Combustible Contents in Buildings

United States Department of Commerce

National Bureau of Standards

Building Materials and Structures Report 149
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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE • Sinclair Weeks, Secretary NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS • A. V. Astin, Dinttor

Combustible Contents in Buildings

S. H. Ingberg, John W. Dunham, and James P. Thompson

Building Materials and Structures Report 149

Issued July 25, 1957

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C.

Price 20 cents
Foreword

The prevalent large building areas and heights require adequate lire resistance of structural supports and of subdividing constructions to restrict the spread of fire. The degree of fire resistance for the purpose is dependent on the severity of fires that can occur from burning of combustibles in contents

and interior finish, floor, and trim. The present surveys were undertaken to obtain information on the amounts of combustibles associated with typical

building occupancies. The data herein presented should be of assistance in constructing and equipping buildings to resist and restrict the fires that can

occur within them.

A. V. Astin, Director.

Contents Page

1. Introduction , 1 2. Basis and method of surveys 1 3. Tabulated results 2

3.1. Apartments and residences 2

3.2. Hospitals 2

3.3. Schools 2

3.4. Mercantile establishments 4

3.5. Manufacturing establishments 7

a. Furniture factories 7

b. Mattress factories 7

c. Clothing factories 10

3.6. Printing plants 10

3.7. Warehouses 12

3.8. Offices 14

4. General notes and summary 15

4.1. Residential occupancies 15

4.2. Hospitals 15

4.3. Schools 15

4.4. Mercantile establishments 15

4.5. Manufacturing establishments 15

4.6. Printing establishments 16

4.7. Warehouses 16

4.8. Office occupancies 16

5. General objective and application 16

6. References 16
Combustible Contents in Buildings

S. H. Ingberg,* John W. Dunham,** and James P. Thompson

Information is presented on the combustible contents, including the flooring and the

interior finish and trim, found in buildings housing various classes of occupancy. The data given are based on surveys of specific buildings in which the weight and distribution of combustible contents were obtained area by area and floor by floor. The results indicate the range in the amounts of combustibles associated with different occupancies and show that, except for the areas used for filing and storage, the combustible load is uniformly light for residential buildings, schools, hospitals, and office buildings. The combustible load varies considerably in mercantile occupancies and even more so in industrial and storage buildings. In conjunction with fire severity tests, data from these surveys can be applied in developing

requirements for minimum fire resistance of buildings.

1. Introduction

In 1939, the Subcommittee on Fire Resistance

Classifications of the Central Housing Committee

on Research, Design, and Construction had sur- veys made of residential buildings, schools, hospital buildings, and warehouses to determine the

amounts of combustible contents associated with

those occupancies. A similar survey of office buildings had previously been conducted by the National Bureau of Standards. Information based

upon these surveys was published in 1942 [l]. 1 In 1947, the Office of Technical Services in the

Department of Commerce sponsored a number of

investigations to assist in the solution of various

business and industrial problems. The investigation of the weights of combustible contents in mercantile, industrial, and storage occupancies was

undertaken at that time to complement and extend

the information previously presented in BMS92.

The National Bureau of Standards assumed re-

' sponsibility for the program and arranged to have

the work done by the Public Buildings Administration (now the Public Buildings Service). Reports of the results of these surveys constitute the

principal part of this publication.

Although not all of the occupancies defined by

building codes were included in the surveys, those,

included were extensive enough to give a good indication of what can be expected. For example, the

shoe or paint department in a department store could very well serve as the criterion for buildings

containing either of these particular occupancies

alone.

Evaluation of the resistance of buildings to the

fires that occur in them requires not only a knowledge of the fire resistance of the construction, but an estimate of the potential severity of such fires. In tests conducted to obtain information on this

subject [2], it was indicated that there is a fairly

definite relation between the amount of combustible contents and the resulting fire severity

expressed in hours as periods of exposure to the

standard fire test [3]. To obtain an estimate of the probable fire severity in the various types of occupancies, the

amounts of combustibles associated with these

•Guest worker. Formerly Chief, NBS Fire Protection Section (now

retired). "Chief Structural Engineer. Public Buildings Service, General Services Administration.

1 Figures in brackets indicate the literature references at the end of this report.

occupancies must be known or estimated. These

combustibles include movable property such as furniture and goods, and combustible trim, finish,

and flooring material.

This report presents a large volume of data on

combustible loads found in a number of typical

occupancies. The data are factual and should be

helpful in designing buildings to resist fires in- volving prospective amounts of combustible contents.

2. Basis and Method of Surveys

Only the weights of combustible contents,

finished flooring, interior finish, and trim are in- cluded in the weight totals. No combustible

structural elements are included because they

are a part of the building itself and not of the

contents. In general, the amounts of combustibles were

obtained by weighing combustible furniture,

equipment, goods, and other combustible contents in sufficient quantity to enable the total weight of such material within each area to be

computed. The weight of any combustible floor- ing material, showcases, partitions, door and

window trim, and built-in fixtures that could not be weighed was estimated from the thickness and

area. All of the weights were converted to equivalent weights of combustibles having a

calorific value in the range of wood and paper.

A table giving the calorific value of various compounds and materials can be found in references

[2,5,6].

Where it was desired to segregate within close limits the weights for individual rooms, such as

in residences, schools, hospitals, and office buildings, one-half of the weight of common doors,

door frames, and wood sash was allocated to the

respective rooms on each side of them. The

total weight of the combustible contents of metal

lockers, filing cabinets, etc., was included. No

weight was included for possible escaping illuminating gas. Small enclosures, such as closets, were found to contain concentrations of combustible materials

considerably higher than the average for the rest of the unit. Considering the small area and the

fact that wood closet doors are generally of the

type that will burn through in a short time, the

contents and area of closets were averaged with

those of the adjoining hall or room.

420334—57 1
3. Tabulated Results

Tlie data presented in the tables show that the

weights of combustible contents vary over a wide

range among the different occupancies and, in some cases, for occupancies of the same type.

These tables indicate the weight of combustibles

per square foot of floor area associated with the

occupancy surveyed and the area over which

they were found. For some occupancies, sum- mary tables give the percentage of the total area over which the weight of the combustibles within

certain ranges were found and the largest single area within these ranges. Table 1. Survey data for apartments and residences

(Data taken from BMS92)

Average combus- Total

tible contents Num- Aver- Occupancy or ber of age Exuse rooms floor Mov- posed

sur- area able wood- Aver- Maxi- Mini- veyed prop- Floor work age mum mum

erty other than

floor

n

2 Ib/ft2 Ib/ft2 Ib/ft2 Ib/ft2 Mt2 Mt2 1 783 0.8 0.0 0.2 1.0 Bathroom 10 43 1.0 2.3 3.7 7.0 10. 0 2.0 Bedroom

(closets included) — 18 132 5.0 2.8 2.6 10.4 13.2 6.8 Dining room.

.

3 104.5 3.2 2.0 2.0 7.2 7.8 6.5 Hallway 12 40. 5 1.0 3.0 6. 5 10.5 13.7 7.5 Kitchen 11 119 1.2 2.5 3.1 6.8 10.7 2.9

1 146 10. 6 2. 4 13. 0 Living room .

.

12 203 3.9 2.4 1.8 8.1 10.4 5.7 Storeroom (apartment

house) 6 727 6.4 0.5 0.3 7.2 10.0 2. 4 Vestibule 1 22.5 2.2 3.0 4.4 9.6 Average for complete

units 13 628.

1

3.4 2.6 2.8 8.8 10.0 7.6

Summary for closets in residential buildings

Closets: Clothes 28 8.8 5.

1

2.7 11.6 19.4 30.2 10.2 Linen _ ... 9 4.8 11.7 3.0 21.4 36. 1 49.3 26.2 Kitchen 1 5.0 4.0 3.0 23.2 39.2

3.1. Apartments and Residences

The amounts of combustible contents found in apartments were so similar to those found in private residences that the two were grouped to- gether. Table 1 gives the survey data for individual living and storage areas in a total of 13 1 apartments and residences, and the average

combustible load for all the units taken as a whole. It is seen that the combustible load for a complete unit is relatively light, being not over

10 lb/ft2

. Even in the storeroom areas this loading was not exceeded. To show the higher

concentration of combustibles that exist in

closets, table 1 also gives a summary for closets in residences, these concentrations being included

with the adjoining rooms as given in the first part of the table.

3.2.

Hospitals

St. Elizabeths Hospital, in Washington, D. C., was the only institutional-type occupancy in- cluded. Three buildings were surveyed, each

housing the facilities necessary for a different type

of treatment. Although St. Elizabeths is a

psychiatric hospital, the results obtained may

very well be typical of the general hospital occupancies covered, namely, neuropsychiatric con- tinued treatment, tuberculosis infirmary, and

medical and surgical.

Table 2 gives the results for the three buildings,

and table 3 gives a summary of distribution for each building within given ranges of combustible

contents. The average combustible loads for the

various occupancies did not exceed 10 lb/ft2

, ex- cept in the laundries, where it did not exceed 15

lb/ft2

.

3.3.

Schools

j The maximum combustible contents in school

buildings were found in storerooms and libraries,

whereas other portions of the buildings had a

relatively light combustible load. The pupils’

Table 2. Survey data for hospital buildings, St. Elizabeths Hospital

(Data taken from BMS92)

Occupancy or use

Medical and surgical building

Number of Combustible contents rooms or units sur- veyed

Total floor area Movable Woodwork

and floor Total

property covering 1 Average Maximum Minimum

Average combustible

contents

Neuropsychiatric continued- treatment

hospital

Tuberculosis infir- mary

Administrative

Administrative office 6

fl2915

Ib/ft2 6.3

Ib/ft2 1.8

Ib/ft2 8.

1

Ib/ft2 13.4

Ib/ft2 2.4 Doctors’ office 3 945 5.7 2.9 8.6 14.4 5.1 Waiting rooms.. .. Nurses’ offices and rooms

3 495 1.4 1.8 3.2 4.

1

2.1 13 1,728 3.1 1.9 5.0 12.5 3. 1 Nurses’ training school Nurses’ infirmary _ 12 3, 613 2.2 1.8 4.0 14.5 1. 1 11 1,599 U.9 2.2 3.0 3.5 2.5 Library and conference _ . _ 1 704 5.2 2.5 7.7

Ib/ft2 5.0 3~2

Ib/ft 2 3.5

2.9

1.4 3.7

See footnote at end of table.

j'
Table 2. Survey data for hospital buildings, St. Elizabeths Hospital—Continued

Occupancy or use

Medical and surgical building Average combustible

j contents

Number of rooms or units sur- veyed

Total floor area Movable

property

Com

Woodwork

and floor covering i

bustible con

Average

tents

Total

Maximum Minimum

Neuropsychiatric continued- treatment

hospital

Tuberculosis infir- mary

Service

26 15, 103 2.6 2.7 3. 2 0. 8 2.4 1.2 Heating and mechanical services. . 4 1,009 0.

1

0.4 0.5 1.7 .3 1.0 0.5

Refrigeration. 5 775 1.9 1.9 3.8 12. 7 .0

7 3, 259 0.2 0.3 0.5 4. 7 . 1 1.7

2 336 4.4 .6 5.0 12.4 3.8 13.

1

Janitors’ closets and supplies.. 10 989 1.0 1.4 2.4 7.8 0.9 4.3 6.

5

14 11,675 1.7 4.0 5.7 19.4 1.5 2. 1 Lockers and toilets 8 1,766 0.9 0.5 1.4 2.9 1.2 0.2 i.r

Clinical

13 4, 307 0.7 1. 1 1.8 10.6 0. 2 2 390 2.

1

1. 1 3.2 3.8 2.2

4 978 2.8 1. 6 4. 4 7.3 2. 5

Clinics... 33 7, 421 2.0 1.9 3.9 21.6 0.5 2.5 1.7 Dormitories 32 11, 223 0.9 1.6 2.5 3.6 1.7 1. 5 2.8 Rooms, single 28 3,511 .8 1.5 2.3 3.2 1.8 2. 1 3.7 Rooms, disturbed patients' 8 1,016 .4 2.5 2.9 3. 2 2.2 3.7

3 720 .8 2. 4 3. 2 3.8 2. 5 Porches, patients’ .. 6 3, 566 .9 0.4 1.3 2.3 0.9 0.8 1.3

Sterilizers and clothing stores. 4 545 1.4 4.0 5.4 5.8 5.0 .5 4.0 Pharmacy, dispensary and stores 5 1, 172 5.8 1.9 7.7 11.5 6.8 Diet kitchens and patients’ dining

9 1,755 1.2 2. 4 3.6 5.2 2.7 Lavatories, etc. . ... 22 2,304 0.5 1.4 1.9 5.

4

0.3 . 1 0.5

1 Combustible floor finish where present was J4-m.-thick linoleum, assumed to give equivalent in combustible material of 1 lb/ft2

. Table 3. Distribution of combustible contents, St. Elizabeths Hospital

Combustible contents for usable

floor area

Medical and

surgical building

Continued

treatment

building

Tuberculosis infirmary

lb/ft 2 Percent Percent Percent

0 to 4.9 82.

1

91.0 93.2

5 to 9.9 15. 4 7.6 0.3

10 to 14.9 1.6 0. 7 1.8 15 to 19.9 0. 5 4. 4 20 or more .4 .7 0.3 Usable floor area ft2 __ 83, 819 36, 907 23, 054

wearing apparel and the contents of the desks were not included in the survey.

Table 4 gives a summary of the combustible

contents for 4 high schools and 2 elementary

schools in Washington, D. C., and vicinity.

Except where heavy filing cases, library stacks,

and storage of textbooks or materials were

involved, the combustible load was found to be

less than 15 lb /ft2

. From table 5 it is seen that less than 5 percent of

the entire floor area of each building contained

combustible loads in excess of 15 lb/ft2

. Usually

the rooms or areas with heavy combustible loads were in the basement, ground, or first floors. One

Table 4. Survey data for rooms in six school buildings in the Washington, D. C., area

(Data taken from BMS92)

Average combustible contents

Occupancy

Average

floor area Movable property Floor

Exposed wood- work

other than

floor

Total

Auditorium, gymnasium,

ft 2 lb/ft 2 lb!ft 2 lb!ft 3 lb ft 2

and lunchroom... . _ 5, 193 0.7 4.2 1. 5 6.4 Typical classroom Laboratories: biology,

chemistry, physics, food,

752 2.3 2. 4 2.3 7.0

and clothing

Special classrooms: art, bookkeeping, mechanical drawing, typing, physics lecture, woodworking shop, library

1,038 4. 5 2.1 1.5 S. 1

reading room

Offices: home economics,

1,335 6.2 2.3 1.9 10.4

publications, teachers 342 8.0 3.

1

3.1 14.2 1

Library stackroom 264 2S.4 2.

1

5. 4 35. 9 ; Office and flies .. ... .. Storerooms:

276 36.3 2.6 0.1 39.0

Paint 1S4 4.0 2. 6 13. 1 19. 7 Janitor. .......... 353 35.9 0.9 1.5 38.

3

Lumber 4S0 43. 7 1.3 0.7 45. 7 i Paper 425 97.5 0.0 . 7 98.

2

Textbook . 590 172. 3 * ' .6 173. 6
Table 5. Data for six schools in the Washington, D. C., area showing the percentage of usable floor area having

combustible contents within certain limits

Range of combustible

contents Elementaryschools High schools

Per- Per- Per- Per- PerIb/ft 2 cent cent cent cent cent Percent

0 to 4.9 38. 2 50.8 54.6 50.3 66.4 32.6

5.0 to 9.9 58.5 47. 1 34. 4 31.0 25.4 64. 1 10.0 to 14.9 2.5 2. 1 6.2 16.2 5.3 3.0

15.0 to 24.9 1.0 0.3 0. 2 25.0 to 34.9 (general 2.3 1.0 2.0

storage)

35.0 to 49.9 (general

1.2 0.6 0. 2

50.0 to 74.5 (wood or paper storage) . . .8 0.2

75.0 to 99.9 (paper

.3 103.3 (paper storage).. . 1 167.6 (textbook stor- .6

255.7 (textbook stor- age) .3 288 (textbook storage) _ — — — .2 Number of floors 2 3 4 4 5 2 Usable floor area. .ft2

. “31, 309 b40, 098 130, 973 125, 790 254. 619 '24, 177

a Exclusive ot basement, which contains boiler room only.

b Exclusive of temporary wooden corridor.

» Excludes attic and basement, which latter contains boiler room only.

small textbook-storage room and a large library

stackroom were found on the second floor in these

buildings. Janitors’ and general storerooms with

average combustible loads near 25 lb/ft2 were

found on upper as well as lower floors in one or more of these buildings. Their individual and

aggregate areas, however, were relatively small.

3.4. Mercantile Establishments

The department store is unique in that there are contained within its various departments practically all of the characteristics common to single

mercantile occupancies handling similar merchandise. As a result, these data have a wide scope of usefulness. The New York, N. Y., department store selected was of such size that a complete survey was not feasible; therefore, the survey was limited

to the selling areas and small storage areas fre- quented by the clerks, but did not include workshops, packing rooms, tube rooms, offices, etc., associated with the selling areas. The tenth

through the twentieth floors, which were used for storage and offices, were also omitted. The combustible load per square foot for a whole department, was determined by weighing the combustible

contents in a representative area of the department.

The second-floor plan of a department store in Washington, D. C., figure l , 2 shows a typical department arrangement and the combustible loads

that were found to exist, at, the time of the survey.

Although stores of this type are continually making minor changes in arrangement, the floor plan

shown indicates the combustible-load differential of the various departments, the higher accumu2 Figures are given at the end of this report.

lation of combustibles in storage areas as compared to sales areas, and the ready manner in which storage areas can be established anywhere

throughout the area. The load is assumed to be uniformly distributed over each area, including the area of aisle spaces. Tables 6a and 6b give a summary of combustible loads by floors. For 4 floors of the New

York City store the average was below 10 lb /ft,

2

, and for the 6 others the highest average for any

1 floor was 13.4 lb/ft2. For the Washington,

D. C., store the average was not over 10 lb/ft 2 for 6 floors, and the highest, individual average for the 2 other floors was 12.6 lb/ft2

.

Table 6a. Survey data for a department store in New

York City

Department Area

Combi

Movable property and

display trim

rstible cc

Floor

n tents

Total

Basement floor

fP Ib/fP Ib/fP Ib/fP Kitchen furniture - . 4, 353 0. 9 0.9 Bathroom supplies -- - 3, 354 6.3 6.3 Major appliances: Stoves, vac- uum cleaners, sinks, etc 3, 415 4.0 4.0 Refrigeration units. .. 2. 270 2.8 2.8 Household utensils. 22, 920 7.3 7.3 Automobile accessories 1. 300 8.7 8.7 Hardware .. _ _ . 6. 153 10.3 10.3 Paints . ----- .. 966 46.6 46.6 Tearoom.. . . ... _ 4, 062 2.4 2.4 Soda fountain 1, 358 2.4 2.4 Home center.. . . 913 2.4 .... 2.4

Total. .- ... . 51, 064 Average - - 6.8 .... 6.8

First floor

Liquor sales . 2,415 11. 1 11.1 Men’s work clothes . 2, 490 10.6 10.6 Men’s furnishings: Shirts, etc 15. 712 14.3 14.3 Tobacco 1. 113 15.6 15.6 Books ... . . . .. . 8.337 15.0 15.0 Drugs .. 8,916 9.5 9.5 Stationery . . - - 5, 158 8.8 0.6 9.4 Candy . 1, 298 8.9 2.0 10.9 Cosmetics . _ 4. 565 7.0 2.0 9.0 Notions, gloves, and handkerchiefs 15. 372 6.9 2.0 8.9 Jewelry. -- - 2. 216 8.5 8.5 Costume jewelry,. . _ _ 3. 122 6.9 2.0 8.9 Ladies’ handbags . _ 2. 873 9.0 2.0 11.0 Umbrellas 400 14.8 14.8 Silverware.. . ... ... 3,681 7.4 7.4 Temporary bargain counter . 9, 181 6.7 —

6.7

Total ._ 86, 849 Average 9.9 0.7 10.6

Second floor

Women’s hats . . . 18, 378 6.2 4.8 11.0 Negligee and lingerie . .... 20, 673 6.6 5.2 11.8 Corsets and girdles 5, 932 10.4 5.2 15.6 Men’s suits . ... . .. 17. 733 8.0 8.0 Storage, men’s suits . . . 1, 668 17.0 17.0 Men’s shoes . ... . _ 3. 777 7.

1

7. 1 Storage, men’s shoes... 1,856 22.3 22.3 Men’s furnishings.. ... 9,213 14.3 14.3 Women’s dresses. 14. 056 5.2 5.2 10.4

Total.. 93. 286 Average . . . 8.

1

3.2 11.3

4
Table 6a. Survey data for a department store in New

York City—Continued

Department Area

Combustible contents

Movable property and

display trim

Floor Total

Third floor

Fur storage, cleaning, and repair- fP IbffP tb/W U-lfP

6, 415 7. 8 7. 8 22,600 5.2 5. 2 Budget furs. . . __ . A 917 2.6 2. 6 Women's suits and coats 49, 382 5.6 5.2 10.8 Better furs 5, 451 6.2 5.2 11.4 Women's beach wear . 10, 811 9.0 5.2 14.2

Total... 99, 576 Average . ... . 5.9 3.4 9.3

Fourth floor

Children’s shoes _ 9.722 5.

1

5.2 10.3 Storage, children’s shoes.. 2,968 20.5 5.2 25. 7 Children's hose 820 11. 1 5.2 16.3

Girls’ clothing. . __ 12,083 9.3 5.2 14. 5 Children’s clothing _ .. 6.530 11.3 5.2 16.5

Girls’ dresses ... 9,716 7.

1

5.2 12.3 Infants’ furnishings . 12, 127 5.6 5.2 10.8 Temporary bargain counter . . 766 6. 7 5.2 11.9

Total. . 54,732 Average 8.2 5.2 13.4

Fifth floor

Boys’ camp equipment .

.

4,080 9.3 9.3 Bovs* clothine __ . __ 14. 323 6.8 6.8 Toys _____ 12. 089 3.2 3.2 Playground equipment 5, 054 2.4 5.2 7.6 Sporting goods _ __ _ ._ 10, 707 5.2 5.2 10.4 Radios and phonographs 4,299 4.7 5.2 9.9 Crosley automobiles 720 2. 4 5.2 7. 6 Airplanes 500 2.4 5.2 7.6 Pianos. _ _ _. _ 3, 280 6.

1

5. 2 11.3 Commercial stationery... 1.967 8.3 5.2 13.5 Cameras, etc__. ._ _ _ 3. 194 9.1 5.2 14.3 Art supplies . . ___ ___ 2,203 13.3 5.2 18.5 Phonograph records ... 6.400 29.2 5.2 34. 4 Toys... 6,904 3.2 5.2 8.4

Total.. ... 75, 720 Average . 775 3. 1 10. 6

Sixth floor

Women’s shoes _ 21. 358 3. 5 3. 5 Storage, women’s shoes _ 12, 085 9.8 9. 8 Towels _ . _ . 6,882 9.4 5.2 14.6 Blankets.. ... 6,811 9.6 5.2 14.8 Sheets and linens 17, 379 15.

1

5.2 20.3 Notions 2,238 8.2 5.2 13. 4 Patterns. ... _ _. .. 2,525 13.0 5.2 18.2 Yard goods .. __ _ . 26. 904 11.3 5.2 16.5

Total . _ . 96, 182 Average ___ _ 9.8 3.4 13.2

Seventh floor

Linoleum _ _ _ __ 3. 070 5.2 5.2 Rugs 27, 651 8.0 8. 0 Candles __ 200 19.6 5.2 24.8 Lamps and shades _ 7, 868 6.0 5.2 11.2 Curtains... 14, 430 3.4 5.2 8.6 Closet shop.. __ _ _ 8, 109 8.5 5.2 13.7 Wallpaper .. 1, 190 8.4 5.2 13.6 Assorted yard goods 23, 303 11.3 5.2 16.5

Total.. 85, 821 Average _. _ 8.0 3.3 11.3

Table 6a. Survey datai for a department store in New

York City-—Continued

Department Area

Combustible contents

Movable property and

display trim

Floor Total

|

Eighth floor

Food _ IP

10, 190

9, 438

19, 244 7,253

8,149

tb/fP 7.0 5.2

8.3

4.6 5.2

lb/ft? 5.2lb!ft? 12.2 5.2

8.3

4.6

5.2

Glassware, Chinaware _ Pictures and frames,.. Luggage... _ __ Total _ __ _ 54, 274 Average 6.5 To 7. 5

Ninth floor

Bedroom furniture . Dining room and occasional fur- niture ._ __ _ _ Modern furniture .. _

24,929

55, 847

12, 513

4.0

3.4

9.3

5.2

5.2

5.2

9.2

8.6

14.5 Total Average _ . . 93,289

4." 4 "5.2 9.6

Table 6b. Survey data for a department store in Washington, D. C.

Department Area

Combustible contents

Movable property and

display trim

Floor Total

First floor

Dry cleaning counter. _ Books... ___ _

ft 2320

3, 450

1,600 9,750

350

150 6.350

2,800 300 5,500

2,900 3.350

Ibfft - 9.2

16.6

11.9

10.1 20.0

11.0 5.6

7.3 11.0

12.

1

6.

1

7.6

lb!ft? lb!ft * 9.2

16.6 | 11.9

10.1 20.0

11.0 5.6

7.3 1 11.0

12.1 &i

7.6 !

Candy

Notions _ Umbrellas

Service _ — Cosmetics _ Handbags and leather goods Hat bar__ Stationery. Costume jewelry Jewelry. _

Total Average

36,820

9.6 :::: 9.6

Second floor

Dry goods, patterns, and art goods. Ladies’ shoe stockroom

Children’s shoe stockroom Shoe sale space

Storage, men’s hats, shoes, to- bacco, etc —

Men’s clothing

Total Average

8. 752

2. (XX) 955

3. 944

809

16, 227

9.9

32.8

28.

1

3.

31.7

12.0

::::

9.9 1 32.8

28.

1

3.1

j 31.7 j 12.

0

32. 687

12.6 12.

6
Table 6b. Survey data for a department store in Washington, D. C. —Continued

Department Area

Combustible contents

Movable property and

display trim

Floor Total

Third floor

fP Ib/fP Ib/fP Ib/fP Women's hats 4, 300 6.8 5.2 12.0 Lingerie and dresses. 5,700 9.0 5.2 14.2 Ladies’ readv-to-wear__. 16, 350 5.0 5.0 Ladies’ gowns and furs 18, 500 5.3 5.2 10.5

Total... 44, 850 Average . . .. 5.8 3.3 9.1

Fourth floor

Bov’s clothing 3, 830 13.6 5.2 18.8 Infant and juvenile clothing 11,934 8.05 8. 05 Camera and radio 3, 958 5.9 5.9 Music 2. 870 24.3 4.0 28.3 Junior misses 14, 022 4.9 .... 4.9

Total. ... 36, 614 Average . _ „ ... . . 8.5 0.8 9.3

Fifth floor

Gift shop.. . 2, 800 9.7 9.7 China and glass 11,400 6.2 6.2 Linen and towels ... . 5,500 9.5 9.5 Bedroom furniture. 15, 800 5.6 5.2 10.8 Bedding . 4, 350 10.1 _ 10.

1

Carpenter and paint shop 2, 600 20.8 5.2 26.0 China and glass storage. 440 11.4 11.4 General wrapping 1, 550 9.7 3.9 13.6

Total.. .. ... 44, 440 Average 8.0 2.3 10.3

Sixth floor

Furniture display room. .. 8, 145 5.8 1.4 7.2 Employees’ cafeteria . . . 1,496 4.8 5.2 10.0 Bug department. 10, 925 10.2 5.2 15.4 Fover . 780 3.1 5.2 8.3 Storage and shipping room for rug and linoleum _ _ 822 22.8 5.2 28.0 Furniture 14, 200 4.0 1.7 5. 7 Miscellaneous furniture and offlee 2, 468 7.7 7.7

Interior decorating 1,420 16.3 5.2 21.5

Total. 40, 256 Average 7.0 3.0 10.0

Seventh floor

Luggage... 4, 250 5.2 5.2 Pictures 2, 100 11.9 11.9 Lamps 4,100 7.8 7.8 Draperies. . . _ 9, 000 7.5 7.5 Drapery storage No. 1 960 25.0 25.0 Drapery storage No. 2. . . . . 550 44.4 44.4 Auditorium ... 800 5.2 5.2

Offices ._ 4, 000 6.9 6.9 Bakery sales . ._ 500 8.6 8.6 Waiting room at tea room _ _ 1,200 1.5 1.5 Fountain room and fountain 2, 900 4.8 4.8 Tea room ... ..... 8, 300 4.0 4.0 Linen storage (tea room).. ... 380 20.6 .... 20.6

Total.. 39, 040 Average . 7.4 .... 7.4

Table 6b. Survey data for a department store in Washington, D. C. —Continued

Combustible contents

Department Area Movable property and

display trim

Floor Total

Eighth floor

Paint... ...

ft- IblfP Ib/ft2 Ib/fP 1,749 35.2 5.2 40.4 Household goods... 7, 781 3.7 5.2 8.9 Groceries .. _. _ . 3, 500 1.5 1.5 Cold storage for groceries 400 3.9 3.9

Refrigerators, etc 2, 307 2.3 2.3

Electrical .... 1,400 9.

1

9.1 Bathroom fittings.. ... .. _ 3,205 8.5 5.2 13.7 Cafeteria 3, 834 2.8 5.2 8.0 Central wrapping _ 2, 556 8.0 5.2 13.2 Bakery 3, 210 3.0 3.0 Paper storage 360 25.0 5.2 30. 2 Fur fitting 2, 000 3.

1

5.2 8.3

Office _ 7,230 5.3 1.1 6.4

Total.. 39, 532 Average. . 6.2 2.8 9.0

Table 6c. Summary of combustible loads in department

stores by occupancies

(Combustible weight of flooring and covering not included)

Range Occupancies in one or both department stores

^05 o o Kitchen equipment, furniture, fur, shoe, dress,

5.0 to 9.9..

curtain, radio, phonograph, toys, pictures, frames, and grocery sales; foyer, tearoom, cafeteria, soda fountain, and waiting room. Household utensils, automobile accessories, drugs,

10.0 to 14.9

stationery, candy, cosmetics, notions, jewelry,

clothing, fur, shoe, sporting goods, piano, camera,

towels, blankets, linoleum, rug, lamp, wallpaper,

grocery, glass, chinaware, luggage, furniture, dry

goods, and hat sales; shoe storage; dry cleaning

counter; auditorium and offices. Hardware, liquor, clothing, art supplies, dry goods,

15.0 to 19.9

candy, notions, hat, stationery, rug, and picture

sales. Book, tobacco, umbrella, clothing, linen, candle

20.0 to 29.9 and interior decorating sales; clothing storage. Phonograph records and music sheet and book sales;

30.0 to 39.9

shoe, rug, linoleum, paper, and drapery storage; carpenter and paint shop. Paint sales; clothing and shoe storage.

40 to 46.6 Paint sales; drapery storage.

Table 6d. Percentage of department-store floor area having

combustible contents within certain limits

Range of combustible

contents

Washington

(Total floor area, 314,239 ft2)

New York

(Total floor area, 790,793 ftz)

Part of

total

floor area

Largest

single area within

range

Part of

total

floor area

Largest

single area within

range

Ib/fP Percent ft- Percent ft2 0.0 to 4.9 12.6 14, 022 7.8 21,358

5.0 to 9.9 46. 7 16, 350 43.1 55, 875

10.0 to 14.9 29.9 18, 500 35.3 49, 382

15.0 to 19.9 5.8 10, 925 10.0 26, 904

20.0 to 29.9. 3.4 2, 870 2.8 17, 379

30.0 to 39.9 0.9 2,000 0.8 6,400

40 and over .7 1,749 .2 966

6
Table 6c gives a summary of the combustible

loads contributed by movable property and dis- play trim in department stores as related to the

type of goods sold or stored, based on tables 6a

and 6b. The majority of the sales areas had

combustible loads of 10 lb/ft2 or less, some had

loads between 10 and 20 lb/ft 2

, and a few, including sales areas for books and for paints, had higher

loads. Storage of clothing, rugs, shoes, paper,

and drapery material gave combustible loads in the range from 15 to 46.6 lb/ft2

. The percentage of department-store areas having combustible loads between given limits is shown in table 6d. It is seen that from 50 to 60 percent of the floor area had combustible loads

not over 10 lb/ft2

, from 30 to 35 percent had

between 10 and 15 lb/ft2

, 10 percent had between

15 and 20 lb/ft2

, and no more than 5 percent of

the area had more than 20 lb/ft2

.

3.5. Manufacturing Establishments

The surveys of manufacturing occupancies

included 2 furniture factories, 2 mattress factories, a women’s clothing factory, and a men’s clothing

factory. Where more than one area is used for the same purpose, separate entries are made in the tables for each area.

a. Furniture Factories

All of the buildings or portions of buildings used

in the production, shipping, storage, and display

of furniture were surveyed. Outside lumber

storage and service buildings were not included.

The Gettysburg, Pa., factory surveyed had 20

buildings, of 1 story, 1 story and basement, or

2 stories, nearly all contiguous with structural

separations. The floor and roof constructions of

all buildings were of wood, but all except buildings

11 and 12 had masonry exterior and interior walls. Figure 2 shows the building layout . In determining the combustible content of the first floor of the shipping and storage building, it was assumed

that the contents of a car of furniture loaded just

prior to the survey were in the shipping-room area. The Grand Rapids, Mich., factory was housed

in 18 buildings, all but 3 of which were contiguous.

Most of them had 3 or 4 stories, with or without

basements. They were largely of heavy-timber

construction. A 3-story building used in part

for exhibition purposes was of reinforced-concrete construction.

Tables 7a and 7b give the survey data for the

two furniture factories, and table 7c gives the

percentage of the total area with combustibles

within a given range and the largest single area over which combustibles within these ranges were

found.

In the lower range of combustible contents,

there was a marked difference found for the two

plants. For the Gettysburg plant, only 1 % per- cent of the floor area had combustibles in an

Fable 7a. Survey data for furniture factory in. Gettysburg, Pa.

See figure 2 for building layout,.

Building Area Occupancy

or use Floor

area

Combustible

contents

Other

than

floor Floor

j Total

ft- MP Ib/fP lb/ftP

1 (i) (i) (!) (l, a Millwork-- 5, 4.50 15.8 5.2 | 21.0 b do 3, 100 12.0 5.2 1 17.2

2 c _ do 760 22 1 5 2 27 3

cl Glue room . _ 1. 030 8.0 5. 2 13.2

e Office _ 130 4. 5 5.2 9.7

f Pattern room 130 9.8 5.2 | 15.0

3 Staining . 3,900 6.3 5.2 11.5

4 10 200 7 9 5 2 [ 13 1 5

/ Finishing 5, 920 7 1 5 2 12 3

l a Paint shop.. 216 99.3 5.2 104.5

6 Dry kilns..- .5,660 68.9 . - 68.

9

1 Basement.. Millwork. ... _ 5,600 15.6 -.

1 15.6

7 < First floor.

.

do 5 600 13 3 5 2 18 5 a Storage* 598 95.9 5.2 101.1

( Basement. Cabinet work 7, 450 48.7 -- 48.7

8 and storage b -. _

1 First floor. Cabinet manu- 7, 100 13.2 5.2 1 18.4

l faeture.

9 do 4,6.50 1.5.9 5.2 [ 21.1

f Basement.. Storage' 2,800 62.9 -. 62.9

\ First floor— Spraying „ 2,750 6. 5 5.2 11.7

11 Storage d 2 750 30 8 5.2 36 0

12 .. .do ' 2,360 83.0 .- j 83.0

13 Varnish vault-- _ 600 16.5 -.

1 16.5

14 . _ , (9 (9 (9 (9

15

16 Rubbing and 6,200 5.1 5.2 10.3

polishing.

17 Storage e -._ . 5, 850 12 0 5.2 17 2

18 / First floor.. .do • 7, 400 15. 6 5.2 20 8

\ Second _do f 7,400 12.0 5.2 17.2

floor. 19 Finishing 1,750 4.7 5.2 9.9

( First floor.- Shipping and 9, 675 11.4 5.2 [ 16.6

20 storage e.

| Second Storage 11 10, 625 13.6 5.2 IS. 8

( floor.

Total. 127. 654 Average 19.3 4.6 23.9

a Lumber being transferred from dry kilns.

b Plywood panels loaded on trucks.

c Plywood (3-ply)

.

d Veneer and packing material.

' Furniture.

t Furniture and packing material,

c Furniture (some crated ready to ship).

h Furniture (chairs).

> Not surveyed. amount less than 10 lb/ft2

; whereas for Grand

Rapids, over one-half of the area was thus rela- tively lightly loaded. This was due in part to a somewhat lighter wood flooring in the Grand

Rapids plant.

A generally lighter combustible loading for the latter plant is also indicated by a relatively

small percentage of the floor area having combustible loads in the higher ranges. Eight percept

of the area for the Grand Rapids plant and about

17 percent of that at Gettysburg had combustibles

of 30 lb/ft2 or over. These areas were confined to spaces used for storage, air and kiln drying, and

paint and lacquer shops and vaults.

b. Mattress Factories

Two establishments manufacturing mattresses were surveyed, one in Atlanta, Ga., and the other

420334—57 2
Table 7b. Survey data for furniture factory in Grand

Rapids, Mich.

Occupancy or use

Number of units

sur- veyed

Total

floor area

Average combustible contents “Max- a Mini- Other

than

floor Floor Total imum mum

Photo studio.. 1 ft2 4,970

lblft.2 1.8Ib/fP 0.0 WP

1.8

Ib/fP we

Exhibition.. 1 9, 940 3.4 .0 3.4 Trucking area . 1 2,670 0.0 4.0 4.0 Smoking room... 1 720 5.7 0.0 5.7 __ Kitchen .. 1 750 7. 1 .0 7.

1

- , —

Cabinet and assembly work .... . 7 71,365 3.4 4.0 7.4 14.2 6.4 Shipment makeup.. 4 34, 900 3.9 4.0 7.9 10.7 7.0 Finishing.. _ .. 8 80, 320 4.7 4.0 8.7 13.0 5.9 Maintenance shop.

.

3 19, 230 5.8 5.2 11.0 13.2 5.5

Office and sales. . 2 1, 404 7.3 4.0 11.3 11.6 9.5 Banquet and bar 1 1,900 11.4 0.0 11. 4 Storageforshipment. 2 8, 380 14.3 .0 14.3 30.0 8.6 Storage 11 80, 575 15. 1 2.

1

17.2 30. 1 2. 5 Sawing 2 12, 800 12.6 4.8 17. 4 23. 0 9.3 Drafting. i 860 13.9 4.0 17.9 ... Woodworking 7 53, 186 13.9 4. 1 18.0 28. 5 11.3 Glue room 2 15, 600 14.3 5.0 19.3 21.7 16.9 Leather room.. 1 500 27.3 0.0 27.3 Lacquer vault 2 1,660 53.3 .0 53.3 73.0 33.6 Air-drying building. 1 10, 200 59.4 4.0 63.4 —

Drv kilns . . 1 8,100 97.2 0.0 97.2 Veneer storage. . _ 1 2, 100 117.3 .0 117.3 -- ...

a No entry indicates that only one area was used for that occupancy. Table 7c. Percentage of furniture-factory floor having

combustible contents within certain limits

Range of combustible

Gettysburg, Pa.

(Total floor area, 127,654 ft2)

Grand Rapids, Mich.

(Total floor area, 421,164 ft2

) contents Part of

total

floor area

Largest

single area within

range

Part of

total

floor area

Largest

single area within

range

ib/fr- 0.0 to 4.9 Percent ft- Percent

6. 4

fit

9, 940

5.0 to 9.9 1.5 1,750 48.3 15, 300

10.0 to 14.9 23.5 10, 200 14.3 10, 932

15.0 to 19.9 43.6 10, 625 10.7 11, 500

20.0 to 29.9 14.3 7,400 12.3 15, 400

30.0 to 39.9 2.2 2, 750 3.0 9, 280

40.0 to 65.0 8.0 7, 450 2.4 10, 200 Over 65.0 6.9 5, 660 2.6 8, 100

iii Chicago, 111. The Atlanta plant had 7 buildings of 1 or 2 stories. One of these, used for the

assembly and storage of springs, was of reinforced

concrete construction and the others were of masonry-wall, wood-joist, or all-metal construction. Temporary wood partitions and woodplank flooring covering parts of the area are included in the combustible contents. The Chicago plant was housed in what was

structurally one building with masonry exterior

and subdividing walls, and interior wood or steel construction. The height for the different parts

of the building ranged from 1 to 5 stories, with a basement under all but the 1- and 2-storv portions. There was maple flooring in all except

basement, shop, and garnetting areas. Table 8c gives a summary of combustibles

within given ranges of concentration and the

largest single area over which they were found,

based upon (he survey data given in tables 8a

and 8b.

Table 8a. Survey data for mattress factory in Atlanta, Ga.

Occupancy or use Area

Combustible contents

Movable property and

trim

Floor Total

Second floor, building 1

ft- Ib/ftt Ib/fP tb/fn Spring assembly ..... 805 1.5 0.0 1.5 Spring storage 900 0. 0 .0 0.0 Spring assembly ... 1, 124 1 . 1 .0 1 . 1 Do.... 453 3.5 .0 3.5 Lockers.. ... . .. 207 6.2 .0 6.2

Total.. . . 3, 489 Average . 1.5 0.0 1.5

Second floor, building 2

Temporary storage . .. . 1,743 5.4 3.9 9.3 Cotton felt mattress ...... 1.312 2.4 3.9 6.3 Mattress stapling 635 2.7 3.9 6.6 Mattress make-up 635 1.7 3.9 5.6 Matt ress tape edging 942 3.9 3.9 7.8 Mattress button tufting 1,243 2.9 3.9 6.8 Mattress reginning 440 18.0 3.9 21.9 Spring receiving .. 472 8.3 3.9 12.2 Stapling. . 472 5.2 3.9 9.1 Cotton felt mattress . 864 4.9 3.9 8.8 Cotton tufting 1, 115 2.3 3.9 6.2 Roll edging ... 950 /. 1 3.9 11.6 Temporarily unused 800 0.0 3.9 3.9

Total 11,623 Average _ _ _ 4. i 3.9 8.6

Second floor, building 2A

Box spring assembly 816 11.1 3.9 15.0 Box spring make-up . 900 9.4 4.7 14.1 Do 648 2.5 3.9 6.4 Box spring storage.. .. . 1,263 2.9 3.9 6.8 Quilting tops. .. . 1, 450 3.3 4.4 7.7 Temporary storage 990 9.6 3.9 13.5 Packaging 2,115 4.2 5.4 9.6

Total.. . 8,182 Average 5.7 4.4 16.

1

Second floor, building 2 B

Stockroom . 1,556 56. 3 3.9 60.2 Sewing room. . 2, 160 2.

1

3.9 6.0

Total. ... 3, 716 Average.. . .. 24.8 3.9 28.7

First floor, building 3

Cotton cleaner, picker . _ 561 4.2 0.0 4.2 Cotton mixers . 1,080 0.6 .0 0.6 Cotton stores 825 12.0 .0 12.0 Cotton batting, etc., stores 6,170 15.4 .0 15.4

Total 8, 636 Average.. 12.5 6.6 12.5

Second floor, building 3

Garnetting 1,750 2.5 5.2 7.7 Do 2 , 816 2. 6 5.2 7.8 Do 1,540 1.3 5.2 6.5 Fales ... 1,853 3. 1 5.2 8.3

Total 7, 959 Average 2.5 5.2 777
Table 8a. Survey data for mattress factory in Atlanta, Ga . 

Continued

Occupancy or use Area

Combustible contents

Movable property and

trim

Floor Total

Garnett annex, building 4

Garnett annex

ft4, 810 mr5.4 mr

0.0

lb/ft2 5.4

Cotton warehouse, building 5

Cotton warehouse 8, 010 101.3 0.0 101.3

Shipping, building 6

Shipping 15, 640 20.7 o.'o 20.7

Garnett parts stores

Garnett parts stores ! 740 15.8 0.0 15.8

The difference found for the two plants was not

great. Combustibles in amounts less than 10

lb/ft2 were found in 48 percent of the area of one

plant and in 66 percent of the area of the other,

with the load uniformly distributed over areas as

large as 7,310 ft2. The combustible loads within

the range of 10 to 20 lb/ft2 were 16.3 and 17.8 percent of the respective plant areas. Higher

concentrations were largely in storage areas, with

a baled-cot ton-storage area having about 100

lb ft2

. The progress of fire in such baled materials

is relatively slow.

Table 8b. Survey data for mattress factory in Chicago, III.

Occupancy or use Area

Combustible contents

Movable property and

trim

Floor Total

Basement

Storage

ft2 3,881

1,058

3, 144 2,918

lb/ft2 28.0

24.5

19.0 34.6

Ml2 0.0

.0

.0

.0

lb/ft 2 28.0 24.5

19.0 34.6

Do

Do

Storage and hair conditioning

Total ... 11,001 26.8 oio 26." 8

First floor

ShiDping-_- __ _ 3, 017

2,495

4,783

4. 745

1,620

7, 063

4.5

6.

1

8.4

9.3

4.3.0

2.6

2.6

2.6

0.0

.0.0

7.

1

8.7

11.0 9.3

4. 1 3.0

do.: Do

Do

Shop machine repairs Garnetting .

Total Average

23, 723

G.O i. i 7.’i

Table 8b. Survey data for mattress factory in Chicago,

III . —Continued

Occupancy or use Area

Combustible contents j

Movable prop- Floor Total

j erty and

trim j

Second floor

ft2 Ib/fP lb/ft 2 lb/ft2

| Storage 3, 804 6.0 2.6 8.6 Do 3, 234 7.9 2.6 10. 5 1 Tufting and edging 7, .310 3.7 2.6 6.3 Tufting and storage 6, 174 2.6 2.6 5.2 Total 20, 522 .... Average .. 4.4 2.6 7.0

Third floor

Storage—cloth 2, 510 19.2 2.6 21.8 Cloth inspection 460 2.0 2.6 4.6 Cloth storage 2, 598 22.7 2.6 25.

3

Sewing _ _ 1,081 5.8 2.6 8.4 Do 2, 593 4.9 2.6 7.

5

Cutting cloth 4, 355 3.8 2.6 6.4 Repairing machines.. 152 19.7 2.6 22.3

Office. _ __ _ 135 8.4 2.6 11.0

Filling mattresses __ _ _ 6, 100 7.3 2.6 9.9

Total 19, 984 — Average 9.6 2.6 12.2

Fourth floor

Boxing mattresses 1,860 13.8 2.6 16.4

Fifth floor

Nailing box spring frames. 235 9.9 2.6 12.5 Assembling box spring frames 1,271 9.

1

2.6 11.7 Chair frames ... 460 9.5 2.6 12. 1 j Assembling beds. .. 648 18.5 2.6 21.

1

Painting. ... 1,222 3.9 2.6 6.5 Box spring frames . ... 1,088 4.0 2.6 6.6 Storage 456 4.

1

2.6 6.7 Do 2,376 5.

5

2.6 8.

1

Total. . .. .. ... 7, 756 Average 7.0 2.6 9.6

Table 8b shows that the higher concentrations were found in basement areas, the highest average

for floors above the basement being 12.2 lb ft-, with the highest concentration for an individual area on these floors being 25.3 lb/ft2

.

Table 8c. Percentage of mattress factory floor area :

: combustible contents within certain limits

Range in combustible

contents

Chicago (Total floor area, 84,846 ft 3

) Atlanta (Total floor area. 72,805 ft*)

Part of

total floor area

Largest

single area within range

Part of

total floor area

Largest

single area within range

Mr- Percent ft 3 Percent fp

0.0 to 4.9 10. 8 7.063 7.9 1. 124

5.0 to 9.9. . 55.

2

7. 310 40.6 4. 810

10.0 to 14.0 11.0 4. 7S3 990

15.0 to 19.9.. 5.9 3. 144 10.6 6. 170

20.0 to 29.9 12. S 3, SSI 22.

1

15. lUO

30.0 to 49.9 3.

4

2, 918

50.0 to 69.9 2.

1

l. 556 Over 100 11.0 S.0U1

9
Table 9a. Survey data for clothing factories

Dress factory, Philadelphia, Pa. Clothing factory. New York, N. Y.

Total 4 Total 4 Occupancy or use Area combustible Occupancy or use Area combustible

contents contents

Second floor First building, fifth floor

ft2 Ib/fP ft* lb/ft2 280 4. 8 Pattern design _ 440 10. 2 Hall 895 5.4 Offices. ._ __ _ _ _ . .. 3, 145 10.9

115 6.0 Cutting _ _ . 16, 285 12.5 Designers office . 1, 650 6.8 Shrinkage and storage _ ... 4,275 13.4 Sample dress storage 160 6.8 Storage _ __ _ _ 7,085 19.6

i non 7 1

5, 420 9.0 Total ___ _ 31, 230 1,085 10.

1

Average . . ____ _ 14.0 Anteroom . .. 75 10.6 Buttons, thread, etc., storage _ 515 17.8 Cloth storage - 850 34. 7 First building, sixth floor 60 36.3 Stationery storage 125 38.8

460 6.

1

12, 290 Receiving and storage. ... 5,005 9.8

10. 8 Labels and assembly. _ __ _ 1,680 11.0 Suit storage. . _ 6,800 12.

1

Packing 2, 980 14. 0 Third floor Total 16, 925

11. 5 Restroom and reserve area. 2, 410 4. 1 Women’s dressing room 215 4.6

Pressing, etc. ----- 2,915 4.9 Second building, third floor Sewing room _ _ ... . . 2.635 5.0 Emergency restroom.. __ ... ______ 145 5.7 Cutting 2,415 6.5 Coatroom and storage _ ... _ 465 5.3 Pattern design. . 7U0 7.4 Hand sewing #3 _ 1,215 5.7

Office __ 195 8.2 Pressing #2 4,445 5.8 Machine repair. _ _ 250 14.9 Hand sewing #1 _ _ _ _ 1,350 6. 9 Examination and inspection. _ _ _ __ _ 490 16.0 Storage and receiving _ ___ _ __ 1,400 7.9 Pattern storage _ _. —80 29.9 Pressing #1._ ... . _ 840 8.1 Machine sewing #2 1,860 8. 1 Total . 12, 450 Hand sewing #2 5, 135 8. 1 6. 1 1,476 8. 5 Office... . .. . 190 10.6 Machine repair... _ _ __ 115 13. 1 Storage (cloth in bundles) .. . ... 315 22.

1

Total . . _____ 18, 806 Average.. ... 7.6

4 Included in the total combustible content is 3 lb/ft 2 for flooring material.

Table 9b. Percentage of clothing factory floor area having

combustible contents within certain limits

Range of combustible contents

New York, N. Y.

(Total floor area,

66,961 ft 2)

Philadelphia, Pa.

(Total floor area,

24,740 ft 2)

Part of

total

floor area

Largest

single area within

range

Part of

total

floor area

Largest

single area within

range

Ib./ft 2 0.0 to 4.9 Percent ft 2 Percent

23.5

62.2

5.7

4.

1

0.3

4.2

/f2

2, 915

5, 415 1,085

515

80 850

5.0 to 9.9 10.0 to 14.9 15.0 to 19.9

20.0 to 29.9

30.0 to 39.9

35.3

53.6

10.6 0.5

5,135

16, 285 7,085

315

c. Clothing Factories

The factory making women’s clothing occupied

the second and third floors of a building 100 by 142

ft in outside dimensions. The men’s clothing

factory covered the fifth floor and part of the sixth

floor in one building and part of the third floor in another building. The premises surveyed contained all operations from the receiving of the

original bolt of cloth to the shipping of the

finished goods.

The more detailed data of the two surveys are given in table 9a, and the summary of results is given in table 9b.

In the establishment making women’s dresses, over 85 percent of the floor area had combustibles

of no more than 10 lb/ft2

. For the men’s clothing

factory, about 90 percent of the floor area had

combustibles in the range 5 to 15 lb/ft2. For

both establishments, heavier loadings were confined largely to storage areas, aggregating an

average of nearly 10 percent of the floor area for the two plants. In all areas of both factories there was wood flooring with a computed weight of

3 lb/ft2.

3.6. Printing Plants

Of the two establishments surveyed, the one

doing job printing exclusively was in five connected

buildings built at different times as the plant

expanded. They had two or three stories and

basement and were of reinforced-concrete construction with floors designed for live load of 250

lb/ft2

. The building for the newspaper plant, erected

in 1922, had nine stories and basement, the in- 10
terior construction being; protected structural

steel. It housed the printing plant and newspaper

offices. A summary of results grouped by ranges in combustible load is given in table 10c, and the

data for individual areas are given in tables 10a

and 10b.

Table 10a. Survey data for printing plant in Washington, D. C.

Occupancy or use Area

Combi

Movable property and

trim

istible co

Floor

ntents

Total

Basement

ft 2 lb!ft 2 IblfV- lb/ft 2 Paper storage.. ... .. .. 2,145 77.8 77.8 Record file room... 355 70.9 70.9 Dead storage 68 1.

1

1.

1

Oil storage _ 288 72.7 72.7 Miscellaneous parts 221 13.2 13.2 Commercial stock room... ._ . _ 3, 994 53.1 53.

1

Paper storage.. 1,873 71.4 71.4 Miscellaneous storage 576 13.9 13.9 Maintenance shop 688 14.3 14.3 Paper storage 8,840 146.6 146.6 Do 9,700 167.2 — 167.2

Total 28,748 Average. 121.6 121.6

First floor

Private office 384 11.8 4.

1

15.9 Reception office _ 476 8.2 4.0 12.2 Shipping office.. ... .. . . 245 4.5 4.5 Commercial bindery . .. . 4, 916 14.0 14.0 Do 4, 712 14.6 14.6 Do 3,698 18.4 18.4

Sales office 454 11.0 4.0 15.0 Private office 240 8.6 4.0 12.6 Panel A _. _ 1,591 81.7 81. 7 Panel B _ .. 1,924 14. 7 14. 7 Panel C... 3,248 32.2 32.2 Panel D. .. __ 549 28.8 28.8 Panel E _ ... . 767 18.7 18.7 Commercial bindery 9,250 52.4 .... 52.4

Total 32, 454 Average 30.8 0.2 31.0

Second floor

Accounting office ... 747 8.1 1.0 9.1

Office 304 6.4 1.0 7.4 Pressroom 5, 137 11.7 11.7 Do 4, 834 29.4 29.4 Do 5,233 15.3 15.3 Production office 380 5.6 1.0 6.6 Panel A .. ... 3,200 40.0 40.0 Panel B ..... .. . 4, 850 12.2 12.2 Pressroom office ... 438 11.3 4.0 15.3 Panel A 3,348 30.4 30.4 Panel B _ 5,624 14.5 14. 5 Roller room.. 1,120 23.9 .... 23.9

Total ... ... 35, 215 Average.. .. 19.7 0.1 19.8

Third floor

Composing room 4, 477 6.6 6.6 Monotype department 332 3.2 3.2 Composing room 2,650 4.9 4.9 Proofreading room. 711 11.9 4.0 15.9 Type storage room 767 12.8 12.8 Job-press department 1,789 19.1 .... 19.1

Total 10, 726 Average. .... 8.9 0.3 9.2

Table 10b. Survey data for newspaper plant in Wash,

inglon, I). C.

Combustible contents

Ex- Occupancy or use Area Mov- posed wood- work able Floor Total

property other than

floor

Basement

ft 2 »//f 2 ttlfti Ib/flt Vj/ft 2 Basement . 11,740 409

35.2 35. 2 Locker room. 2.3 2.3 Storeroom 198 7.4 7.4 Total 12, 347 Average 33.7 .... 33.7

First floor

Press room 3,870

648

1.6 1.0

1 2.6 ! Stereotype department.. 3.2 3.2

Office 127 9.8 6.8 10.

6

1 Oil room.. . ... 190 46.9 1.3 48.2 1 Machine room. _. .. . 426 10.7 5.0 Newsstand.-. 228 8.1 2.6 5.0 15. 7 Corridor. .. .. ... ... 550 1.8 1.8

| Total 6, 039 Average.. 3.7 1.5 6.4

Mezzanine floor

Delivery room . . . 7,177 10.8 4.0 0.3 15.1

Offices . 865 7.4 2.6 2.3 12.

3

Corridor _ 292 13.1 4.0 9 9 19.3

Total 8, 334 Average.- 10.5 3.9 0.5 14.

9

Second floor

Storeroom. 764 56.8 2.6 0.2 59.6 Art department 511 5.5 6.6 1.6 13.7 I Darkroom 149 3.8 3.0 6.8 Etching department 602 3.7 1.5 5.2

Offices 745 6.3 2.6 2.9 11.8

Office . 154 8.9 2.6 5.9 17.4 Workroom . 318 10.6 6.6 2.5 19.7 Storeroom _ 363 63.8 6.6 2 7 73.1 Service department 1,082

2, 549 470

6.2 2.6 0.6 9.4 Machine room _. 2.9 2.5 .8 6.2 | Corridor _ 2.5 2.5 | Total 7,707

12.4 2.8 1.4 16.6

Third floor

Associated Press .. 3,880 4.1 3.6 1.2 S. 9 1 Wirephoto department.. 1 , 260

231 6.0 3.6 2. S 12.4 ; Library _ 18.9 3.6 1.3 23.8

Offices. 912 2.6 3.9 2.6 9.1 Storeroom ___ 190 1.6 3.4 S2. 7 Do 154 44.9 2.6 2.8 50.3 Corridor 570 2.1 2.1

Total 7,197 Average.. 7 2 3.3 1.8 12.3

Fourth floor

272 2.6 2.6 60.

5

Darkroom 999 9.4 3.6 4.

1

17. 1

! 145 49.

1

2.6 1.6 53.

3

434 24.

1

1.6 28.3

Offices 502 7. S 6.6 2.0 16.4 Do 671 4.

1

3.4 3.3 10. S Do 276 2.3 2.6 4.1 9.0 Do 390 5.0 2.6 4.

5

12.

1

Do 639 8.9 2.

6

2.3 13. $ Do 2,040 7.9 2.6 3.0 13. 5 1,577 3.2 3.

2

Total 7, 168 Average 9.3 2.4 2.9 14.6

11
Table 10b. Survey data for newspaper plant in Washington, D. C. —Continued

Occupancy or use Area

Combustible contents

Movable property

Floor

Exposed wood- work

other than

floor

Total

Fifth floor

Telephone switchboard ft2 lb/ft2 lb/ft2 lb/ft2 lb/ft2 and equipment 520 1.8 2.5 2.3 6.6 Storeroom ... 194 39. 1 2.6 2.6 44. 3

Offices 447 11. 2 2.6 2.0 15.8 Do 1, 290 10.3 2.6 3. 4 16.3 Conference room , Board

of Trade 1,294 1. 1 2.6 1.0 4. 7

Offices _ . .. 2, 041 5.4 3. 0 3.0 11. 4 Corridors 1, 348 .... ---- 3.

1

3.

1

Total 7,134 Average. . _ 6.1 2.2 2.6 10.3

Sixth floor

Offices. .. .. . . ... 1, 786 7.0 2.

1

5.5 14.6 Corridor . . 740 2.8 3.

1

5.9 Lobby _ _ 371 0.0 1.6 1.6

Office 324 4.8 3. 6 5. 1 13.5 Advertising and ac- counting 3, 890 7.4 6.6 0. 3 14.3

Total 7, 111 Average. 6.3 4. 3 2.2 12.8

Seventh floor

Office. 1,900 6.3 2.6 4.0 12.9 Do 140 31. 2 2.6 2.4 36.2 Art room 490 14.3 4.8 1. 1 20. 2 Photographers 439 6.2 2.

1

8.3 Dental laboratory - -- - 126 10.0 2.6 1.2 13.8 City room... ... __ ... 3, 446 3.6 6.6 0. 7 10.9 Corridor . . 692 0. 1 3.5 3.6 Lobby .. .... 371 ____ .... 1.6 1.6

Total 7, 610 Average.- . 5. 2 4.

1

1.9 11. 2

Eighth floor

Stereotype room 1,296 0. 7 3.2 0.5 4.4 Composing room 6, 300 1. 7 3.2 .3 5.2

Office ... 54 7.6 5.2 12.8 Lobby 176 .... 3.2 1.6 4.8 Total 7, 826 Average. 1.5 3.2 0.4 5.1

Ninth floor

Picture file room. . _. .. 914 13.2 3.2 0.4 16.8 Monotype room 390 0.9 3.2 1.0 5.

1

Composing room A... 1,600 1. 5 3.2 0.

1

4.8 Composing room B 990 0.9 3.2 1.5 5.6

Office. ..... ... 232 5.

1

3. 2 1.7 10.0 Storeroom 165 11.1 3.2 1.3 15.6

Office .... ._ 54 2. 5 3.2 5.

1

10.8 Lobby. _ ... ... 300 0.0 4.0 3.0 7.0 Locker room _ 1,494 1.0 0. 2 —

1. 2 Total 6.139 Average.-- 4. 2 1.6 0.6 6.4

For both buildings, combustibles of 10 to 20

lb/ft2 covered about 40 percent of the floor area. A comparatively greater area in the newspaper

plant had combustible contents of less than 10

lb/ft.2 because of the floor area occupied by equipment of incombustible type and the larger corridor

areas. The higher loads in both plants were due

to storage of paper before or after printing.

Table 10c. Percentage of printing plant floor areas having

combustible contents within certain limits

Range of combustible

contents

Printing plant

(Total floor area,

107,143 ft*)

Newspaper plant

(Total floor area,

84,612 ft*)

Part of total

floor area

Largest

single area within

range

Part of

total

floor area

Largest

single area within

range

lb/ft 2 Percent n2 Percent fp

0.0 to 4.9 3.

1

2, 650 21.0 3, 870

5.0 to 9.9 5.5 4, 477 21.7 6, 300

10.0 to 14.9 28.

1

5, 624 24.9 3, 446

15.0 to 19.9 12.5 5, 233 14.3 7, 177

20.0 to 29.9 6.

1

4, 834 1.4 496

30.0 to 39.9 6.2 3, 348 14.0 11, 740

40.0 to 49.9 3.0 3, 200 0.5 194

50.0 to 59.9 12.4 9. 250 1.2 764

60.0 to 79.9 4.3 2, 145 0.8 363

80.0 to 100.0. 1.5 1,591 .2 190 Over 100- _ _ 17.3 9, 700

3.7. Warehouses

The five warehouses surveyed were of protectedsteel or reinforced-concrete construction and were from three to nine stories in height. Three of the

buildings had basements. While five warehouses

were surveyed, the more detailed survey data for only two, W-4 and W-5, are given in tables 11a

and lib. The percentage of the floor area, with

combustible contents within a given range, and

the largest single area over which the combustibles

within these ranges were found for these two

warehouses, are given in table 11c. Table lid

gives a complete summary of the combustible

contents found in all five warehouses.

Table 11a. Survey data for warehouse W—Jf in Washington, D. C.

Occupancy or use Area

Combi

Movable property

istible cc

Exposed Woodwork

other than

floor

ntents

Total

»

Basement

ft2 lb/ft2 lb/ft2 lb/ft 2 Switchboard room 358 2.0 3.6 5.6 Locker room. . . . . ... 600 2.2 2.0 4.2 Basement storage.. 4. 569 16.7 0.3 17.0

Total 5, 527 Average. . . 14. 2 0.7 14.9

First floor

Private office 192 5.8 7.4 13. 2 General office __ _ __ __ 1. 167 6.3 1.5 7.8 Vestibule. .. .. 236 2.9 2.9 Sales office . .... 653 7.6 3.0 10.6 Storage room A ... 95 15.8 15.8 Warehouse, panels A to G, inclu- sive 4.697 7.4 1.6 11.2

Total.. . . . 7, 040 Average 8.6 1.9 io. 5

See footnote at end of table.

12
Table 11a. Survey data for warehouse W~4, in Washington, D. C.—Continued

Occupancy or use Area

Combustible contents

Movable property

Exposed Woodwork

other than

floor

Total »

Second floor

Warehouse, panels A-l, A-2, B, ft- tblft2 Ib/fO Iblfr- C, and D 8, 916 6.4 0.5 6.9

Total., . . . 8,916 Average . . 6.4 0.5 6.9

Third floor

Storeroom A 95 6.6 6.6 Warehouse, panels A to J, inelu- sive 8,599 24.5 0.5 25.0

Total 8.694 Average 24.6 0.5 25.

1

Fourth floor

Storeroom A. _ 95 41. 1 41.

1

Warehouse, panels A, B, and C__ 8, 663 39.8 0.5 40.3

Total. 8,758 Average 39.8 0.5 40.3

Fifth floor

Storeroom B_ ... 650 42.3 0.8 43.1 Warehouse, panels A and B 8,349 5.2 .4 8.0

Total. 8. 999 Average . . . .. 7.9 0.5 10.6

Table 11a. Survey data for warehouse W—f in Washington, D. C. —Continued

Occupancy or use Area

Combi

Movable property

jstible v

Exposed Wood- work

other than

floor

intents

Total *

Sixth floor

!P Ib/fP IblfP mrStoreroom A. 95 20.2 20.2 j Storeroom B. ... _ 255 31. 7 1.0 35.3 1 Storeroom C 518 43. 1 0.8 43.

9

Warehouse, panels A, B, and C_. 8, 437 13.0 .5 13.5

Total 9, 305 Average . . . . 15.3 0.

5

15.9 l

Seventh floor

Storeroom A 95 70.7 70.7 Storeroom B 184 6.6 2.8 12.0 Storeroom C 589 11. 7 0.9 12.6 Warehouse, panels A and B . . _ 8, 437 27.0 .6 27.6

Total. 9, 305 Average . .. ... . 26. 1 0.6 26.8

Eighth floor

Storeroom A. . . ... . 95 18.8 18.8 Panel B .. 4, 287 18.4 0.4 18.8 i Panels A-l, A-2, C, and D 3, 680 5.7 .4 6.1

Total 8, 062 Average 12.6 0.4 13.6

'Where the total content is larger than the sum of the movable property and exposed woodwork, there was combustible flooring in that area that is Included in the total.

Table lib. Percentage of floor area of warehouse W—5, New York, N. Y., having combustible contents within certain limits

Range of combustible contents Floor

Basement First Second Third Fourth Fifth Sixth Seventh Eighth Ninth

Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent

0.0 to 9.9- _ 5.2 29. 2 10.5 7. 6 13.

5

10.0 to 19.9 7. 4 14. 8 3. 8 6.7 3.3 3.3 3.4 7.0

20.0 to 29.9 25 6 3.3 17. 0 13.5 3. 4 3.3

30.0 to 39.9_ _ 15. 2 6.7 6.7 3.4 14.4 10.4 6.8 17.2

40.0 to 49.9. . ... . . ... 14.9 6.8 15.6 3. 4 20.4 14.9 21.4 18.3 10.1

50.0 to 74.9 . . ... ... ... 44.3 10.1 29.5 29.7 29.2 39.6 29. 1 23.7 26.

1

40.3

75.0 to 99.9. 9.3 6.8 20.4 6.7 8.0 25.2 25. 6 10. 1 24.9 20.3

100.0 to 149.9- 3.7 6.8 22. 1 11.2 6.

7

6.9 18.3 3.4 4. 5 150.0 to 199.9 3.4 10.2 2$. 7 7.6

200.0 to 256.6 3. 4 15.

8

Total area.. . .. .. ... ft 2 . 10, 806 11, 848 11, 848 11,848 11.848 11.848 11,848 11,848 11,848 11.848

The contents of warehouse W-l, for a large

printing establishment, were largely stored paper

in rolls, paper cartons, or wooden crates. The

flooring over most of the area was either 2-in. asphalt paving blocks, assumed to have (in terms

of wood) equivalent combustible weight of 6.2

lb/ft2

, or 2%-in. end-grain hard pine blocks weighing10 lb/ft2

. Part of the area of the third floor (10,225 ft2

) was depressed for railroad tracks on which there were 14 freight cars with paper

contents aggregating 630,000 lb.

Warehouses W—2 and W—3 served department

stores, with a large part of the storage consisting

of clothing, furniture, floor coverings, paint, toys,

wrapping paper, and cartons. The first floor of

warehouse W-3 was used only for merchandise

in transit and there was none on the floor at the

time of the survey.

Warehouse W-4, near railroad terminals, carried

incoming stocks of merchandise for local dealers. A percentage of the area, varying from floor to

floor, was without load at the time of the survey .

13
Table 11c. Percentage of storage-building floor areas hav- ing combustible contents within certain limits

Range of combustible

contents

Washington, W-4

(Total floor area, 74,606 ft2)

New York, W-5 (Total

floor area, 117,170 ft2

)

Part of

total

floor area

Largest

single area within

range

Part of

total

floor area

Largest single area within

range

Ib/fP Percent ft 2 Percent ft2 0.0 to 4.9 1.1 600 3.7

5.0 to 9.9_ 30.3 8, 916 2.9

10.0 to 14.9 19.8 8, 437 2.7

15.0 to 19.9 12.

1

4, 569 2.2

20.0 to 29.9 23.0 8.599 6.6 Survey units were floor

30.0 to 39.9 0.3 255 8.0 bays with

40.0 to 49.9 13.3 8, 663 12.7 areas from

50.0 to 59.9 396 to 560

60.0 to 70.7 0.

1

95 ft2. 50.0 to 74.9 30.2

75.0 to 99.9 15.7

100.0 to 149.9 8.3

150.0 to 199.9 5.0

200.0 to 256.6 — 2.0

and the difference in the average load for the

individual floors is as much attributable to this condition as to differences in concentrations for areas carrying load. Even for those floors carrying

loads over nearly the whole area (4th, 5th, and

7th), a considerable range in average load was

found.

Warehouse W-5 carried storage for a number of

clients, and the types of goods stored covered a wide range. A plan of the sixth floor, which carried a load near the average for the warehouse, is shown in figure 3. The combustibles present were almost wholly in the goods stored and, hence,

only the total combustibles represented thereby

are given in table lid for each floor. The averageload variation between floors, as also between

panels on a floor, was large.

For warehouse W-4, about one-half of the floor area had combustible concentrations no higher

than 15 lb/ft2 and for almost all of the remaining

area they were not over 50 lb/ft2

. For warehouse

W-5, nearly 18 percent of the floor area had

combustible load of less than 30 lb/ft2

, about 50

percent carried between 30 and 75 lb/ft2

, 24

percent carried 75 to 150 lb/ft2

, and 7 percent

had greater combustible load.

3.8. Offices

The office surveys include areas in buildings

that house offices, or spaces directly associated

therewith, and office spaces found in the surveys

of other occupancies. The survey data for all office areas is given in table 12a. The range of combustibles found in offices in the

various other occupancies, with the exception of

the newspaper plant, was about the same as that

of the offices, office and reception rooms, and

office and light-file areas in buildings housingoffice occupancies. The former ranged from 4.5 to 15.9 lb/ft2

, as compared to 3.8 to 16.7 lb/ft2 for the latter. Law offices and law libraries gave

Table lid. Summary data for warehouses , 1

Portion of building Floor

area

Combustible contents

Movable

property Floor

Exposed

wood- work

other than floor

Total

Survey W-i

Basement n 2 lb/ft 2 Ib/ft 2 lb]ft 2 Ib/fl 2 33, 890 172.9 6.2 0.0 179.

1

1st floor 34, 900 223.7 9.7 .0 233.4 2d floor 32, 592 105. 8 10.0 .4 116.2 3d floor . _ 23, 448 204.0 6.2 .0 210.2 3d floor... . 10, 225 61.6 0.0 .0 61.6

3d-floor total 33, 673 160.8 4.3 .0 165.1 Entire building 135, 055 166.8 7.5 0. 1 174.4

Sur vey W-2

1st floor... .. 46, 158 6.8 0.0 0.0 6.8 2d floor . . 44, 957 13.6 .0 1.0 14.6 3d floor 45, 677 4.0 .0 1.2 5. 2 4th floor 45, 677 12.7 .0 2.2 14.9 5th floor... 45, 677 8.4 .0 1.9 10.3 6th floor . . _ 45, 677 12.2 .0 3.8 16.0 Entire building 273, 823 9.6 0.0 1.5 11.1

Survey W-3

1st floor 17, 442 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2d floor 17, 442 16.2 .0 .8 17.0 3d floor... .... 17, 442 16.0 .0 2.3 18.3 4th floor.. . .. . 17, 442 10.6 .0 2.1 12.7 Entire building. ... » 52, 326 14.3 0.0 1.7 16.0

Survey W-4

Basement. .. 5,527 14.2 0.0 0.7 14.9 lstfloor... 7, 040 8.6 .0 1.9 10.5 2d floor 8,916 6.4 .0 0.5 6.9 3d floor 8, 694 24.6 .0 .5 25.

1

4th floor... 8, 758 39.8 .0 .5 40.3

5th floor, _ 8,999 7.9 2.2 .5 10.6 6th floor. 9, 305 15.3 0.

1

.5 15.9 7th floor.. .. _. .. 9,305 26. 1 . 1 .6 26.8 8th floor 8,062 12.6 .0 .4 13.0 Entire building 74, 606 17.2 0.2 0.7 18. 1

Survey W-5

Basement 10, 806

11, 848

11, 848

11, 848

11, 848

11, 848

11,848

11, 848

11, 848

11, 848

117, 438

---

50.0 27.8

62. 5 65.9

54.0

80.6

62.2

133.3 52.9

70.3

65.9

1st floor. . . 2d floor. __ 3d floor _ 4tli floor ... 5th floor 6th floor.. _ 7th floor,, _ 8th floor... 9th floor.. _ _

Entire building

a Not including the first floor, which was used only for merchandise in

transit.

loads in the range 17.9 to 35.3 lb/ft2

. For heavy

filing, the range was from 28.1 to 85.9 lb/ft2

. In table 12b are given the total area, percent of

total area, and largest single area, having combustible load within given ranges. It is seen that

a little less than 70 percent of the total office area j surveyed had combustible load of less than 20

lb/ft2

, about 28 percent had 20 to 40 lb/ft2, and

in onlv a relatively small part was the load over 40 lb/ft2

. 14
Table 12a. Surrey data of offices and offices associated

irith other occupancies

Table 12b. Percentage of the floor areas of offices and

offices associated with other occupancies having combustible

contents within certain limits

Range of combustible contents Area

within

range

Total

area within

range

Largest

single area within

range

ft2 Percent ft 2 0.0 to 9.9 27, 242 31.0 7, 230

10.0 to 14.9 24,844 28.2 3, 890

15.0 to 19.9 7, 961 9.0 2, 533

20.0 to 29.9 9, 031 10.2 7, 742

30.0 to 39.9 15, 877 18.0 9, 550

40.0 to 85.9 3,122 3.6 2,041

4. General Notes and Summary

The results of the surveys show that there is a correlation between some of the occupancies and

combustible loading. In other occupancies, such

as manufacturing and storage, there is much variation, depending on the classes of materials in- volved and the operational plans of the establishments.

In large areas within fire walls or fire partitions, the fire exposure to the floor construction

above from a fire in the contents would vary to an extent with the concentrations of combustibles on the floor beneath.

4.1.

Residential Occupancies

Combustible loadings of 13 to 14 lb/ft2 were

found in limited areas in dwellings and a concentration of 49.3 lb/ft2 was found in a linen closet. However, the greatest average for a whole dwelling unit did not exceed 10 lb/ft2

, and in view of

the fact that there were no subdividing fire walls,

the average combustible load (10 lb/ft2

) appears

to be a reasonable value. The six apartmenthouse storage rooms, at the time surveyed, had

no greater combustible load than the highest aver- age for dwelling units as a whole.

4.2. Hospitals

Three buildings, each housing a different hospital activity, were surveyed at a large institution.

A total of 469 rooms or units having an aggregate

area of 143,780 ft2 was surveyed.

The group averages of combustible contents for patients’ rooms, dormitories, waiting rooms, corridors, kitchens, and dining rooms ranged from

0.8 to 3.9 lb/ft2

, with no single area or unit exceeding 5.2 lb/ft2

. The range of the group averages

for administrative, doctors’, attendants’, and

nurses’ offices and rooms was from 2.9 to 8.6 lb/ft2

, with a maximum for an individual area of 14.4

lb/ft2

. In service areas, including storerooms,

laundries, and janitors’ closets, the averages

ranged from 0.5 to 13.1 lb/ft2

, with an individual

maximum of 23 lb/ft2

. Loadings in the range of

0.2 to 21.6 lb/ft2 were found in individual areas used for treatment, surgery, and clinics. The lower combustible loads were found in the

comparatively large ward, dormitory, and patient- room areas rather than in office, service, and

operational areas.

4.3.

Schools

The surveys indicate that in classrooms, laboratories, library reading rooms, and similar areas the combustible contents did not exceed 15 lb/ft2

. Library stackrooms, storerooms, and offices, rep- resenting a small percentage of the total area, had

higher combustible loads.

4.4.

Mercantile Establishments

Combustible loads below 20 lb/ft2 were found

in all but 3.8 percent of the area surveyed in the

New York department store, and in all but 5.0 percent of the area in the Washington department

store. The higher combustible loads were, generally, from sales stocks and stock storage not

effectively segregated from the other areas. In

view of the large open areas and the small proportion containing the higher combustible loads,

it appears that the effect of these loads on the

general fire severity would be minor.

4.5.

Manufacturing Establishments

The range of combustible contents in manufacturing plants is large, depending to a great extent on the goods made. The results of the present

surveys should be helpful in giving information on the combustible loads to be expected in the

types of plants surveyed or in those that are

similar.

The buildings housing the higher combustible

loads were seldom of heights or areas requiring

so-called “fully fire-resistive" construction, al- though such construction might be justified from

15
the standpoint of the owner and the decrease in hazard to nearby property.

The combustible contents in the clothing

factories surveyed were less than 20 lb/ft2 for all but a small percentage of the area. Such occu- pancy does not represent an excessive potential

fire severity for buildings of fire-resistive construction.

4.6.

Printing Establishments

The newspaper plant surveyed contained a combustible load of 30 lb/ft2 or over on only

16.7 percent of the area. The printing plant

carried a combustible load of 30 lb/ft2 or more on

44.7 percent of the floor area. The higher load

in each case was caused by storage of paper and

combustible supplies.

4.7.

Warehouses

The contents of storage buildings surveyed

covered a wide range in type and distribution of the combustible materials housed.

For the two department store warehouses and

the one carrying incoming stocks for local dealers,

the combustible loads were within the range

where structural protection for the possible fire severity can be provided without resort to unusual

building details. The high combustible loads in the warehouse

for a big printing establishment were largely of paper in tight rolls or packages. After the

initial stage of a fire in such contents, the intensity

decreases, allowing more ready approach for extinguishment. In the absence of extinguishment, such storages will be fully consumed, and

the required structural protection against the

resulting fire severity is beyond presently defined means of attainment.

The general-storage warehouse, W-5, carried

combustible loads up to 75 lb/ft2 on nearly 70

percent of its area. Combustibles on the remaining area ranged up to 256.5 lb/ft2 for an individual

floor bay and to 133.3 lb/ft2 for an entire floor. Combustible loads below 30 lb/ft2 occupied only

18.1 percent of the building, and only 1 floor of the 10 had such a low average.

4.8.

Office Occupancies

No surveys were made covering all parts of

office buildings; however, surveys were made of typical areas in six such buildings, and of office areas in a number of other occupancies. In office areas, including light files, the combustibles

exceeded 20 lb/ft2 only in a small office of the

newspaper plant where it amounted to 36.2

lb/ft2 on an area of 140 ft2

. The fire severity

resulting from this concentration would be reduced

by the lower combustible load in large adjacent

areas averaging less than 15 lb/ft2

. In areas used for heavy files, the combustible

contents ranged from 28.1 to 85.9 lb/ft2

. In law libraries, combustible loads as high as 35.3

lb/ft2 were found.

5. General Objective and Application

The data from the present surveys present a general view of the combustible contents asso- ciated with typical buildings and occupancies.

In conjunction with information from fire-severity

tests and fires in buildings, data from these

surveys can be applied in connection with requirements for minimum fire resistance of buildings,

such as in building codes. Beyond such minimum

requirements, building designers and owners can

apply the data to provide a degree of structural

protection that will prevent collapse of the structure from fires in contents. Where such

structural protection cannot be fully attained, it can be supplemented with built-in fire-extin- guishing equipment.

Although buildings may be seriously damaged by

a fire of severity approaching that for which their

structural protection is designed, prevention of major collapse is important in decreasing the

possibility of spread of fire to adjacent construction

and in affording a safer approach for fire extinguishment. Conflagrations have been stopped on a line of such fire-resistive buildings and,

although fire was communicated to those immediately exposed, such buildings gave the needed

protection to buildings beyond them.

6. References

[1] Fire-resistance classifications of building constructions,

NBS Building Materials and Structures Report

(1942), BMS92.

[2] S. H. Ingberg, The severity of building fires, Proc. 14th Annual Meeting Building Officials Conference

of America, 87-97 (1928); Safety Eng. 56, 57-61 and 103-106 (1928); Quart. Nat. Fire Protect. Assoc. 22, 43-61 (1928); Arch. Forum 50, 775 (1929).

[3] Standard methods of fire tests of building construction and materials, American Society for Testing Materials, Designation El 19-54.

[4] Post war building studies No. 20 (1946), Fire grading

of buildings, part 1, General principles and structural precautions, by a Joint Committee of the Building Research Board of the Department of

Scientific and Industrial Research and the Fire

Offices Committee; published for the Ministry of Public Works, H. M. Stationery Office, London.

[5] International Critical Tables 5 , 162-169 (1929).

[6] Handbook of fire protection of the National Fire Protection Association, 11th Ed., 1460-1461 (1954).

16
r

£?C7/7f~0 C7c/
LEGEND

C.L. • Combuslibl*. Load (& T* FLOO&. PLAN

Figure 3. Sixth-floor plan, warehouse, New York, N. Y.

Washington, December 5, 1956.

18

U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1957
BUILDING MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES REPORTS

[Continued from cover page n]

BMS37 Structural Properties of “Palisade Homes” Constructions for Walls, Partitions, and

Floors Sponsored by Palisade Homes * BMS38 Structural Properties of Two “Dunstone” Wall Constructions Sponsored by the W. E. Dunn Manufacturing Co 100 BMS39 Structural Properties of a Wall Construction of “Pfeifer Units” Sponsored by the Wisconsin Units Co 100 BMS40 Structural Properties of a Wall Construction of “Knap Concrete Wall Units” Sponsored

by Knap America, Inc * BMS41 Effect of Heating and Cooling on the Permeability of Masonry Walls * BMS42 Structural Properties of Wood-Frame Wall and Partition Construction with “Celotex”

Insulating Boards Sponsored by The Celotex Corporation * BMS43 Performance Test of Floor Coverings for Use in Low-Cost Housing: Part 2 * BMS44 Surface Treatment of Steel Prior to Painting * BMS45 Air Infiltration Through Windows * BMS46 Structural Properties of “Scott-Bilt” Prefabricated Sheet-Steel Construction for Walls,

Floors, and Roofs Sponsored by The Globe-Wernicke Co * BMS47 Structural Properties of Prefabricated Wood-Frame Constructions for Walls, Partitions, and Floors Sponsored by American Houses, Inc * BMS48 Structural Properties of “Precision-Built” Frame Wall and Partition Constructions

Sponsored by the Homasote Co * BMS49 Metallic Roofing for Low-Cost House Construction 250 BMS50 Stability of Fiber Building Boards as Determined by Accelerated Aging * BMS51 Structural Properties of “Tilecrete Type A” Floor Construction Sponsored by the

Tilecrete Co * BMS52 Effect of Ceiling Insulation Upon Summer Comfort 150 BMS53 Structural Properties of a Masonry Wall Construction of “Munlock Dry Wall Brick”

Sponsored by the Munlock Engineering Co * BMS54 Effect of Soot on the Rating of an Oil-Fired Heating Boiler * BMS55 Effects of Wetting and Drying on the Permeability of Masonry Walls * BMS56 A Survey of Humidities in Residences 100 BMS57 Roofing in the United States—Results of a Questionnaire * BMS58 Strength of Soft-Soldered Joints in Copper Tubing 150 BMS59 Properties of Adhesives for Floor Coverings * BMS60 Strength, Absorption, and Resistance to Laboratory Freezing and Thawing of Building

Bricks Produced in the United States * BMS61 Structural Properties of Two Nonreinforced Monolithic Concrete Wall Constructions-. * BMS62 Structural Properties of a Precast Joist Concrete Floor Construction Sponsored by the Portland Cement Association * BMS63 Moisture Condensation in Building Walls * BMS64 Solar Heating of Various Surfaces 100 BMS65 Methods of Estimating Loads in Plumbing Systems * BMS66 Plumbing Manual 400 BMS67 Structural Properties of “Mu-Steel” Prefabricated Sheet-Steel Constructions for Walls,

Partitions, Floors, and Roofs, Sponsored by Herman A. Mugler 200 BMS68 Performance Test for Floor Coverings for Use in Low-Cost Housing: Part 3 * BMS69 Stability of Fiber Sheathing Boards as Determined by Accelerated Aging 100 BMS70 Asphalt-Prepared Roll Roofings and Shingles 200 BMS71 Fire Tests of Wood- and Metal-Framed Partitions 300 BMS72 Structural Properties of “Precision-Built, Jr.” Prefabricated Wood-Frame Wall Construction Sponsored by the Homasote Co * BMS73 Indentation Characteristics of Floor Coverings 100 BMS74 Structural and Heat-Transfer Properties of “U. S. S. Panelbilt” Prefabricated SheetSteel Constructions for Walls, Partitions, and Roofs Sponsored by the Tennessee

Coal, Iron & Railroad Co 20i BMS75 Survey of Roofing Materials in the North Central States * BMS76 Effect of Outdoor Exposure on the Water Permeability of Masonry Walls * BMS77 Properties and Performance of Fiber Tile Boards * BMS78 Structural, Heat-Transfer, and Water-Permeability Properties of Five Earth-Wall

Constructions 350 BMS79 Water-Distributing Systems for Buildings 200 BMS80 Performance Test of Floor Coverings for Use in Low-Cost Housing: Part 4 250 BMS81 Field Inspectors’ Check List for Building Constructions (cloth cover 5 x 7}i inches) — 40^ BMS82 Water Permeability of Walls Built of Masonry Units 2ot BMS83 Strength of Sleeve Joints in Copper Tubing Made With Various Lead-Base Solders — * BMS84 Survey of Roofing Materials in the South Central States * BMS85 Dimensional Changes of Floor Coverings With Changes in Relative Humidity and

Temperature ...

* BMS86 Structural, Heat-Transfer, and Water-Permeability Properties of “Speedbrik” Wall

Construction Sponsored by the General Shale Products Corporation * BMS87 A Method for Developing Specifications for Building Construction—Report of Subcommittee on Specifications of the Central Housing Committee on Research,

Design, and Construction *

[List continued on cover page iv]
BUILDING MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES REPORTS

[Continued from cover page in] BMS88 Recommended Building Code Requirements for New Dwelling Construction With

Special Reference to War Housing * BMS89 Structural Properties of “Precision-Built, Jr.” (Second Construction) Prefabricated Wood-Frame Wall Construction Sponsored by the Homasote Co * BMS90 Structural Properties of “PHC” Prefabricated Wood-Frame Constructions for Walls,

Floors, and Roofs Sponsored by the PHC Housing Corporation * BMS91 A Glossary of Housing Terms * BMS92 Fire-Resistance Classifications of Building Constructions 350 BMS93 Accumulation of Moisture in Walls of Frame Construction During Winter Exposure.. * BMS94 Water Permeability and Weathering Resistance of Stucco-Faced, Gunite-Faced, and

“Knap Concrete-Unit” Walls * BMS95 Tests of Cement-Water Paints and Other Waterproofings for Unit-Masonry Walls 300 BMS96 Properties of a Porous Concrete of Cement and Uniform-Sized Gravel * BMS97 Experimental Dry-Wall Construction With Fiber Insulating Board * BMS98 Physical Properties of Terrazzo Aggregates * BMS99 Structural and Heat-Transfer Properties of “Multiple Box-Girder Plywood Panels” for Walls, Floors, and Roofs * BMS100 Relative Slipperiness of Floor and Deck Surfaces * BMS101 Strength and Resistance to Corrosion of Ties for Cavity Walls * BMS102 Painting Steel 150 BMS103 Measurements of Heat Losses From Slab Floors * BMS104 Structural Properties of Prefabricated Plywood Lightweight Constructions for Walls,

Partitions, Floors, and Roofs Sponsored by the Douglas Fir Plywood Association * BMS105 Paint Manual with particular reference to Federal Specifications $1. 50 BMS106 Laboratory Observations of Condensation in Wall Specimens 150 BMS107 Building Code Requirements for New Dwelling Construction * BMS108 Temperature Distribution in a Test Bungalow With Various Heating Devices 150 BMS109 Strength of Houses: Application of Engineering Principles to Structural Design 700 BMS110 Paints for Exterior Masonry Walls 200 BMS111 Performance of a Coal-Fired Boiler Converted to Oil 150 BMS112 Properties of Some Lightweight-Aggregate Concretes With and Without an Air- Entraining Admixture 150 BMS113 Fire Resistance of Structural Clay Tile Partitions 150 BMS114 Temperature in a Test Bungalow With Some Radiant and Jacketed Space Heaters 250 B MSI 15 A Study of a Baseboard Convector Heating System in a Test Bungalow 200 BMS116 Preparation and Revision of Building Codes 200 BMS117 Fire Resistance of Walls of Lightweight Aggregate Concrete Masonry Units 250 BMS118 Stack Venting of Plumbing Fixtures 250 BMS119 Wet Venting of Plumbing Fixtures 250 BMS120 Fire Resistance of Walls of Gravel-Aggregate Concrete Masonry Units 150 BMS121 Investigation of Failures of White-Coat Plasters 300 BMS122 Physical Properties of Some Samples of Asbestos-Cement Siding 200 BMS123 Fire Tests of Wood-Framed Walls and Partitions With Asbestos-Cement Facings * BMS124 Fire Tests of Steel Columns Protected With Siliceous Aggregate Concrete 150 BMS125 Stone Exposure Test Wall 300 BMS126 The Self-Siphonage of Fixture Traps 200 BMS127 Effect of Aging on the Soundness of Regularly Hydrated Dolomitic Lime Putties 150 BMS128 Atmospheric Exposure Tests of Nailed Sheet Metal Building Materials 200 BMS129 Fire Endurance of Shutters for Moving-Stairway Openings , 100 BMS130 Methods and Equipment for Testing Printed-Enamel Felt-Base Floor Covering 150 BMS131 Fire Tests of Gunite Slabs and Partitions 150 BMS132 Capacities of Plumbing Stacks in Buildings 250 BMS133 Live Loads on Floors in Buildings 250 BMS134 Fire Resistance of Concrete Floors * BMS135 Fire Tests of Steel Columns Encased With Gypsum Lath and Plaster. 150 BMS136 Properties of Cavity Walls 150 BMS137 Influence of the Wash From Bronze on the Weathering of Marble 150 BMS138 Effect of Edge Insulation Upon Temperature and Condensation on Concrete-Slab

Floors 200 BMS139 Studies of Stone-Setting Mortars 250 BMS140 Second Edition, Selected Bibliography on Building Construction and Maintenance 300 BMS141 Fire Endurance of Open-Web Steel Joist Floors With Concrete Slabs and Gypsum

Ceilings 200 BMS142 Frost Closure of Roof Vents 250 BMS143 Fire Tests of Brick Walls 350 BMS144 Sound Insulation of Wall and Floor Constructions.. 400 Supplement to BMS144, Sound Insulation of Wall, Floor, and Door Constructions.. 50 BMS145 Fire Effects and Fire Control in Nitrocellulose Photographic-Film Storage 200 BMS146 Plasticity and Water Retentivity of Hydrated Limes for Structural Purposes 150 BMS147 Effects of Mineral Additives on the Durability of Coating-Grade Roofing Asphalts 200 BMS148 Fifteen-Year Exposure Test of Porcelain Enamels 150 BMS149 Combustible Contents in Buildings 200

•Out of print.