THE RECENT FIRE AT MELBOURNE. 1003 
and the bars and tracks are especially liable to destruction by fire, 
even when supported by solid brickwork, as they always should be. 
The protection of windows is of vital importance, especially in 
narrow lanes, and should be made compulsory where they are 
less than 33 ft. in width. The experience of the Mutual Store 
shows conclusively that wire gauze is ineffective, and, so far, I 
know of nothing better than iron shutters. 
Turning now to the question of floors and columns, we come to 
a subject which has received more attention than any other in 
connection with fire-proofing, as it is apparent that if a fire can 
be only localised, even for a short time until aid is obtained, most 
of the serious fires would be nipped in the bud. As, however, I 
dealt very fully with this part of the subject in my previous paper, 
T will not now go into the matter again. I may, however, remark 
that ten years ago the system I advocated as the best, viz., the 
use of hollow terra cotta blocks in conjunction with iron girders, 
at that time quite unused in Australia, has since been much 
adopted in good buildings, and, amongst others, in the Mutual 
Store. There is no doubt that, owing to this sy stem the firemen 
were able to check each outbreak as it occurred and so helped to 
save the building. JI cannot, however, leave this portion of 
the subject without referring to the very general but erroneous 
impression that zinc is non-imflammable, and hence good material 
for ceilings, a mistake into which a recent insurance authority fell 
in writing an article on fire prevention in the Sydney Daily 
Telegraph. As a matter of fact, zinc melts at 736°, ignites at a 
slightly higher temperature, and in most large fires this point is 
reached at “quite an early stage of the conflagration. From every 
point of view plaster is more fire resisting, and even thin sheet iron 
is much better than zine. The recently introduced asbetic plaster 
promises well, and it is claimed to be fire proof. 
But no precaution with floors and columns prevails much if stair- 
cases are open and unprotected, and lift-shafts are cut through the 
floors from bottom to top. Where the site has a side frontage the 
plan of subdivision adopted in the M.L.A., Sydney, and Mutual 
Store in Melbourne is the best ; but the majority of sites have access 
and light only at front and rear. It is, however, quite possible to 
plan the staircase and lifts so that they shall not add to the danger 
of a fire spreading, but afford a safe means of exit to employees 
and access to the whole building to the fireman on whatever floor 
the fire may have started. The sketch plans show two arrange- 
ments. The one marked ‘‘ A” assumes the need of a passenger as 
well asa goods lift ; and “B” that of a goods lift only. With iron 
doors to the staircase and goods lift, and a fire resisting floor and 
ceiling, a fire might smoulder for a considerable time before it 
would break through the windows or work through to the floors 
above or below. Plan ‘“B” is more economical and even safer, 
