New-York tribune., 1902-02-15
PREVENTING GREAT FIRES.
SUPERINTENDENT STEWART DRAWS
LESSONS FROM PATERSON.
STRUCTION AND NETWORKS BUILD
ING CODE DISCUSSED

The exceptional proportions Of the fires which
have recently devastated Waterbury, Paterson
and Springfield. Ohio. have raised in the public
mind the question how far the repetition OF
such calamites be aVerted. This is mat
ter in which not merely architects. fire depart
ments and insurance companies are interested.
1t Is OF vital Importance also 10 the owners and
occupants of buildings used either for business
purposes for residence
Perez NJ. Stewart, the new Superintendent OF
Buildings in the Borough OF Manhattan. took
time from his pressing duties yesterday TO talk
with Tribune about the lessons of these
conflagretions. Said he:
"one Of the first things that comes to mind
Is that every municipality should have pre-
scribed fire limits inside OF which no buildings
should be erected that are not constructed of
hreproof materials nearly practicable. In
small localities. where land is cheaper than in
large cities and where low rents obtain in CON
sequence. the requirement of freproof con-
struction may seem oppressive to both builders
and owners from a financial point OF view.
Yet as a matter Of safety and economy that
rule should prevail and it is particularly de-
sirable IN places of Importance. Just
as improvements in f1reproof materials have
reached stage where it is as cheap to put up
buildings that fireproof approximately so.
as it is to erect frame buildings. the danger OF
fires like that Of Paterson will be reduced to
q minimum. The adoption Of fire lines and
brick buildings. then. is the least that can he
done TO prevent great confa grations'
DO you any way to check the spread of
fire when il has started II the buildings
are not 1reproof?'
mo; ft seems almost hopeless. In almost
every instance Of big fire. excepting that Of
the Chicago fire. ii has been stopped only when
Il reached the residence district. where the
half lot in
instances several lots. apart, just they are
in Paterson. Seattle and other towns where
big fires have occurred. Hence It is hardly nee
essary 10 deal with the construction of fireproof
houses in small localities for when fire breaks
out in the residence portion Of such places it
is generally controlled before It has had op-
portunity spread over any great area. 1t
would be out Of the question to argue for fire
proof construction I'm the residence district of
small towns. but the fire limit and f1reproof
construction of the business portion Of town
should be absolute; and if builder or owner
would only stop TO consider the difference in
insurance rates on a freproof semi-freproof
building and a frame building. he would have no
trouble in figuring that the saving would soon
meet the difference in the first cost
FIREPROOF BUILDINGS DEFINED.
''wim you define freproof buildings a little
more fulIy?"
Everything inside the established fire limits
OF municipality at least have outside walls of
brick, stone or concrete with sash of metal. and
hreproof roofs which constructed of brick,
terra Gotta or concrete arches, and covered with
slate, tile similar materials that are imper-
vious to ordinary fame. This should be made
absolute"
Has brick or stone the better fire resisting
qualitIes?"
Brick, decidedly"
rs steel considered freproof?"
1t is incombustble. of course. but it suffers
from the effect of intense heat. and therefore
should be shielded from the flames with con-
crete tile brick"
How about windows? Are they not a source
side?"
Yes in cities large buildings which are In
close proximity TO other windows should have
for houses. but the of metal frames and sash
and wire glass would minimize the danger of
spread of fire in all buildings where shutters
were irupracticabe."
What is regarded as the best kind of roof"
Amy roof properly framed with steel and hav-
ing the exposed part protected with at least two
inches of freproof material would be the best, |
unless the regularly accepted floor construC-
ton be used as a roof. BY floor construction
means the of brick. concrete or the absolute
ly hreproof material between the beams"
Though you would not require freproof con-
struction in small dwelling houses, you rec
ommend any course 10 be pursued in regard 10
them?"
II would have such structures and exterior
parts as are of wood made fireproof covered
with metal or other fire resisting material. An
alternative plan would be TO make the walls OF
brick, terra Gotta concrete. reinforced with
steel The trimmings should be OF hreprOof
wood or metal covered wood"
WOULD NOT AMEND BUILDING CODE
You doubtless read OF the attempt recently
made in the Board OF Aldermen to amend the
Building Code Do you consider IT wise?"
Section 105 of the Building Code OF greater
New-York gives very good description OF a
freproof building, and. while ii has never been
demonstrated yet that any building is abso-
iutely fireproof yet section 105 prescribes mate
rials to be used and form of construction to as
nearly perfect state could be created at the
present time. Incidentally. 1 reason for
amending section 105 Of the code. unless It were
TO make some provision for more effectively en-
forcing the requirements for buildings one
hundred and fifty feet high. The question of
Vising the building code il stands is one
that cannot be lightly considered. The present
code is probably the best building law in eX-
istence. although l have doubt that II could
be advanta geouslY amended and improved, if a
intelligently and with unbiased minds: but 1t
would require a great deal more consideration
and study from men who are capable of doing it
than they could afford 10 give without some
greater compensation than they would probably
receive for so doing"
Association had recently adopted resolution
opposing any amendment Of the law which
would relax existing restraints, and the commit
tee on surveys of the New-York Board of Un-
derwriters had acted in a similar manner