Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1922-01-12
MARSHAL SAYS STEAM
PIPES CAUSE FIRE
Department Issued Instructions
Today Advising Greatest
OF Care.

That steam pipes play n prominent
part In the number OF fires In private
homes and in factories was emphasiz-
ed this morning when Fire Marshal
r. NJ Ainscow issued the following
regulations governing the various
methods OF operation OF steam pipes
as a preventative OF nre:
The inspectors OF the fire marshal's
office have experienced considerable
difficulty in convincing the citizens
that steam pipes have and do cause
fires. In order to present this hazard
more clearly. the following is quoted
from Fosters Handbook OF Fire Pro-
lection. IA recognized textbook OH fire
precaution and fire protection.
| The hazard OF steam pipes In con-
tnct with combustible material Is sum
med up by the Independence Bureau
| In It's pamphlet. entitled. Fire Dan
gers OF Steam Pipes" IN the follow
ing words.
Steam pipes In contact with wood
are admittedly tho cause Of OCCASION
al fires. though, manifestly, It Ia i'm
possible to make definite statement
OF the relative hazard from this source.
II must always be borne In mind
that In fires destruction Is frequently
so complete that the assignment OF
n cause In more or less n matter ri
conjecture. However. from our ex-
perience and that OF others Interested
In this subject, we quote below n num-
Der OF typical cases IN which steam
pipes, under n variety of cIrcum-
stances have been without question n
| fire cause.
| There Is considerable diversity OF
opinion as TO the circumstances under
which such fires may be expected to
occur and the local conditions which
contribute thereto II Is self-evident
that the hazard IL materially in
lcreased whore the heat is In any way
lconnned. or where contact is with
materials more lnfiammable than
wood. Particular care must be taken
to guard against the presence Of ma
terist-. which are notably subject to
spontaneous ignition. such as cellu-
loid. coal dust and oily waste.
a number of investigators have at
tempted TO produce fires by bringing
steam pipes into contact with various
combustible materials but as tho
duration OF the experiments was com
lparatively short few actual fires re.
suited. The conclusions general,
drawn. however. were that any steam
pipe. no matter how low the pressure
would In course of time produce char.
coal. and that when this stage wal
reached positive danger existed. Char
: coal is unquestionably subject I,
, spontaneous ignition. This is du,
largely to its peculiar ability TO alb
serb from the air many times it's owl
{ volume OF oxygen. This Is held in tn,
/ minute pores. which exist in ali form
! of wood charcoal. The combination O
this oxygen with the carbon may TAX.
| place with sufficient rapidity 10 rails
!, fthe temperature to the ignition point
, Furthermore, charcoal formed at Low
temperature Is known TO have a low
/. ignition point.
' Where steam Is kept on a system
q continually there Is less danger thai
|. where on internationally. according 4
: some investigators. The reason ad
lvanced is that when allowed TO coo
the charcoal has a better opportunit
4
J, AT all times. Another factor Is moistur.
. Experiments have shown that char
coal, once wet, and dried out after
;, wards is more dangerous than tina
II which has remained dry, ignitio
points being we'll below the boilin
:, point OF water in a number OF labors
tory tests.
In our opinion reasonable precal
!, tons should be taken TO keep steal
pipes from contact with woodwor
or combustible material. This is
. more Importance with high pressu
= than with exhaust steam pipes. ar
- more so in confined spaces than OF
/, in the open where there is free a
80 circulation and freedom. from accun
% ulation of combustible dust and dirt.
II 'Combustible material should not
% allowed to rest against or surrour
"A the pipes. The overhead method
d Tipping is generally preferred. Stea
F. heating becomes a special hazal
$. when used for kilns, dry boxes, ca
Of boxes, etc. In such cases the heat
TX usually high and long continued al
rs sawdust, chips. and shavings a
v cause fire. The Independence Bures
Ill described as follows. acceptab
ly methods of safeguarding two zorro
t, forms of installation and adds certa
LII general suggestions.
OF There are two general methods
IS, keeping steam pipes free from co
of tact with combustibfe material. I
10 first being through the use of an
ne sulator such as pipe covering and {
ey second by supporting them rigidly
use safe distance. Wherever pipes ps
es through concealed spaces covert
should preferably be carried for {
We entire length TO avoid future conts
re with substances which may get il
ps these spaces"
H. Specific Cases Cited.
e. In the January 1911 issue OF I
Ike National Fire Protection Associat,
1t quarterly. will be found an article
tho Independence Bureau, In which
ng cited so specific cases where fires he
'r- resulted from steam pipes in conti
p with combustible material. < numl
,ol OF these instances are quoted bel,
of and the following is list of high a
lat low pressure steam pipes causi
CHI fires:
les Low Pressure. /. Newspaper co
II pany. The inspector reports that fl
30, was opened up in my presence by
3, firemen. the woodwork was fol