Discussion on NHBC Structural Requirements for Housing by D.A. Chapman, R.E. Dyce and M.J.V. Powell

During the course of the discussion, Professor Harris stated that the elliptical arch ribs carrying the road over the Claerwen Dam were of prestressed stone. If it is not too unseemly to hoist the President with his own petard, I must comment, 'Not so!' J.A. Williams

Excessive caution The point has been made in several contributions to this column that recent legal decisions concerning negligence on the part of approving authorities have led to excess of caution and unnecessary expense. Mr. S. B. Tietz takes up the issue in respect of foundations when he writes: There has been considerable discussion at different times regarding the effect of Anns v. Merton and the requests by local authorities to deepen foundations. One main factor missing in such discussions has normally been hard evidence. Verulam

Correspondence that has appeared in The Structural Engineer concerning timber trussed rafters is related to the BRE work on trussed rafters published in CP 83/78. W.H. Ransom