CONSTRUCTIOlSr AND FTEE PROTECTION OF (JOTTON WAREHOUSES. 61 



BOILER HOUSE. 



If a steam boiler is needed for the operation of a press or other 

 purpose tlie })oi]er preferably should be in a house or compartment 

 entirely detached from the compress and storage compai-tment. Tlie 

 building should be of fire-resistive construction. SloAV-burning con- 

 struction for the roof, however, is satisfactory provided all exposures 

 to other buildings are Avell protected by parapet walls. If a detached 

 boiler house is not feasible, a satisfactory arrangement is to have 

 the boiler room entirely cut off from the other portions of the build- 

 mg by fire walls. The dividing walls should be solid with all open- 

 ings confimed to the exterior Avail and roof. 



FIRE-PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. 



Fire-protective equipment — frequently spoken of as " fire protec- 

 tion "—is of such importance for the cotton warehouse that its con- 

 sideration should be given at least equal weight with the type of 

 construction to be used. The warehouse owner will do Avell to con- 

 sider very complete fire protection as essential and to provide the 

 best equipment he possibly can afford. For- many conditions, if 

 capital is limited, it is advisable to determine the necessary appro- 

 priation for fire protection and then decide on the type of construc- 

 tion which can be undertaken. At the same time it should be borne 

 in mind that this equipment can be added after the warehouse is 

 built, while the building construction can not be changed readily. 



The relative cost at which different features of the equipment 

 may be provided depends in a large measure on the location and 

 the size of the plant. Certainly no warehouse is so small or isolated 

 that it can not be furnished with water barrels and pails, though 

 frequently small warehouses can not provide complete fire-protec- 

 tive equipment. The automatic sprinkler system and yard hydrants, 

 both connected with adequate water supplies, should be provided in 

 all cases possible. Any warehouse having a capacity of more than 

 1,000 bales of cotton should have either hydrant or sprinkler equip- 

 ment, and at least one of these forms of protection should be con- 

 sidered absolutely essential. The need for complete fire-protecti^^'e 

 equipment can scarcely be over emphasized where cotton is con- 

 cerned. 



Watchman service should be provided in many cases. The value 

 of this service varies greatly with the size of plant and character of 

 the service, while very small warehouses can not afford the expense. 



WATER BARRELS AND PAILS. 



Barrels filled with water and suitably placed are of tremendous 

 value in protecting cotton. That barrels filled with water with fire 



