Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 224, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 September 1916 — HOME TOWN HELPS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

HOME TOWN HELPS

WOULD GUARD AGAINST FIRE National' Board of Underwriter* Urges Greater Care in the Construction of Dwelling. Realizing the large annual losses sustained by thousands of home owners through construction which , tends to spread fires Instead of retarding them, the committee on construction of buildings of the national board of fire underwriters has issued a booklet of 115 pages on roOhods of in-, creasing the fire-resistive qualities of dwellings, says Engineering Record. Builders everywhere, especially In localities outside the control of building ordinances (and by far the majority of ordinary dwellings are built In such localities), will find valuable information in this presentation of methods for making houses reasonably safe from fire. Particularly important, not only for builders, but for owners and the general .public, are the sections devoted to floor and roof construction; chimneys, flues, smokepipes and fireplaces; fire stopping and general precautions, for fire protection. Generally recognized dangers from such old offenders as shingle roofs, unllned chimneys, unprotected stairways and .shafts ’are strikingly illustrated, and many simple and effective, while relatively inexpensive, devices in construction which retard the spread of fire are clearly explained. Every potential house owner will find It profitable to become familiar wlth these building precautions,' which may prevent lose of life as well as of property. Engineers, through their positions in building departments and their participation as plain citizens in civic associations, chambers of commerce and similar organizations, can let it be known that ordinary dwellings can readily be improved as to their fire-resistive qualities, and can direct interested parties to the propef source of information.