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From the Introduction. The insistent demand of humanity for a commodity does not often long remain unsupplied. Science usually not only meets the demand; but often anticipating a need, proceeds to create a demand. Occasionally, however, she lags behind due to some obstacle which seems unsurmountable. Then this country wakes up to the enormity of its fire loss (the highest of all of the principal nations), there will doubtless be a demand for a better system of construction. Already in certain quarters there has been an awakening, its demand recognized and fairly well supplied, but in other fields there still remains much to be desired. The mere ability to meet the demand is not always sufficient. It must be so economically met that the application will become general, else the demand will continue. Referring to the before mentioned better system of construction, which in this case may be interpreted to mean fire-proof construction, we find that in the lighter types of buildings its adoption has not become general, from which we may conclude that the demand has not been met. It scarcely needs to be mentioned that this system demands incombustible materials. Of these we have but two in general use, namely, burned clay products and concrete, neither of which is suitable for carrying tensile stresses. We must add therefore other material, usually steel, for taking these stresses, and protect it with incombustible materials; or else resist the force by stresses which are consistent with the material. The writer believes that the chief problem today in fire-proof construction is not the protection of structural members so much as the construction of a light and economical floor of incombustible materials. The solution of this problem will involve either a reduction in the amount of the materials now used, or the use of a new and cheaper material. It would seem that, through the chemist and geologist, we should; be so familiar with materials suitable for building operations that relief need not be looked for in the direction of new materials; if so, then we are compelled to adopt the alternative of reducing the amount of those now used. To accomplish this will necessitate a more advantageous use of the materials, for the present working stresses may not be increased with safety....

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9781537390611

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