New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-20
TESTED IN THE FLAMES.
PRACTICAL EXPERIMENTS WITH BUILD
ING MATERIALS.
THEY ARE UNDER CHARGE OF COMMITTEE
OF EXPERTs-IRON AND STEEL HEATED
Under PRESSTRE

THEY ARE UNDER CHARGE OF A COMMITTEE
OF EXPERTs-IRON AND STEEL HEATED
UNDER PRESSURE.
Ever since the first sky-scraper was built. peo-
pie have asked whether such structures are fire
proof. The framework OF a sky-scraper is OF
steel. In twenty story building. the huge mass
OF columns rising from the foundations sustain
thousands OF tons. A serious warpng of these
columns supporting so much weight would re-
suit in a terrible disaster. There Is some differ
ence OF opinion as to what effect fire would have
on these tower-like structures. In order to
throw some light on this important and interest
ing subject, committee of men well able to
deal with the question has been appointed to in
vestigatc and test methods Of fireproofing struct
ural metal in buildings. and to obtain data for
standard specifications The question which
this committee will try to answer Is. In plain
language what effect fire and water have upon
skeleton steel structures.
This committee is composed of George L..
Helms. who is its secretary and treasurer, repre-
senting the Architectural League. of New ork;
Albert Reed the chairman, representing the
Tariff Association of Ncw-YOrk, an association
of fire underwriters; Thomas f. Rowland. Jr.'
and II. de b. Parsons the superintendent oil the
freproofng test both Of whom represent the
American Society Of Mechanical Engineers.
There is also an Advisory Committee number
ing about twenty well-known men from among
architects underwriters and mechanical engi-
neers in various parts Of the country. The Al
visory Committee chosen from many States
not only to give advice, but take away from the
tests any feeling of sectionalism
The Continental Iron Works. Greenpont.
BROOKLYN. is where the tests are being made. At
l,nflt n1p,.fh he a l.
rection of Ericsson So far five tests-two on
steel and three on cast ron-haye been made.
There is to be furnace for testing beams in ad-
dtion to the one for testing columns. The FUR
mace for the columns resembles small house, be-
ing IA feet square and II feet high. The beam
furnace is to be 80 feet long and II feet high.
All the metals tested up to date have been non
protected. but there will be another series Of
tests on similar beams ana columns protected
frcpronhng material of various kinds being
used Gas Is the fuel employed to test the metals
gas producer II feet high has been built near
the two furnaces. and by means or pipes the gas
is turned into them In order to increase the
temperature of the furnaces there is jet OF
steam which blows into them a stream OF naph-
tina on each side of the furnace for the columns
there are peekholes. so that the committee may
readily see what is going on within. The column
furnace has an iron door. through which the col
umns are carried. Then they are raised to an
upright position and placed in hydraulic press
This press is so regulated that the load on the
columns may represent the weight sustained by
columns in various buildings the hydrauic
press can take on a pressure Of 2,JOO pounds to
the square inch. While the tests are going on
the temperature in the furnaces Is regulated by
the naphtha valve and one gaspipe to nicely
When the furnace for beams is completed it will
resemble a small building the beams for testing
resting on the brick walls. ON top of the beams
will be placed various weights. The prick wall
of the column furnace may be torn down and re-
built of stone to see what effect the heat mas
upon the stone All Of the beams and columns
for testing have been given by Andrew Carnegie
The cast-iron columns and beams are from the
work: of J. B. & J. NJ. Cornell. The secretary ana
treasurer of the Committee on Tests. g. l.. Hens.
is member of the firm of Helms afarge, ar
chitects for the new Cathedral Of st. John the
Divine.