Evening star., 1939-01-22
Film Storage
Building Urged
In Fire Study
Many U. S. Agencies
Held Lacking in
Facilities

IIlIlH tHat one OF Cne greatest
fire hazards in federally occupied
buildings in Washington are nitro
cellulose moving picture, photo
graphic and x-ray films, the Federal
Fire Council, in its report to the
President of the United States, rec
ommends the construction here of
central storage building for nom
active film that may be worth pre-
serving and for active and semi
active film material used by agencies
lacking adequate storage facilities.
The committee also recommended
that the handling of nitrocellulose
film be limited wherever possible to
trained personnel familiar with the
hazards involved and that acetate
film stock be used wherever practi-
cable. 1t also recommended that all
surplus non-active film be disposed
of.
The committee, which is made up
of representatives of all departments
and establishments that control ac-
tivities involving appreciable fire
hazard to life and property, is headed
by DR.. Lyman j. Briggs, director
of the Bureau of Standards of the
Department of Commerce.
1887 Total Near $4,000 900.
DR.. Briggs said that while the
Federal fire reports received do not
cover to the desired extent the fire
loss sustained on all Government
property, the total reported for the
fiscal year 1887 was near $4,000 900.
which does not include forest fire or
war vessel and aircraft losses. It
does, however, cover the losses in
shore and ground establishments.
1t disclosed that in the District,
where there is practically complete
record, there were 178 fires, with a
property loss of only $15,235, of
which $12,327 was attributable to a
single fire. The report says that this
low loss is remarkable when it is
realized that it applies to property
with an estimated value of $780,
OOO,0 900. 1t was added that for several
years the fire loss of Government
property in the District has averaged
less than ne-hundredth of l per
cent. The average for the country
exceeds one-tenth of l per cent.
This low fire loss here is attributed
in part to the modern fire resistive
buildings and to the prevention
measures that have been applied.
However, the committee warned that
it can be maintained only through
continued vigilance.
rs Tons of Film Saved.
Discussing the fire hazard from
film storage in Government build
1ngs here, the report said that
survey of Government storages of
motion picture, Photographic and
x-ray film in this city showed that
there were 73 repositories housing
nearly 100000 feet of nitrocel-
lulose motion picture film, equiva-
lent to Is tons; about 6,OOO,0 900 feet
OF less 1ammable acetate type of
motion picture film, and correspond
ing large amounts of Photographic
and X-ray film. a major part of
which is also of the highly fam
mable type. The committee said
that a commendable trend was
found toward the increased use of
the acetate type of film for motion
pictures, but for other purposes the
more hazardous type is largely used.
Many agencies, the committee say,
handle and store such film safely,
but some repositories present
hazardous conditions that can be
corrected in some instances by
observance of recognized safety
rules while in other cases funds are
needed for new storage facilities.
An examination was made of the
Government Printing Office, and it
was said that with the completion
OF the new building, the most serious
occupancy hazards will be elimi-
mated, but funds above what have
been provided will be required for
other protective measures. An in
spect1on of the Bureau of Eneray-
ing and Printing Buildings brought
fourth the comment that while its
general fire hazards were found to
be moderate and supervision ex-
cellent, some improvements we're
found to be necessary. These were
primarily concerned with the in
closure of stair and elevator shafts,
replacement of wooden construction
and protection measures in the
power substation.