^ .Ml •' VV'Hi mf;.- ; ... ■' S'": ;. \ / v‘ ji-^'i^A''<-’"•/s'’-" "k' 'i vvf'''''^ if **5^ >•'"v^*“* f* ‘ ^ ML<'^\ I t ^ c:. .c ^44/ m'-*, .f-i . ^^ ^ -: v ^> e ^v> / '■\ ^ ::fr'^^'4’ V4'r4"^^'"^4/i?4 A"ji :iY-ic,^Ki, .^5;Av^' ‘-V'^ ■«,..?'■, •% ic-'V-v?." ' 4 .-- V- .'■‘vfyr4''^' •.i':'--'’rvrf-.'4- -- r"4?./...-" : ^'v ^ ^ 4 4 VT'^a'; V' ” A' '' ' -’' 4 #: I I RESOLUTIONS OF THE Affociated Archite6ls; WITH THE REPORT OF A COMMITTEE BY THEM APPOINTED To conjider the Caufes of the frequent FIRES, AND THE BEST MEANS OF PREVENTING THE LIRE IN FUTURE. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2018 with funding from Getty Research Institute https://archive.org/details/resolutionsofassOOasso RESOLUTIONS OF THE Affociated Architefts, To be adopted in all new Houfes built on the DUKE OF BEDFORD’S Eftates, or Houfes belonging to his Grace, let on repairing Leafes, in Cafes where fuch Repairs include relaying of Floors, or refetting the wooden Staircafes. I I INTRODUCTION. iniiiiiii I [firiiiiiin E'ARLY in the laft: year, the Aflbciation of Ardii- ttfts in London, confiding of the following Pro- felTors:—Robert Bretringham, Jofcph Bonomi, John Carr, Sir William Chambers, Samuel Pepys Cocke¬ rell, George Dance, Thomas Hardwick, Henry Holland, Richard Jnpp, James Lewis, Robert Mylne, James Payne, Nicholas Rivett, Thomas Sandby, John Soane, James Wyatt, John Yenn, Efquirts, took into confideration the caufes of the frequent Fires within the limit of the A6t of the iqtli of Geo. III. ch. 73. for the further and better regu¬ lation of Buildings, and Party Walls, See. Sec. and the bed means that can be adopted for preventing the like in future. In order that this fubjedl: might meet'with the full and ample inveftigation that its importance required, a Committee of the whole Aflbeiation was appointed, with full powers as to expence, and every other means of inquiry and information. The attention with which this Objedl has been purfued by the Commit¬ tee has been indefatigable, and has been rewarded with complete fuccefs. The Committee early faw and refolved, That as good Party Walls are the means of confining a Fire to one Houfe, fo other pradficable and not ex- penfive means might be devifed, which will confine a Fire to one room in a houfe.” Imprelfed with a j'enfe^ of this truth, they proceeded to inc^uire how M this 11 INTRODUCTION, this important objcft might moft cffedtually be at¬ tained ; and as feveral excellent methods have been propoled by very able and ingenious men, little re¬ mained for the Committee to do, but to afeertain their refpcdlive merits, and the bed manner of ap¬ plying them. With this view, they procured two itrect houfes, and directed them to be finilned for habitation ; and on thefe houfes, fecured in fuch a manner as Teemed beft calculated to elucidate their theory, a variety of experiments have been made, highly fuccefsful in their progrefs, and fatisfadtory in their refult. The proceedings of the Committee, and the courfe of Experiments, have been reported to the AlTocia- tion, uho have confirmed the report, and ordered it to be printed, with the hope that it may be the means of introducing into general ufc, a pradticc, irom which Society would derive the mold material advantages. Yet all new propofals are regarded with an ej e of prejudice, and there is little reaton to expedt the attainment of this defirable end without the interference and fandlion of Parliament. The afierfions of individuals, however well grounded and fatisfadtoriiy maintained, can never procure that con¬ fidence, which would readily and cheerfully be granted to the authority of the LcgiHature. About twenty years ago, the alarming frequency of Fires roufed the public attention, and produced the prefent Building Add; and this Add, had the goodnefs of its execution equalled that of the defign, would have precluded the ncceffity of the prefent confiderations: but its notorious obfeurity and in- fufficiency cails loudly for its repeal, and the elda- bliPnment of another on principles of more general utility, and couched in terms lefs liable to milinter- pretation. The numeious conflagrations, which alarm this nietropolis, are no doubt produced in a great mqa- fpre by accident, and an improper method of con- idrudding Buildings; but a very confiderable, and perhaps INTRODUCTION. Ill perhaps the greater part of them, owe their exiftencc to the dertruftive hand of the Incendiary. And on this fubjedt the Committee has obferved, with very ferious regret, that the Infurance Offices, though in many inftanccs a very valuable inftitution for this country, hare frequently proved a very fatal one, and have been principally inflrumental in producing the evil, the difaftrous confcquences of which they were defigned to alleviate. The convenience of ex¬ changing ufelcfs or ruinous buildings for a fum of money, which equals, or perhaps exceeds their ori¬ ginal value, the promptnefs of payment, and the diffi¬ culty of detedlion, are very powerful temptations, and have, by many, been found irrefiftible. Perhaps the wifdom of the Legiflature may devife fome mca- fure, by which the ill effedls of this Inftitution may be obviated, at the fame time that all its advantages are retained. Thefe are the objedls, to which the prefent conf- dcrations of the Committee have been dirtdled, and furely thefe are objedts worthy of the attention of Parliament. A Bill, formed upon thefe principles, and according to the fuggeftion? of profeffional men, may effcdtually prevent the dreadful prevalency of Fires; and what greater fervice can be rendered to Society, than reftraining the power of an Element, which operates as fo fatal an enemy to its repofe ? Without fuch affiftance, nothing is to be expedftd but a continuance of the evil: we mud expedl to fee more of our public and private buildings deftroy- ed ; more of our Manufadfories, with their valuable (lores, reduced to afhes; mor^ufefnl and innocent lives loft to Society, or individuals ruined and made miferable; and more Incendiaries fwclHng the me¬ lancholy lift of our public executions, and receiving punifliment for the commiffion of crimes, the origi¬ nal fource of which is to be found in the want of a Law, which (hall prevent the guilt by removing the temptation. London, 17(53. » RE SO. RESOLUTIONS OF THE ASSOCIATED ARCHITECTS. -A.T a meeting of the Society, London, February 2d, 1792, Refolved, That a Committee of the whol^ Club be appointed to confider the caufes of the fre¬ quent Fires within the limits of the Adi: of the 14th Geo- ch. 78, for the further and better regulation of Buildings and Party Walls, &c. &c. and the beft means that can be adopted for preventing the like in future. ■ January Received the Report of the Committee appoint¬ ed to confider the caufes of the frequent Fires, and the beft means of preventing the like in future ; and Ordered, that the fame be entered in the Minutes of the Allbciation. March ^th, 1793 . Resolved, That the Report of the Committee appointed to confider the caufes of the frequent Fires, and the beft means of preventing the like in future, be printed ; and that Mr. Floliand be dc'fired to procure the fame to be done. B 3 REPORT REPORT O? the Committee of the whole Society of Archi- teds, appuinted at a general Meeting on Friday, March I If, 1792, to confider the Caufes of the frequent Fires within the Limits of the Adt of the 14th of the King, entitled, “ An Act for the far¬ ther and better Regulation of Buildings, Party Walls,” Lc. &c. and the bed means of preventing the like in future, f H E Committee having at feveral Meetings ta- Jeen into confuleration the important fubjedl referred to them, and having formed feveral unanimous opi¬ nions and refolutions, beg leave to fubmit the fame to the General Meeting. The Committee confdcred, Fird, the Caufes of the frequent Fires; Secondly, the bed Methods of preventing the like in future : Thirdly, the means by which fuch preventions may be brought into ge¬ neral ule. I. With refjtcdl; to the fird of thefe objtdls of their confideration ; The Committee are of opinion, that the frequency of Fires is to be attributed to the fol¬ lowing circumdances, viz. I. The prefent mode of Infuring Buildings, Fur¬ niture, and Stock in Trade. The prasdice of the Fire Offices is, to pay the dim infured on the houfe, or to rebuild ; although the fum fo paid, or the Building fo re-condruhted, may be very confiderably fuperior in value to the Building dedroyed ; hence a temptation is held out to Incendiaries, to infure. very old dilapidated Buildings, for large firms, and fet them on fire, in order to obtain for a fmall pre- inium, a large fum of money or a new houfe. The recompence [ 7 ] recompencc for the damage done to furniture and flock in trade, depends on the affidavit of the In- furer, which is often violated, and about which the Offices are notfo firict as they might be, conceiving that they promote their bulinefs, by leflening the trouble attendant on the recovery of iofles. 2. The injudicious manner in which Stoves, GrateSj Coppers, and Furnaces arc frequently fixed. 3. The free, conflant, and uncontroiiled paflage of air behind the wainfeot Linings and Battenings in almofl all Buildings as ufually conftrudled, and the eafy accefs of Fire from ftory to flory, through the floors and up the ufual wooden flair-cafes, which accelerates the progrefs of Fires, from whatever acci¬ dent they begin, and is the great means of rendering Buildings combuftible. The Committee beg leave to obferve, that a care¬ ful inquiry authorifes them to fay, that Fires are more frequent and defirueflive in London, than in any other city in Europe, although the fupplies of water and fire-engines are more numerous and exceF lent in London, than any where elfe. 11 . In order to determine, fecondl’y, on the beft means of presenting the frequent Fires :—ifl. The Committee have confidered the method of preven¬ tion, propofed by David Hartley, Efq; as let forth in an Adi of the 17th of the King, for veiling in him and his heirs the means of prevention, deferibed in the following terms.—“ My invention of fecuring “ Buildings and Ships againll the calamities of Fire, is deferibed in the manner following, i. e. by the “ application of Plates of Metal and Wire, varnifhed “ or unvarniflied, to the feveral parts of Buildings or Ships, fo as t® prevent the accefs of Fire, and cur- “ rent of air; fecuring the feveral joints by doubling, “ over-lapping, foldering, riveting, or in any other “ manner clofing them up; nailing, ferewing, lew- “ ing, or in any other manner faftening the faid plates of metal into, and about the feveral parts of Buildings and Ships, as the cafe may require.” 2. Alfo C 8 ] 2. Alfo the ingenious method of Prevention, pro-* poled by Lord Stanhope, in a Paper read to the Royal Society, July 2d, 1793. (For a Copy of which, fee the Appendix, No. 1 .) 3. Alfo the method of Prevention, propofed by Mr. HeTrry Wood, defcribed by him in a letter read to the Committee, dated April yth, 1792, of which she following is a Copy :— S I R, I have made feveral expcri- ments on a method of preventing Fires, and have met with fo much fuccefs as to induce me to re- “ quell you would fubmit it to the conlideration of “ the Committee of Architedls; the principle of the Invention is, to apply a Covering in a liquid ftate “ to all Timbers ufed in a Building ; to Backs and Elbows, and to Laths, Boarding, &c. which cover- ing, when dry, becomes folid, and renders the wood incombufcible (a pattern is herewith fent), “ -whereby the prevention will be complete. The covering is of fimple, common, and cheap mate- rials, eafy in its application, requires little or no “ experience, and will not injure or impede the pro- “ grefs of the moll delicate workmanllaip. There is “ reafon to believe it will preferve the woodwork to which it is applied from decay, by dry rot or other- wife. Should thi,s objedl be thought worth the ** attention of the Committee, and any farther infor- mation or affiftance be thought neceffary or ufeful “ from me, I requeft the favour of you. Sir, to lay my humble fervices at their commands. “ I am, Sir, See. See. “ HENRY WOOD. Shane Square^ “ April2‘]thj 179X.'’^ 4. Alfo- [ 9 ] 4- Alfo feverr.l defultory, but feme ingenious, Me¬ thods of prerention, deferibed in an anonymous Pamphlet, publiflied in 1775, by J. Southern, Sc. James’s Street, entitled, “ Various Methods to pre- “ vent Fires in Houfes and Sliipping, and for pre- “ ferving the Lives of People at Fires; approved by “ the Society of Arts, Manufaflures and Commerce;” to which Pamphlet the Committee beg leave to refer. 5. Alfo the Aft of the 14th of the King for the further and better regulation of Buildings, &c. And the Committee further engaged two Carcafes or Skeletons of Street Houfes, and direfted the fitting of them up, fo as to enable them to make feve- ral ftrong and fatisfaftory Experiments, (for an ac¬ count of which, fee Appendix, No. 2.) as well froiw the Methods deferibed by others, as from fuch as oc¬ curred to the Committee themfelves. From a due inveftigation of thefe fevcral Methods propofed, and of the Experiments tried, and alfo from reflefting on the caufes W'hich are principally inflrumental in accelerating the progrefsof Fires, the Committee have been enabled to draw the following conclufions; That as good Party Walls are the means of confin¬ ing a Fire to one houfe, fo other prafticable and not expenfive means will confine a Fire to one room in ft houfe * : but buildings, in which hazardous trades are carried on, require particular preventions and re¬ gulations. That ^ As all flame catches afid exifls only on the furface of inflain-* Enable bodies, we are hence led to invent Methods of cafing, or Qtherwife defending the Woodwork of Ship? and Buildings from accidents by Fire. Chemical LeSurcs by Peter Shavj, M.D. F.R.S. 1751. Lehl. 2.5. Ax. 7. . The diftribution of thefe Plans are intended to he generally ap¬ plicable to Houfes of Timber, as well as to thofe of Brick or Stone; Ibthatthe exteriorWalls may be of either of thofe materials, and of any competent fubflance, diverlified with breaks or recefles, at the pleafurs of the Builder, without his being under the neceffity of z making [ lo 3 That the great principle of prevention is to flop the progrefs and circulation of the Air in all the parts of a Building concealed from the eye, i. e. not to I'uffer Air to pafs behind Wainfcot Linings or Bat¬ tening, or in the thicknefs of the Floors, which may be done fafely and by various means, without the lead injury to the health of the inhabitants. On the contrary, the ill effects of the wind, which frequently finds its way through cracks and crevices, will be en¬ tirely obviated.—Nor is there any reafon to appre- hencl dry rot from any of the methods which have been mentioned, when properly applied; and all harbour for vermine will be deflroyed. That the means of prevention, deferibed by Mr. Hartley and Lord Stanhope, are effedfual; that by Mr. Wood, lefs fo, but very ferviceable at the back of all Wainfcot Lining, &c. That Mr. Hartley’s Plates are in their application much lefs liable to injury than Lord Stanhope’s Me¬ thod ; which, as it is neceflary that it Ihould be quite dry before the boards are laid, mull be guarded from accident during that time. But if Lord Stanhope’s method is ftrengthened by a guaige of Plaifler or Quick Lime, there will be little to apprehend. That « making any change In the internal p^rts whatfoever. Farther it is prefumed, Quarter Partitions, properly executed, are ftronger, lefs expenfive, and occupy lets room than fuch Walls; and as Dwellings of this diminutive charadfer fliould poffefs a capability of as great a variety of compartition as poffible in the fe-veral fto- ries, to admit of the neceifary conveniences, this kind of Partition ■will allow every thing that can reafonably be delired in that refpedf, which walls by no means do -.—Add to which, that as a judicious application of Lord Mahon\ cheap and valuable invention will mofl alfuredly fecure them from being deflroyed, or even elTentially damaged by Fire no objedion can be valid agalnft their general life in Buildings of the fame extent here treated of. * Whenever the Legiflature fhall think proper to enforce the generafufe of this excellent contrivance in all future Buildings, the prefent Building Aft may be repealed, and configned to that oblivion it moft juftly merits;—^ In any future Aft, it would Itowever be cfTential, that the abfurd cuftom of Building upon breaft fummer fronts of timber-work, fhuuld be univerfally reftrained ; aud,inRead thereof, wherever a fimllar mode of couftruftion is Oecclfary, the fuperincumbent Wall fnould be erefted upon Iron Cradles; ben* C ] That Arches of Cones or Bricks, or Tiles, ufed inftead of Plates or Plaifter, will anfwer the purpofe, but they are more weighty and expenfive. That the proper method of applying Mr. Hart¬ ley’s Plates is as follows .-—Garret Story—above the deling Joids, againftthe Rafters, down to the Floor- jng Joids; over the Joifts of the Garret Floor, i. e. immediately under the Boards, home to the Party Walls, and home to the front and back Walls, turn¬ ed up againft the Plates of the Partitions, and againft the Walls two Inches, and a Flalbing let into the Wall, and turned down. All the Floors in the feve- ral Stories fecured in the fame manner. To fecure Wooden Stair-cafes, the Fire-plates mull be placed upon the rough Steps and Rifers in fuch a manner, that the finiflied Step and Rifer may be fet clofe upon them. That the proper method of applying Lord Stan¬ hope’s Invention, or any other wherein is ufed a Compofition, (in the nature of Plaiftering upon Laths) fuch Compofition being made of Lime, Sand, Plaifter of Paris, Brick Rubbifti, Coal Afties, or any other Materials that will form a cement when mixed with Hair or chopped Hay, is as follows':—Garret Story—Ceiling Floor fecuredf, Rafters inter-fecuredf, down to the Flooring. Partitions inter-fecured*; Floors fecured home to the Party and External Walls; all * A fort of Pottery, made by Mr. Morris, at Child’s Hill, neai* London:—The advantage arifing from the ufe of Cones, when compared with Bricks, is their fuperior lightnefs^ (being twice the bulk and only half the weight), and their bting applicable to Arches of a very fmall rife. f For an explanation of thefe terms, (fee Appendix, No. I. bent into regular curves, which fhould be f*cured at their bafts or fpringings by proper tyes and abutments, and be fupported by iron ihndards ; the whole to be of wrought and even-faggotted iron, but by no means of caft iron. The longer tliis regulation is neglefted, the greater number of ufeful and valuable lives are in danger of perifbing by Fire, or by the effefts of Fire, as too many recent inftances have moft deplorably fhewn. Extracted from a Pamphlet, entitled, “ OTKIAIA, or NUT¬ SHELLS.” yaje 2, in i-8c. [ 12 ] all the Floors in the feveral Stories fecured in the fame manner. The Wooden ftair-cafes fecured im¬ mediately behind all the Steps and Rifers, and under the Flooring of the Landings. In Buildings that require a more than ordinary degree of fecurity, the plating, or other means of prevention, niuft be doubled; in-which cafe, the Committee are warranted to fay, that it will effe6- tually refill the ftrongeft Fire. That Mr. "Wood’s compofition being a liquid, may be advantageoufly applied to the backs of Wain- Icot Linings, Skirtings, Grounds, &c. in themannef of paint. III. Laftly, as to the means by which preventions from Fire may be brought into general pradlice ; 1. The Committee are of opinion, that this delir- able end would moil effeiftually be obtained by the Authority of, Parliament, over new Buildings, and Buildings that are altering or repairing, as is the cafe with relpedt to Party Walls. 2. By regulating the mode of Infurancc at the Fire Offices, on Buildings, Furniture, and Stock in Trade. 3. By rendering the opinion of the Affociated Ar¬ chitects public. At any rate, the Committee earneftly recommend to the Society, to whom they make this report, the moft unremitting endeavours to enforce and facilitate a pradice, certain in its principles, and which has for its object the fecurity of Life and Property. The number of lives lolt^^ within a few years, the im- nienfe property in great manufactures, and public and private buildings, deftroyed by accident, or by incendiaries, (fome of whom have been executed for the crime t,) forms a melancholy catalogue, more than * The number of lives loft in one year (1792), as collefted from the Daily Advercifer only, is 23 the number of Fires, 64. t About two years ago, two men were executed in Alderfgate brreet, for fetting fire to Mr. Gilding’s houfe 5 aad about a year previous C 13 ] than fufficient to call into adilon the exertions of Men, in the pradliice of a liberal Profeffion. By Order of the Committee, - HENRY HOLLAND. London^ January 1793. previous to that, a man was executed for the like offence in Great Pulteney Street. A man’s fetting fire to his own houl'e is a mif- demeanor only : many cafes of that kind have occurred. ^ APPENDIX. i APPENDIX No. 1. DESCRIPTION OF A MOST EFFECTUAL METHOD OF SECURING BUILDINGS against FIRE. INVENTED BY CHARLES LORD VISCOUNT MAHON, (Now EARL STANHOPE,) F. R.S. fFrom the PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS, Vol. 68, Part II. Read JULY 2d, 1778.] § i*ThE new and very fimple method which I have difcovered of fecuring every kind of Building, (even though conftrudled of timber) againft ail dan¬ ger of Fire, may very properly be divided into three parts : namely, underjlooring, extra-lathing, and inter- Jecuring, which particular Methods may be applied m part, or in whole, to different Buildings, according to the various circumftances attending their condruc- tion, and according to the degree of accumuiated Fire to which each of thefe Buildings may be expof- cd, from the different ufes to which they are meant to be appropriated. C 15 ] § 2. The method of underfiocring may he divided into t'.vo parts, viz into fingU double undeifiooring. The method of fingle underflooring is as follows: —A common flrong lath, of about one quarter of an inch thick, (either of oak or fir), fltould be nailed agaitift each fide of every joift, and of every main timber which fuppoTts the floor intended to be fe- cured. Other fimilar laths ought then to be nailed the whole length of the joifls, with their ends butting ag.iinft each other : thcle are what I^call fil ets. 1 he top of each fillet ought to be one inch and a half be¬ low the top of the joifts or timbers againfl which they are nailed. Thefe fillets will then form, as it were, a fort of fmall ledge on each fide of all the joifts. § 3. When the fillets are going to be nailed on, fome of the rough plalfter, hereafter mentioned^ (§ 9,) muft be fpread with a trowel all along that fide of each of the fillets which is to lay next the joifts, in order that thefe fillets may be well b. dded therein when they are nailed on, fo that there fhould not be any interval between the fillets and the joifts. § 4. A great number of any common laths (either oak or fir) muft be cut nearly to the length of the width of the interval between the joifts. Some of the rough plalfter referred to, above, (§ 3,) ought to be fpread with a trowel fucceffively upon the top of all the fillets, and along the fides of that part of the joifts which is between tfie top of the fillets and the upper edge of the joifts. The fhort pieces of common laths, juft mentioned, ought (in order to fill up the intervals betw'een the joifts that fupport the floor) to be laid in the contrary diredlion to the joifts, and clofe together in a row, fo as to touch one another, as much as the want of ftraight- nefsin the laths will allow, without the laths lapping over each other; their ends muft reft on the fillets fpoken of above, (§ 2), and they ought to be well bedded in the rough plaifter. It is nbt proper to ufe any nails to fallen down either of thefe Ihort pieces of laths;, [ i6 j laths, or ihofe Ihort pieces hereafter mentionetl^ § 5. J hefe fhort pieces of laths ought then to be covered with one thick coat of the rough plaifter, I'poken of hereafter, (§ 9,) which fhould be fpread ali over them, and which fhould be brought vrith a trowel, to be about level with the tops of the joifts, but not above them. This rough plaifter in a day or two fhould be trowelled all over, clofe home to the Tides of the joifts; but the tops of the joifts ought not to be in anywife covered with it. § 6. The method of double under-fiooring is in the lirft pan of it exadly the fame as the method juft de- feribed. The fftleis and ftiort pieces of laths are ap¬ plied in the fame manner; but the coat of rough plaiiler ought to be little more than half as thick as the eoat of rough plaifter applied in the method of f.ngle underfloorhig. § 7. In the method of double under-floorings as faft as this coat of rough plaifter is laid on, Tome more of the fhort pieces of laths, cut as above deferibed, (§ 4,) muft be laid in the intervals between the joifts, upon the firft coat of rough plaifter; and each ofthefe ftiort laths muft be, one after the other, bedded deep and quite found into the rough plaifter whilft it is foft. Thefe ftiort pieces of laths fhould be laid alfo as clofe as pofftbl to one another, and jn the fame di¬ rection as the ft: ft layer of fliort laths, § 8. A coat of the fame kind of rough plaifter ftiould then be fpread over the fecond layer of fliort laths, as there was upon the firft layer, above de¬ feribed. This coat of rough plaifter ftiould (as above directed, § c;, for mo:i\\od oi Jingle under-flooring} be trowelled level with the tops of the joifts, but it ought not to rife above them. The fooner this fe- cond coat of rough plaifter is fpread upon the fecond layer of fhort laths, juft mentioned, ■(§ 7) the better. What follows,:as far as § 13, is common to the me¬ thod of Jingle, as well as double, under-flooring. [ 17 ] § 9' Common coarfe lime and hair (fuch as genc^ rally ferves for the pricking-np coat in plaidering), may be ufed for all th^ purpofes before or hereafter mentioned; but it is confiderably cheaper, and even much better, in all thefe cafes, to make ufe oi hay^ inftead oihair^ in order to prevent the plaifter-work from cracking, d he hay ought to be chopped to about three inches in length, but no Ihorter. One meafure of common rough Jand, two mea- fures of flacked lime, and three mcafuies (but no Itfs) of chopped hay, will prove in general a very good proportion, when fufficiently beat up together in the manner of common mortar. The hay muft be well dragged in this kind of rough plaifter, and well in¬ termixed .with it, but the hay ought never to be put in, till the two other ingredients are well beat up to¬ gether whh water. ^This rough plaifter ought never to be made thin for any of the work mentioned in this paper. The ftiffer it is, the better, provided it be not too dry to be fpread properly upon the laths. If the flooring boards are required to be laid very foon, a fourth or a fifth part of quick lime* in pow¬ der, very well mixed with this rough plaifter juft be¬ fore it is ufed, wdll caufe it to dry very faft. § lo. When the rough plaifter work betw^een the joifts has got thoroughly dry, it ought to be obferv- ed, whether of not there be any fmall cracks in it, particularly next to the joifts. If there be any, they ought to be waflied over with a brufli, wet with mor¬ tar waJJo, which will effecftually clofe them; but there ♦ I have pradifcd this method in an cytenfive work with great advantage. In three ‘ivecks, this rough plaifter grows perfectly dry. The rough plaifter, fo made, may be applied at all times of the year with great fuccefs. The eafieft method, by much, of reducing the quicklime to powder, is by droping a Imall quantity of water on tl. lime-ftone, a little before the powder is intended to be ufed: the lime will ftill retain a very fufficlent degree of heat. C I >8 ] tliere will never be any cracks at all, if the chopped hay and quu k lime be properly trade ufe of. § II. The mortal wafh 1 make ufe of is this; about two meamres of quick lime, and one meafure of common fand, fh.ould be put into a pail, and Ihould be well ilirred up with water, ti;l the water grows very thick, lb as to be almcfi: of the conlillency of a thin jelly. This wafb, when ufed, will grow dry in a few minutes. § i ' 2 . Before the flooring boards are laid, a fmall quantity of very dry common fand fbould be ftrewed over the rough plaifter wmrk, but not over the tops of thejoifts. The fanddiould be ftruck fmooth with a hollow rule, which ought to be about the length of the diftance from joill to joift, and of about one eighth of an inch curvature; which rule, palling over the fand in the fame direrflion with the joifls, will caufe the fand to lay rather rounding in the middle of the interval between each pair of joifts. The flooring boards may then be laid and fafteneci down in the ulual manner ; but very particular atten¬ tion mull be paid to the rough plaifter work, and to tlie fand, being moll perfedlly dry before the boards are laid, for fear of the dry rot, of which, however, there is no kind of danger when this precaution is made ufe of. § 13. The method of underjlooring I have alfo ap¬ plied, with the utmofl fuccefs, to a wooden flair-cafe. It is made to follow the fliape of the fteps, but no fand is laid upon the rough plaifler-work in this cafe. § 14. The method of extra-lathing vmy be applied to ceiling joifls, to Hoping roofs, and to wooden par¬ titions. It is Amply this : As the laths are going to be nailed on, fome of the above-mentioned rough plaifter ought to be fpread between thefe laths and the joifls, (or other timbers), againft which thefe laths are to be nailed, lire laths ought to be nailed very clofe to each other. When C >9 ] When either of the ends of any of the laths laps over other laths, it ought to be attended to, chat thefe ends be bedded found m forre of the rough plaifter. This attention is equally neceffary for the fecond layer of laths hereafter mentioned (§ 15.) § 15. This fiiif layer of laths ought to be covered with a pretty thick coat of the fame rough plaifter fpoken of above (§9.) A fecond layer of laths ought then to be nailed on, each lath being, as it is pvt on, well fqueezed, and bedded found into the foft rounh plaifler. For this reafon, no more of this firft coat of rough plaifter ought to be laid on at a time, than can be immediately followed with the fe¬ cond layer of larhs. The laths of the fecond layer ought to be laid as clofe to each other as they can be, to allow of a pro¬ per clench for the rough plaifter. The laths of the fecond layer may then be plalf* lered over with a coat of the fame kind of rough plaifter, or it may be plaifttred over in. the ufual manner. § 16. The third method, w'hich is that of inter-fe-’ curings is very fimilar, in moft refpefts, to that of un- derjiooring ; but no fand is aftenvards to be laid upon it. Inter-fecuring is applicable to the fame parts of a Building, as the method of extra-lathing juft de- feribed; but it is not often necefiary to be made ufe of. § 17. I have made a prodigious number of expe¬ riments upon every part of thefe different methods. — I caufed a wooden Building to be conftrticfted at Chevening, in Kent, in order to perform them in the moft natural way. The method of extra-lathing and double under-fecuring, were the only ones made ufe o£ in that Building. Oil * If a third layer of laths be immediately nailed on and co¬ vered over with a third coat of rough plaifter, I then call the me¬ thod treble lathing, but this method of treble lathing can almoft in ao cafe be required. [ 20 3 On the 26th of September laft year, I had the ho» nor to repeat fome of my experiments before the Prelidenr, and lome of the Fellows of the Royal So¬ ciety, the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London, the Committee of City Lands, feveral of the Foreign Minifters, and a great number of other perfons. § 18, The firft experiment was to fill the lower room of the Building (which room was about twenty- fix feet long, by fixteen wide) full of fhavings and faggots, mixed with combuftibies, and fet them on fire. The heat was fo intenfe, that the glafs of the window’s was melted like fo much common fealing- wax, and run down in drops; yet the flooring boards of that very room were not burnt through, nor was one of the fide timbers, flooring joifls, or ceiling joifts da¬ maged in the fmallefl: degree; and the perfons who went into the room immediately over the room filled with fire, did not perceive any ill effeds from it whatever; even the floor of that room being per- fedly cool-, during that enormous conflagration im¬ mediately underneath. § 19. I then caufed a kind of wooden Building (of full fifty feet in length, and of three flories high in the middle), to be erected quite clofe to one end of the fecured w'ooden houfe. I filled and covered this Building with above eleven hundred large kiln fag¬ gots, and feveral loads of dry fhavings, and I fet this pile on fire. The height of the flame v/as no lefs than eighty- feven feet perpendicular from the ground, and the gtals upon a bank, at a hundred and fifty feet from the fire, was all fcorched ; yet the fecured wooden Building, quite contiguous to this vaft heap of fire, was not at all damaged, except fome parts of the ourer coat of plaifter work. This experiment was intended to reprefent a wooden town on fire, and to fhew how effedually even a wooden Building, if fecured according to my new [ 21 ] new method, would fbop the progrefs of the flames on that fide, without any afliflance from fire-engines, See. § 20. The laft experiment 1 made that day, was the attempting to burn a wooden flair-cafe, fecured according to my Ample method of under jloorhig. The under Ade of the flair-cafe was extra-lathed; fe- veral very large kiln faggots were laid and kindled tinder the flair-cafe, round the flairs, and upon the fteps; this wooden flair-cafe, notwithflanding, re- Afted, as if it had been of fire-ftone, all the attempts that were made to con fume it. I have Ance made feveral other flronger Ares upon this fame flair-cafe, without having repaired it, hav¬ ing moveover Ailed the fame place, in which this flair cafe is, entirely with fhavings and faggots; but the flair-cafe is however flanding, and is but little damaged. § 21. In moft houfes it is neccATary only to Jecure the floors; and that accordiag to the method of fingle underflooring, deferibed above in § 2, 3, 4, and 5. The extra expence of it (all materials included), is only about ninepence per I’quare yard,~unlefs there fhould be particular uitAculties attending the execu¬ tion, in which cafe, it will vary a little. When ^ick Lime is made ufe of, the expence is a trifle more. The extra expence of the method of extra lathing, is no more than Axpence per fquare yard for the timber, Ade-walls and partitions; but for the ceil¬ ing, about ninepence per fquare yatd. No extra lathing is necefl'ary for the generality of Houfes. § 22. i purpofe giving to the world, before it Is very long, a detailed account of many other experi¬ ments I have made on this fubjed, and of the va¬ rious advantages ariAng from mv method, with leve- ral particulais relative to the different parts of each of the members above deferibed, and relative to their joint or feparate application to different kinds of Buildings, and to the different conftituent parts of an Houle; to which I fhall add a full explanation of the principles upon which they are founded, and the c 3 reafons [ ^ ] reafons of their certain and furprifing fuccefs. In the mean time, I have taken the liberty of troubling the Society with this fhoft account. No. II. An Account of feveral Experiments made on two Street Houfes, fitted up as for Habitation, and fe^ cured by the diredion of the Committee, in order to afeertain the Degree of Security to be derived from the feveral Methods put in pradlice. Experiments on the Ufe of Fire Flutes. At a Houfe (No. lo, Hans Place) fecured accord¬ ing to Mr. Hartley’s Method, Auguji 1792. § 1. A fierce Fire was lighted forty m.inutes after two o’clock, in two chimneys in the Bafement Story, the one of them having in it a wooden box fecured with the fire plates, and the other having the fame fort of box not fecured at all. The Fire having con¬ tinued one hour, was extinguiflred. The infide boarding of the fecured box was burnt, and left the plates bare and fupported by the quar¬ ters, which quarters remained good. One of the joifts under the bottom, was partly burnt. The box in th? other cdiimney, which had not been fecured, was to* tally demoiifhed in forty minutes. §2. At fofty eight minutes after two o’clock, a fierce Fire was lighted on the floor in the back gar¬ ret C ^3 ] ret and againft the afhlering, both of which had been feciired. (The ceiling underneath was not laid.) This Fire having continued an hour, was extin- guilhed, at which time the flame had made its way through the boards, and taken hold of the joifls un¬ derneath the plating. The flooring boards were burnt away in the feat of the Fire, leaving the plates quite bare. Upon removing the plating, the foot of the alhlers, and the plates upon which they refted, appeared charred about twelve inches up. §3. The ftair-cafe having been lecureJ {i.e. a rough ftair-cafe was firft formed, which being plated, the finilhed ftep and rifer was fet upon it), a fierce fire was lighted upon the winders at eight minutes paft four o’clock, and kept burning thirty minutes, and then extinguiflied. At this time the treads and rifers appeared charred, and one rifer burnt entirely through under the tread of one of the winders. A fmall corner of the rough tread underneath the plating appeared charred. Odober \th, 1792 . § 4. At ten minutes paft two o’clock, a fierce fire was lighted in the two pair of ftairs back room, on the floor and in the angle againft the partition, which feparates this from the adjoining room ; both this and the adjoining room having been previoufly fe- cured. At twenty-five minutes paft two o’clock, (being a quarter of an hour from the commencement of the fire) the fkirting was burnt, and the flame extended itfelf through the lath and plaifter, and took hold of the foot of one of the quarters, which was in a flaort time confumed twelve inches up. At five minutes paft three o’clock, (being three quarters of an hour) the fmoke appeared through the plates underneath the flooring. At twenty minutes paft three o’clock, (being an hour and ten minutes) the fire itfelf ap¬ peared through the flooring; and at thirty minutes paft three o’clock, took hold of a oub, but did not continue its courfe long. From C H J From this experiment, it appeared that the plating will prevent a Fire’s extending itfelfin a room to any material diftance. December bth, 1792. § 5. In the front garret of the fame houfe, and in the angle of the room to the right-hand of the door, (the linings and grounds being fecured, and ftanding on the floor which was alfo fecured), a fierce fire of charcoal was made againft the linings of the door, at half paft twelve o’clock. At a quarter before two o’clock the bottom plate of the partition was confuiUi-d, and the fire had caught two ofthe joills underneath, ai;d charred them in a fmall degree. At ten minutes paft two o’clock, the fire war put out, when it appeared that the upper plate of the partition of the ftiory ui.derneath was on fire; the grounds and linings were coniumed about eighteen inches high, z. e. as'high as it w'as in contadt with the fuel; the flame had afccnded bi'tween- the lathing on each fide of the partition, and cliarrcd the quarterings to the top, w-here it appeared to have been flopped in its courfe by the plates. % 6. On the fame day, and in the fame houfe, an experiment was made in the back parlour, which was fecured fo as to refifl the ftrongeft fire. The floor was double armed, (j. e, tlie ceiling underneath plated and plaiftertd) fereened dry rubbifli laid three inchesdeep ui'ion the plating, then found boarded, and filled level with the joifts with rubbifh ; the plating laid again, and the flooring boards laid immediately upon it; the floor above was treated in the fame manner, the paiticions brick-nogged, and plated on each fide, then battened out to receive the lath and plaifter; a dado fixed on the parntion fide of the roomi, and prepared at the back with Mr. Wool ’s compofition ; the jiUmbs, cili, and outfide fiiuttei of the window plat¬ ed, the dot)r hung and double fecured, and the chim¬ ney blocked up. N. B. This room wnc fitted up from the direclions of Mr. Hartley, by his foreman, Knight. At C 25 1 At a quarter pafl one o’clock, a very fierce fire was made with a tar barrel, pitch boards, and other com- buftible matter, and kept up by additional fuel, till a quarter pad two o’clock, fo as to produce a very powerful conflagration, that occupied the whole room, (in the fame manner as in the Experiment made by Mr. Hartley, at his Experiment Houfe, on Winxbledon Common, and which he calls his Magazine Experiment.) When the outfide fhutter was clofed, it appeared to affeft the flames, fo as to abate them confiderably ; at that fame time the plaif- tering of the ceiling fell, and the infide of the door was confirmed, fo as to expofe the plating to the flames, which however remained whole and entire. At half paft two o’clock, the flames appeared on the outfide of the door, through the rebate at the head. At five minutes before three o’clock, the fliutter w'as again clofed, with a view to extinguifli the fire; the fmoke of it appearing through the brick-walls, in¬ duced the Committee to fuppofe, that the bond tim¬ bers, lintels, and plates, would be confumed. At a quarter paft three o’clock, the flames were got under, and the allies and unconfumed fuel cleared out of the room; when it appeared that the flooring boards were burnt through in the feat of the fire, in other places only charred :—the dado was entirely gone, and the battening upon the fire plates, to which the laths were nailed, very much charred, as well to the fides as the ceiling. Upon taking off the plating, it appeared that the quarterings of the partition were in a good ftafe, but in a few places the fire had char¬ red them, fo as to change their colour only. The wood-bricks were alfo charred half an inch deep in general; the lintel of the window did not prove to have been injured, nor the door-cafe. The bottom plates of the partition remainedentire. UDon removing the boards, the trimmer appeared to have been burnt for a foot in length, by half its depth .—fome others appeared charred. 1 he adjoining rooms, and the wooden C 26 3 wooden flairs, which were only feparated from this room by wooden partitions, were not at all affeded during the whole experiment. Experiments on the Security to be derived from the Ufe of PL AISTER, Jl HE Houfe, (No. 5, Hans Town), on which thefe Experiments were made, was fecured by plaif- ter, in great meafure, from the diredtions given by Lord Stanhope, in his Paper read to the Royal Society : The plaifler made ufe of being compoled of fcreened rubbifh, coal-afhes, brick-duft, a fmall proportion of quick-lime, and chopped hay. Angujl zd, 1792. § 7. At forty minutes after two o’clock, a fierce fire was lighted on the flooring boards, and againft the aflilering in the front garret, which had been fe- cured and linifhed as ufual for habitation ; the fire was kept up by a continual accumulation of fuel, till forty minutes after three o’clock, when it was extin crui filed. At this time the Iknting board was burnt through as far as the fire or fuel was in contadl with it, but no farther; the flooring boards, for the fame extent, wxre charred nearly through, and one piece of quar¬ ter in the a-h^ering was charred ; but there was no appearance which could give the Committee reafon to fuppofe that the fire would have fpread, had it not been extinguiflied. § 8. At the fame time a fierce fire was lighted on the floor in the back garret and againft the afhlering, (both of which had been fecured, and the room com¬ pletely [ 27 ] pletely finifhed), and kept burning for the fame length ot rime. The eife( 5 l of this was nearly the fame with that of the fore-mentioned and co-temporary fire. In the feat of the fire, which was kept up very ftrong by additional fuel, the flooring boards were charred confiderably; the plaiftering of the room gave way; the fkirting board being burnt, the quarters of the afhlering were expofed and damaged, but there was no reafon to conclude that th“- fire would have fpread, had it been permitted to go on of itfelf. Note.— In thefe tw'o £■ periinents, the cielings underneath were nor hud ^ o. On he fame day an Experiment was made on viiL itair-cafe, which was fecured with plaifier fol¬ ic ing the fteps and rifers, and the flairs were finifh^ ed for ufe. The firing underneath was not laid. A fierce fire was lighted at fifty minutes pad: three o’clock, and kept up till twenty minutes pafi four o’clock; t .i'' fire covered the whole of the firfl flight, up to the garret. Upon extinguifliing the fire it appeared, that the rifers and treads w'ere confiderably charred in the feat of the fire, but there was no reafon to fuppofe, that the fire would have fpread to any material ex¬ tent, had it not been put our. The plaifter remained uninjured. OBober iftb, 1792. § 10. An experiment was made in the back room, which was fccured with plaifter and finilhed. A fierce fire was lighted at two o’clock on the floor, and againft the partition which feparates this from the adjoining room, and kept up till three quarters paft three o’clock; during which time, frefh fuel was continually added. The cieling underneath was not laid. At the expiration of half an hour, no damage ap¬ peared ; but at the end of the hour and three quar¬ ters, the fire made its way through the floor, and con- fumed part of the joifts iinmediately under it; three of [ z8 ]. of the quarters were much charred, the plaiftering of the partition gave way, and, the quarters behind being expofed, the fire was feen extending itfelf up them. In this experiment, however, as in the others, it did not appear probable that the fire, left to itfelf, and not exiinguiflied, would have fpread fo as to be of any confequcnce. December zbith, 1792. § II. An excellent and convincing experiment was made in the one pair of flairs back room. The room was completely finiflied, fit for habitation; the cieling of the room underneath was finifhed, which had not been the cafe in any former experiment, and which, as it admits air to the underfide of the fire, was conceived a difadvantage. The partition be¬ tween the rooms was interfecin ed, and alfo the floor and cieling. At half paft twelve o’clock, a large flrong charcoal fire was made on the flooring boards, clear of.the fides of the room, and continued till four o’clock. At forty-five minutes paft two o’clock, a large additional wood fire was made in the angle of the room next the partition, both fires were kept up by a conftant accumulation of fuel, fo as to ren¬ der them exceedingly fierce. In the feat of the charcoal fire, the flooring boards were burnt through, and two of the joifts damaged two inches deep. With refpect to the angle fire, that parr of the floor and fldrting which was imme¬ diately contiguous to it, was much damaged; two of the quarters were charred fifteen inches up; the plate of the partition and the bond timber was flight- ]y charred. § 12. An experiment w’as made, to refift the flrong- eft fire in the back parlour, which was doubly fecur- ed for that purpofe; the floor, fides, and cieling wdth plaiftur, tire door and window fhutter w'ith fire-plates. At forty-five minues after eleven o’clock, a fierce fire was made with a tar barrel, pitch boards, and other corn'bufiible matter, fo as to occupy the whole room; in a manner fomething fimilar to that de- feribed C ^9 ] fcrlbed by Lord Stanhope, in his paper read to the Royal Society : frefh fuel was continually added, and the fire remained in the fame date till one o’clock, at which time the ihutter'was'doled. By this the fire was choaked, but continued to fmother on till half an hour after two; when it appeared, that the flooring boards were charred confiderably, the deling plaiftering had given way, the joifis and timbers which became expofed thereby were charred, but the rooms adjoining, and the wooden ftaircafe, w'hich were feparated only by wooden partitions, were not at all affcded during the whole experiment. Experiments on the fecurity to be derived from the yfe of a Liquid Covering. AT a Houfe, No. 5, (Hans Place) fome experi¬ ments were made in order to afeertain the degree of fecurity to be derived from the ufe of Mr. Wood’s compofition. Avgujl id, 1792. § 13. At forty-five minutes after two o’clock, a fierce fire was lighted in two chimneys on the Bafe- ment Story, one of them having in it a wooden box fccured with the compofition, and the other having the fame fort of box, not fecured at all. The fire having continued one hour, was put out, at which time the back and feveral other parts of the fecured box were burnt, but the quarter!ngs very lit¬ tle damaged : the compofition remained perfed after the boards were confumed. The box that had not been fecured was totally demolilhed in forty minutes. OSloler 1792. § 14. Another experiment was made on the fame principle, and of which the refult was nearly the fame C 3» ] ikme as before; both the compofition and outfide quartering remained. § 15. Another experiment was made in order to afcerrain the efficacy of the compofition on the lower flight of fteps 10 which it had bi'en applied. A fierce file was lighten at two o’clock underneath the flairs, (the firing not be ing plaiftered) and continued for one hour. When it was exiinguifhed, one cf the firings appeared a little charred, but the compoli- tion remained in a perfedl ftate, excepting only that its colour was changed. § 16. At three o'clock> a fierce fire was lighted upon the fleps and rifers of the fame flaircafe, and over the place where the fire lafl mentioned hr-^d been made. This fire, having burnt rapidly for half an hour, appeared through the nnderfide, aild in half an hour longer, the fleps and rifers were totally con- lumed. The compofition however remained on the underfide. The fire did not incline to extend itfelf* Decemler bth, § 17. All experiment was made on the fame ftair- cale, in order to afeertain what refillance the compo- lition would effedl, when a nail was driven through fome of the timber, or remaining fleps and rilers of the ftairs. Upon trial, the compofition broke off, on the underfide of the treads of the flaircafe. This however feemed to be owing to the vibration pro¬ duced by walking up and down the flaircafe, rather than to the force of the nails being driven through them. A board, on which the compofition was laid, had feveral nails driven through it, when the compo¬ fition neither cracked, nor pealed off. §18. On the fame day an experiment was made in order to afeertain the fecurity to be derived from Mr. Wood’s method, when applied to the back of linings and grounds, Handing on the floor, fecured with plaifter: being a joint experiment of plaifler and liquid fecurity. At thirty minutes after twelve o’clock a charcoal fire was made in the angle of the front garret, againfl the C 3‘ 3 the jaumb of the door.—At thirty minutes after one o’clock the Ikirting was confumed, where the body of the fire lay, and was then probably flopped by the compofition at the back of it.—At thirty minutes af¬ ter two o’clock the fire was extinguifhed, when it ap¬ peared to have made its way through the flooring boards, taken hold of a joift, and charred it to a fmall extent; It had alfo burnt a board which was fixed between the joifts and wall, to fupport the fecurity inftead of laths. Upon taking off the jaumb lining, Mr. Wood’s eompofition appeared to have prevented the fire from extending itfelf; the flooring boards were confumed only in the feat of the fire. The quarterings of the partition were charred, and the bottom plate alfo, but in a lefs degree. Upon the whole, this Experiment anfwercd; prov¬ ing that a Fire will not extend itfelf, although begun with Charcoal for the purpofe, and although the Charcoal continues a ftrong fire for two hours. finis. *** The Committee have, in the courfe of their Inquiry, been much affifted by Mr. Hanson, of Bruton Street, in the application of the Fire-plates invented by Mr. Hartley ; by Mr. Rothwell, No. 122, Sloane Street, in the application of the Plaifter Security; and by Mr. Henry Wood, of Sloane Square, in the application of his Liquid Se¬ curity. They alfo feel themfelves under great oblia-ations to Mr. Richard Holland, of Half Moon Street, yrho, with the utmoft confidence, lent two new Houfes to be fubjedled to the fcveral Experiments that have been made. a •fcir/'* : wk'*? 5 : „,,- ;,/TV2'fc-;f*.A ‘