Research in architecture: a progress report, 1964

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Research in architecture: a progress report, 1964

NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL CANADA

DIVISION O F BUILDING RESEARCH

RESEARCH IN ARCHITECTURE A P r o g r e s s Report 1964

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Robert F . L e g g e t D i r e c t o r DBR/NRC Internal Report N o . 290 of the D i v i s i o n of Building Re s e a r c h OTTAWA M a r c h 1964

P R E F A C E

F r o m the e a r l i e s t d a y s of i t s e x i s t e n c e , the Division of Building R e s e a r c h h a s enjoyed close l i a i s o n with the Royal

A r c h i t e c t u r a l Institute of Canada and through i t with the a r c h i t e c t u r a l p r o f e s s i o n in Canada. Since the Council of t h e Royal Institute i s giving renewed attention to the f u t u r e of i t s own R e s e a r c h Committee, t h i s R e p o r t h a s been p r e p a r e d t o give the Officers of the RAIC.

,

and the M e m b e r s of i t s Council, a concise r e c o r d of t h e s p e c i a l attention t h a t DBR h a s given in r e c e n t y e a r s t o R e s e a r c h in A r c h i t e c t u r e .

T h e Report c o n s i s t s of two P r o g r e s s s t a t e m e n t s p r e p a r e d in 1962 and 1963 r e s p e c t i v e l y f o r the information of s u c c e s s i v e RAIC R e s e a r c h C o m m i t t e e s and a s a b a s i s f o r discussion with t h e m . It was hoped that the R e p o r t s would s t i m u l a t e c o m m e n t s f r o m m e m b e r s of the RAIC upon the work of DBR, and in p a r t i c u l a r upon the

suggestions advanced a t t h e end of the f i r s t r e p o r t , but unfortunately t h i s did not p r o v e t o be the c a s e .

T h e R e p o r t s a r e now r e p r o d u c e d exactly a s they w e r e originally p r e s e n t e d , even though t h i s m a k e s t h e m "dated" in a few r e p o r t s . It i s s a t i s f a c t o r y t o r e p o r t that the a u s t e r i t y p r o v i s i o n s mentioned in P a r t Two have now been r e l a x e d s o t h a t the Division i s again slowly building up i t s staff. At the t i m e of writing, t h e staff i s s t i l l below the t o t a l of 220, r e a c h e d in J u l y 1962, and about 40 below the n u m b e r that pre-1962 planning would have given by t h i s t i m e .

T h e s e r i o u s effect t h a t t h i s staff s h o r t a g e i s having on the work of the Division can well be imagined. The attention of r e a d e r s i s t h e r e f o r e e s p e c i a l l y d i r e c t e d to p a r a (23) of P a r t One.

Ottawa

M a r c h 1964

R o b e r t F. Legget D i r e c t o r

PART ONE

P r o g r e s s Report p r e p a r e d in May 1962

In i t s s e r v i c e t o the construction industry of Canada,

DBR/NRC h a s always b e e n privileged t o enjoy close liaison with

the a r c h i t e c t u r a l profession of Canada, notably through the Royal A r c h i t e c t u r a l Institute of Canada, but a l s o through the s e v e r a l provincial associations. When the Division's Building Re s e a r c h C e n t r e in Ottawa was fully operative, t h e Heads of the (then) five Schools of A r c h i t e c t u r e w e r e invited t o a private meeting at the C e n t r e , together with one other m e m b e r of e a c h of t h e i r staffs. The f i r s t such meeting was held on 21 and 22 F e b r u a r y 1957. The meeting w a s r e p e a t e d on 5 and 6 M a r c h 1959. T h e s e meetings proved t o be s o mutually beneficial that when, during 1959, the R e s e a r c h

Committee of the RAIC w a s reconstituted it was a logical develop- m e n t f o r the Division t o invite the Committee t o m e e t in its C e n t r e a t Ottawa, especially since e a c h of the Schools w a s r e p r e s e n t e d on the Committee.

The f i r s t such meeting of the RAIC R e s e a r c h Committee w a s t h e r e f o r e held in the Building R e s e a r c h C e n t r e , Ottawa, on 7 and 8 A p r i l 1960. Again, a second meeting w a s held, in view of the a g r e e d usefulness of the f i r s t ; t h i s second meeting was held on 12 and 1 3 April 1961, again under the chairmanship of M r . S. Gitterman. In view of the change of chairmanship of the Committee, l a t e in 1961, and f o r other r e a s o n s , it was mutually a g r e e d t h a t it might be

expedient t o omit a n Ottawa meeting during 1962, a l t h o q h the R e s e a r c h Committee will be meeting in Vancouver, B. C.

,

during the c o u r s e of the Annual Meeting of the Royal Institute. T h i s Report h a s been

p r e p a r e d f o r t h e i n f o r m a t i o n of t h e C o m m i t t e e a t i t s w e s t e r n meeting. It i s hoped t h a t the R e p o r t m a y p r o v e t o be of i n t e r e s t t o m e m b e r a of the RAIG in g e n e r a l , f o r which r e a s o n i t will be i s s u e d a s one of t h e r e g u l a r s e r i e s of DBR I n t e r n a l R e p o r t s , a f t e r i t s i n i t i a l c o n s i d e r - ation by the R e s e a r c h C o m m i t t e e .

(2) A G e n e r a l C o m m e n t

Even though the Division i s a c u t e l y conscious of the m a n y p r o j e c t s which i t d e s i r e s t o p u r s u e still f u r t h e r , and t o i n i t i a t e , in t h o s e f i e l d s of Building R e s e a r c h which have s p e c i a l a p p e a l t o a r c h i t e c t s , it can be r e p o r t e d that a l l t h e p r o j e c t s d i s c u s s e d with t h e R e s e a r c h C o m m i t t e e under M r . G i t t e r m a n t s l e a d e r ship have been a t l e a s t s t a r t e d ; s o m e have been well developed. At the outset of t h i s r e p o r t , t r i b u t e m u s t be paid a p p r e c i a t i v e l y t o the work and e n t h u s i a s m of M r . G i t t e r m a n which many m e m b e r s of t h e Division c a m e t o value in a v e r y p e r s o n a l way. The Division looks f o r w a r d t o c o - o p e r a t i n g in a s i m i l a r way with h i s s u c c e s s o r , M r . A. F i s h e r , who h a s a l r e a d y paid a n initial v i s i t t o t h e Division.

P o s s i b l y the m o s t tangible evidence of t h i s c o - o p e r a t i v e endeavour i s t h e monthly a p p e a r a n c e of t h e Canadian Building D i g e s t s in e a c h i s s u e of t h e J o u r n a l of the RAIC. T o t a l d i s t r i b u t i o n of e a c h i s s u e of t h e D i g e s t s now amounts t o 1 5 , 000. Many a p p r e c i a t i v e c o m m e n t s upon t h e m have been r e c e i v e d but t h e Division i s anxious t o know if they a r e meeting a r e a l demand in t h e a r c h i t e c t u r a l

p r o f e s s i o n . When a note w a s r e c e n t l y p r i n t e d a t the end of one D i g e s t , advising t h a t s p e c i a l binding c a s e s would be m a d e a v a i l a b l e if t h e r e w a s sufficient demand, only 25 r e p l i e s w e r e r e c e i v e d f r o m a r c h i t e c t s , even though 4000 copies a r e supplied e a c h month t o the I n s t i t u t e ,

f r e e of c o s t f o r inclusion i n t h e full printing of the monthly i s s u e s of t h e J o u r n a l .

I f , t h e r e f o r e , the R e s e a r c h C o m m i t t e e could in s o m e way s e r v e t o i m p r o v e communications between t h e Division and t h e

profession, mutual benefit would r e s u l t . That improvement in communications is n e c e s s a r y i s shown t o the Division a t l e a s t once a month when contact i s made with a n a r c h i t e c t , often with a

senior m e m b e r of the profession, who h a s no idea of the s e r v i c e that i s available through the Division nor how t o go about obtaining t h i s . May it t h e r e f o r e be r e c o r d e d that a p r i m e function of the Division i s the provision of information t o consultants

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a r c h i t e c t s and engineers

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in relation t o special problems they m a y f a c e ,

information that i s not available through n o r m a l channels. Inquiries may always be a d d r e s s e d t o the D i r e c t o r . Inquiry by l e t t e r i s always t o be p r e f e r r e d t o telephoning, except in c a s e s of urgency, s o that the inquiry may be d i r e c t e d t o the appropriate m e m b e r of DBR staff.

During the y e a r under review, it has been a m a t t e r of g r e a t encouragement t o have a n increasing number of a r c h i t e c t u r a l f i r m s make such approaches while engaged on design work, in a

number of c a s e s the inquiry leading t o v i s i t s t o the Building R e s e a r c h C e n t r e f o r detailed review of the problems in question by s e v e r a l m e m b e r s of staff. It will be obvious how v e r y g r e a t l y t h i s p r o c e d u r e i s t o be p r e f e r r e d t o inquiries a f t e r trouble has developed on a

finished project. Such "trouble shooting1' i s s t i l l a n important p a r t of the Division's work; whenever it can be a r r a n g e d , m e m b e r s of staff will visit p r o j e c t s upon which s e r i o u s difficulties have

been experienced and a private r e p o r t submitted t o the a r c h i t e c t a f t e r mutual discussion.

( 3 ) P e r f o r m a n c e of Buildings

It is in such ways that much m a y be l e a r n e d about the performance of buildings, a m a t t e r that h a s been a m a j o r topic of d i s c u s s i o n a t a l l four meetings a l r e a d y mentioned. A d r a f t of a

proposed building "Check List" i s being submitted t o the R e s e a r c h Committee f o r consideration ( P l e a s e s e e Appendix A). This l i s t will probably have to go through s e v e r a l s t a g e s before a r e a l l y workable document i s developed that can be used by a r c h i t e c t s

g e n e r a l l y , in t h e i r r e g u l a r v i s i t s to buildings that they have designed s o m e t i m e a f t e r they have been completed, a p r a c t i c e which the R e s e a r c h Committee hopes to promote. The School of A r c h i t e c t u r e a t the University of Toronto h a s e x p r e s s e d i n t e r e s t in a s s i s t i n g with t h i s work. Strangely, t h e r e i s v e r y little available in the l i t e r a t u r e about t h i s d e s i r a b l e check upon the p e r f o r m a n c e of buildings, a s was revealed in DBR/NRC Technical Note No. 310,

copies of which a r e available, ( P l e a s e s e e Appendix B). T h i s i s in c o n t r a s t to the well accepted p r a c t i c e of r e g u l a r inspection of engineering s t r u c t u r e s in u s e . The Division r e g a r d s the m a t t e r a s one of g r e a t importance and looks f o r w a r d t o a s s i s t i n g the R e s e a r c h Committee with i t s development.

( 4 ) M e a s u r e m e n t of Buildings

A world-wide s u r v e y of p r a c t i c e in the m e a s u r e m e n t (or "cubing") of buildings was c a r r i e d out by the Division, a f t e r the m a t t e r had been d i s c u s s e d with the R e s e a r c h Committee. G r e a t variations w e r e found. T h e s e a r e s u m m a r i z e d in a n Internal Report No. 2 3 3 '!An Analysis of Methods of Measuring the Size of

Buildings" by Allen B r a s s , B . Arch.

,

copie s of which a r e available t o i n t e r e s t e d m e m b e r s . Copies of t h i s R e p o ~ t a r e now in the hands of the m e m b e r s of the Executive of C . I . B . (Conseil International du BZtiment, the international building r e s e a r c h organization) and the m a t t e r will be d i s c u s s e d a t the next meeting of t h i s Executive, in September 1962, t o s e e i f t h e r e i s any possibility of developing an international s t a n d a r d f o r t h i s relatively simple but m o s t

( 5 ) Building Information

The R e s e a r c h Committee has e x p r e s s e d s p e c i a l intere.st in the v a s t amount of printed information on building that i s now available, a s indicated by the holdings in the DBR/NRC L i b r a r y . At t h e suggestion of t h e Committee, a s p e c i a l guide t o building l i t e r a t u r e was p r e p a r e d by the L i b r a r i a n t o the Division and published a s Canadian Building Digest No. 27 "Sources of Infor- mation on Building. 'I The Division would welcome comments upon

this l i s t and suggestions a s t o how f u r t h e r i s s u e s of it might be improved.

( 6 ) Canadian Building A b s t r a c t s

The Division i s now producing a semi-annual i s s u e of Canadian Building A b s t r a c t s , supplementing Building Science A b s t r a c t s ( i s s u e d by the B r i t i s h Building R e s e a r c h Station),

a b s t r a c t s having been another m a t t e r of d i s c u s s i o n with t h e R e s e a r c h Committee. Circulation of C. B. A. to a r c h i t e c t s in Canada is not yet extensive; they a r e available f r e e on application (although a l l r e g u l a r DBR publications a r e available a t a s m a l l c o s t , a s noted in the Publications L i s t s ) .

(7) Inquiries

The R e s e a r c h Committee h a s always been i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e Inquiry S e r v i c e provided by the Division

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t h i s being f o r the p r o v i -

sion of specific technical information in r e s p o n s e t o w r i t t e n o r telephoned inquiries. The situation h a s not improved since it w a s l a s t r e p o r t e d to t h e Committee, a s shown by the following f i g u r e s , the interpretation of which i s a m a t t e r of doubt, but of r e a l concern, within the Division.

Total Number of Y e a r

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Inquiries Received 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 ( J a n . t o April) Inquiries Received f r o m A r c h i t e c t s

(8) Technical Column f o r the J o u r n a l

Typical columns, a s d i s c u s s e d by the Committee, have

been p r e p a r e d but no decision a p p e a r s to have been reached regarding t h e devotion of one f u l l page ( o r m o r e ) t o technical m a t t e r s in the J o u r n a l . D i s c u s s i o n s with Mr. F i s h e r have shown t h a t he wishes t o p u r s u e t h i s m a t t e r f u r t h e r . The Division t h e r e f o r e looks f o r w a r d t o hearing again f r o m the Committee about this proposal. (9) Modular Coordination

The Division's work in t h i s vital field h a s continued with the a s s i s t a n c e of P r o f e s s o r

S.R.

Kent of t h e School of A r c h i t e c t u r e of the University of Toronto. T h e r e h a s now been published t h e

"Modular Drafting Manual", available f r o m the Division a t $1.00

p e r copy; it h a s been well r e c e i v e d a s shown by r e v i e w s and c o m m e n t s in a r c h i t e c t u r a l and building magazines in other c o u n t r i e s . It i s

now in its second printing. T h e r e h a s a l s o just been published a much l a r g e r book "Modular P r a c t i c e " (John Wiley and Sons, New York; $8. 50-U. S. p e r copy). T h i s w a s p r e p a r e d under the a e g i s of a s p e c i a l p r o j e c t committee of the (U. S . ) Building R e s e a r c h Advisory B o a r d of which the w r i t e r w a s a m e m b e r , with P r o f e s s o r Kent a s h i s a l t e r n a t e . Both t h e s e books should be in e v e r y a r c h i t e c - t u r a l office in Canada.

Acceptance of the modular concept by Canadian i n d u s t r y i s a l s o p r o g r e s s i n g , a s evidenced by a one-day conference on the subject held by the Canadian Wood Development Council, and a d d r e s s e d by P r o f e s s o r Kent. In view of t h i s , and of the a v a i l a - bility of the two volumes noted, the Division looks f o r w a r d t o

sponsoring a full day conference on the u s e of Modular Coordination in Building next w i n t e r , in Toronto and a l s o in Montreal. P l a n s f o r t h e s e meetings will be announced t o the profession a s soon a s possible since it i s hoped that many a r c h i t e c t s will attend.

(10) Visits t o Schools of A r c h i t e c t u r e

P r o g r e s s w a s made with t h i s l i a i s o n but riot t o the full extent that had been anticipated, due t o i l l n e s s within the D i v i s i o q that kept one of the intended p a r t i c i p a n t s away f o r a l m o s t two months.

Visits of DBR staff w e r e paid, however, during the 1961-1962 s e s s i o n t o some of the Schools. In addition t o t h e s e v i s i t s , t h e o f f i c e r s -in-charge of the DBR Regional Stations in Vancouver and Halifax k e e p in c l o s e p e r s o n a l touch with the r e s p e c t i v e a r c h i t e c - t u r a l s t a f f s , M r . B a l l giving l e c t u r e s in Building M a t e r i a l s t o t h e School on the B . C . Campus.

UNIVERSITY RESEARCH PROJECTS (1 1) University of B r i t i s h C o l u m b i a

Good p r o g r e s s continues t o be made with the r e s e a r c h p r o j e c t into p e r f o r m a n c e s t a n d a r d s f o r r e s i d e n t i a l zoning sponsored and financed by DBR/NRC, and initiated by t h e l a t e P r o f e s s o r F.

L a s s e r r e and P r o f e s s o r H. P. O b e r l a n d e r . P r o f e s s o r W. G e r s o n h a s taken on P r o f e s s o r L a s s e r r e ' s responsibility. T h e Division a p p r e c i a t e s the e n t h u s i a s t i c d i r e c t i o n given by P r o f e s s o r s G e r s o n and O b e r l a n d e r ; since they will probably be r e p o r t i n g in p e r s o n on the p r o j e c t t o the Committee a t i t s Vancouver meeting, no detailed r e p o r t need h e r e be included.

It m a y , however, be useful t o o b s e r v e that a n Annotated Bibliography ( r e p ~ e s e n t i n g the f i r s t stage of t h i s , a s of a l l

building r e s e a r c h p r o j e c t s ) h a s been published on t h i s subject a s NRC No. 6442, copies being available a t 50 cents e a c h . F i r s t r e p o r t s on the a c t u a l r e s e a r c h studies a r e now being p r o c e s s e d but inevitably it will be a n appreciable t i m e b e f o r e finished r e s e a r c h p a p e r s based on t h e work a r e available.

Both M r . F e r g u s o n and the w r i t e r a r e following the work with s p e c i a l i n t e r e s t , and have visited the School in o r d e r t o review p r o g r e s s . In addition, M r . Murdoch G a l b r e a t h made a s p e c i a l t r i p t o Vancouver f r o m Ottawa and spent a week advising and

i n s t r u c t i n g the g r a d u a t e student r e s e a r c h w o r k e r ( M r . Goldsworthy) r e g a r d i n g the f i r e a s p e c t s of site planning. Unfortunately, M r . Goldsworthy h a s had to r e s i g n h i s position in o r d e r t o e n t e r an office to gain n e c e s s a r y recognized p r o f e s s i o n a l e x p e r i e n c e , s o that t h e benefit of a l l t h i s t r a i n i n g i s l o s t . T h i s p o s e s a p r o b l e m that will be mentioned l a t e r .

P r o f e s s o r V . Lyman i s again spending the s u m m e r a s a s p e c i a l w o r k e r with the Division. During the s u m m e r of 1961 he worked with the Division's r e s i d e n t officer in Vancouver ( M r . W . H. Ball) on a study of the p e r f o r m a n c e of buildings on the c a m p u s of the University, with s p e c i a l r e f e r e n c e t o r a i n

penetration. A valuable paper will r e s u l t f r o m t h i s work in addition t o the private r e p o r t made t o University a u t h o r i t i e s . T h i s s u m m e r , in a corresponding way, a study of school buildings in the Vancouver a r e a i s under way.

( 1 2) University of Toronto

A s a l r e a d y noted, P r o f e s s o r S. R. Kent h a s continued h i s s p e c i a l work with the Division on modular coordination. T h i s s u m m e r , in addition t o spending t i m e in Ottawa, he will initiate studies in the Toronto a r e a with s p e c i a l r e f e r e n c e t o modular d o o r s and windows

.

The Division i s m u c h i n t e r e s t e d in P r o f e s s o r W . G .

R a y m o r e ' s projected volume(s) and knows well the need f o r such a n addition t o the l i t e r a t u r e of building; i t w a s able t o a s s i s t h i m with s o m e of h i s n e c e s s a r y t r a v e l l i n g f o r study of h i s subject m a t t e r .

D i s c u s s i o n s a r e proceeding a t p r e s e n t which m a y lead to t h e development of a R e s e a r c h A g r e e m e n t between the School and t h e Council t o cover studies of the p e r f o r m a n c e of buildings.

SOME NOTES FROM THE DIVISION

Since the Division now r e c o r d s i t s work publicly through printed i l l u s t r a t e d Annual R e p o r t s ("Ten Y e a r s of Building

R e s e a r c h " , "Building R e s e a r c h 1958- 59" and "Building R e s e a r c h 1960" having a l r e a d y been published, copies being s t i l l available)

it i s not n e c e s s a r y t o give h e r e any detailed account of i t s g e n e r a l p r o g r a m . Some s p e c i a l i t e m s have been selected f o r mention, just a s would have been done had the R e s e a r c h Committee been meeting in Ottawa.

(1 3 ) A r c h i t e c t s on DBR Staff

The w r i t e r r e c o r d s with s p e c i a l p l e a s u r e the f a c t t h a t the Division h a s five a r c h i t e c t s on i t s staff, d e s p i t e the l o s s of

the good s e r v i c e s of M r . A. B r a s s , who left t o p u r s u e post-graduate study in Toronto. Now on staff a r e :

Name Degree Section

R . S. F e r g u s o n B . Arch. (McGill) Head, Building

S t a n d a r d s M. C. B a k e r B . A r c h . , B . E n g . , Construction

(McGill)

M. G a l b r e a t h B. Sc. in Arch. Building Standards (Glasgow)

G . K . G a r d e n B

.

Arch. (Manitoba) Construction

A. W . Stickel Dip. Eng. A r c h . Building S t a n d a r d s

( K a r l s r u h e , G e r m a n y ) M. A r c h . (McGill)

T h e s e m e n , a l l with s o m e y e a r s of p r a c t i c a l experience gained before joining the Division, have a l r e a d y shown what a valuable contribution a r c h i t e c t s , with t h e i r s p e c i a l training and outlook, can make t o building r e s e a r c h . M r . Stickel i s concentrating on the new Housing S t a n d a r d s , M r . G a r d e n on c u r t a i n wall p r o b l e m s , M r . G a l b r e a t h on the f i r e prevention a s p e c t s of the National Building Code, and Mr. B a k e r on roofing p r o b l e m s - not t o the exclusion of other r e s e a r c h studies, but a s t h e i r principal field of i n t e r e s t . The work of M r . F e r g u s o n , e s p e c i a l l y on the National Building

Code extending back t o the e a r l i e s t d a y s of the Division, is

a l r e a d y well and favourably known in the profession. (14) Visits t o P r o v i n c i a l Associations

The Division welcomed invitations f r o m some of the provincial a s s o c i a t i o n s t o attend t h e i r meetings during the past y e a r and it was possible f o r m e m b e r s of the staff t o do t h i s in m o s t P r o v i n c e s . In Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick t h e r e w a s a

r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of DBR a t the Annual Meeting.

(15) Visit of O v e r s e a s Building R e s e a r c h D i r e c t o r s

In September 1961, the Division w a s privileged t o have a s i t s g u e s t s f o r t h r e e weeks the D i r e c t o r s of Building R e s e a r c h of the English-speaking World, ( G r e a t B r i t i a n , India, A u s t r a l i a , South A f r i c a , West Africa and the U. S. A. ). Some F e l l o w s and M e m b e r s of the Institute m e t the g u e s t s and the Executive S e c r e t a r y joined t h e m a t a luncheon in Ottawa. The private d i s c u s s i o n s that w e r e the focal point of the visit revealed a s i m i l a r p a t t e r n of

liaison with the a r c h i t e c t u r a l profession in a l l c o u n t r i e s , although i t i s a p l e a s u r e t o add that DBR/NRC a p p e a r s t o enjoy much c l o s e r liaison with the RAIC than i s the comparable c a s e in the other c o u n t r i e s . Only in South A f r i c a i s t h e r e any extension of activity beyond what i s the p r a c t i c e of t h i s Division, the National Building R e s e a r c h Institute of South A f r i c a having on i t s staff a r c h i t e c t s who actually design and s u p e r v i s e the construction of prototype .buildings such a s schools. The South African D i r e c t o r advised that, once the initial shock of t h i s venture had w o r n off, South African

a r c h i t e c t s welcomed the development since full d e t a i l s of c o s t e t c . , w e r e f r e e l y published, thus providing the profession with design t a r g e t s at which t o aim.

( 1 6) Building R e s e a r c h in the U . S. A.

A s.ignificant development of the past y e a r w a s the

e s t a b l i s h m e n t by the Building R e s e a r c h Advisory B o a r d of the ( U . S. )

National Academy of Science -National R e s e a r c h Council of a s p e c i a l a d v i s o r y committee of nine m e n t o a d v i s e t h e D i r e c t o r of

the National B u r e a u of S t a n d a r d s a s t o the f u t u r e of building r e s e a r c h in the B u r e a u and i t s place in relation to building r e s e a r c h g e n e r a l l y in the United S t a t e s . It was a r a r e privilege f o r the w r i t e r to be one of the nine m e m b e r s of t h i s Committee (even though a Canadian); h i s f r i e n d M r . W . H. Scheick, now Executive S e c r e t a r y of the A.I. A. w a s a l s o a m e m b e r . Despite the widely differing backgrounds and positions of the nine m e m b e r s , a completely unanimous r e p o r t h a s been completed. When published it should be of r e a l i n t e r e s t to m e m b e r s of the RAIC. R e s e a r c h Committee; possibly a r r a n g e m e n t s might be m a d e f o r it t o be r e p r i n t e d in the RAIC J o u r n a l .

(1 7 ) Inspection of Buildings

With the somewhat i n c r e a s e d staff available during the p a s t y e a r and because of i n c r e a s e d opportunities offered to the Division, it h a s been possible to c a r r y out a n i n c r e a s e d number of building inspections, usually in connection with t r o u b l e s that had developed. A few c a s e s may be mentioned:

T r i n i t y C h u r c h , Saint John, N. B. The tower of t h i s f a m o u s old c h u r c h h a s been found t o be in poor condition; because of i t s g r e a t h i s t o r i c i n t e r e s t , the Division i s co-operating with the appointed a r c h i t e c t s in a study of the n e c e s s a r y reconstruction. (The i n t e r e s t of the Division in h i s t o r i c buildings d o e s not a p p e a r t o be a p p r e c i a t e d within the profession: the "History of Building in

\

Office Building, Ottawa. T h i s building o p e r a t e s a t a r e l a t i v e humidity c l o s e t o 5070 both s u m m e r a n d w i n t e r . Many p r o b l e m s w e r e c r e a t e d a s condensation f o r m e d on c o l d s u r f a c e s on a n d in t h e w a l l s . The f r e e z i n g of s a t u r a t e d m a s o n r y m a t e r i a l s c a u s e d c r a c k i n g and d i s p l a c e m e n t of p a r a p e t s , t e r r a c e s , a n d colurnn c o v e r i n g s . D e t a i l e d e x a m i n a t i o n s of t h e building w e r e m a d e and c o r r e c t i v e m e a s u r e s d i s c u s s e d with t h e a r c h i t e c t s and o w n e r s . U n i v e r s i t y Building, Ottawa. T h e u s e of l i g h t - w e i g h t opaque w a l l p a n e l s r e s u l t e d in u n c o m f o r t a b l e working conditions. Wall s u r f a c e t e m p e r a t u r e m e a s u r e m e n t s a n d s u b s e q u e n t c a l c u - l a t i o n s showed t h a t a change in t h e d e s i g n of t h e p a n e l s could r e s u l t in r e d u c e d h e a t gain. It w a s a l s o shown t h a t b e c a u s e of t h e high t e m p e r a t u r e s just u n d e r the e x t e r i o r s u r f a c e s of t h e p a n e l s , s o m e p l a s t i c i n s u l a t i o n s t h a t w e r e being c o n s i d e r e d in t h e e x t e n s i o n of t h i s building could not be u s e d .

School Building, P o i n t e C l a i r e , P. Q T h e i n s u l a t e d roof d e c k had f a i l e d , r e s u l t i n g in c o n s i d e r a b l e l e a k a g e . E x a m i n a t i o n of t h e e x i s t i n g roof d e c k w a s m a d e and a n a l t e r n a t e d e s i g n u s e d in t h e r e c o n s t r u c t i o n of t h i s roof. D i s c u s s i o n s with m e m b e r s of t h e a r c h i t e c t u r a l f i r m w e r e held a t e a c h s t a g e of t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n . H o s p i t a l , E d m o n t o n , A l b e r t a . A i r l e a k a g e on t h e 6th f l o o r l e v e l into t h e m a s o n r y w a l l r e s u l t e d i n s a t u r a t i o n of t h e b r i c k a n d s u b s e q u e n t d i s p l a c e m e n t due t o f r o s t a c t i o n . T h i s building w a s e x a m i n e d by a m e m b e r of t h e P r a i r i e R e g i o n a l S t a t i o n and c o r r e c t i v e m e a s u r e d w e r e d i s c u s s e d with t h e a r c h i t e c t s of t h e P r o v i n c i a l D e p a r t m e n t of P u b l i c W o r k s . ( 1 8 ) Building S c i e n c e S t u d i e s s u c h a s s o m e of t h o s e j u s t m e n t i o n e d h a v e s e r v e d t o r e i n f o r c e the Division's conviction t h a t t h e r e i s r e a l need f o r an

"awakening" (if t h i s word m a y be u s e d ) a s t o the vital n e c e s s i t y f o r widespread appreciation of Building Science in the p r a c t i c e of building in Canada today. T h i s t e r m has been explained by the w r i t e r in the pages of the J o u r n a l ("Architectural Science" J o u r . RAIC.

,

Vol. 38, p. 49, May 1961). D r . N. B. H u t c h on, Assistant D i r e c t o r , i s p r e p a r i n g a text in t h i s new field, t o be called

"Fundamentals of Building Science" which, it i s hoped, will encourage attention to t h i s subject in University c u r r i c u l a , when it a p p e a r s . At l e a s t t h r e e University c h a i r s of Building Science ( o r i t s equivalent) have been established in G r e a t Britain. The subject i s t h e r e f o r e well worthy of the attention of the R e s e a r c h Committee.

CONCLUSION

-

SOME SUGGESTIONS

T o s o m e r e a d e r s , t h i s l a s t r e m a r k

-

coming c l o s e , a s it d o e s , to being a suggestion

-

might a p p e a r to be an unwarranted presumption on the p a r t of the w r i t e r . All r e a d e r s who attended any one of the four meetings noted a t t h e beginning of t h i s paper will, however, r e c a l l the v e r y f r a n k interchange of i d e a s and

suggestions that c h a r a c t e r i z e d the meetings. Accordingly, and in the s p i r i t of those meetings (and of f u t u r e Ottawa meetings, a l m o s t c e r t a i n l y ) the w r i t e r v e n t u r e s t o conclude by advancing a few

suggestions, even as he hopes that the R e s e a r c h Committee will continue t o favour the Division with i t s suggestions a s t o things that DBR/NRC i s not doing and should do, and vice v e r s a . (1 9) Communications

T h e chief concern of the Division in i t s frequent c o n s i d e r - ations of the s e r v i c e it i s rendering in r e s e a r c h f o r a r c h i t e c t u r e i s that of communication. The R e s e a r c h Committee i s itself well

a w a r e of t h i s p r o b l e m , t h e f a c t , t o m e n t i o n but one e x a m p l e , t h a t not one r e p l y w a s r e c e i v e d t o M r . G i t t e r m a n ' s eloquent p l e a on behalf of t h e C o m m i t t e e in t h e p a g e s of the J o u r n a l f o r r e p o r t s of t e c h n i c a l p r o b l e m s being a s d i s h e a r t e n i n g t o a l l c o n c e r n e d a s i t w a s s y m p t o m a t i c of t h e s e r i o u s p r o b l e m of c o m m u n i c a t i o n t h a t e x i s t s in t h i s f i e l d . It i s e a s y t o s a y t h a t " a r c h i t e c t s don't r e a d " ( n e i t h e r d o e n g i n e e r s ! ) but what c a n t h e R e s e a r c h C o m m i t t e e s u g g e s t t o a s s i s t in b r i d g i n g t h i s g a p ? ( 2 0 ) T h e J o u r n a l of t h e RAIC T h e Division w e l c o m e s t h e a t t e n t i o n t h a t M r . F i s h e r i s a l r e a d y giving t o new m a t e r i a l f o r t h e J o u r n a l but could t h e R e s e a r c h C o m m i t t e e t a k e a good look a t a c o m p l e t e volume of t h e J o u r n a l

t o s e e if it f a i r l y r e f l e c t s t h e s t a t e of a r c h i t e c t u r e i n C a n a d a today. H a s t h e r e even b e e n p u b l i s h e d , f o r e x a m p l e , a n a r t i c l e r e v i e w i n g t h e p e r f o r m a n c e of e v e n one building s o m e y e a r s a f t e r i t s

c o m p l e t i o n , s u c h a s now r e g u l a r l y a p p e a r i n "The A r c h i t e c t u r a l J o u r n a l " ? E v e n one s u c h p a p e r would point t h e way c l e a r 1 y in t h e d i r e c t i o n t h a t i s of s u c h m u t u a l i n t e r e s t t o t h e C o m m i t t e e and t h e Division. (21) P r o v i n c i a l A s s o c i a t i o n s It h a s been i n t e r e s t i n g t o s e e t h e r e l a t i v e l y r e c e n t i n c r e a s e i n t h e a c t i v i t y of t h e p r o v i n c i a l a s s o c i a t i o n s . Since s o m u c h m o r e c a n be a c h i e v e d by t h e spoken a s c o m p a r e d with t h e w r i t t e n w o r d , would t h e C o m m i t t e e c o n s i d e r a d v i s i n g t h e s e v e r a l a s s o c i a t i o n s of t h e s p e a k e r s a v a i l a b l e t h r o u g h DBR/NRC who would gladly a s s i s t a t t h e i r m e e t i n g s , p r o v i d e d only t h a t a m p l e n o t i c e i s given t o t h e Division in view of i t s v e r y crowded annual t i m e t a b l e ?

( 2 2 ) RALC Annual Meeting

Since the w r i t e r h a s had the happy p r i v i l e g e of attending a l m o s t a l l of the l a s t twenty annual a s s e m b l i e s of the Royal

I n s t i t u t e , he hopes t h a t he will not be abusing h i s position a s an H o n o r a r y F e l l o w by suggesting that the C o m m i t t e e might well do s o m e r e s e a r c h into t h e c h a r a c t e r of t h e s e m o s t p l e a s a n t

g a t h e r i n g s

-

not with r e s p e c t t o s o c i a l a c t i v i t i e s but t o p r o f e s s i o n a l and t e c h n i c a l content. The c o n t r a s t between two v e r y s i m i l a r Canadian annual m e e t i n g s (which n a t u r a l l y m u s t be n a m e l e s s ) being held within two weeks of one a n o t h e r , one with n o f o r m a l t e c h n i c a l o r p r o f e s sional p a p e r s and the o t h e r with a p p r o x i m a t e l y

seventy, and e a c h with i t s f i l l of s o c i a l d e l i g h t s , i s s o s t r i k i n g a s t o s u g g e s t t h a t t h e r e is a r e a l r e s e a r c h job needed, and probably f o r both organizations!

( 2 3 ) Staff

F i n a l l y , a l l t h a t the C o m m i t t e e would like t o s e e the Division doing, and t h a t t h e Division w i s h e s t o do i t s e l f , c a n only be done i f p r o p e r l y t r a i n e d staff a r e a v a i l a b l e , including m o r e a r c h i t e c t s than a r e with DBR/NRC today. A s a l r e a d y noted, the Division h a s been f o r t u n a t e in r e c r u i t i n g a r c h i t e c t s who, a f t e r s o m e y e a r s of e x p e r i e n c e , found they had an i n t e r e s t in r e s e a r c h . T o what good effect t h e y a r e now turning t h i s i n t e r e s t and e x p e r i - e n c e h a s a l r e a d y been b r i e f l y noted. T h e r e m u s t be o t h e r

a r c h i t e c t s in C a n a d a with s i m i l a r t r a i n i n g , e x p e r i e n c e and r e s e a r c h i n t e r e s t . How can they be found? Can t h e C o m m i t t e e suggest any a v e n u e s that should be e x p l o r e d ?

The u s u a l channel of r e c r u i t m e n t f o r a l l o t h e r NRC

r e s e a r c h o f f i c e r s , f r o m the honours graduating c l a s s e s , a p p e a r s t o be c l o s e d a l m o s t c o m p l e t e l y

-

by r e a s o n of the p r o f e s s i o n ' s

r e q u i r e m e n t of p r a c t i c a l e x p e r i e n c e in a n a r c h i t e c t u r a l office. How can suitable building r e s e a r c h win recognition a s the

p r o f e s s i o n a l equivalent of d e s i g n w o r k on a d r a f t i n g b o a r d ? T h e w r i t e r h a s no h e s i t a t i o n a t a l l in suggesting, f o r example that the work done a t UBC by M r . Goldsworthy, under P r o f e s s o r s G e r s o n and O b e r l a n d e r , and the s p e c i a l t r a i n i n g he r e c e i v e d , w a s of i n e s t i m a b l e benefit t o h i s p r o f e s s i o n a l d e v e l opment, and yet it cannot be recognized.

H e r e i s yet a n o t h e r " r e s e a r c h problem1' that t h e Division v e n t u r e s t o p l a c e in t h e l a p of the R e s e a r c h C o m m i t t e e .

If

building r e s e a r c h i s r e a l l y t o be a p a r t of the "building community" then s u r e l y e x p e r i e n c e in p r o p e r l y s u p e r v i s e d building r e s e a r c h f o r a r c h i t e c t u r e i s worthy of p r o f e s s i o n a l recognition. T h i s is now the c a s e in e n g i n e e r i n g , w h e r e adequate p r o f e s s i o n a l t r a i n i r g i s c e r t a i n l y a s n e c e s s a r y and a s rigidly s u p e r v i s e d a s in

a r c h i t e c t u r e .

Can the R e s e a r c h C o m m i t t e e a s s i s t DBR/NRC with t h i s difficult p r o b l e m s o that t o g e t h e r t h e y m a y look ahead t o t h e day when r e s e a r c h f o r a r c h i t e c t u r e i s not something t h a t s t i l l h a s t o be c a r e f u l l y explained, but a v i t a l p a r t of the work of t h e g r e a t p r o f e s s i o n which i t i s the high privilege of t h e Division t o s e r v e ?

P A R T TWO

P r o g r e s s R e p o r t p r e p a r e d in F e b r u a r y 1963

A f a i r l y full r e p o r t upon the s e r v i c e of the Division of Building R e s e a r c h t o t h e p r o f e s s i o n of A r c h i t e c t u r e in Canada, and upon i t s l i a i s o n with the Schools of A r c h i t e c t u r e and the v a r i o u s provincial a s s o c i a t i o n s a s well a s the RAIC, w a s submitted t o a m e e t i n g of t h e R e s e a r c h C o m m i t t e e of t h e RAIC held i n Vancouver in May 1962. Only one comment w a s r e c e i v e d upon the r e p o r t , t h i s f r o m the C h a i r m a n , M r . Alson F i s h e r . Since the 1962

r e p o r t contained c e r t a i n suggestions upon which the Division would s t i l l welcome c o m m e n t s , it i s again submitted t o the RAIC R e s e a r c h C o m m i t t e e , together with t h i s supplement r e p o r t i n g p r o g r e s s in the intervening period.

(2) A u s t e r i t y M e a s u r e s

h J u l y 1962 the Government of Canada imposed a u s t e r i t y m e a s u r e s upon a l l D e p a r t m e n t s of the F e d e r a l G o v e r n m e n t and public a g e n c i e s such a s t h e National R e s e a r c h Council in view of the c r i t i c a l financial c r i s i s a t t h a t t i m e . It m u s t be r e p o r t e d with r e g r e t t h a t t h e s e a u s t e r i t y conditions a r e s t i l l in effect and t h e y have had a profound influence upon t h e r e c e n t development of t h e work of DBR/NRC.

In s u m m a r y , t h e budget of the Division w a s r e d u c e d f o r the c u r r e n t y e a r and h a s been held a t about t h e s a m e f i g u r e f o r

1963-64, t h u s allowing f o r no i n c r e a s e in activity. T h e vitally needed extension t o the Building R e s e a r c h C e n t r e , to provide m o r e

s p a c e f o r t h e Publications Section and t h e L i b r a r y in t h e i r s e r v i c e t o t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n i n d u s t r y and a s s o c i a t e d p r o f e s s i o n s , h a s been indefinitely postponed d e s p i t e the f a c t t h a t i t s planning had

p r e v i o u s l y been a u t h o r i z e d by the T r e a s u r y B o a r d .

M o r e s e r i o u s , however, i s the fact t h a t since J u l y 1962 t h e Division h a s not been p e r m i t t e d t o r e p l a c e any m e m b e r of i t s staff who left t h e employ of NRC a p a r t f r o m one new r e s e a r c h o f f i c e r , equivalent t o the r e p l a c e m e n t of one m e m b e r of staff in t e n . The r e s u l t i s that the Division i s now e l e v e n m e m b e r s of

staff below what i t had been in the s u m m e r of 1962, and s o the equivalent of t h i r t y m e m b e r s of staff below t h e t o t a l t h a t had been authorized f o r i t s e s t a b l i s h m e n t f o r 31 M a r c h 1963. The effect of t h e s e m e a s u r e s upon t h e work of the Division m u s t be left t o the

imagination of t h o s e reading t h i s r e p o r t , but i t will explain why the following n o t e s a r e m u c h m o r e limited in t h e i r scope than had been hoped.

( 3 ) Canadian Building D i g e s t s

T h e s e continue t o be well accepted in g e n e r a l , but the Division had r e c e n t l y t o consult with the E d i t o r of the J o u r n a l of the RAIC about t h e i r u s e i n e a c h i s s u e of the J o u r n a l . The Division

r e q u e s t s t h a t t h e R e s e a r c h C o m m i t t e e kindly r e v i e w the s e r v i c e that the D i g e s t s a r e providing t o a r c h i t e c t s s o that a decision may be m a d e a s t o whether they should continue t o be provided f r e e t o t h e RAIC for u s e in t h e J o u r n a l .

(4) Canadian Building Digest No. 27

T h i s p a r t i c u l a r Digest listing s o u r c e s of information in t h e building field w a s p r e p a r e d a s a r e s u l t of a suggestion a t a n e a r l i e r m e e t i n g of the RAIC R e s e a r c h C o m m i t t e e . No written c o m m e n t s on t h e Digest have yet been r e c e i v e d f r o m a r c h i t e c t s . The

Division would like t o know whether the Digest s e r v e d i t s intended p u r p o s e and whether anything m o r e of the s a m e type of d i r e c t o r y

should be p r e p a r e d .

( 5 ) T h e Technical P a g e in the RAIC J o u r n a l

T h e Division n a t u r a l l y welcomed advice t h a t t h e J o u r n a l w a s t o include a r e g u l a r technical page, a m a t t e r t h a t h a s been d i s c u s s e d r e p e a t e d l y a t m e e t i n g s i n t h e Building R e s e a r c h C e n t r e . The Division a p p r e c i a t e d being provided with a l i s t of p r o p o s e d s u b j e c t s . The p a g e s t h a t have s o f a r a p p e a r e d a r e somewhat different f r o m what m e m b e r s of t h e staff of DBR had imagined was t o be produced, and the Division m u s t r e g i s t e r i t s c o n c e r n a t t h e devotion of s o m u c h s p a c e t o additives f o r c o n c r e t e . T h e Division would welcome t h e opportunity of d i s c u s sing t h i s i n t e r -

e s t i n g f e a t u r e of the RAIC J o u r n a l .

( 6 ) M e a s u r e m e n t of Buildings

M r . Allen B r a s s p r e s e n t e d a r e p o r t on h i s w o r k on t h i s p r o j e c t t o a meeting of the Building R e s e a r c h Institute in

Washington, D. C. The D i r e c t o r h a s b e e n r e q u e s t e d t o develop M r . B r a s s ' r e p o r t into t h e f o r m of a Working P a p e r which i s t o be reviewed by a s p e c i a l s u b c o m m i t t e e of t h e Executive of CIB a t i t s next me eting in W a r s a w in A p r i l , with a view t o t h e possible development of a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l " R e c o m m e n d e d P r a c t i c e " f o r t h i s i m p o r t a n t p r o c e d u r e in design.

(7) Modular Coordination

T h e Division i s p l e a s e d t o r e c o r d t h a t it i s a r r a n g i n g public m e e t i n g s , a s long planned, f o r T o r o n t o on T u e s d a y , 2 A p r i l , and f o r M o n t r e a l on F r i d a y , 5 A p r i l , a t which p a p e r s will be given on p r o g r e s s in t h e u s e of "modular" in Canada, the United S t a t e s and E u r o p e , t o g e t h e r with o t h e r a p p r o p r i a t e m a t e r i a l . T h e Division i s a r r a n g i n g t o b r i n g o v e r e s p e c i a l l y f o r t h e s e m e e t i n g s M r . L e n n a r t B e r g v a l l f r o m Sweden, who i s C h a i r m a n of t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l Modular

Group and a distinguished a r c h i t e c t . The m e e t i n g s a r e being held with the support of the Canadian Joint Committee on Construction M a t e r i a l s which will c o n s i d e r the d e t a i l s of the proposed p r o g r a m a t i t s next meeting on 2 M a r c h . It i s hoped that the two m e e t i n g s will be well supported by the a r c h i t e c t u r a l p r o f e s s i o n . A p r i n t e d

r e c o r d of the proceedings will be published and supplied t o a l l those who attend.

(8) CIB and RILEM

The Dire c t o r of t h e Division attended unusually signigi- cant m e e t i n g s of t h e s e two international bodies in E u r o p e in S e p t e m b e r 1962. He will be glad t o r e p o r t t o the RAIC R e s e a r c h C o m m i t t e e upon t h e s e m e e t i n g s . A brief r e p o r t of the CIB

C o n g r e s s in C a m b r i d g e , England, i s a l r e a d y available and copies will be provided f o r m e m b e r s of the C o m m i t t e e .

(9) Visits t o the Schools of A r c h i t e c t u r e

F o r r e a s o n s a l r e a d y noted, t h e Division h a s not been able t o pay as m a n y v i s i t s t o the Schools a s had been hoped, but t h e following v i s i t s have a l r e a d y been paid during the c u r r e n t

s e s s i o n : U n i v e r s i t y of B r i t i s h

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by D r . N. B.Hutcheon, D e c e m b e r 1 9 6 2 Columbia U n i v e r s i t y of Manitoba

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by M r . R. S. F e r g u s o n , J a n u a r y 1963 U n i v e r s i t y of T o r o n t o

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by M r . R . F . Legget, October 1962 (10) Visits t o P r o v i n c i a l A s s o c i a t i o n s

Correspondingly, i t h a s not been p o s s i b l e t o attend the annual m e e t i n g s of a l l the provincial a s s o c i a t i o n s , but m e m b e r s of the DBR staff have been p r e s e n t a t t h e following:

A l b e r t a A s s o c i a t i o n , in J a n u a r y 1963: M r . G.K. Garden. Manitoba Association, in J a n u a r y 1963: M r . R. S. F e r g u s o n . O n t a r i o A s s o c i a t i o n , in F e b r u a r y 1963: M r . R . S . F e r g u s o n

Quebec As sociation, in J a n u a r y 1963: M r . R. F. Legget and M r . M. C. B a k e r . Newfoundland As sociation,

in J a n u a r y 1963: M r . J.I. Davison.

T h e Division w e l c o m e s c o r d i a l l y t h i s l i a i s o n with the p r o v i n c i a l a s s o c i a t i o n s and hopes t h a t it will not be too long b e f o r e a m e m b e r of DBR staff i s p r e s e n t a t e a c h of the t e n annual m e e t i n g s in

addition t o i t s u s u a l attendance a t t h e annual m e e t i n g of t h e RAIC. (1 1) University R e s e a r c h P r o j e c t s

Since the Heads of the Schools r e s p o n s i b l e will probably b e r e p o r t i n g t o t h e R e s e a r c h C o m m i t t e e upon the r e s e a r c h

p r o j e c t s now being c a r r i e d out a t t h e i r Schools with financial s u p p o r t f r o m NRC through DBR, the Division need only r e c o r d h e r e i t s p l e a s u r e a t the continued good p r o g r e s s of t h e s i t e planning r e s e a r c h p r o j e c t a t the U n i v e r s i t y of B r i t i s h Columbia, a t t h e good s t a r t of the study of t h e p e r f o r m a n c e of buildings a t the U n i v e r s i t y of T o r o n t o , and a t t h e c o r r e s p o n d i n g initiation of t h e i n t e r e s t i n g p r o j e c t in r e l a t i o n t o a r c h i t e c t u r a l a c o u s t i c s a t McGill University.

The Division h a s continued t o have t h e a s s i s t a n c e of P r o f e s s o r L y m a n a t the U n i v e r s i t y of B r i t i s h Columbia and h i s s t u d i e s of school buildings a r e p r o g r e s s i n g well. His joint study with M r . W a l t e r B a l l of U n i v e r s i t y buildings h a s been completed and a p a p e r i s being p r e p a r e d f o r s u b m i s s i o n t o the J o u r n a l of t h e RAIC. C o r r e s p o n d i n g l y , P r o f e s s o r Kent continues t o give t h e Division h i s e x p e r t a s s i s t a n c e in r e l a t i o n t o i t s continuing w o r k in the field of developing m o d u l a r coordination in Canada.

APPENDIX A

FIRST DRAFT O F A PROPOSED CHECK LIST ON THE PERFORMANCE O F BUILDINGS

EXPLANATORY NOTE

T h e s u c c e s s of a building i s not t o be judged by i t s initial a c c e p t a b i l i t y t o i t s o w n e r , nor by i t s g e n e r a l a e s t h e t i c a p p e a l , but only on t h e b a s i s of t h e s e f a c t o r s when c o n s i d e r e d t o g e t h e r with i t s p e r f o r m a n c e i n s e r v i c e . C a r e f u l inspection of buildings a f t e r they have been in u s e f o r a p p r e c i a b l e p e r i o d s ( a f t e r , f o r e x a m p l e , one y e a r , five y e a r s and t e n y e a r s following completion) i s ,

however, not yet a n a c c e p t e d p a r t of building o r a r c h i t e c t u r a l p r a c t i c e in Canada, d e s p i t e t h e obvious value of t h e information t h a t can thus be obtained with a m i n i m u m of e f f o r t .

DBR/NRC h a s studied t h i s m a t t e r i n t e r m i t t e n t l y (due only t o s h o r t a g e of s t a f f ) s i n c e i t s e a r l i e s t y e a r s . A s u m m a r y of

a s u r v e y of p r a c t i c e in t h i s m a t t e r w a s p r e p a r e d a s DBR

T e c h n i c a l Note No. 310 (copy included a s Appendix B ) . With t h e . e n c o u r a g e m e n t of t h e RAIC Re s e a r c h C o m m i t t e e , who have

p r o m i s e d t o introduce t h e m a t t e r t o the m e m b e r s of t h e a r c h i - t e c t u r a l p r o f e s s i o n in C a n a d a , t h e Division now s u b m i t s a f i r s t d r a f t of a Check L i s t on the P e r f o r m a n c e of Buildings, a document intended t o s e r v e a s a guide t o a r c h i t e c t s and o t h e r s who m a y be p e r s u a d e d t o m a k e s u c h building inspections.

After c r i t i c a l r e v i e w , the d r a f t will need amending and p o s s i b l y e n l a r g e m e n t . When r e a s o n a b l y c o m p l e t e and s a t i s

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f a c t o r y , i t will be produced by DBR/NRC in m o r e p e r m a n e n t and u s a b l e f o r m .

RECORD O F BUILDING INSPECTION Name of Building: L o c a t i o n - City: S t r e e t : Name of Owner: N a m e of D e s i g n e r : Name of B u i l d e r : Date of C o n s t r u c t i o n - S t a r t : Completion: INSPEC TION: D a t e of inspection: Inspection m a d e by: N e a t h e r a t t i m e of inspection: I n f o r m a t i o n obtained f r o m : (Building Supt. should be c o n s u l t e d w h e n e v e r p o s s i b l e ) Note on a n y p h o t o g r a p h s t a k e n :

BUILDING

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GENERAL:

O v e r - a l l s i z e of building

-

length: width: height f r o m ground level: d e p t h below ground level: N o t e s on s h a p e if not r e c t a n g u l a r : N u m b e r of s t o r e y s :

Occupancy a t t i m e of inspection:

C h a n g e s of occupancy s i n c e completion: I s building fully u s e d :

MAINTENANCE RECORD:

No. of full-time maintenance staff: No. of p a r t - t i m e maintenance staff:

Nature of principal f e a t u r e requiring minor maintenance: Details of a l l s p e c i a l maintenance work (i. e . contracted

f o r ) : Cost of maintenance work - l a s t y e a r :

t o t a l t o date:

Details of any m a j o r changes to building since completion:

FUNCTIONAL PERFORMANCE: Main function of building: Minor, s u b s i d i a r y functions:

Comments of owner on functional satisfaction: Main complaints of owner:

C o m m e n t s of building superintendent ditto: Main complaints of superintendent:

Comments of tenants ditto: Main complaints of tenants:

(NOTE: A s many tenants a s possible should be interviewed, individually, those questioned being a s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of the n o r m a l population of the building a s possible).

GUIDE LIST TO FUNCTIONAL OBSERVATIONS:

(As an aid to questioning, and t o be completed a l s o by the inspector on the b a s i s of his own observations).

Layout suitability f o r function:

F l o o r space sufficiency f o r function: Effect of adjacent buildings:

Adequacy of s t a i r w a y s f o r n o r m a l t r a f f i c : Adequacy of e l e v a t o r s f o r n o r m a l t r a f f i c : Noise p r o b l e m s - between r o o m s : f r o m outside: f r o m m e c h a n i c a l equipment: f r o m v e n t i l a t i o n d u c t s : A c o u s t i c a l p r o b l e m s i n individual r o o m s : Adequacy of n a t u r a l lighting: U s e of a r t i f i c i a l lighting i n d a y t i m e : Adequacy of a r t i f i c i a l lighting: Adequacy of w i n t e r heating: E f f e c t i v e n e s s of heating c o n t r o l s : Any o b j e c t i o n a b l e s o l a r heating: Adequacy of v e n t i l a t i o n a r r a n g e r n e n t s : Any o b j e c t i o n s t o f o r c e d ventilation: If a i r c o n d i t i o n e d , e f f i c i e n c y of cooling: Any objectionable t r a n s f e r of s m e l l s : ( e . g . a s f r o m k i t c h e n s ) FABRIC - EXTERIOR: D e s c r i b e foundation design: Any s u b s i d e n c e of backfill: Condition of foundation c o n c r e t e : Functioning of d r a i n a g e a r r a n g e m e n t s : C l o s e s t t r e e s t o building: D e s c r i b e e x t e r i o r w a l l design: G e n e r a l condition of walls: Any p e e l i n g , if painted: Any c h e c k i n g , if plywood: Any d e t e r i o r a t i o n , if c o n c r e t e : Any c r a c k i n g , if m a s o n r y :

Any staining beneath windows: G e n e r a l appearance of windows: Surface condition of exposed metal:

G e n e r a l appearance of building entrance:

D e s c r i b e type of roof:

Any f a i l u r e s i f s l a t e o r s h i ~ i g l e s :

Any bulging o r cracking if t a r o r asphalt flat roof: Condition of flashing:

Functioning of roof d r a i n s :

G e n e r a l appearance of chinmeys:

FABRIC - INTERIOR:

(Many of the following i t e m s , a f t e r the f i r s t g e n e r a l group, would have to be repeated f o r individual r o o m s ) .

D e s c r i b e s t r u c t u r a l f r a m e :

D e s c r i b e type of flooring and i n t e r i o r finish: G e n e r a l "housekeeping" efficiency:

Appearance of s t a i r w a y s and s t a i r t r e a d s : Appearance of d o o r s and door f r a m e s : Appearance of floor covering:

Appearance of wall finish: Any d u s t marking:

Appearance of windows and f r a m e s : Any evidence of condensation:

Any paint f a i l u r e s : Any p l a s t e r f a i l u r e s :

Any defects in e l e c t r i c a l fittings: Appearance of toilet fittings: Ope ration of toilet fittings:

FINAL NOTE:

The foregoing list is suggestive only: even when completed f o r u s e , it will probably be added t o a f t e r e v e r y application in p r a c t i c e . It will s e r v e t o show, however, the type of observation t h a t i s n e c e s s a r y f o r d e t e r m i n i n g the p e r f o r m a n c e , s a t i s f a c t o r y o r o t h e r w i s e , of buildings in s e r v i c e .

APPENDIX B PERFORMANCE,OF BUILMNGS

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A PROGRESS REPORT by R . F . Legget ( i s s u e d a s T e c h . Note 3 1 0 of

DBRJNRC)

&

N A T I O N A L RESEARCH

COUNCIL

O F

C A N A D A

DIVISION

O F

BUILDING RESEARCH

T E @ H N I @ A k

N O T E

NOT F O R PUBLICATION FOR I N T E R N A L U S E

PREPARED BY R. F. Legget CHECKED BY APPROygO BY

D A T t 27 May 1960

PREPARED FOR RAIC Committee on Building R e s e a r c h

SUBJECT _{P e r f o r m a n c e of Buildines}

_-

_{a P r o g r e s s R e ~ o r t}

The p e r f o r m a n c e of buildings h a s been a m a t t e r of concern to the Division of Building R e s e a r c h since the v e r y s t a r t of i t s work. The t e r m is used t o indicate a n examination of completed buildings, p r e f e r a b l y by the a r c h i t e c t s r e s p o n s i b l e , a s s o c i a t e d with o t h e r s s u c h a s m e m b e r s of building r e s e a r c h staffs, in o r d e r t o s e e how the buildings have p e r f o r m e d t h e i r intended functions and t o examine any defects which m a y have made t h e m s e l v e s obvious in the c o u r s e of t i m e . T h i s is r e g u l a r l y done in t h e c a s e of m a j o r engineering s t r u c t u r e s . It is abundantly c l e a r that much can be l e a r n e d about t h e techniques cf _{building, the durability of}

v a r i o u s combinations of m a t e r i a l s and components, and the p e r

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f o r m a n c e of exposed m a t e r i a l s by such c r i t i c a l and constructive examinations.

The w r i t e r of t h i s note f i r s t d i s c u s s e d t h e m a t t e r with P r o f e s s o r W . C . Voss in h i s office a t the M a s s a c h u s e t t s Institute of Technology in April 1949. He was encouraged t o find t h a t

w r i t e r , doing s o against the background of h i s vast experience i n the building field. F r o m that t i m e on the subject h a s been continually before the Division. It has been mentioned f r o m t i m e t o t i m e t o individual a r c h i t e c t s . Unfortunately DBR h a s never had m e m b e r s of staff f r e e t o make a r e a l s t a r t a t such studies of t h e i r own and i n any c a s e p r e f e r r e d to wait until the m a t t e r received

s o m e g e n e r a l recognition f r o m the a r c h i t e c t u r a l profe s sion in Canada. Accordingly the Division welcomed the opportunity of

discussing t h i s m a t t e r with the RAIC Committee on R e s e a r c h . It was encouraged t o find a favourable r e s p o n s e to the idea. As p r o m i s e d during t h i s mutual d i s c u s s i o n , the w r i t e r has inquired f r o m h i s f r i e n d s , the D i r e c t o r s of Building Research in m o s t of the m a j o r countries of the world a s to t h e i r experience in and knowledge of this subject. T h i s i s usually the f i r s t s t e p taken by DBR a t the initiation of any new r e s e a r c h project. It avoids dupli-

cation of effort and s o m e t i m e s provides information of unusual value that i s not available in printed f o r m .

In t h i s p a r t i c u l a r c a s e , however, and r a t h e r a s expected, the r e s u l t of t h i s inquiry h a s not produced much information that will be of a s s i s t a n c e in getting Canadian studies of the p e r f o r m a n c e of buildings well s t a r t e d . The inquiries a r e continuing. T h i s

p r o g r e s s note h a s been p r e p a r e d f o r the information of the RAIC Committee a t the t i m e of i t s meeting during the Annual Convention of the Royal Institute in Winnipeg on 1 - 4 June.

United S t a t e s of A m e r i c a

The most significant development h e r e was the holding of

a meeting by the Building R e s e a r c h Institute in New York during A p r i l 1960 a t which the f i r s t known A m e r i c a n p a p e r s on the subject of the performance of buildings w e r e p r e s e n t e d . The meeting w a s

attended by P r o f e s s o r R a y m o r e of the Universit'y of Toronto and M r . C. R. C r o c k e r of DBR. It i s hoped that a joint r e p o r t by t h e s e two o b s e r v e r s will s h o r t l y be available s u m m a r i s i n g t h e i r

i m p r e s s i o n s of the BRI meeting a s a supplement t o the a c t u a l p a p e r s which will eventually be published.

The Chief of t h e Building Technology Division of the National B u r e a u of Standards h a s kindly looked into the m a t t e r but was unable t o a d v i s e of any r e c e n t check l i s t o r s i m i l a r publi- cation that might be of u s e f o r t h e Canadian study. T h e r e i s available, however, through the National B u r e a u of S t a n d a r d s a "Field I n s p e c t o r s Check L i s t f o r Building Construction I ' (BMS

R e p o r t 81 published in 1942). T h i s r e p o r t w a s p r e p a r e d by a subcommittee of the C e n t r a l Housing C o m m i t t e e on Re s e a r c h , Design and Construction. Although now a l m o s t twenty y e a r s old, t h i s document i s the c l o s e s t a p p r o a c h t o t h e s o r t of check l i s t that DBR has been considering.

G r e a t B r i t a i n

It i s only in G r e a t B r i t a i n that s o m e p r o g r e s s a p p e a r s t o have been made. The D i r e c t o r of Building R e s e a r c h a d v i s e s that s o m e y e a r s ago an a r c h i t e c t on h i s staff did a considerable amount of work in getting a r c h i t e c t s t o look c r i t i c a l l y a t t h e i r buildings a f t e r a r e a s o n a b l e l a p s e of t i m e . As a r e s u l t of t h i s work BRS had c a r r i e d out a study of the durability and functional purpose of t h i r t e e n b u i l d i n g s of importance in the London a r e a . A r e p o r t will be published i n due c o u r s e on t h i s work and DBR will s e e that m e m b e r s of the RAIC Committee obtain copies. Some advance information h a s been sent privately to DBR and t h i s

_.

is being studied

, m I

a s a s t a r t t o w a r d s the p r e p a r a t i o n of the n e c e s s a r y working documents.