NA JURE 



217 



THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 1903. 



FIRE PREVENTION. 



Facts on Fire Prevention. Edited by Edwin O. Sachs. 

 , 2 Vols. Vol. i., pp. xxvi!i + 219 ; vol. ii., pp. vi + 226. 



(London : Batsford, 1902.) 

 ^■pHERE is so much solid matter in these works and 

 *■ such an amount of detail beyond the scope of an 

 ordinary review that at first sight it seems difficult to 

 summarise the whole ; but an effort may be made to 

 bring out the essential points sufficiently to indicate the 

 general purport of the important subject dealt with in the 

 445 pages and the numerous illustrations contained in 

 the two volumes under notice. 



The principle adopted by the British Fire Prevention 

 Committee is to give actual results of a number of 

 practical investigations into materials and systems of 

 construction, without commenting on or recommending 

 any individual material or method, leaving entirely to 

 those interested in buildings to judge for themselves as 

 to how far such materials or methods accord with their 

 individual requirements or specific works. 



Of this principle as here enunciated almost in the Com- 

 mittee's own words, entire approval may be accorded ; but 

 when they go on to add that the adoption of remedies for 

 existing defects can only be attained by the aid of 

 legislation, meaning, of course, additional legislation, a 

 totally new subject comes under consideration, on which 

 it is necessary to join issue. 



A careful study of the existing building laws, at least 

 in London, goes to show that what is wanted is not so 

 much new legislation as the faithful, firm, honourable 

 and scrupulous execution of the present laws. 



In short, it comes to this. The laws have been care- 

 fully thought out and, though not perfect, are quite 

 sufficiently clear to justify responsible public bodies in 

 carrying them out with strictness ; but the responsible 

 bodies are timid, not to say cowardly or worse, and the 

 result is that everyone who chooses to fly in the face of 

 the legal ordinances obtains some sympathetic approval 

 from the general public and, what is much more un- 

 fortunate, occasional specific support from certain 

 members of the public body charged with the duty of 

 carrying out the orders of the legislature. 



One of the most extraordinary and discreditable 

 characteristics of our time is that every public body from 

 the highest to the lowest now seems to contain a few 

 members whose boast it is to oppose in every possible 

 way the known intentions of the legislature, even in the 

 special matters which the legislature has delegated to 

 their charge. 



This may seem to be a digression from the subject, but 

 a brief explanation may be offered. 



In America, the building laws are absolutely perfect. 

 Even the Code Napoleon, the most complete of all, and, 

 in fact, the model of all, was not more perfect, if there 

 can be degrees in perfection, and yet in America, 

 with an expenditure on fire appliances unparalleled else- 

 where, the losses by fire are so heavy as to bring tire- 

 NO. 1752, VOL. 67] 



insurance companies almost to despair and outlying 

 communities occasionally to ruin. 



It is not too much to hope that the time is coming 

 when we can look with confidence and satisfaction to the 

 honourable and rigid execution of our existing laws — in 

 short, to the honesty and courage of those responsible 

 for carrying out the duties which they have undertaken. 



This is a point on which it is necessary to express a 

 disagreement from the views of the British Fire Preven- 

 tion Committee. 



The Committee says that the Building Act of the 

 Metropolis requires material revision and that oppor- 

 tunity should be taken to restrict change of purpose in 

 buildings from that for which they were originally con- 

 structed ; but to a thoughtful and experienced reader of 

 the existing laws, it would appear that all such subjects 

 have been sufficiently dealt with, and that it only requires 

 honest and straightforward action on the part of the 

 executive to carry out the undoubted intentions of the 

 legislature. 



This seems to be the great difficulty, the only real 

 difficulty, at the present time, but it is very serious. 



Consideration for interested individuals appears to be 

 greater than consideration for communities, and all the 

 weaker members of public bodies seem to lean towards 

 concessions and immunities, although their position and 

 sworn acceptance of duty to carry out existing laws 

 admit of no mitigation or modification. 



If ever there are found men in this country, as it may 

 be assumed there will be in time, determined to carry 

 out faithfully and rigidly the laws under which they are 

 embodied, a great change will be observed ; until then 

 we must wait and hope, but we do hope with confidence. 



The practical methods of testing building materials 

 and modes of construction adopted by this Committee 

 are most complete, and the results are consequently 

 trustworthy. 



In " Facts on Fire Prevention," it is stated that for the 

 reduction of loss by fire two remedies are to be found — 

 one, better building construction, the other, more efficient 

 methods of extinguishing fires — and with the latter the 

 present work is stated "to have nothing to do on this 

 occasion," a wise limitation on the part of those con- 

 cerned, as it is highly improbable, indeed almost im- 

 possible, that they can have had experience in the difficult 

 business of extinguishing conflagrations. 



The following tests are selected from the very large 

 number detailed in the books : — 



" A Floor of Solid Wood Beams. 

 " Object of Test. 



"To record the effect of a smouldering fire of twenty 

 minutes' duration at a temperature not exceeding 500° F., 

 followed by a fierce fire of one hour gradually increasing 

 to a temperature of 2000° F., followed suddenly by the 

 application of a stream of water for five minutes and the 

 consequent rapid cooling. 



"The area of the floor was 100 or 10 x 10 superficial 

 feet, and it was loaded with 2olbs. to the square foot. 



" Summary of Effect. 



" The under surface of the wood beams was charred to 

 an average depth of two inches, but beyond this no 

 damage was done." 



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