FIRE ALARMS

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 23, 28 January 1928, Page 9

FIRE ALARMS

A NEW SYSTEM TRIAL AT BROOKLYN POSSIBLE EXTENSION Proposals to instal a new firo alarm system at Brooklyn, where a new fire station is in the course of erection, were placed before the Wellington Firo Board yesterday. It was stated that the new system, which is to be a combination of push-button and telephone, is to be installed as an experiment, and if it proves satisfactory, consideration is to be given to the extension of the system so as to include all Wellington. In a report to the board, Superintendent J. Creeke stated that with the system, at -present in operation, there were 18 circuits containing 118 call points, with a total length of 42$ miles of aerial wiring. The superintendent said that the aerial wiring of Wellington street alarms had been in existence for the past twenty years. From reports and inspections he was convinced that the whole of the wiring required renewing, which would cost something like £3000. Even then, he would not be prepared to say that the system would give every satisfaction. At the present time the bulk of the aerial wiring was carried on the electric light poles, and in most cases had been placed within 6in of the high tension mains. The prevailing high winds of the city caused sagging in the lines, resulting very often in the brigade lines coming in contact with the high tension wires, with a consequent disorganisation of the brigade fire alarm system. The tendency in all cities was to abolish aerial wires, and that idea was gradually being adopted in Wellington. It was only a matter of time before all telephone and electric wire poles would be abolished and the wiring carried in cable underground. For that reason, the re-wiring of the present system, requiring aerial wiring, should not bo considered, but consideration should be given to a system which would fit in with tho underground wiring principle, and which was generally adopted in other cities where line troubles were of a rare occurrence. BUTTON AND 'PHONE. To meet the latest developments in the electric wiring, Mr. Creeke recommended for the consideration of the board the adoption of the telephone system of street fire alarms which has been in operation in Sydney for many years, and which has given thorough satisfaction. He said he had in mind an improvement on the Sydney system, which was purely a telephone instrument. His idea was to incorporate the | push-button (which is practically the present system) with the telephone instrument. On opening the firo alarm door, the locality of tho alarm would be automatically lecorded, and further information could be given to the brigade by speaking, as in an ordinary telephone. Tne use of the telephone would prevent the unnecessary calling of appliances in cases of gorse, rubbish, chimney fires, motor vehicles, or smaller fires, requiring the services of only one appliance. That would mean a great saving in the wear and tear of plant, and also in the number of men absent from the station. Only one Wellington company could supply the instruments, and Mr. Creeke recommended that, that company be given the work of installing the new system at the Brooklyn Station. The installation could be thoroughly tested under service conditions with the object of adopting it throughout the service. The cost of installation would be £258, computed as follows:—rlnternal fittings, switchboard, batteries, etc., £180; street instruments (twelve at £6 10s), £78. Extras would include £15 for fire brigade street lamps; £4.12s 6d P. and T. Department annual rental of two circuits, and £18 Wellington City Council fire brigade street light charges. Should the recommendation be approved, Mr. Creeke suggested that the P. and T. Department should start the work at the earliest possible moment. Mr. D. B. Wilkie (chairman), who attended a demonstration of the new system with Messrs. F. S. Cray and M. Marks, gave his approval to the prbpoaal. Mr. Marks said that tho demonstration worked all right, but he raised the question as to whether it was not a big cost for an experiment. Mr. Creeke said that £752 was the quotation for another, where there were patent rights to pay for. In the system under consideration there were no such rights. Mr. H. D. Benentt said that the question was whether the system was the best system for Wellington. If they were satisfied, it was all right. _ After further discussion, it was decided that the superintendent's proposals be adopted.