New-York tribune., 1902-02-16

these openings to the lowest possible minimum.
Doors are an absolute necessity. but perhaps win
dows can be spared. Otherwise they may be made
OF wire glass BaseboIrds either should 60
have the space in back Of them between the studs,
hlled with cement or other ncombustibe material.
The woodwork should be omitted altogether
rendered ireproof by chemical treatment or a COW
ering Of metal.
1t is Tow common thing to place in openings
from freproof building into an annex doors OF
wood. covered with tin and in metal frames.
shutters or the same type required in this city
in front of windows that Of high buildings
on any side but the front If there other build
ings within thirty feet. The system should be
applied as far as possible to partitions. Fireproof
shutters are sometimes made entirely of steel
lnasmucl as many fires have been caused by
electric wires too much care cannot be devoted 70
their perfect insulation. A still greater immunity
Is insured by putting them in ireproof and moist
ure proof conduits. Charles s. Norton recently re-
marked. in Insurance Engineering" that the COM
panies would suffer less loss If their inspectors
We're better qualified TO detect bad wiring.
ELEVATORS AND STAIRS.
Even If floors and ceilings are invulnerable fire
will quickly sweep from one floor to another If it
can get access to an elevator shaft stairway.
where a strong upward draught will be established
almost instantly. To prevent its getting in there,
and also its getting ont. it is of the utmost I'M
pOrtance that an elevator shaft should be incosed
in brick wall and have fireproof doors. In fac
tories where there is much nfammable material
horizontal trap doors also used with freight
elevators.
Stairs should not only be built of stone and iron.
but also should be walled in with brick in the
same manner. In considering the highest type of
construction for big department stores. where the
lives of hundreds of employees and patrons must be
considered. in addition the value OF the
chandise. the Insurance Chronicle" lays great
stress on this feature. while recommending the
use OF steel cement terra Gotta. metal lath, wire
glass and the other essentials OF safety. They
scarcely less needful however, in office buildings.
which often greatly exceed department stores In
height, and at certain hours have popula ton OF
thousands
While the principle that an ounce of prevention
Is preferable a pound cure is the one to adopt
In dealing with fire. the should be ignored.
Special eXtinguishers should always be available.
An excellent one comes in the form of powder
In large buildings the local ordinances require the
provision of standpipe from cellar to roof three
or four inches in diameter, and having means for
connecting a steam fire engine at street level On
each floor there should be hose attached the
standpipe. This equipment IS meant for the OF
hremen. But in some hotels and other large build
ings and on steamship piers it IS not uncommon to
have steam pumps ready for instant use. to organ
ize the employees into auxiliary department,
and to hold occasional drills to familarize them
with emergency duties NoZZles that convert
stream of into sheet are one of the innova-
tions which have demonstrated their value
Another important adjunct of building where
many people spend part all of their time
every day iG the fire escape. A whole chapter
might be written on this subject. 1t is suffi-
cient at present however. to say that such
fixed should only be of metal but should have
their ladders descend between windows and not
in front of them. In the greater New-York the
law sternly forbids encumberng the platforms of
a fire escape with any articles that would impede
progress there-a practice which is altogether too
common. Since fire escape is not always access
ibe, emergencies will arise in which portable one
will prove exceedingly valuable
The value of special alarm boxes. connecting
with the city Fire Departments system. and OF
automatic detectors of fire. should also be consd |
cred by those who aim the maximum Of safety. |
PERILs IN PRIVATE DWELLINGS,
That excellent authority, the Insurance Chron-
icle." believes that fires occur in private |
houses from defective chimneys than any other |
cause. Chimneys should be double walled. and |
never pastered on the inside. A stove should |
never come within eighteen inches of a wooden |
lath and plaster wall without metal shield on
the latter. nor should stovepipe within ten
inches Of the ceiling. The latter should not go
through the ceiling, but into the chimney. Even |
then it should be surrounded by a double thinble
with at least an inch between the walls
Two other precautions of great value are the |
use Of safety matches, what is still better cleo
trio lighters, and habit OF keeping gas Jets
sions seldom set fire house. but they shatter IT,
In case fire has already broken out though serious
results will sometimes follow the disconnectioD of
pipes Senator Ahearn has introduced a bill at Al
bany TO compel gas companies place valves at
each meter that will automatically shut off the gas
In OF accident.
Much has been gained. too by the improvement of
portable electric lamps. of which the insur-
ance companies now approve
In view Of the large number OF homes and offices
which are in danger of destruction by fire the
practice Of putting papers and other valuable arti-
cIes in safety deposit vaults is both prudent and
comm mendable
PROPOSED REVISION OF THE BUILDING
CODE.
As one talks with contractors and builders CON
corning that collection OF ordinances known as The
Building Code of the Greater New-York he hears
occasional criticisms OF it, Many of it's features
are approved but Il has been suggested that 1t
might be bettered by changes in certain details
Just how far these criticisms just It is unneces-
sary here consider but they have led TO a propo-
sition that the code be thoroughly revised one
well known business firm engaged in construction
work thinks It would be good idea to have the
made mp OF engineers architects and builders and
then put their conclusions i'm the form of law. A
point which they raised for consideration was the
deslrability OF a classification which would allow
one type OF partition for apartment houses and
dwellings. but would require something more sub
Stantial for department stores and other places
where much combustible material is stored.
FIRE PROTECTIVE APPLIANCES.
CPI Inn or 1ra fav,, a.