SAFETY OF LIFE FROM FIRE AT SEA. 35 



PREVENTION OF FIRE. 



The first essential for the prevention of fire is the use of non-combustible ma- 

 terial in the construction of the vessel and its fittings. The hull and important 

 bulkheads and decks of ocean liners are made of steel and this construction is used 

 for the better class of coastwise, sound, lake and river steamers. The greater 

 portion of passenger and crew space of all these vessels is combustible, however, and 

 the partial use of steel has not materially lessened the possibility of destruction by 

 fire. 



It is entirely practicable to substitute light steel for wood, but thus far the in- 

 crease in cost of about lo per cent for medium and large passenger steamers has 

 been considered prohibitive. The only other objection raised to the use of steel is 

 that a uniform temperature below decks cannot be readily maintained except by arti- 

 ficial ventilation. There are non-combustible insulating materials now available to 

 line the steel, which construction gives good results. Wood carvings, panel work, 

 etc., can also be duplicated in metal for partitions and furniture. Plaster of Paris 

 and similar materials are now used in modern liners for decorative eflfect. 



A number of paints have been claimed to fireproof wood and thus remove this 

 objection to its use, but this claim has been discredited since tests have demon- 

 strated that, while the paint retards somewhat the ignition of the wood, it does not 

 reduce its combustibility in the least. 



The next important feature of prevention is to subdivide the vessel into com- 

 paratively air-tight compartments, and fortunately the design of passenger steamers 

 lends itself readily to this construction. The watertight bulkheads, both transverse 

 and longitudinal, form fire stops similar to division walls in factories. The decks 

 still further retard the spread of fire, especially when made of steel, and the small 

 cabins and other compartments with non-combustible enclosures confine a fire so 

 that it may be readily extinguished if proper facilities are available. Fireproof 

 doors should be fitted to all important door openings, and these should be normally 

 closed or be automatically self-closing in case of fire. 



Where wooden decks are used, a clear space should be left where the funnels 

 pass through and the exposed wood faced with asbestos and sheet steel. Similar 

 protection should be provided for galley stove-pipes. Combustible goods of all sorts 

 should be kept away from these flues and other hot pipes and stored in fireproof com- 

 partments. The galley should be lined with metal and have a non-combustible floor- 

 ing. The safest location for the galley is on an upper deck. 



Cleanliness of the vessel is very important, and particularly in the case of store- 

 rooms, lockers, etc. The engine-room should be kept free of excess oils and the 

 supply of these limited. Oily waste should be stored in metal waste cans of approved 

 type until removed. 



Lamp rooms are required by law to be metal lined and have an oil-tight floor. 

 When oil lamps are used they should have metal bodies and be securely fastened in 

 place. Any woodwork over them should be protected by metal shields. Torches are 



