The Two Great Essentials in fireproofing the structural members of a building (the columns, beams and girders) are First, to protect those members against weakening and conséquent collapse during a lire, and
Second, to make this protection so thorough that the structural parts will be equally as strong after the fire as they tverë originally.
In the use of Steel for structural purposes the second essential is secüred if the members be so well protected that they will not be distorted or collapse during the fire. Because Steel (or iron) when heated and cooled are as strong after cooling as originally. Steel and iron are not in themselves fireproof, although when first used for structural purposes they were generally believed to be so, and are still so considered by many persons in spite of the conclusive évidence to the contrary.
It is our belief (and we think it has been clearly demonstrated) that there is no material in practical use which is satisfactory as a structural material for large buildings and at the same time proof against fire unless protected bÿ some other fireproof substance.
Reinforced concrète has been held to answer the above reqüirements and is being generally used with the idea that it does so. Numerous tests have shoWn that reinforced concrète structures are apparently not damaged by fire. Except in cases of extreme heat they usually hold their position.
In nearly all such cases, however, the structure has been found to be greatly weakened.. After the Baltimore conflagration the majority of concrète floors which stayed in place during the fire had to be removed and rebuilt on account of their weakened condition. No scientific data as to the cause of this, however, has ever been secured except the tests by Prof. Ira H. Woolson, as published in the Engineering, Record of July 21, 1906, and those published in the Engineering News of July 13, 1905, in which it is clearly shown that concrète under a moderate température loses from one-third to two-thirds of its crushing (carrying or loading) strength and, unlike Steel or iron, does not regain that loss.
At our own testing Station in Chicago a fire, load and water test was recently made on reinforced concrète columns, and this data, with all other information on the subject, clearly shows that after a fire concrète structural members have entirely lost their factor of safety, at least, although no great damage may be apparent.
It demonstrates that such structures cannot preserve their strength when attacked by fire, unless substantially protected by fireproof material, and that such protection is necessary for every structural material now in use.
We illustrate herewith detail of method for fireproofing reinforced concrète girders, floors and columns, and solicit, the opportunity to submit plans and estimâtes for fireproofing the structural parts of concrète buildings:
Our Blue Book containing a detailed report of the test referred to above will be sent to any address upon requestto our Chicago office.
National Fire ProofingCompany
Manufacture« of
POROUS TERRA COTTA HOLLOW TILE
Contractors for
CONSTRUCTION OF FIREPROOF BUILDINGS
PHILADELPHIA, Land Title Building
WASHINGTON, D. C„ Colorado Building MINNEAPOLIS, MINN., Lumber Exchange LOS ANGELES, CAL., Union Trust Bldg. LONDON, ENG., 27 Chancery Lane
CHICAGO, Hartford Building
NEW YORK, Flatiron Building PITTSBURG, Fulton Building
BOSTON, 840 Old South Building ST. LOUIS, Victoria Building
National
Fire
Proofing Company
Hartford Bldg,, CHICAGO,
Please send copy of your Blue Book of Tests on Reinf o r c e d Concrète Columns.
Name.........................
Street and No............... City and State......................
A. A.
Second, to make this protection so thorough that the structural parts will be equally as strong after the fire as they tverë originally.
In the use of Steel for structural purposes the second essential is secüred if the members be so well protected that they will not be distorted or collapse during the fire. Because Steel (or iron) when heated and cooled are as strong after cooling as originally. Steel and iron are not in themselves fireproof, although when first used for structural purposes they were generally believed to be so, and are still so considered by many persons in spite of the conclusive évidence to the contrary.
It is our belief (and we think it has been clearly demonstrated) that there is no material in practical use which is satisfactory as a structural material for large buildings and at the same time proof against fire unless protected bÿ some other fireproof substance.
Reinforced concrète has been held to answer the above reqüirements and is being generally used with the idea that it does so. Numerous tests have shoWn that reinforced concrète structures are apparently not damaged by fire. Except in cases of extreme heat they usually hold their position.
In nearly all such cases, however, the structure has been found to be greatly weakened.. After the Baltimore conflagration the majority of concrète floors which stayed in place during the fire had to be removed and rebuilt on account of their weakened condition. No scientific data as to the cause of this, however, has ever been secured except the tests by Prof. Ira H. Woolson, as published in the Engineering, Record of July 21, 1906, and those published in the Engineering News of July 13, 1905, in which it is clearly shown that concrète under a moderate température loses from one-third to two-thirds of its crushing (carrying or loading) strength and, unlike Steel or iron, does not regain that loss.
At our own testing Station in Chicago a fire, load and water test was recently made on reinforced concrète columns, and this data, with all other information on the subject, clearly shows that after a fire concrète structural members have entirely lost their factor of safety, at least, although no great damage may be apparent.
It demonstrates that such structures cannot preserve their strength when attacked by fire, unless substantially protected by fireproof material, and that such protection is necessary for every structural material now in use.
We illustrate herewith detail of method for fireproofing reinforced concrète girders, floors and columns, and solicit, the opportunity to submit plans and estimâtes for fireproofing the structural parts of concrète buildings:
Our Blue Book containing a detailed report of the test referred to above will be sent to any address upon requestto our Chicago office.
National Fire ProofingCompany
Manufacture« of
POROUS TERRA COTTA HOLLOW TILE
Contractors for
CONSTRUCTION OF FIREPROOF BUILDINGS
PHILADELPHIA, Land Title Building
WASHINGTON, D. C„ Colorado Building MINNEAPOLIS, MINN., Lumber Exchange LOS ANGELES, CAL., Union Trust Bldg. LONDON, ENG., 27 Chancery Lane
CHICAGO, Hartford Building
NEW YORK, Flatiron Building PITTSBURG, Fulton Building
BOSTON, 840 Old South Building ST. LOUIS, Victoria Building
National
Fire
Proofing Company
Hartford Bldg,, CHICAGO,
Please send copy of your Blue Book of Tests on Reinf o r c e d Concrète Columns.
Name.........................
Street and No............... City and State......................
A. A.