Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09
RECORD EXPERTS
PROTECTION VIEWS
Member of Fire Prevention
Body Makes Recommended
tons to Government.

Recommendations regarding fire pro-
lection that should be worked into the
plans and specifications for all OF the
Government buildings under the Fed
eral building program with special con-
sideration for the protection Of the vail
liable and irrcplacablel documents Of
the Federal Government. as made by
an insurance specialist, William H.
Rodda, member OF the National Fire
Prevention Association, have been placed
in the Congressional Record by Sena-
tor Royal S. Copeland Of New York.
These recommendations are based on
q careful technical study Of the White
House fire on Christmas eve, the cause
of which was clearly indicated to be
faulty construction of the fireplace, :"
Mr.. Rodda said. He pointed out that
direct contact with o four-inch fireplace
and chimney, which Is. Of course. abso-
lutely contrary to the accepted rules
of fire protection"
This insurance expert called atten-
ton that "over two hours active Tight
ing by large proportion Of the Dis
trict Of Columbia Fire Department was
necessary TO subdue the flames, and the
final out stroke was not sent in until
the following morning, nearly ~ hours
later. The fire is of peculiar interest
because of the location and the fact
that priceless records were endangered
Fortunately the records and documents
destroyed are easily replaceable and not
of high value"
attic Burned Out"
His report on the damage done shows
that "the attic was well burned out.
The roof boards and joistS are largely
burned away and the heavy trusses
badly cl1arred The attic floor is badly
burned, but the floor joiStS are mostly
intact. The wood shelving and docu-
ments stored there are almost totally
destroyed. The metal latlr and plaster
Enclosures around the skylight wells to
the first moor are intact, having with
stood the fire very well. Fire damage
on the first floor was confined to the
partitions, where the FIRE originated,
and some damage to the ceiling joists.
"The entire roof and attic floor will
have to be rebuilt and probably most OF
the damaged section on all floors will
have to be refinished. Considerable new
plaster work will be necessary on the
frSt floor. Fire department operations
were well managed, and every precau-
ton taken to prevent spread of the IRE.
The department deserves to be COM
attic in the fact Of the dificultieS met.
The building loss has been estimated at
$50 900, and the contents loss is prob
ably considerably less than that. There
was no insurance loss. as the Federal
Government carries no insurance"
Makes Recommendation.
Mr.. Rodda recommends TO the Federal
Government for its consideration in car
rying out the Federal building program
here and throughout the country, sew
eral specific suggestions.
81. House all important operations,
contents and records" he says, "in
buildings Of standard Interesting con-
Struction. -
20. Carefully supervise new construc
ton and reconstruct all existing heating
apparatus, such as chimneys. fiueS and
fireplaces, to conform to accepted hre-
protection standards.
80. Have the entire buildings covered
Teguiarly by watchn1en recording their
rounds on approved clocks. Such a
system with suficientIy frequent rounds
I would have taken the guards into the
attic and assured earlier discovery OF
q. Important rscords and documents
should be kept in safes or vaults and
not left In desks and ordinary filing
cases. Such material as existed In the
attic should be disposed Of II worthless,
otherwise It should be kept in vaults
likewise. This material in connection
with wooden shelving made this fire
very difncult to extinguish.
"5. Important buildings should be
equipped throughout with an automatic
fire alarm system, ringing an alarm in
q central station where some one is
always on duty. This win give imnae-
date notice of any FIRE.
IS. Where buildings of combustible
construction or with combustible in
teriors must be used for q time, they
should be equipped with automatic
sprinklers, especially in Easements, at
tics. closets and like places.
"7. Salvage covers would have been
OF value in protecting contents from
damage" =