UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
sZ&%*su 
BULLETIN No. 801 
Contribution from the Bureau of Markets 
GEORGE LIVINGSTON, Acting Chief 
Washington, D. C. 
PROFESSIONAL PAPER 
December 15, 1919 
CONSTRUCTION AND FIRE PROTECTION OF 
COTTON WAREHOUSES. 1 
By J. M. Workman. 
CONTENTS. 
Page. 
Primary factors in warehouse de- 
sign 1 
Fire-resistive construction 16 
Slow-burning construction 41 
Senii-slow-burning construction 50 
Frame construction 57 
Iron-clad construction 57 
Page. 
Auxiliary structures 58 
Fire protective equipment 61 
Precautions against fire 75 
Selection of warehouse design 76 
Appendix. Standard warehouse 
plans 79 
PRIMARY FACTORS IN WAREHOUSE DESIGN. 
The construction and fire protection of warehouses for cotton 
has suffered much from the apparent simplicity of the subject. The 
majority of cotton warehouses do not combine the essentials for real 
economy of construction and fire protection with advantageous in- 
surance rates largely because of inefficient planning. The design 
and construction of the cotton warehouse should be handled by a 
competent engineer having a thorough understanding of construc- 
tion, fire protection, insurance requirements and rates, together with 
some knowledge of warehouse management. 
'Definite suggestions in regard to construction of buildings and fire pro- 
tection based on desirable principles and practice are presented in this bulletin. 
Very detailed information, of interest chiefly to the designer of warehouses, 
is printed in small type as footnotes. 
These recommendations as to construction are in general harmony with 
the Building Code recommended by the National Board of Fire Underwriters. 
Acknowledgment is made of valuable assistance rendered by Prof. Ira H. 
Woolson, in the preparation of this discussion. 
128983°— 19— Bull. 801 1 
