To the American Railway Engineering Association: The Committee on Buildings submits the following report of its work for the past year. (1) Manual Complete rearrangement of the subject-matter was made for publication in the new Manual. The Committee at this time have no changes or revisions to recommend. (2) Specifications for Buildings for Railway Purposes The preparation of specifications, begun last year, was continued along similar lines. The Committee had hoped to present at this time specifications covering all the subjects outlined. It was found impracticable to entirely complete these, but seven (7) subjects have been covered, as included in Appendix A of this report. It is hoped during the coming year to present an additional report covering subjects left undone so that at the next Convention we may offer the entire group of specifications for adoption by the Convention. It would be helpful to the Committee to receive suggestions and advice with regard to the specifications presented and we earnestly urge upon all members that this be given consideration so that when presented for adoption, we may feel that the different points have been carefully considered. (3) Ice Houses and Icing Stations The Committee offers as information, the report of its Sub-Committee given in Appendix B of this report. (4) Floors for Railway Buildings The Committee offers as information, report of its Sub-Committee given in Appendix C of this report. (5) Freight House Design The Committee found that there was very little available data with regard to the elements entering into design of freight houses and appointed one of its members, Mr. Hugo Filippi, to study this subject. The result of his study and investigation is given in Appendix D of this report. A (7) Standardization During the year the Committee was instructed to take up the question of standardization of various articles. The Committee is not ready to make any definite recommendations, but presents as a progress report the work of its Sub-Committee given in Appendix E of this report. (6) Outline of Work The Committee recommends that, in addition to continuing the uncompleted assignments, the following subjects be assigned for investigation and report: 1. Ventilation of Buildings. 2. System for Numbering Railroad Buildings. 3. Design and Specifications for Different Types of Chimneys 4. Economical Types of Ornamental Roof Coverings for CONCLUSIONS The result of this year's work is presented as information and the Committee has no conclusions to offer to the Convention at this time. Respectfully submitted, THE COMMITTEE ON BUILDINGS, W. T. DORRANCE, Chairman. Under the heading of "Painting" shall be included the following: (a) Painting and finishing exterior and interior woodwork. (c) Painting exposed sheet metal work and rain conductors. (e) Painting brick and concrete wall surfaces and concrete (g) Painting and lettering signs, and lettering on doors, etc. (h) Painting radiators, piping, etc. Under the heading of “glazing" shall be included the furnishing and setting of glass in window, door, transom and ceiling sash, including metal sash, and furnishing and setting glass in skylights and marquises. The Contractor shall furnish all labor, tools, equipment and everything necessary to complete the painting and glazing required. The equipment shall include all ladders, scaffolding or staging necessary to execute the work. No ladders, scaffolding or staging shall be placed where they will interfere with the safe operation of trains and in buildings partially or wholly occupied by the Company and in which painting is in progress, the Contractor shall take proper precautions to protect the public and employees of the Company from any and all damage from his operations. 2. Materials. Paints, stains and varnishes shall be of a brand acceptable to and approved by the Engineer, and shall be delivered at the site in the original unbroken factory containers with labels intact. Paints shall be furnished in ready mixed form and shall be thinned only in accordance with the directions furnished by the manufacturers or as directed by the Engineer. Thinners shall be pure raw linseed oil or pure spirits of turpentine or a mixture of these two. Benzine, naphtha, gasoline or coal oil will not be allowed on the work or mixed with any of the materials used. Paints not otherwise specified may consist of pure raw linseed oil and white lead, properly tinted, each coat to be of slightly different shade, and the final coat to be of a shade and color approved by the Engineer. Enamels shall consist of long oil, easy flowing, durable varnishes, that remain white, set dust free in six hours and hard in twelve hours, capable of being rubbed in two days. Interior wood stains shall be of pure color, with linseed oil vehicle, permanent as to shade, sharp and clear in tone and capable of deeply penetrating the surface. Shingle stains shall be of a pure color with creosote or other wood preservative as the vehicle, and shall be permanent as to shade and deeply penetrating. Varnishes shall be oil and gum goods that will withstand hard use and not show white or dust from the surface. 3. Application of Paint. Only careful and skilled workmen shall be employed and special care shall be taken to avoid spattering, or setting of pots where they will disfigure the finished work. Canvas and building papers shall be spread where directed by the Engineer in order to protect finished or unfinished work. Paint shall be kept thoroughly stirred while being applied. 4. Preparing the Surface. Woodwork shall be carefully hand-smoothed and nail holes, cracks or other imperfections of the surface shall be puttied after the priming coat is applied. Paints, fillers, stains or varnishes must not be applied to wet, frosty or rusty surfaces, to wood showing sand paper marks or to surfaces not properly prepared. Knots, pitch pockets or sap shall be completely coated with first quality pure orange shellac before any paint is applied. Castings shall be filled with an iron filler and smoothed with emery and all imperfections treated and faced before applying the first coat of paint. Brick, concrete, and plastered surfaces shall be absolutely dry before any paint is applied. Such surfaces shall be thoroughly cleaned with brushes to remove any loose material. Concrete floor surfaces shall be absolutely dry and free from oil, grease, dust, loose particles or any foreign matter that will in any way interfere with the most perfect penetration of the paint into the pores of the surface. 5. Time for Drying. Each coat of paint shall be given sufficient time to dry hard before the next coat is applied. 6. Weather and Temperature. Exterior painting shall not be done during damp or freezing weather, and all fresh work shall be protected from damage. For interior work the temperature shall not be allowed to fall below sixty (60) degrees Fahrenheit, while paint is being applied or while it is drying. 7. Priming Coats. In general all exterior woodwork shall be given one priming coat of the same paint that is to be used for the finishing coats, thinned with pure spirits turpentine and pure raw linseed oil, as directed. This priming coat shall be applied as early as possible after such woodwork is erected, and well brushed into the pores of the wood. Priming coats for window and door frames, structural steel and iron work, and the back of paneled wainscoting and partitions shall be applied in the shop before the wood or metal is subjected to dampness. Priming of interior woodwork, plastered, concrete and brick surfaces will depend on the nature of the surfaces and the finishing coats to be used, as hereinafter specified. 8. Painting Exterior Wood Surfaces. All exterior wood surfaces of every description, unless otherwise noted, shall receive, in addition to the priming coat, two (2) coats of lead and oil paint of approved brand and color. The third coat shall consist of the ready mixed paint as it comes from the container used without thinning. Unless otherwise directed, exterior doors shall be painted three (3) coats on both sides, except where interior woodwork is to be varnished, in which case the outside only will be painted and the inside finished as described in paragraph 11. Tops and bottoms of doors shall be painted three (3) coats. 9. Finishing Interior Woodwork. Interior wood surfaces shall be finished by one of the following methods or by a combination of these methods, as may be designated or as directed by the Engineer: 1. Painting with three coats of lead and oil paint. 2. Finishing in natural wood colors. 3. Staining and varnishing. 4. Enameling. 10. Painting Interior Wood Surfaces. Where interior wood surfaces are to be painted, such surfaces shall receive, in addition to the priming coat, two (2) coats of an approved brand of lead and oil paint, using such colors as will conform to the Company's standard practice or as may be directed by the Engineer. 11. Staining and Varnishing Interior Wood Surfaces. Where interior wood surfaces are to be finished with varnish, the work shall be done as follows: (a) Natural Finish: 1. (FOR OPEN GRAIN WOODS, SUCH AS MAHOGANY, ASH, CHESTNUT, ETC.): The surface shall be sandpapered smooth and all nail holes stopped with putty, using putty colored to match the wood. Then apply one coat |