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have to be ordered from abroad, tak- ing from two to eight months to arrive on site. Therefore early ordering is essential. As some of these materials may be required for installation in air- spaces between wall and floor con- structions, do not leave the matter totally in the hands of the main con- tractor.

In the construction portion of the schedule, list the various stages of work at which a thorough inspection thorough inspection should be carried out; eg. structural floors and walls bounding ‘acoustical enclosures' (Note: give careful con- sideration to the location of openings in structural work for ducts, conduits, pipes etc.); and masonry work bound. ing *acoustical enclosures' paying especial attention to the connections at floor, ceiling and meetings with other materials.

Do not expect the main contractor to be capable of notifying you on the work in the particular areas of air- conditioning, plumbing, electrics, com- munications etc. The architect has to check these conditions himself and make arrangements with the sub-trades for notification at appropirate inspec- tion stages.

is in achieving ‘air-tightness', and the biggest part of this problem is in the following items:

Book

(a) Packing back around frames and Challenge of the Land openings.

by Charles E. Little. Pergamon

(b) Meeting points between different Press Ltd. £2 10s. materials and constructions.

(c) Minor items such as avoiding back to back location of electrical outlets, switches, etc.

(d) Recessed fixtures and fittings which cut through the thickness of a wall or floor.

(e) Plumbing causing noise in the area requiring noise protection - can often be reduced sufficiently by resiliently mounting the pipes from the structure (often overlooked).

(f) Ductwork for air-conditioning in- terlinking a noisy area with a quiet area through cross-talk.

When substitution has to be made, if no acoustically matching material is available make sure the designer is notified of the intended substitution and the design re-checked to analyze the effect.

It has been said that successful building is the combined result of good design, good co-operation, good co-ordination and a tough but not too In noise control the main problem honest clerk of works. — it still stands.

Sub-titled 'Open Space Preservation at the Local Level', this book describes in a businesslike and informative way the work of the Open Space Institute in securing the preservation of open space and natural features such as streams and woodland in the rapidly expanding urban and suburban areas of the U.S.A.

The Institute's trump card is, per- haps, the proven fact that 'slurb'i.e. '30 per cent asphalt, 30 per cent lawn and 30 per cent roof top' costs the community more for schools, services, welfare, etc. than is gained from pro- perty taxes (rates to us). Around an open space houses gain in value even if more densely grouped than in the 'slurb', with resultant benefits in hard cash as well as recreation facilities, amenity and conservation.

The pattern of life and the legal framework within which the Institute functions are American; its methods are of interest to all countries with similar problems.

M.W.

ITPITAPITTITE

"ARPA"

Decorated glazed wall tiles of white Kaolin clay baked under high temperature were installed in the new Nathan Hotel, Kowloon.

High technique, long experience, special pro- cedures, up-to-date plants have made it possible to develop a first rate product in the service of progressed Architecture. There are many other designs at your choice:

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PM M

Far East BUILDER, August 1970