Improvements in the Construction of Fire-proof Buildings.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Feb., 1897-Accepted, 17th Aor., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Fire-proof Buildings.
We, ALBERT HENDRIK VAN DER VŸGH of Bosboom Toussaint Street, 4,
Amsterdam in the Kingdom of Holland, Timber Merchant, HENDRIK VAN DER
VŸGH of Bosboom Toussaint Street, 2, Amsterdam aforesaid, Architect, and
GERHARD VAN DER VŸGH of Bosboom Toussaint Street, 2, Amsterdam aforesaid,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
Our invention relates more particularly to buildings that are constructed either
wholly or partly of our improved fireproof composition, which is described and claimed:
in the Specification accompanying our Application, dated 17th November 1896, and
numbered 25,880, for the grant of Letters Patent therefor, and has for its object
to cheaply and quickly construct the walls and ceilings of such buildings at any
season, and even during heavy frost, thus greatly facilitating building operations,
economising labour, and reducing expense.
We attain this object by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings
wherein
Figure 1 is an elevation and Figs. 2 and 3 are sections taken on the lines A. A. B. B.
Fig. of a wall constructed according to our invention.
Figs. 4 shew detail views of one of the wall pins, and of various sections of the
iron ties presently referred to,
Fig. 5 is an elevation of a portion of a wall showing how such pins and ties are
employed.
Fig. 6 is a detail view shewing how the wall plates are superposed.
Fig. 7 is a plan, Fig. 8 a section taken on the line C. C. Fig. 7, and Fig. 9 an
end view of a portion of a ceiling constructed according to our invention; and
Fig. 10 is a detail view shewing how such ceiling plates are fixed to a vertical
wall.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several
views.
In order to clearly illustrate our invention we will first describe the same as
applied to the construction of walls, and secondly as applied to the construction of
ceilings.
To construct a wall a series of iron pins a, of any convenient size, are driven into
the ground or other foundation half way. Perforated wallplates b, made of our
improved fire proof composition are then placed on the projecting ends of such pins,
which reach midway up the perforations in the wall plates wherein the pins fit, and
form internal uprights to keep the plates in position. Two, three or more small
laths c made either of wood, metal, or other suitable material, are then placed
across the top of each wall plate (as shewn in Figs. 5 and 6) and a second series of
pins inserted in the perforations. The lower ends of such second series of pins
rest on the tops of the bottom pins, (as shewn in Figs. 1 and 5), while their
upper ends project half way above the wall plates ready to receive a second course
of such plates which is then superposed thereon, the interstices created by the cross
laths being placed between the two courses being filled in with a cement composed

page_text: the wall.
plaves ana
The perforations in the wall plates correspond both in size and position, so that
the holes in the lower course of plates come immediately opposite the holes in
the upper course, when such upper course is superposed.
After the second course of plates has been so superposed, laths are placed across
the top of each wall plate, and another series of pins inserted in the perforati as,
in the manner already described; after which another course of wall plates is
superposed, and these several operations are repeated until the wall is raised to the
required height.
When the wall is finished should any space be left between the top of the wall
and the ceiling, such space may be readily filled in by sawing a sufficient number
of our improved fire-proof wall plates to the required size, and fixing them by
means of nails or screws to the window frames anf ceiling or any other convenient
supports.
In cases where it is impracticable to use iron pins in the manner already described,
or where only an insufficient number of such pins can be employed; iron ties d
may be substituted therefor, or used in conjunction therewith, as shewa at Fig. 5,
and, when used, such ties serve to biud two or three wall plates together and so
prevent the wall bulging.
When building external walls with our improved fire-proof wall plates such
plates are coated with Portland cement which greatly enhances their strength
and durability, and renders them far cheaper than any other building material.
Thin free standing walls constructed in this manner and with our improved
fire-proof wall plates may be very cheaply and quickly built and require slighter
foundations than are requisite for any other system of construction. They possess
great bearing power, and are impervious to heat, cold and soun 1. They do not
harbour insects or vermin, and can be stuccoed without being previously wetted,
while in a few days they are fit either for painting or papering.
As regards the construction of ceilings with our improvel fire proof composition,
the ceiling plates e are preferably made of a thickness of about 1 centimeters
which is sufficient ev.n where centre flowers or other heavy ornamentation is used,
and we have found that while the ingredients of such improved fire proof
composition remain the same, that it is preferable when making ceiling plates
therewith to combine such ingredients in the following proportions, viz. :-
Coke dust-
Lime
Tan
Plaster
Water
15 parts
->
10 parts
24 parts
-
28 parts
23 parts.
Ceiling plates so made are preferable to any other material, being lighter as well
as sound and fire-proof, while they are not liable to crack when catel with plaster.
They are fastened to the ceiling joists by nails or screws, as shewn in Figs. 7 and 8,
spaces of about half a centimeter being left between them which are subsequently
filled in with a mixture of lime, coarse sand, piaster and water combined in the
proportions hereinbefore specified.
Such plates are not sawn off in lengths from ioist to ioist but where a joint

page_text: comes between two joists the ends of the two plates are fastened together by iron
tie plates as shewn in Figs. 7 and 8-and when the plates abut on a vertical wall
they are secured in the manner shewn in Fig. 10 wherein e are the plates-f the
vertical wall-g common level plastering or stucco-g plaster band-h wooden
supports i joists whereto ceiling plates are nailed.
Ceilings constructed in this manner and with our improved fire proof ceiling
plates are very easily and quickly fixed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what.
we claim is
1. In a fire proof wall the following combination vizt. perforated fire proof wall
plates 6 made of our improved fire-proof composition, superposed on laths cand
united by cement joints, and held in position by pins a and ties d used either in.
conjunction with each other or separately, all substantially as set forth.
2. A fire proof ceiling made of our improved fire-proof ceiling plates either
nailed or screwed to the joists and united by cement joints and having their ends.
fastened together with iron ties all substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
Date Liis Lento day of coruary
ELT & Co.,
Registered Patent Agents,
43, Southampton Buildings, Holborn, London, Agents for Applicants..