Evening star., 1942-08-01
Building Industries
Develop Substitutes
For Critical Material
49,
Timber, cIoy. Gtoss,
Stone Replace vitoI
MetoIs in Products

Metals in Products
New uses for timber, clay, iron,
cement, cut and cast stone, marble
and glass are being developed by
industry to conserve critical con-
struction materials for the war
effort, according to J. w. Follin,
managing director Of the Producers
Council, national organization OF
manufacturers Of building materials.
Saying that the problem Of con-
servation ''is by no means licked,
but that notable progress Is being
made, Mr.. Follin declared that the
construction industry can make an
important contribution to victory
by making conservation really enec-
tive.
THE vast research facilities OF
al manufacturers have been put to
work overtime to produce new ma
terials and new uses Of old mate
rials," Mr.. Follin said. Critical
msterials are being saved In manu-
featuring processes Varieties and
sizes Of many building products have
been reduced with resultant savings
In inventory. On every hand there
is an urge to develop and create, In
many cases actuated by the stern
necessity for survival. but neverthe-
less making its contribution to con-
servation, and hence to the war
effort.
Research Bearing Fruit.
There have been some highly in
teresting developments from the
manufacturing angle. In the steel
field marked advance has been made
In the simplification Of structural
shapes and In the acceptance Of
higher working stresses for steel
which conserve metal. r.
I'm view Of the limitations on use
Of steel, the competitive structural
materials have been active in ex-
tending the use OF their products.
Return to the use of timber truss
ing has been facilitated by advances
in timber engineering through ef-
forts Of the lumber industry. The
structural clay products manufac-
turing industry has developed new
design and construction techniques
embodying its products. -
Research and development in
concrete construction by the cement
industry over many years Is bearing
fruit at this time, In spite Of the
shortage in reinforcing steel. which
can be conserved by greater volume
Of concrete.
Limitations on use Of steel have
encouraged greater use Of many
other products, such as cut stone
and cast stone, marble and glass for
toilet partitions. asbestos-cement
pipe for cast iron pipe. In the
plumbing industry iron Is being sub
stituted for brass, and even clay
for iron. A complete line Of cast
iron fittings is on the market and
lasquer ooatings are being developed
to replace chromium plating. Brass
has been eliminated except for the
necessary use In valve stems and
valve seats. r.
. Smaller Heating Equipment.
Metal is being saved in the de-
sign Of heating equipment and
through using heating plants Of
smaller capacity made possible by
insulation In structures to reduce
heat losses. One Of the first .ac-
complishpents In, simpnacation OF
sizes and varieties Of products was
made by the electrical manufactur-
Ing industry. Paint manufacturer
have had to develop new speciflca-
tions to replace scarce chemicals.
Where critical materials are
needed both for war construction
and In the production Of war mate.
rial, it is more likely that substitutes
can be found for the construction
Job, Mr.. Folltn points out. TOR ex.
ample, II copper Is needed for thu
building OF . plant that viii use
copper to manufacture shells, bott
are absolutely essential. Without
the plant the shells could not Dt
produced, but there Is one important
difference. There may be no sub
stitute for copper In making shells
It Is more likely that . substitute
for copper can be used In building
the plant.
Building Increase Seen.
"Day by day the situation changes
and more items enter the cateeoF!
. Of those which are critical or scarc'
and conservation Of which Is essen
tial to our war effort. The under
standing Of this. situation BY tn
construction industry Is important
as is the development Of ingenuit.
to solve not only present problem
but many others which are sure II
arise rs the war continues"
Military, naval, defense plant, wa
housing and essential civil construc
ton this year may total almost $l4,
1900 900, or 20 per cent more thai
In 1941. Mr.. Follin said, adding tina
conservation Of critical materials 1,
therefore. the most important prob
lem confronting the construction in
dustry. Most Of this construction 1
needed today; some Of it. yesterday