Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-10-07
COAL SUBSTITUTES AND
FIRE DANGERS EXPLAINED

As suggested by the Weekly I'M
derwriter editorially on September
2, the National Board of Fire I'm
derwriters has led the way in point
ing out precautions for the use Of
coal substitute the coming winter
In a bulletin issued this week. the
public is advised that bituminous
| coal is subject to spontaneous igni-
ton, particularly when stored in
large quantities, and should never
be piled near the furnace. nor
against a combustible surface. such
as the wall of a wooden bin.
Oil-burning equipments should be
| safeguarded in accordance with the
regulations issued by The National
Board of Fire Underwriters. 1t may
be said, briefly, that systems en-
| ploying the gravity feed to the burn
er introduce a greater hazard than
| those having the fuel supply deliv-
| cred to the burner by pumps taking
| suction from tanks located under
ground.
The portable oil stove will become
| a prominent household appliance in
the near future, and it's use should
be attended with great care. Nu-
merous fires have been caused by
filling the reservoir while the wick
was lighted. All filling should be
done by daylight and away from
open fires or lights.
The portability of the device is in
itself a hazard; it is easily over
turned. Serious injury by burning
has resulted from weak spring catch
| es securing the upper cylinder to
the lower section. Therefore the
| catch should be examined frequently
and repaired if it is not functioning
| properly. The heater should not be
| carried or moved while lighted.
Explosions have been caused by
defective wicks which do not entire
ly fill the wick tube section of the
| burner, thus leaving free commune
! cation between the fame and the
| space above the oil in the reservoir.
Occasionally the wick and turner
| should be boiled in a strong solution
of soda or I've and carefully dried
before again being placed in SER
vice.
The portable gas heater should be
| kept at a safe distance from wood
| construction or furniture and con-
nections should preferably be made
with rigid iron piping. The safest
| form of flexible gas hose Is that
| which is metal covered. Particular
care should be exercised where open
front gas heaters + used, where
| persons wearing loose garments may
pass too. close to the flame.
Similar care should be taken
where electric reflector heaters are
used.
See that smoke pipes and hues are
thoroughly cleaned before the Iur-
mace is started. Soft coal burns more
rapidly than anthracite and gives on
considerably more flame and SCOT
Radiated heat from a smoke pipe
leading to the chimney is also great
er.
Furnaces should be encased on
( sides and top with incombustihle
protective covering not less than lh
inches thick, and the overhead clear
ance should be not less than IL
inches Any wood construction
within 2 feet of the top should DC
nrotected by a loose fitting meta,
shield. but such shields should mo-
be so placed as to form conceaiee
spaces. !,
Smoke pipes should be at least l.
inches below any wood iatn ant
plaster or other combustiole ceilin'
unless at least the upper haI y
protected by 1 inch or more OF as
bestos covering or its equivalent
In communities where woooel
single roofs prevail, numerous roo
fires may be expected when soft Goa
! ard wood are employed in furnace
or CRATES. .
Firts from defective chimneys an
Aues are also fairly certain to In
| crease. -
The coal shortage is likely to re
sult IN the freezing of many we
!, nine sprinkler systems n conse
ouently they should receive specia
attention.