CONSTRUCTION AND FIRE PROTECTION OF COTTON WAREHOUSES. 59 



case it is desirable that supporting piers of masonry extend up to the 

 floor timbers as this eliminates framing and bracing wliich con- 

 tributes to accumulation of trash under the platform with the conse- 

 quent fire hazard and general unsightliness. For this reason, also, 

 the space under the platform should be inclosed by boarding. 



Sheds should not be used in courts between buildings unless the 

 warehouse is of slow-burning or fire-resistive construction. Even 

 then the shed should not extend within 25 feet of the warehouse. 

 Shedded courts combined with " wood-end " buildings, while pro- 

 tecting the cotton under the shed, tend to make the whole plant or 

 large sections of it a single fire risk. 



Sheds of the open type used over platforms or independent of them 

 may be of fire-resistive, slow-burning, or iron-clad construction. For 

 most situations the use of the shed does not justify the cost of fire- 

 resistive construction. The slow-burning construction is generally 

 most suitable for this use. Sheds covering more than 25,000 square 

 feet should be divided by fire walls so that no area will exceed this 

 amount. Fire doors in such a wall should not be u.sed unless inclosed 

 by a vestibule as described previously. Division fire walls for this 

 use should always terminate with the T end, which should be 20 

 feet long. 



CLASSING ROOM AND OFFICE. 



A properly lighted room for grading the cotton samples is very 

 desirable for many plants. Such a room is shown hj the photograph 

 in Plate XXIX, figures 1 and 2. The lighting here Is excellent for 

 the work as the windows and saw-tooth skylights are turned to the 

 north so as to maintain a uniform intensity and diffusion of light 

 as far as possible. Windows and skylights should be of ribbed glass 

 and walls should be painted a light grey in order to minimize the 

 glare. The tables shown afford ample space for handling of samples. 

 Racks or tables for the boxes containing copies of the Official Cotton 

 Standards of the XTnited States may be placed for convenient 

 reference.^ 



A file room for retention of samples of cotton stored is desirable 

 and frequently is necessary. Some plants used an entire warehouse 

 compartment for samples, but a detached building with the file room 

 adjoining the classing room is preferable. Shelves should be so 

 i:ilaced as to insure quick location of any sample. 



^ See U. S. Department of Agrienlture, Bureau of Markets Service aud Regu- 

 latory Anuouucemeuts No. 6, 1916, aud No. 41, 1919. 



