the first
story in 81 cities, if the 8-inch wall
is equally safe and approved by %
cities, the latter among the largest
in the United States?"
Mr.. Boyd calculated that in a house
20x30 feet, two stories high, 1880 |
bricks could be saved by using an
8-inch wall instead of 12-inch wall.
Those extra bricks would mean |
from 5000 to s225 has been added to
the cost of the house for the brick
alone, to which $3.50 must be added |
for the cost of the mortar and for the |
extra labor cost If the bricklayers and
helpers. This would mean that a
house of the same outside dimensions
would cost from $3.50 to S4O0 more |
in Albany or st. Louis than it would |
in Pittsburgh or Seattle.
I'm addition to the safe structural
requirements and money savings there
are other features 20 the thinner wall. |
The difference in thickenss of the |
walls increases the area on each floor |
by about 30 square feet. A small |
bathroom or several large closets could
be added to each story"
Mr. Boyd concluded his report with |
the statement that there is no excuse
for the variations in the thickness of |
masonry walls nor for the existence
OF antiquated codes.