Improvements in the Construction of Fire Proof Floors.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 7th May, 1886.
Complete Left, 1st Feb., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 1st Mar., 1887.
I CHARLES STROUD WILLIAMS of Ferry Iron Works Wharf Road Cubitt Town
in the County of Middlesex Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
I attach to the girders carrying a floor a casing of concrete or other fire proof
material shaped to receive slabs of a similar material which form the fire proofing
between the encased girders. These together constitute the fire proof floor. The
casing may be either cast in one piece round the girders or connected to them in
segments. The invention will form a cheap and thoroughly effective fire proof floor
and moreover has these among other advantages that as the materials can be all
prepared before the floor is constructed no scaffolding is required there is no risk of
damage to the building from expansion or contraction while the materials are drying
and the floor is ready for use directly after it is fixed.
CHARLES STROUD WILLIAMS.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Fire Proof Floors.
1 CHARLES STROUD WILLIAMS of Ferry Iron Works Wharf Road Cubitt Town in
the County of Middlesex Engineer 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
This invention has for its object the construction of fire proof floors carried by
girders or beams encased with concrete or other similar fire proof material cast or

page_text: moulded in one piece round them before they are fixed in the position they are to
permanently occupy.
The general practice at present in constructing fire proof floors is to first fix the
iron girders and then by the aid of scaffolding and staging to spread concrete or other
similar fire proof material between them allowing such material to dry before the
scaffolding or staging is removed. This method is inconvenient inasmuch as the
scaffolding and staging obstruct the workmen engaged upon the building the storing
and mixing of the fire proof material occupies much space and considerable damage
is often done during its hoisting and spreading in addition to which there is
considerable risk to the building by reason of the expansion and contraction of the
concrete during the period of drying which extends over some months. There are
other systems in which a framing of wood or iron is fixed between the girders and
the concrete spread upon it but although no scaffolding is in these cases required
the damage and inconvenience already mentioned as incident to the use of wet
concrete still exist.
Now my invention consists in using girders of forms most suitable to the positions
they are to occupy which are encased before delivery to the building with concrete
or other similar fire proof material cast or moulded in one piece round them. These
girders are placed at convenient distances over the space the floor is to cover and
the open spaces between them are covered by blocks or slabs of concrete or other
similar fire proof material stiffened if required by small sections of iron fixed in them.
The joints between the girders and slabs are then made good with cement or other
similar material and the floor is ready for use. The fire proofing material being dry
and set before delivery there is no fear of its affecting the general stability of the
building and each floor as fixed forms a protection from the weather and also a
valuable store for other materials required in construction.
In the accompanying drawings a is the encased girder the fire proof slab e the
joints which require making good after the floor is fitted together.
Fig. 1 is the section of a floor more particularly adapted to dwelling houses or
where a finished ceiling and a wood flooring are required. This floor dispenses with
ceiling joists and laths as the plastering can be attached to the fire proof under face
Fig. 2 is a section suitable for warehouses and other buildings where a finish of the
roughest description only is required Fig. 3 is similar to Fig. 2 but the upper surface
is finished fair with asphalte cement or other material and is suitable for warehouses
stables and other purposes and also for covering spaces exposed to the weather Fig.4
is a section designed for warehouses and other structures requiring a boarded floor
but the ceiling left rough Figs. 5 to 14 (except Fig. 9) show a few sections of encased
girders.
Where the area to be covered is too great to be spanned by the ordinary encased
girders or beams main girders are introduced cased as shown in Figs. 13 and 14 but
if the weight of these main girders so encased would be inconveniently great a loose
casing may be used and be bolted on them as shown in Fig. 9 but this loose casing
forms no part of my claim Fig. 9 also shows the usual connection of the ordinary
encased girder and of the slab to the main girder.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is
In constructing fire proof floors the use as above set forth and substantially as
described of girders or beams which are encased with concrete or other similar fire
proof material cast or moulded in one piece round them before they are fixed in
position.
CHARLES STROUD WILLIAMS.