NEW MODE OF MAKING WOODEN BUILDINGS FIRE-PROOF.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 115, 2 May 1868, Page 5

NEW MODE OF MAKING WOODEN BUILDINGS FIRE-PROOF.

An article on the subject of rendering timber incombustible, appears in a French! paper, and is of so much td people residing in wooden buildings,' that we direct special attention to the subject.; A series of experiments Were some time age made by a French chemist, with the view of discovering a cheap and simple, method of treating wood so that it should not be liable to take fire, and indeed, could resist for a considerable time at least, the action of ordinary flames. These experiments, conducted in Paris by M. Schatteman, have been successful not only as regards the rendering of wood incombustible, at least" ex~ teriorly, but also with respect to that most important point in the practical - use of the process, moderation in price. "VM. Schatteman’s method consists in coating the wood with chloride of lime. This will; it is acknowledged protect only the surface; but that protection is very great, inasmuch as it is asserted it will prevent the spread" of flames. The particulars of the process' and the means for testing its efficiency, are thus set forth: — Chloride of lime, or more properly chloride of calcium is obtained on a large scale by decomposing bones with hydro-chloric acid, which dissolves?.' 1 !:] the calcareous part without attacking the gelatine they contain. This neutral.and-liqiiid...chloride-marks 14 degrees by Baume’s areometer and contains 15 per cent, anhydrous chloride. Toihie liquid an equal weight of slaked lime should bo c.r added, and it may be applied to the woodwork to' * be preserved. The operation should be repeated twice with a common whitewashing btush. The cost is at the rate of about 5 francs per 100 square metres; the liquid costing 1 franc, .and the rest being the man’s wages. Where chloride of lime' cannot be bad it may be made by treating.challt with hydro-chloric acid. To testtheiocombustibllity of wood prepared in this way, take "a few bricks and* ~ enclose a square with them ; fill up the space witfiriiT a kilogramme of straw, place three: wooden lathf across, coated as above, then put another of bricktf upon the first, and place three uncoated lathst across. Having well secured them, set fire fo tho straw, when the uncoatod laths will catch fireaM be completely consumed in five or six minutes; while the lower ones, protected by their coating; will only glimmer and burn and be carbonisctf where the flames touch them ; but will every be safe from combustion. Fir should be telidtia for the experiment. . ; ' A metre is about 39 English; ifiches;: ..T that 100 square metres is about 110 squard* : :.} yards,, which extent can ,j)e ; coated |or,- 5..' francs or 4s. 2d. in English mohey* i&r.fi kilogramme is a French vyeigfit of English, which is the amount of straw required for the testing experiment. „ . Of course, the cost would be at jeatfli! double here. In the first place, it wonHr be an expensive and slow proceeding for each consumer to~ ffiariufficture his owh r chloride of lime, while, to purchase it ready made necessitates a iOTg^o^ttay,-as, it?,!*? 1 . imported from England;i an import duty of 2s. Bd. ; -per’sqhhrdTodt. Still, if the experiment set fortlri - above' were tested and found ,correct r and. should, a consequent large deni and for chloride of lime set in, no doubt raeans »f fnanufactm-" ing it here in large quantities Would bo adopted by which duty could' he avoided*/ and the article greatly cheapened by produced' on’the spot.— Cdlcwiet'