View report page

24
and there are also the detailed requirements of the London County
Council Drainage and Water Closet Byelaws which must be observed
and the inspector, in examining plans, necessarily takes cognizance of
the intended user of the building. For instance, in a canteen, methods
of ventilation, siting of apparatus, etc., must have relationship to the
drainage layout.
During 1951, 517 plans were submitted for approval by the Council
requiring some 4,200 visits by the Inspectors. These visits do not
include the numerous consultations with architects, surveyors, and
property owners at the office in regard to proposed or actual building,
rebuilding, alteration, conversion or repair of premises of all types.
The plans submitted cover works ranging from the installation of a
single lavatory basin to the complete drainage and sanitation of large
modern office buildings, complete with canteen facilities and rest rooms,
mechanically ventilated sanitary accommodation and basement rooms,
often with a garage included.
In consequence of two wars with an economic disturbance in the
interval, changes have taken place in the character of the City of
Westminster, more particularly noticeable in the Mayfair, Belgravia and
Knightsbridge districts. Enemy bombs destroyed indiscriminately
and after the destruction both living and business accommodation was
needed by those whose homes and businesses had been destroyed. The
empty town houses and mansions of Mayfair and Knightsbridge have,
subject to the sanctions of the Town Planning Authority, fairly adequately
filled the needs of those in search of office accommodation. These
houses, with their numerous large rooms, are capable of housing large
office staffs, and the elegant Victorian and Edwardian ballrooms are
now converted into board rooms for which purpose they are most
eminently suitable. Sic transit gloria mundi.
The original sanitary accommodation of these mansions falls far short
of the needs of the increased number of occupants and in the conversion
from house to office the decorated toilet and sanitary ware, adorned
with its glazed blue flowers and substantial mahogany surrounds, have
departed to make way for the more functionally designed modern
appliances. The plumbing that went with the old, rather elaborate
appliances, the pride of the craftsman who installed it, has been
supplanted by more streamlined and modern fittings.
The scarcity of materials, in particular lead, has brought changes
in plumbing practice. There has been a greater use of screw.jointed
iron piping, a more intractable material than lead, and therefore not
so appreciated by the real craftsman. The use of copper piping is
increasing. A different technique to that needed for lead and iron
is required and when skilfully handled, copper provides a strong, durable
and unobtrusive plumbing system with almost the flexibility in installation
of lead plumbing.
Restriction in the supply of some building materials and the high
cost of others have inevitably led manufacturers to produce substitutes.
For example, various types of plastic impervious material are used in
place of tiles for wall surfaces, reconstituted wood waste and composite