A Commentary on the Draft Code of Practice for the Structural Use of Steel in Buildings. Discussion

From the earliest times wise men have said there is nothing new under the sun. This statement may seem an exaggeration when applied to human conceptions, yet a study of some of the innovations shows that in many cases the main idea which guided the inventor had already been considered by one or other of his predecessors whose researches had failed to reach completion through lack of materials or other circumstances. We contemplate the history of inventions in a spirit of humility, mingled with pity for the lost efforts of so many would-be inventors. Henrie Lossier

This month's letters cover legislation for design checks, embodied carbon of modular construction approaches, and assessment of masonry buildings for earthquake resilience in New Zealand.

This career-spanning book offers insight for anyone venturing into engineering, and how to build on the life lessons you learn along the way, writes Patrick Augustin.