At 836 pin. June 28, a fire and explosion took place at the Ta Chung Kuo Cellulofd Factory, No, 109, Lane 3871 Ferry Road, A report by off cials of Shanghai Municipal Council departments concerned has been presented to the Council. Tt says, in On December 18, 1929, permit was issued by the Public Works Depart. ment of the Shanghai Municipal Council for the erection on Cadastral Lot 5015 Western of a factory, consisting of three isolated buildings. On March 27, 1990, a further permit was issued for the erection of five additional buildings, each separated from the other and with ample space round each, One of these, marked fon the plans "Drying Room," was not built, and the permit to build it therefore lapsed.
At a subsequent period an unauthorized building was erected on the site of the drying room originally proposed. In" this unauthorized building a fire took place on June 28, 1935. A fire had previously occurred on August 1," 1934, in the Dbullding adjacent tothe unauthorzed building referred to.
The building in which the fire of June 28, 1935, took place was a single sloned rectangular structure mea-uring, 43" 8" by 30" 2," of reinforced conerete framework with 10" solid brick panels to a height of 13° 1" just below the roof beam on the public alleyway side, On the north-West and southeast sides the brick panel walls rose to a height of 9 above which were eight window openings on each side, measuring 3° 3" by 3 1." "With the exception of Tour—two on each side—all these window openings had been bricked up. by" 8" brick panels, Electrical Installation was excluded from the factory after the fre, and including all four types of celluloid referred to above, show that the material of German importation had the lowest {fuming off point, namely 178°C, others having a considerably higher fuming off point. Thus it may be said that the material in use in the Ta Chung Kuo Factory was of satisfactory stability with reference to heat, Tt Is obvious that in many dirertions the optimum safety practice was Met observed in the factory.
1, Instead of "an 8800-10,600 ths. maximum, more than' four times that Amount was being stored at the time of the explosion.
"The essential ventilation provision was absent from the Building, though provided for in an. original' building lan for the site as passed.
3 It is known that work at times was done in' the store, though this' was generally discontinued after request that this be done.
'4. A steam pipe traversed the store room from south to north, near' the 5." Serap was not stofed In metal containers, but In sacks.
Council officials have attempted to ensure the safety of workers engaged In the factory, acting generally under Bye-law XXXV, and had succeeded obtaining the following improve-
1. Installation of an: additionat" external staircase leading from the fat root fon to" which the women's workroom opens, ration to previously existing Internal staircase, designed to facilitate exit from upper storey In case of fire lower storey.
'5. Isolation of the room on the upg 'Noor in which spray' painting (its Potential explosibiliiy)" was carried on, "4. Complete replacement of former dangerous types by dust Proof electrical Mtings (switches, lamps, ete.) "and wiring in conduit, In the work buildings room.
'The building' was divided by a wall running between the northwest and southeast walls, the smaller of the two rooms being again divided. The space left for storage measured 283" by 37" 6" by 12, Ventilation Bad With the exception of the four windows and the door, no provision was made for ventilation. According to the storeman, windows were jer opened, Indeed he stated th fearing the effects of the sun's rays through glass, he had boarded up the windows, The root was flat, constructed of concrete, The bulld-ing was thus without proper provision for ventilation.
steam. line traversed the build~ ing ata level about 12" from the ceiling. I's purpose was to convey steam from the boiler of the factory to the bath used by the workers who lived on the promises. The pipe was well lagged with asbestos rope and packing. It had an extension loop, Which would add to the weight of the pipe at that point. It is not Known whether the pipe was properly supported at the loop, and, if not, its Weight may have induced steam 'The building in which the fire of June 28, 1035, tole place was customed to be used as.astore, prin-pally for the serap celluloid' which accumulated during operations. On the date of the fre, so far as can be gathered from interviews with five members of the factory staff, inelud~ ing the sloremon in charge of the store, it contained the following:
Waste celluloid scrap—43,301 Ibs. Some partially. finished toys. two oF three hundred finished 24-28 cases of imported celluloid sheet of German origin.
Camphor, used in reconditioning scrap, Some machine parts.
Commercial celluloid consists roughly of 60.70 per cent, nitro cellulose with a nitrogen content of 10-11 per cent, 25-85 per cent. camphor: 0-15 per cent. or more of filling, colouring or softening substances. The camphor is a white crystalline substance, melting at 17°C, but volatilizing at ordinary temperatures.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.