The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-12-04
STEAM PIPE FIRES.
ghe Necessity for shoashing the Pipes In
something Besides Wood.

Ihe Necessity for shoash,ns the PipeS ]"
something Besides Wood.
The second annual report Of the fire mar
sbal of the city Of Boston for the year ending
MAY l. 1883, contains, among other matters
the following interesting information;
have been able TO satisfactorily trace the
origin Of but five fires during the year 70
steam pipes, and the circumstances surround.
inc these in no way tend TO show that wood
in its normal condition, l. G., when free from
any previous desiccation, is in danger OF De
coming ignited in this manner In otnef
words. Ignition in said eases appears 70 be
merely q certain species Of what Is populaIl)
termed Spontaneous c0mbustioA,' the steam
uipes themselves being merely one Oh many
Indirect factors which often assist IN produc-
inc sucb combustion. Although the subject
has been discussed pro and con from the year
1916. when Chief Braidwood, Of the London
Ore brigade. first addressed the house OF
lords on the topic, 20 the present tihe' wac"
the opinions oil experienced persons inter
ested in the matter seem 10 be soine"n"'
conflicting. / lnd by far the preponderance
of evidence in favor OF the CONCLUSION tha1
wood. subjected for q number of years 70 tne
heat Of steam pipes, may eventually leacu
s,cb q state of carbonizatiOn as, with the ad-
/ iition Of moisture, exposure to draught oi
! air. or under the influence OF friction causel
/ bv expansion and contraction OF the pipes,
NAV break into fame As the ignition point
/ If ordinary pine wood has been determines,
bv experiment, 10 be 700 degs. Fahrenheit, IL
! IS evident that this must be reduced by some
! process in order to admit OF It's taking IRE al
2g2 degs., the temperature OF steam unaef
pressure Of sixty pounds.
have found one Of the most frequent
causes of fires. which arc directly traceabl'
TO steam pipes. 70 be the self ignition OF dust
duff. small pieces Of paper, waste, etc, "niei
seem especially attracted to the neighoor
bood Of inclosoi steam pipes through Amos
imperceptiblo crevices. In several such III
,tances the fires have beon fortunately dis
covered and extinguished before dong am
harm +. 4. Montgomery, secretary oil III
Western Manufacturers Mutual lnsdranc
conpanv. in special report No. of the Man
facturers' Mutual Insurance company, reiel
IA fms same element OF danger, and suggests
as a remedy, the use Of funnel shaped cas'
ing. cast in two parts, from three 70 81
inches in height, fitting close at the top, an
screwed TO the floor, where tho pipe pasSc
through; and he further recommends thal
thirnble Of some non-combustible materi
should bo put through the hole in the iioo
or partition and securely fastened on eithe
side. in order to protect the wood from COZ
' tact with the pipe.
7 The light sheathing by which the PIPE
ore often covered, being obliged to col
b stautly absorb the confined steam heat,
, extremely fable to reach dangerous ign
ton temperature. Sheathing reduced
, such condition By being in close eonta
!, with the pipe and 50 placed as to be susoel
! tible to more OF less friction, caused ono
the i've fires herein referred to; another '"
caused by lumber dust in the dry hcuse
a blaming mill sitting through the iioor on
: the pins. The desirability Of employil
soms sort Of non-combustible covering 4
steam pipes, to prevent their contact Wi
wood. dust etc, is apparent. They sbou
never be inclosed in wood sheathing. II
fessor Gibson, In a report to the Manuia'
:, prers' Mutual Insurance company, gives
y exhaustive and instructive treatise on
merits Of the various kinds OF coverings.
Scientific American.