Planning Fire Insurance—II

IN the previous article an attempt was made to convey in general terms the background upon which fire insurance matters function, and deal with the salient points which attract the Fire Surveyor's special attention. It is intended in the present article to continue on more practical lines and deal with such matters as the isolation or restriction of “danger” spots, in order to avoid the fire insurance rating applicable to such points being used as the rating for other occupations or processes which in themselves would have been subject to a lower rating had the lay‐out of the premises enabled the more hazardous sections to be cut off by structural means and separately rated. In other words, if fire insurance experience was called in before final decisions were taken on a lay‐out, then the practical experience of experts gained, not only from experience of fires but from practical tests of the habits of various building materials when subject to fire conditions, assistance would be available in avoiding the many errors which cannot be remedied when the premises are finished, except at high cost. The alternative to this is to pay premiums higher than otherwise would have been necessary and, what is worse, the whole premises may be subject to the highest inception of fire hazard where freely communicating buildings obtain, which could have been avoided. No two premises are of course identical in size or use, but nevertheless it is hoped to convey the necessary considerations which can be generally applied.