Recommend Adoption of Uniform Building Code For Los Angeles County

Adoption of the Uniform Building Code by Los Angeles county as a whole was recommended on March 28 in the verdict of the Coroner's jury of building experts impaneled by County Coroner Frank Nance following a review of the recent Southern'California earthquake situation. Members of the jury included: Nels Gross, president of the District Bonding Company; C. T. Manwaring, head of the Board of Fire Underwriters ; W. A. McNeil, contractor; D. H. Merrill, secretary, Pacific Coast Builders Conference; Irving C. Harris, consulting structural engineer and geologist; Ralph E. Homann, president of the California State Builders' Exchange; Sterling C. Lines, consulting engineer; Earl T. Heitschmidt and E. M. Scofield, structural engineers, all of Los Angeles.

In the verdict, the opinion is expressed, 'ithe great amount of damage that resulted from this shock was due to faulty construction of the buildings damaged. Buildings of good construction es'caped damage or came through with only minor damage, even though situated directly adjacent to buildings that were demolished."

The verdict stated: "The more populous portions of Southern California are so situated with reference to fault z'ones that there is no reason to expect here the serious effects that have resulted from great earthquakes in other parts of the world. On the other hand, there is no reason to think that there will not be other shocks in the future."

Recommendations contained in the verdict follow:

(1) The "Uniform Building C'ode" should be immediately adopted as a legal code 'covering construction and or repair of all buildings in Los Angeles county, including Section 2311 (a) of the appendix thereof as an integral part of that code, with addition of a paragraph to Section 23Il (a) providing that a factor of 1@ per cent against lateral forces be required in construction of all fire walls, towers, friezes, cornices, signs, overhanging.or protruding obje'cts, lvater towers, penth,ouses, etc., except that the use of iime mortar referred to in this code be eliminated.

(2) That in repair of structures within Los Angeles county, damaged, but not justifying demolition, constituted authorities be guided by the prin,ciples and requirements of the "Uniform Building Code" with appendix as specified in recommendation No. I above, and including also the ex,ceptions noted in said paragraph 1 above, to the end that such repair be made with every .consideration given to safety of life and property.

(3) That every masonry building of any height, and every wood frame building more than two stories in height, be designed by either a licensed architect or a registered structural engineer, and that every skeleton frame building be designed structurally by a registered structural engineer or certified ar'chitect who qualifies as a structural engineer, and that the construction of every such building be supervised by a registered structural engineer or a licensed architect who qualifies as a stru,ctural engineer,

(4) That the State contractors' license law be strengthened so as to require still greater ability and integrity on the part of contractors.

(5) The jury desires to emphasize the fact that this investigation has clearly developed the type of stru.ctures most suitable for s,chool buildings, and to offer the recommendation that in buildings of more dhan one story in height Class A (type 1) construction should be used exclusively.

(6) One-story structures can very satisfactorily be constru,cted of wood frame, fire-resistive lath and plaster inside and out, and similar fire-resistive roof construction.

(7) It is the opinion of this jury that the best means of permanently, effectively and economically insuring safe construction and maintenance of school buildings is to consolidate the administration of all school building affairs in one control body in the county.

(8) Based on the evidence, we further re,commend that there should be an immediate inspection of all buildings used for schools and or for public assembly, and that all su,ch buildings which have suffered damage or are found to have elements involving the hazards pointed out herein, be removed or reconstructed in accordance with the standards recommended herein. Schools and buildings of public assembly which, by reason of their location, are subject to unusually severe hazards due to ground conditions, should be removed or made exceptionally resistent to the effects of earth vibrations. Buildings other than schools and buildings of public assembly should be inspected and hazardous conditions eliminated.

(9) Attention of this jury has been called to an emergency organization which for some time has functioned informally in the city of Los Angeles. This organization has included the fire department, police department and other governmental agencies, aided by such bodies as the Chamber of Commerce, Red Cross, United States Army and Navy, and by certain of the public service corporations. It is understood that even in its present state this organization proved rernarkably efficient in meeting the problems which confronted the 'city upon the occurrence of the recent shock. Accordingly, it is recommended that such organization or one of similar character be legalized, by ordinance, and that all cities and towns be brought into the plan to the end that under centralized authority, such an organization be made to function in a co-ordinated manner for the entire county.

Conclusions

This jury would emphasize strongly the very obvious need for irnmediate action. If for instance (cities and towns of this ,county co-operating) proper ordinances are made effective without ttndue delay and then a sustained and co-ordinated effort ,compelling the adherence to legally pres'cribed requirements is put forth, the security of this community against earthquake hazards should be assured. The practical problem before us, then, appears to be this: Shall we permit a possible repetition of the loss in lives and property at some future date when by the application of common-sense methods of preparedness, such losses as occurred as a result of the recent shock may be avoided.

Los Angeles county has not been found wanting as regards other problems it has been compelled to meet in the past, and it is not unfitting to believe that its constituted authorities and citizens alike will lend their best efforts to the end that in this instance, too, there shall not be a departure from a course which so far has made possible the community's remarkable development.

New Mill to Start May 1

The new sawmill re,cently built for W' P. Mclntyre & Son of Fortuna, Humboldt County, located on Howe Creek, has been completed and will start up for a steady run about May 1. The mill is situated in a choi'ce tract of Redwood of about 60 million feet. The initial run of the mill proved satisfactory, and the company is now ready to make shipments by water or rail.

The motive power for the new mill is furnished by twin steam engines, 11x18. The head rig consists of triple circular saws, each 52 inches in diameter, and the equipment includes a regular gang edger, a gang trimmer, and a four side Berlin planer. The estimated daily capacity is about 20,000 feet.