Milford chronicle., 1931-07-10
URGES FIRESAFE
HOME BUILDING
Research Leader Declares Homes
Should Be Made As Firesafe
As Modern Hotels


Homes that won't burn up are
being built in increasing. numbers
for, with present day materials, fire
hazards can be built out at no ex-
cessive cost. Although burnable
structures still predominant in con-
struction, noteworthy recognition is
being turned toward quite recent de-
velopments which make it as easy
and economical for firesafety to be
introduced into the home. as into the
modern hotel"
This statement was made by F. r.
Mcmillan, technical director of the
Portland Cement Association, while
attending a session of the American
Society for Testing Materials. That
engineering group is holding its an
nual meeting this month 1t is be-
ing attended by approximately 1000
members whose studies and research
work have an important bearing on
the country's progress in regard to
the use and composition of materials
of all kinds.
Mr.. Mcmillan has been supervising
the most extensive fire steps of con-
crete masonry ever conducted. In
these tests, more than 100 wall pan
els of different types of concrete
masonry have been subjected to the
direct flames of a testing furnace
for periods up to three and one
half hours at temperatures up to
1900 degrees F., nearly the melting
point Of copper. '@A ''s''-% . 9 - y
In discussing the tests, Mr.. Nc
MILAN told of the marked interest
in firesafe construction for resi-
dences which has followed the trend
to unburnable materials for larger
structures. He said, "Fireproof
construction for business and public
buildings was long ago sold to the
public. Today, firesafety is consid-
cred almost as necessary for hotel
that wants to stay in business as is
a bath in every room. When a
school is built, public sediment will
no more permit erection with flimsy,
infammable materials than it will
sanction the appointment of poor
ly-trained, incompetent teachers.
"This demand for fireproof con-
struction in buildings for public or
semi-public use is spreading to the
residence field. The average home
owner today is very much concern
ed about the durability of the mate
rials entering into the construction
of his home. According to archi-
Lects this kindled interest is due
in part to fear of fire and desire |
for low insurance rates and in part |
10 the adaptability and economy of |
The new masonry materials and the |
free construction they |
assure"
A detailed report on the fire tests
1t the Association Laboratory was
me of the high lights of the A. S. T.
W. convention.
In making a test, a wall panel
jix by six feet square is sealed in
'rame over the open face of the fur
lace. Vertical pressure equal to the
naimum permissible load on
louse wall is placed on the panel
~ means of hydraulic jacks. Gas
lanes from q jets in the back of
he furnace are directed against
he inner face of the wall. Deli
ate instruments record the temper
.ture at different points on both the
inside and unexposed faces, and the
ength of time required for heat to
,ass through the wall is noted.
In exposing home-building mate
ials to such intense heat, far more
evere than that normally encoun-
cred in a residence fire, investiga-
Drs are determining with scientific
xactness the effect of such factors {
s grading and choice of materials, l
esign of unit, thickness of wall, and ,
lastering, on the fire resistance of
yalls of concrete masonry. The in 3
already obtained has been l
f great value to masonry manufac- r
lrers, architects, building officials, [
iunrance companies, and home {
wneTs. Also it has, resulted in low 7
r insurance rates on homes of this +
laterial. /