AIR-RAID SHELTER

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 108, 10 May 1938, Page 4

AIR-RAID SHELTER

The Westminster City Conncil has been particularly active; for| } ro#ny motiihs : in: examining ' and recently it gave its fourth "tion in five weeks of some sideof airraid precautions was a gas-.and splinter-proof grating to be substituted for the glass pavement lights which are numerous in Westminster. These lights have two w«knesses. Having ventilation are not gas-proof,: and. being beiidfcd in masonry they- cannot be jMSJt^a® emergency means of Escape exits from the basement are bloclsed. The new device* which, was invented in Germany but is-how teing made in England, consists of an' "opening in the paveihent roiMid < wfce^ft. four is sunk a groove W gutter. This is covered by a steel tray round whose sides there is a flange fitti»onto the groove. When the groove is filled with water it and the tray combined form a completely gas-proof water Se Above the tray strong steel grating or grill ljrjhg flush with the pavement. In time Ui peace or when no raid, is threatened this grating is used without the tray» and its interstices admit as much_ light as the present glass' flights. It, .is claimed that by the. fitting, of _this device any weUrbvuit cellar with .'a pavement could be easily .and cheaply converted into an air-raid Cellar, will support a weight of ten tofts, j but is not likely to be ,so heavily loaded if the opening is near a wqjl, as fallen masonry tends to, become piled up a few feet aWay. from the wall. If the inhabitants of , the cellar wish to escape the whole' contrivance I can be pushed up from below; v