Salt Lake Tribune | 1910-03-13 | Page 27 | Architects Favor Fireproof Homes

ARCHITECTS FAVOR FIREPRQQF HOMES t Movement for Use of Better Material Ma-terial Extends to Smaller Structures. COST OF CONSTRUCTION . LITTLE MORE THN WOOD v Use of Hollow Tiling and Plaster Plas-ter Blocks Is Increasing in House Construction. Architects nf Salt Lake arc using their influence to foster a sentiment in favor of better materials for homo construction and the subject of fireproof dwellings is one that, will probably be discussed in detail by the recently organized branch of tho American Institute of Architecture. Architec-ture. "We are all In hearty accord with the present movement in Salt Lake to improve im-prove the class of buildings being erected, because wo architects probably know better bet-ter than any other class, unless it be tho builders themselves, that our standards here are not Quite what i they should be," said a local architect Saturday. Fairly Strict. "Building regulations in Salt I,ake aro fairly strict for a. city of Its size, and the building Inspector Is enforcing these regulations as well as any one man In an office of that nature could bo expected ex-pected to enforce thtm, ho continued. "Statistics show, however, that In proportion pro-portion to the extent of building operations. opera-tions. Salt Lako pays less for tho expense ex-pense of Its building Inspection department depart-ment than any other city In tho country. coun-try. "Regulations arc provided for the construction con-struction of office and school buildings and the theaters, but wo all spend more tlmo In our homes and. .so far, 'neither tho law nor our own Judgment has directed di-rected that we should make these homes Ilreproof. Good Sense Lacking. "Tills condition indicates that there Is something lacking in our good sense. The result, is that SO.O00 homes in tho United States are burned down In a year's lime and not one-half of ono per cont of the new homes that aro being constructed every year are made fireproof. "In recent years, in some of the cities of the cast, houses have been constructed of hollow tiling of terra cotta while plaster plas-ter partitions, now In general use for office of-fice buildings and hotels, have been used in a few of tho new residences in Salt I,ake. This Is a step In tho right direction direc-tion and tho construction of houses entirely en-tirely of flrcproqf material has been a decided success. Warmer in winter, cooler in summer, vermin proof, requiring requir-ing ncithor paint nor repairs, carrying low insurance and practically indestructible, indestruc-tible, is the net result of the uso of these materials. Furthermore, the ilrst cost of such a houBe is little more than that of the ordinary combustible construction and, as an Investment, this new construction construc-tion means real economy while the wooden wood-en house Jb an extravagance."