PROVISIONS AGAINST FIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11684, 20 June 1901, Page 6

PROVISIONS AGAINST FIRE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —As the late fires doubtless will call forth many suggestions, I would draw attention to the following:—First, in the construction of any building, roof tanks should bo provided. They are essential for dwellings in tho country as well as structures in a town. For instance, in London the (wo great opera houses have tanks distributed over the roof space, with connecting down pipes that can be applied to any part of the building the instant a fire has started. Had tsiio Grand Hotel had such tanks, the sad calamity, in all probability, might have been averted. The pressure from the downfall has a twofold effect, and in case of the fire having gained a hold the whole of the tank- could have boon made to flood the tipper par; of the building and saturate tie.' material, and this woull have prevented the flames ascending. Secondly, tho old Roman custom of a basement reservoir—a large circular concrete tank, for the storing of the rainfall—is a necessary condition. These, by the aid of force pumps, supply water to the upper floors. »Vs the general water supply, with the increasing population, is already proving doubtful, each building should possess this .requisite by having an independent supply of itself. Thirdly, stone stairs, with iron balusters, should be a condition in the city building regulations. The London Metropolitan Building Act of 1855, clause 22. provides for accesses and stair.;, viz.: " In every public building, and in every other building containing more than 125,000 cubic feet, and used as a dwellinghouse, for separate families, the floors of the lobbies, corridors, passages, and landings, and also the flights of stairs, .-hall be of stone, or other fireproof material, and carried by supports of a fireproof material." Lastly, escapes would be bet. as permanent, viz., a stone spiral stairway, with landings to the several floors, built within a tower, With a tank enclosed within a cupola roof, for any building such as the Grand Hotel. Ordinary buildings attached in street lines can be constructed with outside stone stairs to the open spaces, where most suitable,—l am, etc., W. F. Hammond, Architect. Birkenhead.