FIRE PREVENTION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9092, 23 November 1907, Page 5

FIRE PREVENTION.

AUTOMATIC INSURANCE

THE ALERT ALARM

Fire insurance, in principle, is the outlay of small 6ums periodically with the object of providing against the heavy loss that may at any time overtake one through a conflagration. But it seems that it is possible to go a long way towards efficient insurance without much outlay in_ premiums, by adopting th© " prevention is better than cure" doctrine. The automatic fire alarm illustrates this. In consequence of the interest that has been aroused in the matter by recent events in Christchurch, a "Lyttelton Times" representative went out yesterday to see exactly what an automatic alarm could do. A large number of the bigger establishments in the city have them installed, connecting directly with the brigade stations; and in some of the private residences ixi and about the suburbs they are also fitted. A case in point is that of tlie house of a/ prominent business man, who was recently in Christchurch. A little carelessness resulted in a tiny fire starting in one of the attached outhouses, where it would certainly have done a, good deal of mischief, and whence it would have threatened the whole house. The alarm roused the place at once, however, and all danger was averted very quickly. The reporter found the alarm "'at home" at Messrs Turnbull and Jones's, where a case at the door, with a number of brass signals and some neat electrical instruments announced the equipment within. Inside, a demonstration set was rigged up for his delectation. The May-Oatway alarm, which is a New Zealand invention, depends upon the simple fact that a wire heated expands, and if it is fastened by the ends sags in the middle. By hanging a weight, with suitable contacts thereon, to the middle of the wire, the weight can be adjusted to drop on an increase of temperature till it makes contact with fixed metal points, and so establishes a circuit. This thermostat could scarcely be more simple, or, as eventproved, more effectual. The current that is led through the fire-established contact goes through the indicator box at th© outside- of the building, dropping a flap that shows exactly where the fire is, just as an ordinary callbell indicator does, and goes on its way to the fire brigade station, ringing an alarm bell in passing, and warning the inmates of the building of their danger. At the station the current, which the instrument in the protected building hae broken up into prearranged lengths, marks a tape with a morse signal, that tells which of the protected buildings needs attention. The brigade, on receiving such an alarm, knows just where to go, and on reaching the outside of the building can teU in just what part of it th© fire lies. Naturally, a dangerous fire oould not be arranged for purposes of demonstration, but an effective substitute was soon found in a tin containing benzine and cotton waste. The demonstration set was put in readiness and watches were produced. A match was thrown into the waste. Ten anxious seconds elapsed, all eyes being turned alternately on the little detector fixed te the ceiling and to the watches. Then the recorder in the next room clicked, the tape reeled off its message, the flap fell and stated "Manager's office" in the plainest terms, and the alarm bell shouted the news for chains round. Two trials were made of the special set, and then the ordinary set, put in to protect the building and connected with the fire station, was given a trial. It *was said that this was not so finely set, and would take a little longer to go off. The Lichfield Street station was rung up and told of the proposed trial, and a man there was asked to send word through by telephone as soon ac the alarm was received. So, while the reporter held the telephone receiver in one hand and a watch in the other, the demonstrator lit up the blaze again. It was a very modest fire, such as one could put out in a few seconds by stamping *on it. The time passed slowly^ but at the end of thirty-five seconds the big bell over tlie door outside rang, and simultaneously tlie fireman at the other end said, " There she goes !" and inquired solicitously if^ it was certain the engines were not needed. The test was a great success, as it always has been when the alarm has been asked to show its only trick, that of -working properly. The yard of copper- wire, with its hanging carbon plug, had given an alarm of fire half a mile away before the room had got appreciably warm, and before even that smoky fuel, benzine, # had had time to more than put a slight haze in the air. In the thousands of plabes where it has been installed the thermostat and its accessories have done wonderful work, and the alarm has a remarkable record of trifling fires in big buildings, and of losses to be reckoned in small amounts in places valued at sum__runnine into, millions.