New Britain herald., 1917-10-11
NEW BRITAIN'S FIRE
 PROTECTION IS POOR
National Board of Underwriters
 CritiCiSeS Conditions Here
DEPARTMENT TOO SMALL

More Fire Houses Needed and Inn proved Alarm System Should Be Adopted, Is Complaint-Conflagr tion Hazard Called High. Praise for New Britain's fro pro- lection system. so far as 1t is estab- lished, but criticism of the city for not Introducing further Improvements is contained in the report on this city by the National Board of Fire Under writers, received today The report is based on an investigation of local conditions made a short time ago by representatives of the underwriters board.
 Among the important criticisms, Is the small numerical strength of the fire department. The board believes that the number of firemen employed Is insufficient to give the city the pro- lection needed and it also claims that the civil service standards which must be met by candidates for the fire department are too low The companies are undermanned and this is especially true during meal hours, the report says. It also recommends the purchase of more ladder trucks and frequent drilling of engine crews, which have not been up to standard under stress of heavy work. Considerable space is devoted to New Britain's inadequate fire alarm system. The type of boxes in use in obsolete, the report claims, and the general system is below the require- ments of the city. It is also claimed that the city should improve it's building laws. although admitting 1t was step forward when New Brit am placed in office a building inspec- tor who devotes full time to the outles or the office. The conf1agra- ton hazard is high on account of the large number of frame buildings and marrow streets. it is alleged
 Among the conclusions of the in- spectors are the following:
 Water Department.
 The conclusions in relation to the water department follow:
 "The organization and the manage ment is mainly satisfactory. The emergency provisions are only fair. Records are fairly complete.
 supply Works-The' developed sources, with a large storage near the city in Shuttle Meadow reservoir, assure an ample supply in normal years; the extensive drainage of the Burlington supply is without sufficient storage to more than care for the storm flow. and with the continued growth of the city the contemplated additional supply will be necessary to prevent a curtailment during a series of dry years.
 with the present method of oper- ation, the Burlington supply main Is of little use in increasing the flow at time of serious fire, and the Shuttle Meadow lines are of insufficient ca pacity, resulting in loss of head at time of heavy fire flow so great as to prevent effective streams being obtained without the use of fire en- zines. The available emergency con- nections from Burlington reservoir l and from the high service would in large part offset this, but no detailed provisions have been made for their operation.
 umption-Complete consump- ton records are lacking. The con- sumption has doubtless been some- what reduced by the additional me- ters installed, but apparently is high.
 
 sprinkler protection and for a small number of direct hydrant streams, in all but a few localities. No record- ing pressure gauge is maintained on the system.
 "Protection--Reaso protection for the principal mercantile and im- portant manufacturing district re- | quires 8 fire flow of 5000 gallons per minute. This quantity includes an 1 allowance for less from broken ser- vice and sprinkler connections incl dental to large fire; the distribution ] system should be capable of deliver ing it about any block or group of buildings of special hazard and hy- l drant should be so located and of such 1 type as to deliver two thirds of the quontity upon any large fire through hose lines, none exceeding 500 feet in
 ength. At the present engine capa-
 'fty in service is only 1,75O gallons or half that necessary for serious fire, adequate fire protection requires that the above fire flow be available at a residual pressure of sixty to seventy five pounds, depending upon the char acter and heights of buildings. With the present high loss in the supply lines although the total quantity avail able in the high value districts is suffi- cient, the pressure at which this flow is obtainable is entirely inadequate for effective hose stream direct from hy- drants. In residential districts, the combination of low pressure. due to elevation, of small mains, and of poor gridiron, results in deficient supply in many sections, even for engine ser vice.
 "Mains-The secondary feeders and
 distribution mains in the high value
 districts are of adequate size in the
 southern, eastern and northeastern
 sections secondary feeders are lack