a. INDIANA Keep a strict account of all causes of fires. b. See that comparison between fires caused by electricity and those caused by gasolene is put before the public. IOWA Have insurance companies insist on extra premiums for gasolene and acetylene installations. IOWA Get explanation of rates which the New England Mutuals are making on sprinklered risks and which are met by some of the old-line companies, as compared to the rates which old-line companies are charging electric-lighting companies. IOWA Insist on more rigid inspection of gas and gasolene installations. IOWA Insist on more rigid inspection of gas and gasolene installations. IOWA Insist on more rigid inspection and more rigid inspectors. Secure more concerted action on part of underwriters, and secure special charges for the elements of hazard which they promulgate. KANSAS Publish relative hazard of gas, gasolene, acetylene and kerosene. KANSAS Publish relative hazard of gas and electricity. KENTUCKY Suggest an investigation of salary paid by cities to electric wire inspectors, if any, and whether the position is free from the ordinary drawbacks of rivalry and "pull." KENTUCKY Publish figures showing relative hazard of electricity, coal-oil, gasolene, and so forth. MAINE Bar out irresponsible contractors who do cheap wiring by having rigid inspection of all wiring installations. MAINE Secure greater safeguard of telephone wires where they enter buildings, on account of the possibility of their coming in contact with highpotential circuits. MAINE Secure rules governing better construction of telephone lines, to prevent them coming in contact with lighting circuits. MARYLAND We suggest uniform inspection for all parts of the country, enforcing the underwriters' rules universally, and prohibiting inspectors from formulating rules of their own and enforcing same arbitrarily. MARYLAND Insist on thorough work in installing electrical service, and give a true report of the real cause of all fires. MASSACHUSETTS We have never had a fire in this city traceable to electric wires, in spite of the fact that there is no systematic inspection of electric wiring in this city. The only inspection we have is made on occasional visits by an inspector from the Insurance Exchange. There should be a competent inspector in every city, who systematically inspects every installation of electric wires before it is put in service. MASSACHUSETTS Every operating company should inspect every customer's premises regularly and frequently, and should insist on all defects in wiring being remedied. MASSACHUSETTS Inspect all installations in accordance with the Code before issuing policy. MASSACHUSETTS Suggests protecting splices in wood molding by iron boxes and the use of iron boxes for knob and tube work. More rigid inspection of canopies. a. MASSACHUSETTS Insist on the use of proper fuses in re-fusing circuits. b. No electric-lighting company should allow statement to stand in its district that fire was due to electrical causes unless this can be positively proven. MASSACHUSETTS Insurance companies should be obliged to inspect every fire and report to those interested the exact cause, insisting that no other report be published. Newspaper reporters are not good judges in the matter. MASSACHUSETTS All contractors should be licensed, and central stations should refuse to connect to premises wired by any other than thoroughly first-class, competent people. MICHIGAN Make all electric companies and wiring contractors follow the National Electrical Code. MICHIGAN See that all wiring, even that of isolated plants, be done in accordance with the Code. MICHIGAN. Arrange with press associations to suppress causes of fire until the truth is definitely known. MINNESOTA Insist that insurance companies prove that fires are due to electrical causes before publishing statement to that effect. Insist on higher rates where gasolene-lighting plants are used. MINNESOTA Rigid inspection of heating apparatus using gas, gasolene, and kerosene, with increased rates where installation is not properly done; also increased rates for gasolene lighting. MISSISSIPPI Show small proportion of electrical fires by publishing complete reports of state fire marshals and other officials, giving total number of fires and causes for same. MISSISSIPPI Secure more rigid inspection of gasolene lamps, and an increased rate for same. MISSOURI Insist on electrical installations being done under strict rules. The present rules are not sufficient. Care should be taken that rules are not burdensome where not needed. MISSOURI Should be different rates for large cities where there are gas pipes, water pipes, telephones and high-potential circuits, from those in small cities where there are only low-potential circuits and telephones. MISSOURI Should be general publicity of figures showing the exact status of the electrical fire hazard. ings. ΜΟΝΤΑΝΑ Secure better arrangements for wiring in connection with steel ceil NEVADA Give figures showing hazard of the different illuminants. Secure difference in insurance rates for electricity, or have insurance companies give prominence to the safety of electrical installations instead of the opposite. NEW HAMPSHIRE Insurance Give percentage of fires caused by various agencies. inspections are beneficial, but other installations, such as gas, plumbing, steam-fitting, and so forth-not having definite and detailed rules-are placed in buildings with absolute disregard to electrical installations, and the electrical interests have to bear the whole burden. NEW JERSEY Furnish member companies with reports of the more prolific sources of fire for their local use, as part of an advertising campaign. NEW JERSEY Use every means possible to teach the public that the fire hazard of properly installed electricity is very low in comparison with that of other illuminants. NEW JERSEY Systematic re-inspection of factory, church, hall and all large installations to uncover the "handy man's" work. NEW JERSEY Let each local concern follow up fires and prevent "caused by electricity" from getting credit for anything except that which was actually so caused. NEW YORK a. Combat the tendency of the daily papers to blame electricity for all mysterious fires, where buildings happen to be wired. b. Inspect gas installations with same rigidity as electrical installations, and secure insertion of gas clause in insurance policies, similar to present electricity clause. NEW YORK Inspection reports should call attention to those items not up to standard, which are actually hazardous, and insist on immediate correction. NEW YORK Over-regulation of electrical inspection results in needless and excessive cost of installation. NEW YORK Discriminations now allowed in the rules by the inspector should be done away with as far as possible. NEW YORK Furnish reports of oil lamps, gas, oil heater, and gasolene risks and fires, and so forth, for local newspaper publication. NEW YORK Rigid inspection of installation before connecting with lighting circuit. Careful re-inspection to see that customer does not add additional lights and overload circuits. NEW YORK Local inspector should not be a partner in some electric wiring conThis condition of affairs leads property owners to disregard any suggestion which the underwriters' inspector may make. cern. NEW YORK Suggest the advisability of making a complete record, stating cause of fire as known-eliminating all uncertain cases and classifying causes, so as to set forth the relative hazards of various kinds of illuminants for light and power service. NEW YORK Inspections of electrical wiring vary in different places; requirements should be same in all places. License contractors and hold them responsible for their work. Require contractors and electrical workers to register, and educate such registered parties to the requirements for proper installation. OHIO Each member company should report all fires proved to be due to gasolene, such reports being collected and distributed. OHIO Spread statements such as that published in paper distributed to the insurance agents by the Ohio Inspectors' Bureau, which reads: "In conclusion, it can be stated that, while the average system is being severely criticized, we do not in any way advocate other means for light or power. Electricity is by far the safest method of illumination." OHIO Secure arrangement with National Board of Fire Underwriters so that competent inspection can be had for property owners in towns of 30,000 and under. OKLAHOMA Secure more rigid inspection of gas and gasolene installations. PENNSYLVANIA Publish annual or semi-annual reports giving number and origin of fires in the different underwriting districts. Rule out combination fixtures. Secure answers from all members to circular and tabulate the results. PENNSYLVANIA More rigid inspection of telephone and telegraph wires, to prevent their coming in contact with lighting wires. PENNSYLVANIA Metallic piping placed after the electrical installation frequently interferes with the latter. There should be inspection to prevent this being done and to put the burden of charges for this inspection on the parties causing it. PENNSYLVANIA All risks should be inspected with the same rigidity, and no charge should be made for any unless charge is made for all such inspections. TENNESSEE Better inspection of water, gas and sewer pipes placed in buildings after electric wires are installed. TEXAS Give table showing percentage of fires due to electricity, gas, gasolene, acetylene, and other illuminants. TEXAS Require graded rates for more dangerous forms of illumination. Require thorough system of inspection of all fire hazards. This latter will bring larger returns than any other change that could be made in present fire-insurance situation. TEXAS Secure inspection of plumbing, gas and water piping, with respect to electrical wiring, when these are done after electrical wiring is installed. TEXAS Classify causes of electrical fires, showing defects and indicating remedies. Figures on fire losses should be published in percentages. Graded rates would penalize illuminants other than electricity. A base rate should be established, and penalties added for especially hazardous use of acetylene, gasolene, and so forth. |
