Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-09-24
HOME STANDARDS
DRAFT IS F|N|SHED
FIJI. A. Rules to Lift General
Quality Of Building,
Official Says.

The Federal Housing Administration
has now completed 4 nation wide
system Of minimum standards for
small home construction. Administra-
tor Stewart Mcdonald announced
today.
Minimum construction requirements
for new dwellings in Arizona, New
Mexico, and the District Of Columbia
went into effect September is. These
were the last areas for which special
standards had not yet been drafted.
The new minimum requirements in
all States supplant q set of general
construction standards which applied
to the nation as whole, following
more than a year OF research In local
home building problems.
With these requirements in effect
IN the District. Arizona. and New Mex
tco," Mr.. Mcdonald said, the Federal
Housing Administration Is now estab.
lished As the only agency in the country
which has = nationwide influence
on home construction practices. 1t
is our belief that these carefully
drafted standards will continue to
have a marked effect in raising the
general quality of building in all parts
Of the United States. This is In line
with one Of the major purposes OF the
National Housing Act, namely to
encourage improvement in housing
standards and conditions.
Establishes Minimum.
I'VE have carefully refrained from
making these standards either so
high as to freeze out new construction
or so low as to be out Of step with our
avowed intention of improving housing
conditions. Our influence in this d.
rection does not place any undue
burden upon builders and contractors
but establishes minimum below which
construction must not fall II the build
er expects to finance the sale OF such
properties under the insured mortgage
system.
Our standards do not work any
hardship on the man who Is already
well on the way to home ownership,
any more than they restrict the action
Of any reputable builder. Quite to
the contrary. they represent construc-
ton standards which home owners and
builders themselves would most WILL
ingly adopt.
The effect Of nation wide standards
Of construction. sufficiently elastic to
meet local problems in every commun.
ity. is Of benefit to all. Houses which
meet F, H. A. minimum requirements
are we'll constructed. The buyer is
assured that he is not buying gold
brick If the mortage is eligible for
r. H. A. insurance. He also has clear
picture from the outset Of what will
constitute the basic construction ele-
ments in his home
Proof Of Soundness.
Furthermore, the lender has ad-
ditional proof that the security behind
the mortage is sound, and that the
house in question. being sturdily built,
has more than the usual chance Of
remaining good risk and retaining
the interest of the borrower throughout
the period of the mortage.
THE Federal Housing Administra-
ton offers safeguards for the future by
proper insistence on building codes
and standards Of building materials,
a. we'll as through planning Of neigh
borhoods. The F. H. A. offers a sup
Elementary help Of far-reaching bene-
At to all lending institutions by pre-
serving property standards and remov-
ing neighborhood blight"
The Federal Housing Administration