The Harrison times. (Harrison, Boone Co., Ark) 1876-1938, 1906-05-12
SAFEST MATERIALS.
LESSONS OF VALUE FROM THE
BIG BALTIMORE FIRE.
Proper Construction ~ Great Build
ings kscertaiied by COMMITTEES
Of EXpests-Faets for
Builders.


One OF the standing committees Q
the National Fire Protection assoeia
ton deYotes its attention To thos
features Of construction which are bes
designed to check the progress Of
contiagfation Immediately after tn
Baltimore disaster of February last
reports the New York Tribune, thi
committee entered upon an elaborate
Investigation of the damaged properly
with view to obtaining such fresa In
formation as might be afforded there.
by,
1t was hoped that report would be
ready In the springer early summer.
Fer some reasoR its appearance was
delayed much longer. The document
was distributed only few days ago.
In spl}e of its hardness the opinions
thesSe embodied will prove OF immense
Value to insurance men, architects,
owners Of large buildings and to those
municipal officers who r,have occasion
to study the essentials of dre resistive
construction.
The committee was composed OF IL
well-.nown experts. and in the per-
formanee of this special task had the
assistance of four others, SO authori-
tatiye an expression as that of these
men has not appeared before in many
years, Perhaps II is without precedent
since the era of steel frame buildings
opened.
The first topic treated in the "con-
clusions". of the committee lie the
necessity for suitably shielding the
metal columns, floor beams and other
steel and iron members OF a modern
structure. The committee affirms in
positive terms that nothing serves so
effectively as well-burned brick, laid
In cement mortar Hollow tile lack
stability; they do not stay in place;
they are also perceptibly affected by
severe heat. Plaster blocks are pro-
nouneed inferior to terra Gotta
Hollow tile proved unsatisfactory for
floor arches in Baltimore for variety
Of reasons, Sometimes the arches had
too wide span to insure strength.
they were not properly
1yerlaid with cement Often the low
r layer of the tile -teehnically known
IS the web-would break under in
ense heat and thus weaken the rest
# the tile.
Almost invariably the lower fianges
II the I-beams in the floors showed
hat they had been inadequately pro
ected One form of covering failed
BECAUSE 1t was held by exposed metal
lips. Another proved defective be-
ause the skew backs-projeetions from
he adjacent arch tile-broke and re-
eased their burden, On the whole, for
.rch construction cement Seemed to
tand up we'll" although 1t was not
used in Baltimore
Fer exterior walls, those in front |
nd rear, nothing has been found that |
; comparable with feod brick. Stone |
uflers much more from FIRE On the |
Il also the walls should be of brick |
~ fttT.ci- -eG~trrh- ta-s stand alone If the |
djoinlHg buildings collapse, Even in |
terra Gotta plaster blocks |
nd Retai lath proved unsatlsf actory.
~ seQmmlttee qualified It's d 4a1zroy
] by limiting the same to the Present |
raihcSs of EMPLOYING these materials |
" blst type of partition tested IN the
BALTIMORE fire was one composed of |
g inch tile but the latter usually |
ecame loosened, and hence ceased to
o much good. The significance of
his plrt Of the report is enhanced by
n additional comment of the commit
&c relative to the proper subdivision
L larla floor spaces, like those in
apartment store. 1t declares that |
iithout sufficient number Of interior
arriers the contents of fire resist
We" building are scarcely safer than |
n one Of the most careless construc-
ion.
In the formulation of its report the
OF the National Fire Pro-
ection association has rendered an
important service to the country