The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-03-08
FIRE PREVENTION . ,-.-
AS AN INVESTMENT
eda Chief
Before Illinois Fismsns AssociatonJ

Primarily the rates for any COM
munity are based upon the fire losses.
In computing rates, some figure Is
used as a foundation. This is known
as the basis rate. which is established
after careful consideration Of the fire
losses, the fire protection dncluding
both the water system and the equip
ment, personnel and efficiency of the
fire Department., the confiagration
hazard, and the moral hazard (the
moral hazard being the burning to
defraud, or in other words, arson.)
With basis rate once determined,
each individual risk Is then analyzed
in very scientific manner. in which
construction, occupancy and exposures
are given consideration. 3
In order that there shall be a fire
and a fire loss. the fire must have
an origin, that Is, something must
produce the spark of ignition. Next,
there must be something to burn,
something that will feed the blaze.
and then comes the amount Of dam
age.
The cause. or fire hazard. Is furn-
ished by the occupancy and exposures.
the building itself is merely shell or
enclosure which segregates the haz-
ards, and its degree Of efficiency de-
ponds entirely on its construction. II
it is Of superior construction its abil-
ity to resist fire will certainly be
greater than IL Of inferior construc-
ton.
How Factors of Hazard Are Divided.
The Rating Bureaus divide the fac
tor of hazard found in various oc-
cupancies into three divisions, name
Iy: causes. media and effects; the
combustion, the media representing
the combustibility Of the contents
and effects, which is the Manageable
ity to which the contents are subject
ed by the fire itself or otherwise.
It is readily seen that red hot
stovepipe will not set fire to any
thing unless 1t is in close proximity TO
cumbustible material, and the rapid
ity with which ignition will take place
win depend on the combustibility Of
that material. The damage done will
depend on the value and susceptible
ity of the material to damage by fire,
smoke and water.
Based on similar principles, in each
occupancy there are certain features
peculiar to that occupancy. for ex-
ample, a blacksmith shop has its
FORCES and a candy factory has its
candy furnaces, etc. Likewise the
number of employees and the traffic
are taken into consideration. In this
manner the various kinds of occu-
pancies have been classified and a
definite charge has been fixed for
each. This charge is not expressed
in dollars and cents, but in a percent
age of the basis rate. There Is def
mite charge for the "damageability
of the stock of contents, there being
also a classification for the various
kinds.
Relation Of Parts to Whole.
Following the same line Of reason
ing, all of the component parts Of
building bear some relation to the
whole and to each other. Therefore,
a building of certain construction Is
taken as a basis. Charges are made
for deficiencies and credits are given
for superiority. The following are
some OF the items considered: Area,
height in stories, number of base
ments, thickness Of walls, kind Of
roof. height and thickness of para
pet walls, wall finish, floors. ceilings.
fire walls, protection Of openings
through those walls, chimneys and
fues, floor openings Of all descrip-
tions, partitions, etc.
Heat, light and power devices. to-
gether with their locations. settings
and protection contribute their share
Of charges.
Exposures are OF considerable inn
portance and are figured IN q very