FIRE EQUIPMENT

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 48, 25 August 1939, Page 7

FIRE EQUIPMENT

VICTORIA COLLEGE

COMPLETE CONDEMNATION

Following the receipt of a number of fire extinguishers from Victoria University College, an officer of the Wellington Fire Board investigated the fire-fighting equipment at the college, and the result is that all the appliances have been categorically condemned. Apart from the self-contained extinguishers, said the superintendent (Mr. C. A. Woolley), in a report to a meeting of the Victoria College Council last evening, the hydrants were defective, some with a poor flow of water and others with no water at all. The council placed the matter in the hands of the principal (Sir.Thomas Hunter) and the registrar (Mr. G. G. S. Robison).

"A number of the soda-acid extnguishers from your building were brought into brigade headquarters tor the purpose of servicing," stated 'he report. "On inspection it was found that these were of an obsolete type, and due to lack of proper servicing and attention over a period of years were in such a condition that they failed to withstand the hydraulic test. ... In fact, some of those inspected failed to stand a pressure of 1001b to the square inch. Tc pass a test the cylinders are subjected to a, pressure test of 3001b (when new 3501b), and unless they come up to this standard are not charged and certified as being 'in good order and ser» viceable condition.'

"The result, therefore, is that all th« fire extinguishers in your premises have been condemned and classed as unfit for service. Their only value is as scrap metal, and, as such, they have been returned to your institution." When the condition of the extinguishers was reported to the inspecting officer, continued the report, the remaining equipment at the college was inspected. It was found that the remaining soda-acid extinguishers wera in the same condition as the others; three quart-tize carbon-tetrachloride extinguishers were defective and in bad condition, and brackets fox a similar type of extinguishers were empty; the hydrants were defective, with poor water flow, and, in some cases, no water; the water pipes appeared to be corroded, and the hose perished and useless and beyond repair. The superintendent suggested serious consideration of the installation of newfire equipment, and recommended types of extinguishers that might be used. In view of the valuable college library, he recommended that in reorganisation some provision shoula be made to have the library confined to one wing of the building, which could be shut off with fire-resisting doors. Sir Thomas Hunter said that he had been instrumental in obtaining the report. The fire at Victoria House has made him realise that they should have an examination, and they were very much indebted to the fire authorities. The inspector-was not even sure whether there would be enough water pressure if a fire did occur, and it was important that incipient fires should be checked, particularly for the sake of the library. Mr. Justice Smith:. I suppose the library is insured? Sir Thomas Hunter: Everything is insured, but there are some things that could never be replaced.