PROTECTION AGAINST FIRE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8077, 12 January 1888, Page 4

PROTECTION AGAINST FIRE.

Mr James Tlislop, architect, of Dowling street, has brought under our notice an improved system of fire protection by means of automatic sprinklers and hydrants which is particularly suitable for theatres and public buildings. The sprinkler is usually a valve having a bore of half-an-inch; the valve is fastened to its seat by an ingenious but simple piece of mechanism, and is retained in that position by a small piece of alloy, fusible at a temperature of 150deg to 160deg Fahr. Directly the heat of the atmosphere around the sprinkler rises to this point, the valve opens and the water in the pipes is liberated. A deflecting plate in the path of the jet causes the water to be thrown upwards and around, and the fire under ordinary circumstances is effectually subdued before much damage can be done. For the purpose of water supply iv connection with sprinkler installations, a tank is placed at such an elevation as to give a moderate head of water to the sprinklers on the top floor of the building, and from this tank adescending main is carried to the grouud. This main is then carried upwards, and from it on each floor are carried off pipes, each running the whole length of each room; smaller pipes branch from these at regular intervals. On the latter are fixed the sprinklers, which are thus distributed over the ceilings of the whole of the premises. The usual rule is to allow one sprinkle to every 100 superficial feet. It is essential that there should be two independent sources of water supply; the tank being one, and the other may be provided either by a fixed fire engine or by the town service. In cases where the tank forms the primary supply, the secondary will come into operation should water in the tank be exhausted before the fire is subdued; when the town service is the primary supply, tha tank would come into use should the former fail through a burst rnaiu, or should the water not be available for use on account of a stoppage at the waterworks or from any other cause. The great advantage of the sprinkler is that it will do its work and sound an alarm when no one is present to use the hose; it has proved its worth in America upon numerous occasions.