Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-12
STEAM PIPE FIRES.
The Necessity for Sheathing the Pipes Ia
Something Besides Wood.

The Necessity for Sheathing the Pipes IA
ssaething Besides Wood.
The second annual report of the fire mar
May /, 1858, contains, among other matters
the following interesting information:
have been abls TO satisfactorily trace the
origin Of but five fires during the year 70
steam pipes, and the circumstances surround
ing these in no way tend to show that wood
In It's normal condition, l. g., when free from
any previous desiccation, is IN danger OK be
coming ignited in this manner. In other
words, ignition in said cases appears TO be
merely q certain species OF what is popularity
termed spontaneous combustion" the steam
pipes themselves being merely one OF many
indirect factors which often assist in produc-
ing suck combustion Although the subject
has been discussed pro and con from the year
1876, whsa Chief Braidwood, Of the London
fire bfie.de, first addressed the house OF
lords on tie topic, to the present time, when
the opinions OF experienced persons inter
estsd In tbs matter seem to be somewhat
conflicting, ind by far the preponderance
Of evsdeaco in favor OF the conclusion that
wood, sub ecned for number Of years to the
heat Of steam pipes, may eventually reach
such Q state Of carbonizatton as, with the ad-
dieiou Of moisture, exposure to draught OF
air, or under the influence OF friction, caused
by expansion and contraction Of the pipes,
may break into fame. As the ignition point
Of ordinary pine wood has been determined,
by experiment, to be 700 degs. Fahrenheit, il
is evident that this must be reduced by some
process IN order to admit Of its taking fire at
800 degs., the temperature Of steam under q
pressure of sixty pounds.
have found one Of the most frequent
causes Of fires, which are directly traceable
TO steam pipes, to be the self ignition Of dust,
fluff, small pieces Of paper, waste, ETC., which
seem especially attracted to the neighbor-
bood Of inclosed steam pipes through almost
imperceptible crevices- In several such in
stances the fires have been fortunately dis.
covered and extinguished before doing any
harm. P. A. Montgomery, secretary Of the
Western Manufacturers Mutual Insurance
company. IN special report No. Of the Man
facturers' Mutual Insurance company, refers
TO this same element Of danger, and suggests
as remedy, the use Of g funnel shaped cast
ing, cast in two parts, from three to si1
inches In height, fitting close at the top, and
screwed to the floor, where the pipe passe:
through; and he further recommends that a
thimbls Of some non-conbustible materia
should be put through the hole in the fool
or partition and securely fastened on either
side, in order TO protect the wood from con
tact with the pipe.
The light sheathing by which the pipe:
are often covered, being obliged TO con
stsntly absorb the confined steam heat, J:
extremely liable to reach @ dangerous igni
ton temperature. Sheathing reduced {
such condition by being in close coutac
with the pipe, and so placed as to be suscep
! tibie TO more or less friction, caused one O.
the i've fires herein referred to; another wa
caused by lumber dust in the dry house o.
planning mill sitting through the door on t
the pipes. The desirability Of employing
some sort Of ncn-combustibIe covering FOL
steam pipes, to prevent their contact witt
wood, dust, etc, is apparent They SHOULD
never be inclosed In wood sheathing. Pro
| fessor Gibson. in report TO the Aanufact
urers' Mutual Insurance company, gives al
/ exhaustive and Instructive treatise on tn
merits 81 the various kinds Of coverings
Scientific American