CONSTRUCTION AND FIRE PROTECTION OF COTTON WAREHOUSES. 57 



FRAME CONSTRUCTION. 



Frame construction for the cotton warelionse may be used in some 

 cases. Such buildings should not be of the ordinary joisted constiaic- 

 tion, Avith very liglit rafters and thin sheeting. The roof should be 

 of the same construction as that described for semi-slow-burning, and 

 the walls should be the same as those used for the " wood end." It is 

 essential that such buildings be well separated, a distance of 100 feet 

 being required between each building and any other building. Such 

 an arrangement generally is not economical except in case of very 

 low value of real estate. The cost of yard hydrant piping is increased 

 very much by this necessary scattering of buildings. 



If conditions warrant the frame construction it is well to arrange 

 the buildings in a straight line in order that possible expansion of 

 capacit}^ may be effected by closing in the intervening space, thus 

 forming additional compartments in such manner as to be divided 

 by fire walls suitably placed. Therefore it is well to adjust the area 

 and height of the buildings in such manner as to give for them and 

 the future additions the capacity advised for compartments. Like 

 the semi-slow-burning design, one story is most desirable and two low 

 stories should not be exceeded. Where two stories are used, an in- 

 clined runway, or platform, may be provided in order that cotton 

 may be trucked to the higher level. 



The construction of the roof — and floor, if there is an interme- 

 diate, or second, floor — should be of the heavy slow-burning type as 

 this will greatly facilitate the extinguishment of fire and limit ex- 

 tent of damage. Moreover, such construction is but little more ex- 

 pensive than the light frame construction when the element of labor 

 cost is considered. 



"IRON-CLAD" CONSTRUCTION. 



The type of construction commonly known as " iron-clad," or the 

 warehouse built of a light wood frame having sides and roof cov- 

 ered with sheet iron, fulfills its greatest usefulness in the case of 

 isolated small warehouses and is used largely on account of the 

 economy with v>^hich it can be constructed. This construction is 

 practically proof against exposure to sparks. However, the thin 

 metal affords but little protection against heat tO' the framing and 

 therefore the spacing of the buildings with reference to each other 

 and surrounding exposures should be the same as is recommended 

 for the frame warehouse. 



