Construction Controls Eased By NPA

Washington, D.C., Dec. 1G-R. A. McDonald, Administrator of the National Production Authority, Department ',of Commerce, today announced certain relaxations of cen,struction regulations to be effective Jan. l, 1953.

i l, 1953, represents the most significant easing of construcjtion controls by NPA since the institution of the original [construction order, M-4, on Oct. 26, 195O. At that time jcontrols were placed on the right to,commence construction I - a flof recreational, entertainment and amusement projects.

$ The relaxations will increase the amounts of steel and copffi-ililt may be self-authorized tor commercial and most I'oifr&*?y1ies' of construction. The ban on recreational, lamusemeiii and entertainment construction also rvas lifted. ' , However, because of the lost power in the Pacific North' .west and the Tennessee Valley, the relaxations on aluminum i'will nbt become efiective until May l. It has been estimated , that 40,0U),000 pounds of aluminum production have been lost each month of the power shortage.

An amendment to Direction 8 to Revised Controlled Ma- ' terials Plan Regulation 6, the basic construction order, was ' issued by NPA today providing for the future relaxations. Also issued was an amendment to the communications ord.er, M-77.

' Included in today's action is a rivision of restrictions on "all other" construction which should materially aid com'mercial building (under control since Jan. 13, 1951) and the erection of new schools, hospitals, public buildings and public roads (which have heen under control since May 3, -' 1951). Increased self-authorization facets of today's order permit the use of additional steel and copper per project, per quarter.

Also, under the newly revised order, and for the first time since. the Controlled Materials Plan came into existence, home builders will be permitted to acquire and use struc, tural steel up to 1,500 pounds per dwelling unit;and build- 'ers of apartment houses will be allowed to self-authorize . purchase orders for steel and copper.

By today's action recreational, entertainment and amusement projects are removed from the prohibited list and self-authorization for specific amount of steel and copper per project, per calendar quarter is permitted. Such con- struction has been under stringent limitation since Oct. 1950.

, Recreational construction includes such varied types of bowling alleys.

Where NPA formerly gave no assistance to builders of ' iecreational proje'cts te secure even small amounts of materials, it now will render priority assistance to the limits of the self-iuihorization privileges under the new regulations. :,,

"The recommendations of the task group of the Con' struction Industry Advisory Committee were carefully ion,sidered by this agency," Mr. McDonald.said. "It'is'.the ,policy of NPA to maintain controls only sg l,ong. as 'i.-the='"'agfim&.$egnkgmelrts",.of the militarg 4nd defeiise- supporting programs make it necessary to continue them. In line with this policy, the easing up of certain types of steel makes it possible to take this action.

"The materials needed will in Do way interfere with the defense effort," Mr. McDonatd said.

NPA said approximately 90 per cent of the materials affected will be purchased from warehouse stocks. Reports show that warehouses throughout the countr5r have a substantial supply of these materials and will be able to meet the increased demands made by this relaxation.

In some instances warehouses report they have inventories far in excess of customers' demands.

Beginning May l, 1953, the increased self-authorization for aluminum announced Oct. 3 will become effective, as originally scheduled. Further, removal of the restrictions on the use of aluminum for Table I (recreational, entertainment and amusement) construction will be accomplished beginning May l, when owners of such projects idll be permitted to self-authorize for and use aluminum.

Under the relaxation, the allotment symbol U6 is discontinued. Owners who are permitted to 'self-authorize purchase orders will use the following allotment numbers calling for delivery of materials after Dec. 31, 1952: U-7 for all types of residential structures; T-9 for water wells, water and servage systems and plants under the jurisdiction of the NPA Water Resources Division; U{ for all other categories of construction.

The amended Direction 8 to Revised CMP Reg. 6 provides that, beginning Jan. 1, 1953, self-authorization will be permitted up to the following amounts for steel and copper.. Increased self-authorization for aluminum does not become eftective until May 1:

1. For recreational, entertainment and amusement construction per project, per quarter, 5 tons of carbon steel (not to include more than 2 tons of structural shapes), 5(X) pounds of copper and copper base alloys, and 3(X) pounds of aluminum. Previously, no self au.thorization was permitted for this type of construction. Also foreign and used steel will be permitted for r'ecreational construction in accordance with Article VI of Reg. 6.

2. Far highways, per project: 25 tons of carbon steel (not to include more than 12 tons of structural) and the same amounts of copper and aluminum now permitted500 pounds of each. The present steel limit is 25 tons, not to include more than 2 tons of structural.

3. For one-through-four family houses, per dwelling unit: 1,500 pounds of structural steel in addition to materials now permitted. At present, 75 pounds of alirminum, N pounds of copper and 2,300 pounds of carbon steel are perrnitted for homes with steel pipe water distribution systems, and 75 pounds of aluminum, 400 pQunds of copper, and 1"950 pounds of carbon steel for homes with copper pipe water distribution systems. The present extra copper allowance for forced hot water. heSting an(l radiant heating are continued unchanged.

.'4i For mu-lti-unit residences (walk-ups), per dwellilg unit:'two toirs bi carbon steel (not to include more thln 500 pounds ot' structurll),-@ Pognds of gqnIP.!3Bd--275 pounds of aluminum. At present, no self-authorization for this type of construction is permitted.

5. For multi-unit residences (elevator type) per dwelling unit: 3 tons of carbon steel (not to include more than 600 pounds of structural),225 pounds of copper, and775 pounds of aluminum. No self-authorization for this category of construction is allowed at present.

6. All other construction, per project, per quarter: 25 ,tons of carbon and alloy steel, including structural (not *o include more than 2f tons of alloy and no stainless), 5ffi pounds of copper, and 4,000 pounds of aluminum.

In regard to "all other" construction, NPA is eliminating the distinction now existing in the regulation between "industriall' and "all other" construction and will permit the same self-certification quantities for both. "All other" construction will include industrial, commercial, public, hospital, university, school, public utility, \Mater and sewage projects and transportation facilities.

At present, all of these types of construction except industrial are allowed to self-author\ze 5 tons of carbon steel (not to include more than two tons of structural but no wide-flange beams or sections), 1,000 pounds of copper and 2,000 pounds of aluminum, per project, per quarter.

There will be no change in self-authorization for industrial construction, except that self-authorization of one ton of stainless steel per project, per quarter will be permitted for chemical plants.

NPA also said that beginning Jan. 1, the dollar limit on DO rating authority for purchase of non-controlled