The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-23
FAILURE.
Mr.. Edison Called as a witness as &c
Its -FireprOof Nature.

~ THE EDlIDh VI lhE SUN-oNs WI
Ed.so has furnished his own very con-
vincing evidence In rebut;al OF his claim
that concrete is a fireproof material.
That evidence appears in a pamphlet IL
Illustrating the effects OF the fire which
swept the Edison photograph works a.
West Orange. The pamphlet was Is
sued to architects. and doubtless also
TO others. IN the interest OF the cement
industry. in which Dir. Edison is repre-
scented by the Edison Portland Cement
Company.
In one OF the Photographic %reproduc-
tons OF his pamphlet may be seen. very
clearly visible In the foreground. a steel
column which had been melted sufii-
c.ert.y 10 buckle downward In the form
OF a closed letter S. The concrete COW
erinG was broken away. exposing the
~misshapen steel. and the constructions
at that point are shown to have fallen
a foot or more with the melting down
Of the column.
TIL damage apparent constituted Q
complete local failure OF the Structure.
Had the loading OF that column been
more han a very Insignificant one the
destruction would have been extensive !:
and had the building itself been OF any
considerable magnitude its entire col
lapse certainly must rave resulted.
Architects, engineers and even most
of their draughtsmen who have passed
their novitiate are too well acquainted
with the facts concerning the compounds
OF cement TO be msled by this propa-
ganda for the misuse of the material.
They are more or less thoroughly "a
niliar with the numerous fire tests made
by the building departments OF cities.
by the fire underwriters and by others.
all conducted under such definite con-
troll of the conditions as TO determine
the truth OF fire resistance in a man.
ner as precise as the Edison eXamina-
ton after a fire of unknown temporal
lures Is haphazard and in~conclusive
The result OF theee tests has been to
prove that cement compositions are not
fireproof in any legitimate understand
ing OF the requirements. On the other
hand, similar carefully conducted tests
have shown the products OF baked clay
to be thoroughly flreproof and entirely
reliable when used properly. either as
structural elements or as insulation FOR
non-nreproof structural members. In
the Informed professional judgment these
conclusions, having been ~abuNdantly sub
Stimulated by technical experiment, are
not regarded as debatable.
\. truly freproof material must per-
form two distinct functions: IL must re-
Sist injury to itself by tho heat of sur
rounding infammable substances and
protect from injury any structural parts
IL may be employed 10 insulate. and in
addition IL must be able when at the
highest temperature TO remain intaCt
upon being drenched suddenly with
water. This latter requirement con-
crete will not fulnl. In many Instances.
as Illustrated In the Edison fire. II crum-
hi"s in fragments, and so fails OF either
purpose of fire resistance.
Mr.. Ed.son makes a point Of tho de-
struciion OF his brick buildings. That
result was due not to failure Of brick
work but to failure Of the floors such
Of the brick walls ~ fell were pulled
down, not burned down. by the leverage
Of the comhustible floors after they had
burned through. Had the floors Of Mr..
Edison's brick buildings been constructed
with steel beams properly insulated with
terra Gotta thos. buildings would have
required after the fire nothing but re-
finishing and refurnish!nG. us was The
case in the Home Life Insurance build,
ing when swept by the Rogsrs-Peet fire
Of many wears ago.
Concrete IN many ways nd for many
uses is an excellent material. It's en-
ployment is extending greatly with each
succeeding year, and its immense prom.
Use for the future In the proper fields OF
It's application in all justice should sat
.sfy the demands Of the most ambitious
OF cement manufacturers. In the cir
cumstances 1t is but natural tina an
EFFORT OF those tradosmcn TO cncroach on
the legitimate domain Of makers ~,
other materials should he resented by
the manufacturers Of truly hreproo,
products and the persistent campa sr
To- further the use for ilreproohng pur.
poses OF an aggregate which in no er-
fective manner can perform the func-
ton Of fire resistance is nothing less
than a menace 10 tho public safety
FRED MErcALF.
p~LAiNFIEIn, y. j, NAV -"