A Simple Aid for Predicting Shrinkage and Creep Strains in Buildings and Bridges

Building Regulations fees When money is involved, argument always ensues, so the question of these fees, of course, produces some argument. A correspondent, who wishes to remain anonymous, suggests an equitable evaluation method: During the past year, since the Government instituted fees for Building Regulations approvals and inspections, the local authorities have necessarily had to set up administrative arrangements for their assessment and collection. The fees are related to the value of those parts of the work subject to the Regulations according to a scale. I uncierstand that considerable unproductive-and frequently abrasive-correspondence and negotiations are devoted to agreeing the value of the work. What a waste of effort! Why cannot the fees be related directly to the floor (and roof) area of the building and be updated yearly, or whenever, in accordance with the retail price index? I suppose they’d argue about the area then, though . . . . Verulam

The paper emphasises the importance of the stress histories of cohesive soils, particularly in relation to the prediction of settlements of building structures. A method of recognising and assessing the overconsolidation icepressure from static cone penetration tests is introduced, together with cone factors related to overconsolidation pressures. S. Thorburn, C.L. Laird and W.M. Reid

Finniston Report: proposed Engineering Authority The Department of Industry in mid-January, contrary to expectations, circulated to the CEI and its constituent chartered engineering Institutions a revised draft Charter which, it was suggested, would bring into existence the proposed Engineering Authority. In response to informal comments on that draft, a second was circulated a week later. The Presidents of the 16 constituent Institutions, with the Chairman of the CEI, met together, and the following letter was sent to Sir Keith Joseph, Secretary of State for Industry, on 28 January: ‘We, the Corporation Presidents and the Chairman of the CEI, whose signatures are appended, feel once again bound to represent to you personally our disquiet at the manner in which discussions of the Royal Charter for the new Engineering Council have developed.