CONSTEUCTlOlSr AND FIRE PROTECTION OF COTTON WAREHOUSES. 53 



figure 2 of this drawing-. The width of the part of the T that 

 forms a section of the exterior wall should be 6 feet. Only very 

 exceptional conditions demand the increase of this length. If a 

 wooden platform is used the portion of the platform adjacent 

 to the T of the division wall should be of concrete. This may be 

 a paved section supported by low wall and earth fill or it may be of 

 i-einforced concrete. The exterior wall shown by figure 1 forms 

 fully as good ;v fire break as the T wall and is much cheaper in 

 construction. If the platform is of w^ood it should be broken at 

 the division fire wall by a paved section 6 feet or more in length 

 as shown by the drawing. The extension w^all itself should project 

 8 feet beyond the frame or tile exterior wall. Such extensions should 

 not be counted in the length of the wall for determination of ex- 

 cessive length as efi'ecting thickness. Neither is it necessary that 

 the required wall thickness be used for this portion of the wall, as 

 12 inches is satisfactory. For either design the top of the division 

 wall, including the extension or T section, should extend 3 feet 

 above the roof and should be finished with a coping as described 

 under " Slow-burning construction." As in that instance, the para- 

 pet should be 12 inches thick, this same thickness being used for 

 the T wall or the extension for any reasonable height of wall. 



The same factors governing preferred designs are to be found 

 here that were pointed out in the discussion of slow-burning con- 

 struction. The features of compartment size and number of stories 

 are the same. The use of concrete platforms is even more im- 

 portant than in the former case. The exterior wall should be of 

 light framing weatherboarded and should provide sliding wooden 

 doors. Thin tile curtain walls -may be used to good advantage, but 

 do not justify a very great increase in cost over the frame. Divi- 

 sion fire walls may terminate in either manner described. The T 

 wall costs more but is an advantage if platforms are narrow. The 

 projected extension wall afi'ords fully as satisfactory protection. 



The roof of the eaves should extend over the wall about 12 inches. 

 A hanging gutter is a very desirable finish. Wind anchors for 

 roof timbers at exterior walls of frame are of little value, but if 

 the exterior wall is of tile, suitable anchors of wrought iron should 

 be provided at pilasters. Posts should be secured to roof framing. 



A good example of this semislow-burning construction adapted 

 to trying conditions of the site is shown in Plate XXA^III. figure 1. 

 Here the basement is well drained and the floor waterproofed. The 

 fire hazard incident to the wooden platforms is minimized by the 

 fact that the platform is really detached from the building as shown 

 in the detailed photograph (PL XXVIII, fig. 2). This view also 

 shows the fire break formed by the division fire wall. 



