Evening star., 1940-12-07
New Material Helps
Curb Fire Peril
In Dwellings
Tests Indicate Merit
Of 'FeIted-Wood'
Fiber luth
By LAWRENCE CROLIUS.

BY LAWRENCE CROLIUS.
Fire is an ever constant threat to
homes old or new, and even though
American houses aren't destroyed
by bombs, hundreds are going up
In smoke every year with a huge
loss. Insurance will help pay the
monetary Joss from fires, but nothing
can replace heirloomS and other
possessions which have senti-
mental value only to the owner.
Anything that can be done to
limit fire damage should be made
part of the construction of every
home. but even the newest resi-
dences feature few, if any, fire.
preventing materials. This situa-
ton existed in the construction of
ships for many years until num-
ber of disastrous fires brought the
condition to light, and now it is a
strict requirement that fireproof and
fire-retarding materials be used
wherever possible.
Your old or new home can be
given more adequate protection if
you install heat insulating fiber
board lath as a plaster base for a
remodeling job or new construction.
A new material on the market is
made up of so-called "felted- wood"
f1bers which have been mixed with
a non-metallic. f1re-resisting min
eral called vermiculite. This min
eral Is similar to mica and forms a
~f E,-1
walls in each cubic inch of inSu-
lating board Hence if fire should
start in some other more combusti-
BILE material used in the house con-
struction it can't get very far be-
cause Of the tight barrier thrown
In its path by the plaster base.
Tests Show Its Merit.
Tests made by fire underwriters
have shown that even though this
lath is subjected to an intense flame
for so minutes, the unexposed side
will reach temperature of only
1872 degrees. This is remarkable
when you consider that the safe
critical end point temperature
specified In the fire endurance tests
is 3l3 degrees. giving you a safe
leevay of 12l degrees
This means that the material will
hold up even though an intense
flame is pressing on one side and
prevent further progress of the fire
We are also advised that this new
material successfully supported its
own normal superimposed weight
during a fire which lasted more
than an hour.
If you live out beyond gas mains
or electricity supply wires, or even
II you live right in the middle of
the city, you will be interested to
know that there is an efficient do
mestic hot-water heater which
works on oil. This has been a bit
of problem in the past. but we have
run across new heater which is
said to supply adequate hot water
for sizable house with a simple
oil burner-storage tank combinat tion.
Two Sizes Available.
These new oil burners are avail
able in either 20 or 30 gallon sizes
In q so-called de luxe line and have
specially designed burner mounted
right on the door of the combustion
chamber. The exteriors are finished
in handsome white enamel with
chrome trim. Inside the heaters
there is regulation cold water
drop tube, and completely automatic
controls assure you of a constant
supply Of hot water at all times.
A lower priced line of heaters
also is available with capacities
ranging from 20 to As gallons. These
heaters have small burners mounted
on shelf inside the combustion
chamber and black trim in lieu of
the brighter, shiny metal on the
master line. Both lines provide a
rapid hourly recovery on capacities
up to 80 gallons with a go degree
rise in water temperature.
II you would like to know the
names of the manufacturers of the
products described in this column
Just tear the column out and send
1t with a stamped. self-addressed
envelope to Lawrence Crolius, So
East Sixty-seventh street, New York,
n, Y,