Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-25

improvements in the fire-fighting
facilities of the District are recon-
mended in the 1926 report of the COM
mittee on fire prevention and engi-
neering standards of the National
Board of Fire Underwriters, submitted
yesterday to Engineer Commissioner
J. Franklin Bell.
While paying a high compliment to
the department.. its personnel and eX-
listing equipment. the report urges
that additional apparatus be acquired,
that enough battalion chiefs be APP
pointed so there will be one on duty
at all times in each battalion, that
drill tower be provided and a training
school established and that all mem
bers be required to attend this school
for at least 80 days. This school
should include provisions, 1t said, Tor
an officers fire college for the instruc-
ton Of all officers in standard methods
and uniform practice in fire fighting,
including operations under modern
conditions, with motor bumpers and
heavy stream appliances.
Practical instruction also should be
given, it added, to drivers and opera
tors in the operation and care OF all
kinds of apparatus and only those
who demonstrate their ability be al
lowed to operate such apparatus. Inc
the final judge of their fitness under
this plan.
Retirement Proposal.
The report likewise recommended
that all members of the Fire Depart
ment be retired at the age OF % years
unless unusually efficient; that the
fire.alarm box system be enlarged to
Drovide for at least 80 box circuits,
and that an automatic sprinkler equip
ment. with outside SiameSe hose con-
nections and controlling. valve near
mains in the street be required in all
buildings which, by reaso of their
size. construction or occupancy, slnglE
or combined, might act as conhagra-
ton breeders.
Another recommendation, affecting
the hniIding department. was that the
building regulations be amended with
special attention given to modern re-
oIIiren1ents for construction and nre
prevention particularly as TO feStrle-
lion of areas. protection 10 WINDOW
oDenings. thickness OF walls ana prl-
waite fire protection, and that lncom,
bustible coverings he required
throughout all new or repaired roofs.
The renort emphasized that the con-
tlarration hazard is high in the con
gested value district in the majority
OF individual blocks, but that streets
of good width divide the district into
numerous small parts. buildings OF
improved construction are largely con
cautrated in the western part 81 the
,lisNrict." il declared. High winds are
only moderately frequent. there are
several sprinkler equipments in the
more hazardous OccupancleS, the nfe
department is effective. so that ire
should be confined TO the block OF
origin or prevented from spreading
materially. Outside the congeSted
value district the hazard Is largely
local: in residential sections ii is
normally low.
Advises Larger Mains.
Strengthening of the water dis
trihution system in certain sections
through larger mains also is recon-
mended In the residential districts
S.jrch mains are recommended and in
mercantile districts and II inch
mains are urged, the former only in
sections where they complete a good
gridiron. All 4-inch mains used for
hydrant supply should be replaced,
the report declared, and dead ends
eliminated wherever practicable, so
that not more than one hydrant will
be on a 6-inch main between inter-
secting lines and not more than two
hydrants on an S-inch main between
intersecting lines.
The water supply, the report
pointed out. has an adequate source.
is generally reliable. but adequate
quantities are not ohtainable for fire
protection in the congested value dis
trict, although generally available
elsewhere.
The Fire Department is under
suitable supervision and is well on