Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-04-27
CHIMNEYS AND FLUES.

! The state fire marshal department
expects shortly 10 start q general In
spectIon of chimneys and fiues IN the
: various cities OF the state. in an effort
TO eliminate much OF the fire waste
caused by improper construction or
nues and chimneys and defective con-
dltions therein. In order TO aid this
work the following advice IS given in
the bulletin issued by the state ofiic-
: ial:
Chimneys and lues should be In
lspected and repaired during the sum-
mer months when not in use.
Defective fiues are among the most
frequent causes OF fire. During the
year 1913 there were 762 such fires re-
loss OF s657.1S0.
Flying sparks on roofs, etc, caused
III fires at a total loss OF about $780,
600. Many OF these fires which are re-
ported as having been caused by flying
sparks are in reality due to the fact
that the chimney or fue is defective.
These fires are preventable to large
extent and everybody ought to learn,
remember and enforce the main fac
tors contributing to safe fue construc-
1
smoke, flame, heat and gases of COM
bustion go into the open air through
the chimney rather than through its
sides. / am convinced that a careful
inspection of the fiues and chimneys
and the repairing of those found de-
/ fective will decrease the fire waste at
least a half million dollars, and to that
end expect early in the year 1914 to
have deputies from this department
J make a systematic inspection of the
fues and chimneys OF the cities in this
state.
The following recommendations will,
/ II observed by the householder, enable
him to guard the lives and property
OF his family against fire from this
cause:
1. Build all chimneys from the |
ground up. None of their weight |
should be carried by anything except |
the proper foundations. Foundations |
should be at least IL inches wider all |
around than the area OF the chimney
and be started well below the frost |
line. No chimney should be started |
or built upon any floor or beam of |
wood. When a chimney Is to be cut |
on below. IN whole or in part It should
be wholly supported by brick or stone
work, or steel construction, properly
erected from the ground up. The prac-
tice OF supporting chimneys or fiues
on wooden or iron brackets, or iron
stfrrups, however carefully devised, is
hazardous. a small fire around the
base from any cause may drop the
fiue and allow draft for rapid spread
OF fire.
2. Build all chimneys to q point at
least three feet above fiat roofs and
two feet above the ridge OF peak roofs
Under no circumstances should the
brick work OF the chimney be extend
ed out over the roof by the projection
or the course OF brick nearest to Il.
Such shoulder or overhanging pro-
lection will inevitably cause cracks in
the chimney IN case the chimney set
ties, the roof IN such event lifting the
upper portion by means OF the over
hang or shoulder. and causing q crack
at the most dangerous of all places.
The chimney should be carried up of
uniform thickness to the top, copper
flashing being relied upon to prevent
leaks at the joint with the roof.
3. Never build a chimney wall less
than eight inches 1.-TWO courses of
brick) in thickness, and use only &C.
ment mortar up to the first floor and
above the roof line. The upper part
Of the chimney walls may be only four
inches in thickness from a point at
east six inches above the roof to he :
-op OF chimney. provided the chimney
be capped with terra Gotta, stone, or
cement. or the bricks be carefully
sonded or anchored together.
4 In Oh
buildings. when not less than IL inch
q In thickness, may form part of chin
ley or hue. In no case should a chin
ley or fue be corbeled out more than
light inches from the wall, and IN all
asses tho corbeling should consist OF
It least five courses Of brick. Flues in
'arty walls should not extend beyond
he center OF said walls.
8. Build all ohimneys large enough
o give a separate fue for each fire, uB-
ng fire clay or terra Gotta tile Innings
{ least ono inch in thickness. The fire
lay lining is not subject 10 disintegra-
Ion by any OF the ordinary nue gases.
The lining should be put In as the nue
5 constructed. using great care to see
hat the Joints IN same are carefully
made. II there n an old chimney In
our house and you can feel great heat
rom the hue by putting your hand on
he plaster in a room. then there Is
no lining in the fue and tho
rails are only four inches thick. Have
he chimney examined.
9. Do not run floor ioists or other
woodwork into chimneys or fues nor
How wood casing. lathing or Turing
Tithin two inches OF chimney breasts.
z. After removing a stovepipe from
chimney. close the opening with a
letal fue stop: II the fiue connection ,
} left open fire may communicate. and !
Il Is closed by being stuffed full OF
ags or paper the chances are that It
i'll communicate.
M.fror. and Meteorsten 9.