Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-07
Number of Chimney Fires Prompts
Proposal for National Building Code

The fact that the second largest
cause of preventable fires is de
fective chimneys and fiues" is of
especial Importance to every home
owner and occupant. Because these
are classed as preventable causes in
dicates, as is quite true, that new
chimneys and f1ues should not be de-
fective and can be properly built.
There are three principal ways by
which chimney fires are caused. The
first is due to faulty or inadequate
construction without flue Innings; the
second to providing for the connec-
ton of more than one apparatus to
a fiue. The third is due to the fue
being too small for it's intended use.
The first condition is unfortunately
far too common, the second accounts
in part for the numerous fires which
always accompany a severe cold
spell, and the third was much in
evidence in certain localities during
the last coal strike, when flues in
tended for burning anthracite were
used in connection with other fuels.
Remedy Is Suggested.
D. Knickerbacker Boyd, architect
tional Erie Protection Association
makes some pertinent comments on
prevailing methods of chimney con-
struction and offers suggestions for
remedying conditions. In investiga-
tons made in over 100 cities, he says,
the conditions were very illumina-
ting and quite astounding as evil
dencing the lack of uniformity in
chimney requirements of the different
places. Twenty cities allowed only
one connection, while "A cities al
lowed any number to each fiue. Others
allowed two, three, four, seven, one
per floor, one per family and so on.
The National Board of Fire Under
writer's and other authorities recon-
mend only one connection to each
flue.
ION the other hand, rs cities re-
quired f1ue Innings, as against IS
which did not require this recognized
protection, although fire clay f1ue lin
ihgs as recommended by the National
Board are only definitely stipulated i'll
% of these codes. Gas appliances
are required to be vented in 50 out
of 81 codes, but only % require that
a masonry fiue be used. This investi-
cation indicated that building codes
are not as strict, and the provisions
are not as careful as they should be"
Other Factors in Fires.
However, as Mr.. Boyd states. "even
though the provisions are lax, the
entire responsibility cannot be placed
on the building codes, as there are
other factors which have an influence
on actual construction. 1t is i'm
possible for building inspection de-
no, .tYa
stituted, to supervise constantly all
details of construction. Far too many
houses are built without architects
or supervision of an architects office
Very often the workmen are not ex-
periepced in chimney construction,
and SO, even when properly designed,
specified and coded the chimney may
be detective
The contributory causes of fires
due to chimneys, as he points out,
can therefore be attributed, first, to
lack of proper building code require
ments and, secondly, to actual con-
struction methods. BY specifying
proper construction architects can
help by insisting on good workman
ship; the contractor can do his share,
and by giving careful attention to
actual construction the bricklayer or
lIldSoll caIl deCoHiphoH HAS part III
securing correct results" After Civ
ing these matters careful considera-
ton, Mr.. Boyd comes to the conclu-
sion that the way to insure sound
chimney construction is through
somewhat drastic methods by insist
ing beforehand that all chimneys
shallH be tested on completion to de-
termine whether or not they are
tight.
AS he says, eff the mason con-