FIREPROOF STRUCTURES.
An article recently published by us apropos of the Opera Comique catastrophe has brought us several interesting communications, and, among them, one from Mr. Hennebique, one of the designers of the 948 foot Belgian tower. Mr. Hennebique has established the fact that structures in which iron is used in the flooring do not arrest the ravages of fire, but fall even more quickly than those in which wood is employed.
In fact, the beams that support the ceiling joists, flooring, and laths, naturally combustible materials, are raised to a high temperature, and, becoming red hot, bend under their own weight, and at the same time shove the walls outwardly.
The flooring of Mr. Hennebique’s invention, which is composed of a cement made of coal ashes, plaster rubbish, and hydraulic lime, is refractory enough to resist the heat developed by combustion.
As may be seen from the figure, this flooring consists of tubular girders resting upon very simple metallic anchorages. These girders are of the composition above described, and thus constitute a sort of monolith upon which any sort of a floor can be laid—terra cotta, marble, wood, etc.
Aside from its being nearly completely incombustible, this sort of flooring presents a great advantage, from an economical standpoint, in consequence of the rational utilization of the materials employed. It is unnecessary to say that the metal is perfectly protected against oxidation.
Another advantage of this flooring is that it almost entirely prevents the propagation of sound.
HENNEBIQUE’S FIREPROOF FLOORING.
As may be readily seen, this mode of construction is applicable to different uses and to every possible sort of decoration, such as cornices, compartment ceilings, girders of various styles, as well as pillars, pilasters, columns, and supports of every shape and every resistance.—Chronique Industrielle.