Page:The Building News and Engineering Journal, Volume 22, 1872.djvu/208

 192 THE BUILDING NEWS. Marcu 8, 1872. SS... sss... sss LL I 30 deg.; so that all the year round the atmosphere of the whole house can be kept from varying more than 8 deg. to 10 deg. ; in the coldest winter it can be kept up to or above 65 deg., and in the hottest summer it can be prevented from rising above 72 deg. Of the comfort and advantage of these conditions I have had practical experience, not only in health, but also in disease. For some weeks of the winter 1869 and 1870 I had staying with me a young lady in the early stage of consumption, and I had my wife laid up with bronchitis ; both patients felt the advantage of being able to range through the lobbies and whole house at any time with a full supply of fresh air, and without fear of the irritat- ing effects of cold air. Also in the spring of 1870 and 1871 I had two of my children down with putrid scarlet fever; and I then felt the immense advantage of plenty of fresh warmed air going from the lobbies into the bedrooms, and thence out of doors without returning into the lobbies, and with the ability to load the incoming air with disinfect- ants. By using disinfectants in the first-floor lobby, the air entering the house became impregnated, and then passing through the lobbies into the rooms to out of doors without returning into the house, left my professional part on the ground floor free from any risk of infection, much to my own and my patients’ satisfaction. Finally, I am very well pleased with my bargain : and were I about to build another house I would build it on the same principles, and in the same way, only that I would have a metal (cast-iron) in- stead of an earthenware kitchen smoke flue, in order to utilise more of the waste heat of the kitchen fire ; it was a mistake to have an earthenware smoke flue. It is, I am sure, the warmest house in winter, and the coolest in summer ; and altogether the most comfort- able and healthy house in this town. I speak now, not only from theory but also from experience; and had I time to superintend the erection I would have some houses built in the same way as a speculation, for Iam sure they would be sought after, and would pay a good percentage on the outlay. As positive confirmation of the success of the working of the plan I have, during the last four months, been carrying on a series of observations in the house on the temperatures and velocities of the air. I have had carefully made openings introduced into the downcast shaft, the transverse and upcast. I have had anemometers and thermometers placed so as to be able to observe the temperatures and velocities of the air as it passes through the house, and as it escapes. I have had a wet and dry bulb thermometer outside, a thermometer also in the ground-floor lobby, the first floor, second floor, and third floor, in the foul-air chamber, the downcast, and in the upeast in four different places, also in the smoke flue at the bottom and the top; also a Casella’s anemometer in the primary inlet, in the upcast flues from the rooms, in the downeast, in the transverse, and in the upeast, I have taken the readings in the morning before the fires have been lighted or the sun has risen; in the day, at different times and under the varying circumstances of the house, also in the night after all the fires were gone out; with many persons in the house, and with few. I have had canvas stretched across the primary inlet, and ‘aken readings with the canvas and without, with t.2 doors shut and with them open. The results I have arrived at are: that with a good kitchen fire burning, and the water in the boiler boiling, we gain an average increase of temperature in the upcast shaft in winter of about 20 deg., between the outside air and the air in the upcast, for the suction of the vVitiated air out of the house; and that this produces a velocity of about 220ft. per minute. With the earthenware smoke flue and open kitchen range we gain only about 35 deg. of the waste heat of the kitchen fire. The temperature of the smoke at the beginning of the smoke flue being about 230 deg. and that escaping out of the top of the chimney 195 deg. This proves that I should have had an iron smoke flue, and perhaps a close kitchen range. The theo- retical calculation for the flow of air through a heated flue, 100ft. high, is about 700ft. per minute for each elevation of 10 deg. Fahrenheit, so that there is a loss equal to about six-sevenths of the suction power, due to the obstruction and friction in the passing through the house. The primary inlet has an area of 5 square feet, the total areas of the flues running into the foul air chamber is 4 square feet, the area of the downcast shaft is 54 square feet, and the area of the upeast, at the place of the anemometer, is 4 square feet ; and the canvas across the primary inlet is 171 square feet. The air first passes through this canvas; this causes a loss of about 55ft. per minute, i.e., 55 cubie feet more of air would pass through the house per minute were the canvas removed; there is a further loss of about &ft. per minute when the doors of the rooms are shut over when they are open. ‘The air passes up the upeast shaft at the rate of 220ft. per minute. The area of the upcast is 4 square feet, 480 cubic feet, therefore, passed through the house every minute, independent of the suction of the fires, enough to supply the standard quantity of 15 cubic feet of fresh air per minute to 58 persons in the house at one time. But, supposing the ordinarily-used fires were lighted, about 4,500 cubic feet of fresh air would pass through the house every minute, thus allowing each of the 58 persons 77 cubic feet of fresh air per miaute, or enough to supply 300 persons with the standard quantity of 15 cubie feet per minute, for, of course. the occupants would have the use of it as it passed to the fires. I have also ascertained that when the fires are burning there is no dimunition of the quantity going up the upcast. In reply to the questions raised during the dis- cussion, I have to say: that the openings and flues have not been so accurately adapted to the different rooms, or so properly proportioned to each other as if careful calculations had been made before-hand : that the plan may be adapted to offices, hospitals, churches, blocks of cottages, &c., and, indeed, to all buildings requiring ventilation and warming; that the central lobbies may be utilisedin various ways; that the air of the rooms is changed by “ ventilation,” in the proper sense of that word, and not by “ diffusion” between the air in the lobbies and rooms, through the doors or inlets, but it is abstracted through the ceiling by the outlets, so that the air of the room is changed three times in an hour, whereas diffusion could not change it in less than several hours; that there may be more than one outlet opening in the ceiling and flue leading thence, but they must each pass separately to the foul-air chamber; that the air does not pass directly from the inlet though in the cornice to the outlet in the ceiling when there are occupants in the room, even when there is no fire, because theoretically the bodies of the occupants raise the air to above 65 deg., and, therefore, the air coming in at 65 deg. pushes it upwards towards the ceiling and takes its place; and practically this is found to be the case; and consequently, also, it is contrary to the law of nature to have the outlet through the skirting ; that the chimneys do not smoke in consequence of being cold, nor in consequence of the suction through the outlets, because the smoking is not continual but in gusts, and only occurs in very strong or gusty winds; nor in consequence of the large throats of the chimneys, because the throats are contracted and protected by throat valves; that new houses, when not thoroughly dry, reduce the vital resisting power of the body, and so render it liable to many diseases, such as rheumatism, con- sumption and fever, but not more to scarlet fever than to any other. i SCHOOL AND OTHER BUILDINGS AT GREAT YARMOUTH, &e. FFHE New Grammar Senoor on Trafalgar-road is now approaching completion. The build- ings comprise master’s house and offices, dining-hall, dormitories, and other accommodation for about 40 boarders, school-room, 65ft- by 26ft., with class- rooms adjoining, entrance porch with bell turret over, spacious lobbies, and the necessary offices. The buildings are of Gothie character; the walling material is red brick, with stone dressings. The ex- penditure has been about £4,500. 8. Perer’s Narronan Scrnoors.—These schools have recently been enlarged, additional accommoda- tion having been provided for about 100 children. 8. James’s Narronan Scuoois.—The designs for these schools were prepared about four years ago, at which time the infant school was built. Contracts have now been entered into for the completion of the group, by the addition of boys’ and girls’ schools, with the necessary offices. Accommodation will be provided for about 500 children. The buildings are of Gothic character, walls of red brick, roofs open- timbered. The cost will be about £1,500. S. Nicnoias (Priory) Narronan Scnoors.— Considerable additions are about to be made to these schools, by which accommodation will be provided for about 180 additional children. S. Mary’s (Roman) Carnoric Scuoors.—New rooms have just been completed in connection with the above schools. Accommodation is provided for about 100 additional children. New Scuoot-Rooms, Ciass-Room, anp Lrc- TURE-Room have been erected in connection with the Baptist Chapel, 8. George’s Denes. The lecture- room is over the school and class-rooms, and is about 50ft. by 30ft., with open-timbered roof. Con- venient and direct access is obtained from school- room to ground floor of chapel, and from lecture- room to galleries. PERTENHALL, Beps.—New national schools have recently been erected here. The walling material is white brick, with red brick and stone dressings. The roofs are open-timbered and covered with plain tiling. ; Freeruorre, Norrork.—A number of alms- houses of ornamental character in the Tudor style have recently been erected here for R. H. V. Wal- pole, Esq., Lord of the Manor of Freethorpe. The cost has been about £1,000. Preston DEANERY, NEAR NorruAmpron.—This estate having recently changed hands, extensive additions are now being made to the hall, and a number of ornamental cottages, additional farm buildings, private gas works, and other improve- ments are being carried out. The contractors are Messrs. Gosford, of Northampton. New Buitprne Estate anp Mope, Dweviimcs av Great YArmoutnu.—The Great Yarmouth Charity Trustees have instructed their architect, Mr. J. T. Bottle, to prepare plans for laying out a por- tion of their estate, near the Caister-road, for build- ing purposes. The site contains 7} acres, and it is proposed to erect thereon about 200 small honses, suitable for the various grades of the operative and working-classes. The general plan and scheme for laying out the ground has been approved by the Charity Commissioners for England and Wales, and designs have been prepared by the architect for the whole of the dwellings. Great care will be taken to avoid overcrowding, to secure efficient drainage and ventilation, and other sanitary appliances, and to have the dwellings substantially and properly built- A New Bank is about to be erected at Framling- ham, Suffolk, for Messrs. Gurney & Co. 8. Anprew’s Cuurcu, Gorteston, SUFFOLK.— About £1,600 has been already raised, and it is hoped to complete the restoration of the fabric during the present year (with the exception of the tower), leaving the seating and internal fittings to be pro- vided subsequently. 8S. Mary's, West Somerron, Norrotk.— Plans and estimates for the complete restoration of the above church have been prepared, and it is hoped that the works will shortly be commenced. Some fine frescoes have been discovered on the walls of the church, which will be carefully preserved. There is also a good Perpendicular screen. The church is now in a deplorable state. S. Perer anp §. Paut, Runnam, Norrots.— It is proposed to complete the restoration of this church by taking down the present barn-like and un- sightly nave roof, and erecting a new open-timbered roof of appropriate character. Great YARMouTH.—It is proposed to erect a new mission church (Countess of Huntingdon’s) here, ina rapidly-increasing part of the town. The building will be Gothic in style, with flint walling, and stone dressings. The architect of all the above works is Mr. J. T. Bottle, of Serle-street, Lincoln’s Inn-fields, and Regent-street, Great Yarmouth. ~>—_—_—_ SWIMMING BATHS FOR THE METROPOLIS. A N attempt, likely to be successful, because made, LE in the approved English fashion, by a com- pany, is about to be made to provide Londoners with facilities for acquiring and practising an exercise of which so many Englishmen are strangely contented to remain ignorant. The company, which starts under the title of “The National Swimming Baths Company,” with a moderate capital, has entered into a contract for the construction of a covered and well-ventilated iron bath on the Thames, to be placed off Battersea Park. The First Commissioner of Public Works has sanc- tioned the scheme, and the bath, it is expected, will be completed by the end of June. . The water in the bath will be constantly changing, and be admitted through a protected canyas screen, so as to check the passage of any sediment or suspended matter. It will be filtered and maintained at the same temperature throughout the year. Along the whole length of and above the floor of the bath canvas will be stretched, which will afford a safeguard to bathers when diving, and which will be strained sufficiently to walk upon. ‘The first of the series of baths will be 360ft. long, by 50ft. broad, with a depth of from 4ft. to 6ft. There will be 200 dressing-closets; the bath will accommodate 200 bathers at one time, and the depth of water can be increased to 10ft. The proposed charge for admis- sion will be, for the 1st class, 6d.; and it is proposed that the baths shall be open on Sundays, between 7 and 10 a.m., at a charge of 1d., for the use of the ee ee
 * working classes.