IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-PROOF STRUCTURES AND IN MEANS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRE WHICH MAY ARISE IN ANY OF THE COM-. PARTMENTS OF SUCH OR OTHER STRUCTURES."
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Franc Sadleir Brereton, of No. 36, Lincoln's
Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex, Architect and Surveyor,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-PROOF STRUCTURES AND
IN MEANS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRE WHICH MAY ARISE IN ANY OF THE COM-.
PARTMENTS OF SUCH OR OTHER STRUCTURES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Franc Sadleir Brereton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 18th July 1874.
I, FRANC SADLEIR BRERETON, of No. 36, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
5 County of Middlesex, Architect and Surveyor, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-PROOF STRUCTURES
AND IN MEANS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRE WHICH MAY ARISE IN ANY OF THE COM-
PARTMENTS OF SUCH OR OTHER STRUCTURES," to be as follows:-
: 1
The object of the Invention is to obtain a structure composed of a
number of compartments on the same and successive floors, every one of
which compartments by being composed of bricks or fire-proof com-

page_text: position without the necessity for iron as a supporting means, will in the
event of fire arising in one compartment prevent its communication to
another. For this purpose structures according to my Invention are
composed of a succession of compartments in single or double column,
divided from each other horizontally by walls of brick or other suitable
fire-proof material, and vertically by arches of similar material with an
independent opening to each. At each end of such row or succession of
chambers I provide other series of chambers, the longitudinal walls of
which are placed so as to form abutments to counteract the outward end-
way thrust of the series of compartments first referred to. These end
or abutment chambers may be in double series with a transverse passage
between them, so as to increase their power of resisting outward thrust,
and they may be carried up to any desired height. Generally I form
such structures quadrangular with the series of transverse abutment
chambers as towers at the angles or corners. The walls of the passages
to the compartments in these towers together with other transverse
´arched piers, serve to aid the counter thrust to the end or cross serics of
chambers of such quadrangle.
Access to the respective fire-proof compartments above the ground
floor may be by balconies, or such like external passages formed of non-
inflammable material. On or below the ground floor the centre portion
or enclosed area of each quadrangle may be formed of similar fire-proof
compartments accessible by corridors, which may have light admitted to
them through cast-iron frames filled in with glass, or what are commonly
called illuminated gratings. Each of these compartments is provided
either with a centre rose or a series of them suspended at or near the
highest parts and connected by suitable pipes with a reservoir of
water or a high pressure service such that in the event of fire originating
in any one of these chambers, water from such rose or series of them
may be capable of being distributed over the whole surface of such
compartment, and thus checking and extinguishing any such fire by the
turning on of a suitable tap or valve.
In place of roses pipes with numerous perforations therein for the
same purpose may be applied all round the ceiling or roof of each
chamber or in other of the angles thereof. The doorways to the
respective compartments are closed by doors of fire-clay, or fire-proof
composition, or other suitable fire-proof material.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Franc Sadleir Brereton in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 16th January 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FRANC
SADLEIR BRERETON, of No. 36, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, Architect and Surveyor, send greeting.
1
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her.
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Franc Sadleir Brereton, Her special license
that I, the said Franc Sadleir Brereton, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Franc Sadleir Brereton, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN FIRE-PROOF STRUCTURES AND IN MEANS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRE.
WHICH MAY ARISE IN ANY OF THE COMPARTMENTS OF SUCH OR OTHER STRUCTURES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Franc Sadleir
Brereton, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their; or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed.
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and.
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Franc Sadleir Brereton, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof, that is to say :-
-
The object of the Invention is to obtain a structure composed of a
number of compartments on the same and successive floors, every one of
which compartments by being composed of bricks or fire-proof com-
position without the necessity for iron as a supporting means, will in the

page_text: event of fire arising in one compartment prevents its communication to
another. For this purpose structures according to my Invention are
composed of a succession of compartments in single or double column,
divided from each other horizontally by walls of brick or other suitable
fire-proof material, and vertically by arches of similar material with an
independent opening to each. At each end of such row or succession of
chambers I provide other series of chambers, the longitudinal walls of
which are placed so as to form abutments to counteract the outward
endway, thrust of the series of compartments first referred to. These
end or abutment chambers may be in double series with a transverse
passage between them, so as to increase their power of resisting outward
thrust, and they may be carried up to any desired height. Generally I
form such structures quadrangular with the series of transverse abut-
ment chambers, as towers at the angles or corners. The walls of the
passages to the compartments in these towers together with other
transverse arched piers, serve to aid the counter thrust to the end or
cross series of chambers of such quadrangle.
.
Access to the respective fire-proof compartments above the ground
floor may be by balconies, or such like external passages formed of non-.
inflammable material. On or below the ground floor the centre portion
or enclosed area of eacli quadrangle may be formed of similar fire-proof
compartments accessible by corridors, which may have light admitted to:
them through cast-iron frames filled in with glass or what are commonly;
called illuminated gratings. Each of these compartments is provided:
either with a centre rose or a series of them suspended at or near the
highest parts, and connected by suitable pipes with a reservoir of water
or a high pressure service, such that in the event of fire originating in
any one of these chambers water from such rose or series of them may
be capable of being distributed over the whole surface of such compart-
ment, and thus checking and extinguishing any such fire by the turning a
on of a suitable tap or valve.
In place of roses pipes with numerous perforations therein for the
same purpose may be applied all round the ceiling or roof of each
chamber, or in other of the angles thereof. The doorways to the
respective compartments are closed by doors of fire-clay, or fire-proof
composition, or other suitable fire-proof material.
- But that the Invention may be fully understood I will by the aid of

page_text: the accompanying Drawings proceed to describe means pursued by me
in carrying the same into effect.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shows by plan view portions of a quadrangle of compart
ments or chambers of a structure of the character referred to; Figures ·
2 and 3 show vertical sections of that shown by Figure 1 but drawn to a
larger scale, the sections being taken on the line 1, 1, and 2, 2, of
Figure 1 respectively; Figure 4 shows on a larger scale a portion taken
at one of the angles of the plan view Figure 1.
Figures 5 and 6 show by plan views slight modifications of the.
arrangements represented by Figures 1, 2, and 3.
In each of the views the same letters are employed to indicate
corresponding parts wherever they occur.
a, a, are a series of single compartments formed between the outer"
walls 6, and the inner walls c, and divided from each other by walls d, d,
whilst these chambers or compartments à are formed with buttresses
d', d', which are connected by arches d². These buttresses d with their
arches d serve to strengthen the partition walls d to give increased:
support to any floors over them, and to afford increased stability to the
general structure. The entrance to each compartment a is through a
doorway e from the interior of the quadrangle when that form is adopted,
and such doors to these and other of the compartments are formed of
fire-clay, or fire-proof composition, or material aided by only so much>
metal work as will serve to enable them to be readily turned as on
hinges for their readily opening or closing, and security against illicit>
opening when they are closed, or by double or other suitable fire resisting>
doors. At each end of a row of such chambers or compartments a, or
at the points of approach towards each other of series of such compart-
ments placed at angles-to each other, there are formed other series of
chambers or compartments f, g, which are arranged so that they may
form abutments to such series a, and effect a counter thrust to any
lateral thrust on the walls of the compartments a, a. In order that this :
counter thrust may act the more effectually on the series, the ends g₁ of
the compartments 9 are of an arched form, and to counteract any
endway thrust to the series of compartments at a rectangle or other
angle. thereto, the compartments fare separated from the compartments:
:

page_text: ġ by a passage h adapted to form communication to each compartment
fand g, separately by the walls i, i, and these walls are only perforated
for the purpose of such communication by means of arched openings
,, which are capable of being closed by doors of the character stated.
The chambers fand-g, and passages h are also formed with arched piers &
f, g, and h¹, further to aid such counter thrust. All the roofs to these
chambers a, f and g, and the passages h, are arched to give increased
resisting power to any weight placed on the floors above; h² are passages
from the exterior to the passages h. Each upper tier of chambers a
above the ground floor is provided with a balcony j formed of strong and 3
non-combustible material supported at intervals by columns k, as more
clearly indicated by Figure 7, or otherwise.
Figures 5 and 6 represent plans of ranges of such chambers forming
each a row or terrace, without being connected to others so as to form
in plan a quadrangle or other Figure; Figure 6 also shows the chambers
a arranged in double tier or column separated by walls d³ such arrange-
ment of double tier or column is also applicable to quadrangular or other
arrangements of the structure.
Figures 7,8, and 9, show an arrangement of pipes and jets by which water
may in case of fire arising in any of the compartments or chambers, be
let into such chamber or chambers from a suitably elevated reservoir or
from a main under pressure, so that water may at once be distributed in
jets all over any one or any number of such compartments for the
purpose of extinguishing such-fire. 1, 1, represent a series of basement
chambers below which a series of mains m may be laid with pipes of:
communication n therefrom, one for each compartment or chamber to
other pipes o along the angles or other parts of the ceilings of such
chambers and which pipes o are perforated with numerous holes adapted
to cause the water to flow out therefrom in numerous jets in various
directions, so that every part of each chamber may become thoroughly.
saturated. A separate view of a portion of one of these pipes o and of a
supply pipe n thereto is shown by Figure 10. In place of the per-
forations being formed in continuous pipes, they may be formed as roses-
at intervals adapted to insure complete distribution, and in place of
water being employed steam or gas adapted to extinguish fire may be
supplied through suitable outlets.
The mains and the branches to the respective compartments are
provided with taps or valves to direct the flow of the water or other fire

page_text: extinguishing media as required, such taps or valves or the connections
to them are placed in positions readily available when and where
required.
Having thus described my Invention and means which I adopt in
carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that I do not
confine myself to the precise arrangements of the various parts of such
structures as shown and described, as the same may be varied without
departing from the peculiar character of the Invention; but what I
claim is, the improvements in fire-proof structures whereby the walls of
the various compartments are arranged to aid in supporting one the
other, and those at the ends or angles of series of them act as counter
thrusts to such series, and the adaptation or combination of means by
which water or other fire extinguishing media may be supplied to
the compartments of such or other structures, for the purpose of
extinguishing fire which may arise therein, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Franc Sadleir Brereton, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of January,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five.