FIRE PROTECTION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 August 1939, Page 8

FIRE PROTECTION

“It is Considered that the wards themselves offer the absolute minimum of Are risk, both because of the satisfactory character of the normal conditions in the adjoining service rooms, and the existence of a 24-hour patrol throughout the ward areas. It is, therefore considered that exit provision for removal of bedridden patients is not necessary, but that, mainly for psychological reasons, it is desirable that an exit stairway capable of being used by walking patients should be installed at the cbd of the Ward opposite to the main entrance. It is also considered that hydraulic hose feels should be installed in all wards for first-aid fire-fighting purposes in lieu of the existing fire extinguishers, which are not considred satisfactory. Enquiries showed that even Ihe senior officers were not familiar with the method of operation of the ordinary acid soda type extinguishers. Hose reels should be installed in such a manner that the hose will cover all parts of the ward and attached service area.

“The principal fire risk in the Ordinary hospital consists of the kitchen, laundry, boiler-room and store areas. Prevision should be made that these areas are separated from the ward section of the buildings with fire-resis-ting doors —wired glass would be quite satisfactory as a component of these —arranged so as to form an effective smoke trap between all areas mentioned and the wards and connecting passages. First aid hydraulic hose reels should be installed at suitable points to cover all areas and it is desirable that where practicable these buildings should be fitted with automatic alarms. “It is considered that the nurses' hemes constitute a serious fire risk in all cases. Where the buildings are constructed of wood or of brick or concrete with wooden interiors, outside platform escapes serving every bedroom should be made a standard prevision. The escape stairway should be of reasonable grade and not vertical ladders and should be provided with adequate hand rails. In buildings of concrete construction, with fireresisting partitions cutside, exit stairways at the end of the passages would be acceptable provided that an automatic fire alarm system is installed. Hydraulic hose reels should be placed on each floor and situated so as to cover the whole cf the floor area.

"The hospital should wherever possible be connected with the local fire brigade by direct alarm. It is only necessary that one transmitter should bo installed, but provision should bo made that the transmitter can be operated by distant control from alarm points situated in suitable positions in all sections cf the hospital and nurses home.’’

The Managing-Secretary, Mr N. Lee, informed members of the board that as far as the Wairarapa Hospital Board

was concerned its Wards in all three hospitals were in single-story buildings. The Superintendent of the Masterton Fire Brigade had recently inspected the Masterton Hospital, and he Was satisfied. He had Suggested certain Works which had been attended to. At GteytdWn, the Superintendent was satisfied that thebe were sufficieht exits and ramps to get the patients out in the event of a fire. At Fahiatua he recommended a ramp for the men’s ward.

Mr Lee said that all the hospitals were equipped with hose and extinguishers. With regard to the risk Of fire in the kitchens, the Masterton kitchen was electric, the Greytown kitchen was in the process of being made electric, and at Pahiatua there was a coal range. The laundry at Masterton was at the rear and well away from the hospital itself. At GfeytoWn and Pahiatua there was no laundry. In respect of the nurses' home Mr Lee stated that each bedroom was not provided with an outside standard escape as mentioned in the letter. There were, however, several. “There is no doubt that the nurses home constitutes a definite fire risk, in that there is a definite danger through smoking in bed," he said. “Instructions have been issued that such a practice is not to continue, but there is no doubt that it is dene, and it would appear to me to be a very difficult matter to stop. One cannot very well -inspect the nurses’ bedrooms." “We also have no escape stairs. Our escapes are ladders." continued Mr Lee. “Wc also have a direct contact with the local fire station. In the nurses home, pilot lights are installed above the exits. These lights will operate independently of the main lights.” Mr N. T. B. W. Bcetham: “We have no money on the estimates to provide for the reels that the department suggests. However we appear to be in a good position from a fire-fighting point of view. The Superintended! is quite satisfied with it." The chairman, Mr H. H. Mawley: “Yes. wo are in good order here. Probably next year we can provide on the estimates for reels and electric alarms. Wc have just built a new nurses’ homo, with vertical ladders as fire escapes and now some one else wants a different scheme. We cannot alter matters like that by the stroke of a pen.” Mrs J. Robinson: “Are the nurses’ instructed in the use cf the hose?” Mr Bcetham: “They are going to commence almost immediately. In fact they have already done a little.” Mr Mawley: “If the nurses’ were given a little practice they would very soon be able to scale up and down Ihr ladders.” It was decided to reply to the Dcrarlmcnt stating that improvements had already been made, and that a certain sum would be provided on iiext year’s estimates for additional improvements.

POSITION AT MASTERTON HOSPITAL CONSIDERED SATISFACTORY BY BOARD. REPORT ON RECENT INSPECTION. Satisfaction regarding' the state of the Alasterton Hospital in respect to fire protection was expressed by several members of the Wairarapa. Hospital Board at its monthly meeting yesterday. The question of fire protection of hospitals was opened up by a letter from the Department of Health. Air .1, I<\ Thompson said that Masterion was not far short of the requirements and lie did not see that there was any necessity to go further into the mailer. The lettei' read as follows:—“In order to ascertain the minimum requirements of fire protection in hospitals, a conference was recently held between the Government inspector of Fire Brigades, a Fire Board Superintendent, and departmental officers As a result of this the following views are forwarded for the consideration of your board.