ASBESTOS BUILDING LUMBER The fire-resisting, non-conducting qualities of the mineral asbestos have long been well known. This natural rock of fibrous texture is manufactured into a great variety of commercial products adapted to various uses where insula tion is required. One of the latest applications of this useful agent is as building lumber, in which form the mineral fiber is manufactured into large sheets which can be installed in build ing construction in the same way as ordinary lumber for floors, partitions, etc.
The use of large sheets of asbestos building lumber as a fire stop in partitions, between the rooms of summer hotels or in office buildings where space is of great value, is often exceed ingly desirable, as by the use of small I-beams, or angle-iron, or studding, or even ordinary com mon board partitions between rooms, faced upon both sides with asbestos building lumber, a thin, strong, fireproof separation is made, that is very saving of space. Partitions of light wooden studding faced with asbestos building lumber up on both sides, are likewise of most ex cellent construction as a fire stop, particularly when 85 per cent magnesia blocks are placed be tween the studs, making the partition not only a non-conductor of sound, but rendering it almost impossible for any ordinary fire to pass beyond such a barrier.
Where it is desirable not only to cut down insurance rates, but, for one's own personal safety, to confine the fire that may unfortunately occur in any dwelling, to the floor upon which it originates, these objects may be accomplished by the use of asbestos building lumber in large sheets, upon the rough floor, when the finished floor may then be laid immediately upon these sheets, the whole being securely nailed in the usual manner. This will confine any ordinary fire to the floor in which it originates, and pre serve the lives and treasures of the occupants. Of course, in house construction, the sheets of asbestos building lumber must run underneath the studding, to prevent the sparks and flame carried by the air-draught from coursing through the partitions.
As this form of material is too hard for rats and mice to gnaw through, it affords an effective barrier to the ravages of these pests.