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of drainage settlement due to subsidence of 'made up' land has been
eliminated and the risk of heavy maintenance cost in the future has been
eliminated. Consideration will be given to the application of this
design in future development schemes, the officers of the Public Health
Department and the Borough Architect's Department working in close
collaboration.
Pitch fibre pipes.
An experiment was made in the use of pitch fibre pipes for the main
runs of drains on two of the Council's blocks of flats on the Wenlock Barn
Estate.
These pipes have been in use for forty years in the U.S.A. with
success and their use has been accepted by the British Standards Institutio
(BSS 176O). The pipes are made of fibre impregnated under vacuum and
pressure with a thermoplastic compound and are supplied in lengths up to
10 feet. No concrete foundation is required to support drains constructed
of pitch fibre, fewer joints are required and the jointing is extremely
simple by means of a few light blows with a hammer. No jointing material
is required. It is said that owing to its resilience the pipe will not
rupture with uneven ground settlement, nor will it be affected by surface
vibration.
As yet, it is too early to be able to report on the saving in costs
but it is believed that the saving will be considerable.
The sealing of disused drains.
It is of the utmost importance that strict supervision be maintained t
the Public Health Inspectors to ensure that all disused drains are
effectively sealed to prevent the passage of rats from the sewers. The
amount of clearance in Shoreditch has meant a great deal of work for the
Public Health Inspectors in this direction.
This work requires to be carried out methodically and it is essential
that plans of existing drainage must be prepared before the demolition of
premises is commenced. Working in close liaison with the Borough
Architect's Department this object has been achieved.
In practice, the Contractor is sent a letter reminding him of his
obligation under the L.C.C. Drainage Bye-Laws to notify the local authority
of intention to seal off disused drains. The Public Health Inspector then
directs and supervises the work and satisfies himself that the disused
drains are effectively sealed.
The value of this work being done efficiently cannot be over-estimated
if rat infestations on future development areas are to be eliminated.
During the current year, the disused drains of I65 premises which were
demolished were effectively sealed under the direction and supervision of
the Chief Public Health Inspector and his staff.