FIRE PREVENTION.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13520, 15 February 1908, Page 2

FIRE PREVENTION.

VALUE OF STRUCTURAL SAFEGUARDS. Yesterday's issue of the " Press" contained the following letter from Mr A. L. Parsons, manager of the New Zealand Fire Insurance Company, and honorary secretary of the New i-eaia.id &_c;i_ii of the British Fire Prevention Committee: When the ahum was given on fho evening of the 6th inst., i was speaking on the subject of the work of the British Firo Prevention Committee to those present at the lire brigaue social, and as my remarks were interrupted, it has been suggested that the subject would be of public interest at the present time. After referring to the necessity for large buildings being constructed with fire resisting partitions, instead of the matchlined " fire-spreaders " so common in his country, I was proceeding to deal with the necessity for protecting windows in rights-of-way, when the alarm was sounded. Little did those present think what an extensive fire we would witness, and what valuable property might have b.'en saved it the m.tt-eii; mentioned above had been considered in the construction of many of the buildings destroyed. Ihe British Fire Prevention Committee was formed in London in 1897 after the Cripplegate fire, and its membership compiio..-;> me leauing architects, surveyors, civil engineers, city engineers, town councils, fire brigades, etc., and insurance companies in the United Kingdom. Two of tiia main objects of the committee are "To direct attention to the urgent- new for increased protection of life and property from fire by the adoption of preventive measures," and "'lo use its inlluence in every direction towards minimising the possibilities and dangers of fire." A testing station has been built, and tests are mado of doors, floors, windows, partitions, etc., to snow i-n- ir unresisting qualities. The results of all these tests are distributed to members in a

iiu.-us. valuable reference library. About two years ago a Now Zealand section was formed, but little interest was taken in the matter, possibly because I had not the necessary time to bring the advantage of membership before those to whom it should have been of value. The library of the section contains copies of all the publications of the committee, -and a penual of the catalogue shows that the following among many subjects have been dealt with: Skylights glazed with wired glass.— The duration of the test was to be thirty minutes, and ti:e temperature raised n> 1500 deg. Fahr. Water was turned on the ouUide of the glass for a period of ont< minute at the expiration of fifteen minutes, and again at the end of thirty minutes. At the expiration of the thirty minutes the glass was intact, except lor cracks, and the fire did not pai.G through ir. Window Openings.—Several tests have been made by the committee as regards window openings fixed with wired giass. With a temperature rising to 1500 deg. after a test of forty-five minutes' duration fire did nob pass through, the glass. How- much valuable property would have been saved in the late fire- if skvlights, and windows facing other buildings, had been constructed of some orrli-fire-resisting material, instead of the ordinary sheet glass, which fell in before the heat, and allowed the fire to obtain access to the contents? It is to be hoped that in rebuilding operations particular attention is given to the experience gained in this disaster. It must be admitted by all who watched the recent fire that the spread of same was largely duo to unprotected window openings. As regard the internal construction of btdldings, a glance at the ruins will show! that in the majority of cases 'the buildings were brick shells, with no dividing walls of brick to cut off the firo or give the. firemen a chance to confine same. Nothing is more inflammable than match-lined partitions, and lath and plaster is not much better, as the fire travels up between the studs. But there are many forms of construction of fire-resisting partitions which could be used to advantage and profit by owners of large premises. To such, a fire is generally a severe lofu, as even if they are well insured, the 10.-s of • trade through dislocation of burin-css io in many cases a serious matter, and will cout tht-m many times over what ;i little extra, expenditure in the directum, indicated above would have involved. The matter of floors lias been extensively dealt with by the committee in numerous tests, some of the more recent dealing with those constructed of reinforced concrete. These appear to have b:en quits satisfactory, and are worthy of attention by owners of property.

In addition to tcsto of constructive materials, pamphlets have been issued dealing with " Theatre- Exits." " Tests with Automatic Alarms," etc., eo that it will bi seen that good work is being done in, the United Kingdom in the direction aimed at, and it is hoped that (keeping in vi-w what, has- recently occurred here) greater attention will be givvn in New Zea'.and lo the construction of buildings from a fire-resisting point of view. " Tilt- only buildings in ths block re-

ci-ntly (bst'roy.-il tli.it wen- litted with auu-iinlii: lir.- alarms v.-.-re those 'f the D.1.C.. Knjamin and C... an.-l llall.n:t,iii Km... "and I am informed that for an hour .-iikl ii half before' the lir.- bn.k--out in the. D.I.C. the alaim bells w:-r<; Minlinuouslv ringing. ]!-.« ides showing the h--.it i'bat there iiittot lnive been in that building, it proves how .--en.-it iv.tins.- alarms arc t-> an increase in temperature, and how vahiabl ■ thy ar;- as ;i liieau.s of giving an early ahirm. ami .m> enabling the brigadi- lo have a chance to localise, a tire.