DANGER EXISTS IN LIGHT SPACES.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 41, 18 February 1931, Page 13

DANGER EXISTS IN LIGHT SPACES.

FIRE HAZARDS CAN BE REDUCED IS OPINION.

“ These light spaces between big buildings built back to back are the curse of these places,” said Superintendent C. C. Warner, of the Central Fire Brigade Station, this morning, when discussing the statement by Superintendent Wilson, of Auckland, following upon the disastrous fire on Monday evening. “ These big buildings built back to back have light spaces between them and unprotected windows. If they had iron shutters closed at night, the danger would be lessened considerably. It will teach business people a lesson,” Superintendent Wilson is reported to have said. “ The policy of better supervision of the building by-laws, and the erectfcm of buildings to reduce the enormous amount of fire-loss throughout New Zealand was advocated by Captain Hugo, Government Fire Brigade Inspector, over twenty years ago, but it has met with little or no support from the authorities responsible during that period,” said Superintendent Warner. “ The public is too apathetic in what is considered the matter of their responsibilities, not only to themselves, but to the whole of the community. “ I advocated the provision of better facilities to reduce loss by fire in 1916,” he said, “ but no action was taken, and now, after being refuted, this policy is being urged.” Limiting Height. Legislation was urgently needed, he said, with regard to governing the height and construction of buildings, particularly so in view of the Dominion being so liable to sesmie disturbances. The present construction of large buildings, such as warehouses, factories, and drapery stores, from the point of view of fire-prevention, left much room for improvement. It was evident that any so-called fire-proof building, having a large cubic capacity, had no stability without internal walls, as a fire could sweep its whole length with no break to stop it. It was recognised that many of these risks were a menace, not only in themselves, but also to adjacent properties, for, usually, they were heavily stocked with inflammable materials, and, in the absence of proper provision being made for the erection of partitions of non-combustible material, enclosure of stairways and lift-wells, wired glass for skylights and windows, and fire-resisting doors and shutters overlooking smaller premises and right-of-ways, and other provisions necessary for retarding the action of a fire, much valuable property was lost annually to the community. Reduced Premiums.

“ The question of linking up such buildings with fire stations by means of automatic fire detectors was one thatshould receive support from owners of properties, for, within a few years they repaid the initial cost by way of reduced premiums. Such installations, although even simple, were most effective in the initial stages of fire, and could be procured at very little cost when compared with the benefit derived therefrom.

“ It has bean stated that, as time went on, loss through fire would be reduced by the erection of up-to-date buildings, but the menace still remained and the loss was not reduced.

“ No buildings/’ said Superintendent Warner, “ should be more than four storeys, or from 70 to 80 feet in height. In an ordinary town four-storeyed build- . ings would not be considered high. In London, 80 feet is the present limit of height allowed, while in other centres some buildings, few of course, are as high as 216 feet, but these are low compared with the sky-scrapers in America. At times it is necessary for a brigade, on receipt of a call, to ascend to the sixth storey, or even higher. Unless the outbreak can be controlled much damage may be done in the meantime. “ However well a building may be constructed from a point of view of fire resistance, there is always a danger fiuin the combustible nature of the contents.” Insurance Position. When the matter was referred to the manager of an insurance company he stated that there was no doubt that the more protection carried out in buildings the better it would be all round, especially from the point of view of minimising the danger to life. In many modern buildings the precaution of providing wired glass windows had been taken. The light spaces between big buildings were certainly dangerous, and the remarks by Superintendent Wilson were very much to the point. It was a paying proposition to have such windows provided, and also to have buildings erected on concrete floors. It meant a decrease in the rate. “ Massive construction means a reduction in rate and less risk of damage,” he said.