Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-02
COMBUsTIBLE FIREPROOFING.
What an Expert Suggests as Neces
AnrN to Amend thu. Pnaf Office Roof.

What an Expert SuEEests ms Neces-
snry to Amend the Post Office Roof.
Mr.. A. Davis, jr., the well-known con-
tractor and builder discusses that inter-
esting topic, "Combustible Fireproof Con-
struction," in a communication to The
Star. Mr.. Davis insists that the present
roof on the new city post office building
can and should be made absolutely fire.
proof from the inside. He thinks that the
roof of the State, War and Navy building
could successfully resist fire from the out
side, which the post office roof cannot do,
yet the post office roof can be made more
Navy roof. the states and iron rafters Of
the latter being unprotected inside as they
should be, by fireproof material.
Iron says Mr.. Davis, us more danger
Gus than wood unless protected and in
cased in fire-proof material, either terra
Gotta, asbestos, or some kindred material.
At the time the master mind of the late A.
- Muilett designed the State. War and
navy building, he calculated to use the
best construction of that day. and tire
character of all the material that went
lEto this roof had to pass the scrutiny of
that more than able engineer. the late Gen.
L. L. casey, who always kept himself
abreast of the times, and it must be as
stunned that he gave the roof construction
or this building that careful considera ton
mat Its Importance called for. and it was
al lilht udy cOISlueTeu q
proper roof.
The same roof if constructed today would
receive the unanimous disapproval of en-
sibeers ana architects who have made fire
proof construction a speciality or of these
VINO are conversant with the requirements
OF hre-proof construction of this day 1
diSagree with the supervising architect as
10 the proposed method of treatment for
the Lnderside of the post office roof In
his statement before the committee in Con-
sress. as reported, he says that to cover
the undcrside Of this roof with wire Iath-
1Eg and to plaster the same will to all in
tents and PURPOSES make this a fire-proof
roof. If he Is DIRECTLY reported have no
Eesitancy In stating that such treatment
OF the roof would be but little, if any, ben
eft. as plastertng would offer but little II
any, resistance to- fire. and consequently
no protection to the wooden sheathing and
1ron raft6rs. If, however, the iron rafters
are protected by flre-proof material, cased
from the undo rside, either asbestos about
one inch thick porous terra Gotta two
II ches thick, and the exposed underside of
steathing covered with wire lathing leay-
ing an ar space OF at least two inches, and
this lathir covered by two heavy coats
of asbestos. This treatment of the present
roof would make it combustible fire-proof
roof: No matter how hot a fire might gain
Roadway under the roof, it would have to
exhaust itself within it's own limits, as
there would be no possibility of connecting
with the roof, notwithstanding the asser-
ton Of the chief of the fire department that
ut has seen SSDeStOS melt, when as
beStoS melts the terra Gotta of which the
floors are composed will resolve to the clay
whence 1t came and blow in dust
away. 1 do not desire to be understood as
favoring this kind of roof for a fire-proof
building, as 1 believe the government
should keep abreast with the times and use
only the best methods, which for roofs of
this character are fire-proof blocks not less
than four inches thick. resting upon T iron
placed not more than two feet between CEN
ters, with bottom f1anges of iron protected
These blocks admit of nails being driven
the roof covering to be made of ether
slate, tile or metal. l have no com ance
in slow-burning roof. so called, AS its
burning speed depends entirely on how fast
the wind blows and how close the fire de-
partment could get to it."