CONFLAGRATION RISK

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 6769, 17 March 1909, Page 8

CONFLAGRATION RISK

POSITION IN WELLINGTON. CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY". In tne "Royal Exchange Assurance Magazine” for January, a copy of which is to hand from the local manager, there is a very interesting article on "« ’’on. Bagration Hazard in Wellington, New Zealand," from the pen of Mr F. G. Gray. His remarks, lie points out, do not necessarily refer to Wellington, ‘'for the reason that in all our cities there can be found conditions which rend to promote the risk of conflagration.” Dealing with the responsibilities of local bodies, the writer remarks: —Next we come to the city councils, who have adopted certain building regulations which are considered sufficient to govern the erection of buildings in the city area, but those conditions and regulations do not properly regulate fire risk of conflagration either in respect to the class or height of building-, and provided that a building has brick external wails, or a certain percentage of brick, then it may be otherwise a shell, or one full of wood with hazardous surroundings which the regulations do noiYouch. Example—in the city area of some centres, whore wooden buildings or brick and wood buildings are permitted there must be a brick side wall, but there is absolutely 'nothing to provide that such walls must be complete bnck walls, consequently innumerable openings may be allowed without let or hindrance, and as a result the primary purpose for which the brick wail should bo stipulated is defeated and the risk of conflagration is there, for fires will travel, notwithstanding the presence of these regulation brick walls—l can to many such instances in our chief cities.

CONSTRUCTION CRITICISED. Buildings of any height—or any area—without internal brick walls and with iron columns and girders without any outside covering—lift-wells with ■ iron, erections on the roofs of buildings, all of which are important factor’s in the spread o fa conflagration, are permitted without proper regulations from a fire point of view. High buildings which, under properconditions, could be considered as ''breaks" in a conflagration, are now quite the reverse, -and are merely ‘'marks’’ for the fire, and a sure means of spreading conflagration. In many buildings may be found liftwells which are perhaps built of brick or concrete, and having (alleged) fireproof doors at each flat, but which are built up only to the level of the roof, and in some cases do not reach as ■ far as that. Then comes the lift machinery which is covered in by a wooden or iron erection, which stands several feet above the top of the brick building, and is an excellent “mark” and point of attack for a conflagration, and although the building may be of brick its safety is ruined by these erections—there can be found in some of the principal buildings in, the wholesale part of this .city lift erections, such as I have mentioned — I can point to high buildings with parapet .walls—no less—but which have these objectionable , lift erections to -which I have referred, higher , than the parapet and which completely nullify the good which the protection of the parapet walls would otherwise secure. Referring again to lift-wells, were they built entrrely. of brick right through.the.sky-line an enormous advantage would be gained, while at present they act simply as a kind of chimney or draught to convey fire from any part of the. lift-well up to the .ceiling inside, and then its spread is certain.

AIDS TO FIRES. . Then, again,, wo find on many roofs a liberal supply of wooden erections, snow gratings, etc., etc., ail of which have been proved, over, an over again, to be a sure means of spreading a conflagration. This was the recent experience in at least one big ■ fire in New Zealand, and in the great Baltimore fire it is reported that the condition of the roofs was an important factor in the spread of the fire. There are many things which could be provided for in our city building regulations without seriously interfering _ with the rights of property owners, while at the same time life and property would be safeguarded and possible heavy loss averted. The use of wired glass, or steel gauze for side openings, and, indeed, in many other openings in all buildings in the congested areas should he imperative. No building covering more than a- certain area should be permitted unless internal brick division wall® are provided, and in the case of iron columns’and girders, it would be imperative that they be covered with a protection of concrete. It is a well-known fact that in, all large conflagrations, these, columns and girders twist and warp—if unprotected.—and pull down walls and buildings; Above a certain degree of heat, iron is of no value whatever, and in most conflagrations this degree is more than reached. Then,, again, it should be compulsory that water standpipes should be placed in' all large buildings in suitable places and of a size to fit the appliances of the fire brigade. At present we find in some buildings, standpipes of say one to three inches with short lengths of hose, but in most cases this hose is never tested and is generally allowed to lie. useless. If standpipes to fit the brigade' gear were erected, they would often he found of treat use in preventing the spread of re. . .

LESSONS FROM ELSEWHERE. . . . When we consider the fearful loss of life and property by fire in. San Francisco, and when we compare the class of buildings' destroyed there, with those ■in the business portion of Woffington and,' indeed, other' centres, •we may well shudder at the thought.. Given a high wind, a mishap to our' brigade, or water supply—all possible contingencies—and we might easily find the large portion of our empire city in ruins—a loss "to the . community—to our municipalty—to the shareholders in our insurance companies, and to the Dominion as a whole. Previous lessons learned. at our fires are not being put into practice, but we permit to be brought into existence and continue such conditions that will sooner or later spread dismay on all sides. When will this carelessness efill