HEAD OF “P ” BRANCH A.F.O. 5938/43

R E ST R IC T E D

FOR O F F IC IA L USE ONLY

N ot to be communicated to anyone outside H .M . Service

ADMIRALTY F L E E T ORDER35-MM. CINEMA PROJECTION EQUIPMENT—FIRE PRECAUTIONS REQUIRED AND RULES FOR

INSTALLATION

A d m i r a l t y , S.W.l,9th December, 1943.

The following Order having been approved by My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty is hereby promulgated for information and guidance and necessary action.

By Command of their Lordships,

Distribution LimitedTo Commanders-in-Chief (not C.-in-C.,

H .F .), Flag Officers, Senior Naval Officers, Commanding Officers R .N .Bases and Training Establishments,Superintendents or Officers in Charge of H .M . Dockyards, and Admiralty Overseers concerned.

Note :—The scale of distribution is approxim ately half that shown in the Admiralty Fleet Order Volume, 1941, Instructions, paragraph 10.

Shore Establishments Only.

(66474)

5908.—35-mm. Cinema Projection Equipment—Fire Precautions Required and Rules for Installation

Shore Establishments

(N.L. 15551/42.—9 Dec. 1943.)

Thirty-five millimetre cinema projection equipment m ust be installed in an f operating room or box of fireproof construction. Minimum floor area permissible

for a box designed for one projector is 6 ft. by 7 ft. and for two projectors 10 ft. by 7 ft. The minimum height is to be 7 ft. in all cases.

2. Operating boxes m ust be fitted with portholes on the side facing the screen, of a size and position indicated in A.F.O. Diagram 368/43 (C.E.-in-C. Drawing No. 5452/43). The size of viewing and projection ports m ust not exceed 9 in. by 9 in. and 10 in. by 7 in. high respectively. The num ber of ports should be reduced to a minimum and should not exceed one projection and one viewing port for each projector or slide lantern in use. W here one projector only is installed, viewing and projection ports for a second projector m ay be fitted in anticipation of its delivery. Portholes m ust be glazed with first quality ¿-in. plate glass mounted in frames which are removable for cleaning purposes. They m ust also be fitted w ith an autom atic fire shu tter constructed of mild steel plate which can be operated

y from either inside or outside the box (see above-quoted drawing). Any reflecting surfaces around the projection ports (e.g. the thickness of the wall in which the ports are cut) should be painted a m att black.

3. A rewinding room of similar construction m ust be provided adjacent to and, if possible, adjoining the operating box. This m ust be of a minimum floor area of 7 ft. by 4 ft. and a minimum height of 7 ft.

4. Any communicating door between operating and rewind rooms m ust open outwards from the former into the latter.

5. Both operating and rewind rooms m ust have independent exits, each of a minimum size of 6 ft. 6 in. high by 2 ft. wide, opening outwards from these compartments. W here there is no door communicating w ith the rewind room, the operating room m ust have two such independent exits.

6. All doors in both operating and rewind rooms are to be self-closing and of fireproof construction.

7. The words “ NO SMOKING ” are to be painted in 5-in. block letters, in red on a white ground, in a prom inent position on the walls of both operating and rewind rooms and, in a similar m anner bu t in smaller letters, on the outside of the doors to these compartments.

8. All doors m ust have their purpose painted clearly on both sides, e.g.“ WAY OUT ” , “ TO REW IN D ROOM ” , “ TO PRO JECTION ROOM ” etc.

9. The rewind room is to be fitted w ith a rewinding bench of hard wood 2in. thick, or of some other substance faced with fireproof material, o f a minimum length of 3 ft. by 1 ft. 6 in. deep and a t a height of 24-30 in. from the floor. An additional covering of corticene on th e rewind bench is perm itted and advisable.

10. Although not fireproof, corticene is sufficiently slow-burning to be perm itted in commercial cinemas and th e floors of the com partments are to be covered w ith th is material. No adhesive substance is to be employed in laying any corticene in these compartments.

11. W hen not in use, cinema com partm ents are to be kept locked. E n try is to be forbidden to unauthorised persons. Spare keys for unlocking the com part­m ents in case of emergency are to be kept outside and adjacent thereto in a glazed wooden box, the purpose of which is to be clearly marked.

12. (a) All ro tary converters, rectifiers, transformers and fuses, and resistances for the projector lamp, whether arc or incandescent, m ust be installed outside the operating and rewinding rooms.

(6) Double pole ironclad switches are to be provided in the operating room for cutting off th e supply to the projector and sound equipment. W here two arc lamp projectors are installed, a separate switch is to be provided for each

3 5938machine. Means m ust also be provided whereby the supply to th e equipm ent m ay be cut off from a position outside the operating room. Switches controlling the input side of a converter, rectifier or transform er, if w ithin reasonable access of the operating room, are considered suitable for th is purpose.

(c) All switches are to be clearly m arked to indicate the circuits or apparatus they control, so th a t current m ay be cu t off in the event of fire to obviate the risk of shock.

(d) All fixed electrical wiring in operating and rewinding rooms m ust be enclosed in m etal conduit, efficiently bonded and earthed. Flexible leads are to be restricted to those to and from the projector and amplifier and kept as short as possible, also enclosed in flexible metallic tubing or covered w ith asbestos.

(e) All lights in operating, rewinding and film storage rooms to be in bulkhead or well glass fittings.

(/) No electrical apparatus other than lighting, or approved means of heating, are to be perm itted in the rewinding and film storage rooms.

13. The following fire-fighting equipm ent is to be supplied :—(a) One asbestos blanket, P a tte rn 7584 (already supplied w ith each pro­

jector), which should be suspended from the ceiling adjacent thereto.(b) Projection Rooms.—Two type C.D.12, A dm iralty P atte rn 4738, or three

type C.D.7, A dm iralty P a tte rn 4737, situated w ithin the room, one being adjacent to each door.

(c) Rewind Room.—One type C.D.12, A dm iralty P a tte rn 4738, or two typeC.D.7, A dm iralty P a tte rn 4737, situated w ithin the room and adjacent to the exit.

(d) One additional extinguisher, A dm iralty P atte rn 4738, is to be held ineach establishm ent as spare.

14. Purchase of the following carbon dioxide fire extinguishers for use on

as follows :—

Pattern Description4737 Extinguishers, Pyrene, C .0.2,

H and, Fire, Type C.D.7 ...

4738 Extinguishers, Pyrene, C .0 .2,H and, Fire, Type C.D.12 ...

These extinguishers are being added to the authorised list of N aval Stores, page 286, lines 12 an d 13 respectively, under th e P a tte rn numbers and descriptions shown above. E m pty cylinders should be returned to the nearest dockyard or R.N . store depot for recharging by either The Carbon Dioxide Co., L td ., or The Pyrene Co., L td ., as a local purchase arrangement.

15. The basis of 35-mm. film stock is n itro cellulose. This is highly inflam­mable, giving off an explosive vapour when heated, and is to be treated w ith due regard to these facts.

16. In handling 35-mm. film the following regulations are to be observed :—(i) N ot more th an two reels of film are to be allowed in the projection room

a t any one tim e, and are only to be perm itted therein during the projec­tion of films.

(ii) Films are to be stowed in their cans and n o t on reels. Cabinets for filmspool stowage, 12-way, P atte rn 7564, are supplied only for use in the rewind room and for holding films which are required for immediate use prior to exhibition. These cabinets are n o t to be used for the storage of film and n o t more th an one of these articles should be required for any installation. t

(iii) N ot more than 20 standard cans of film, containing 1,000-ft. each ortheir equivalent, are to be stored in any rewind room a t any tune.

(65474) A *

, 1943, C.P .7B/88525/43, for distribution

Mersey SevernRosytli Area Area Total

100 100 100 300

100 100 200 400

5938 4(iv) U p to 200 standard 1,000-ft. reels of film or their equivalent in any

one establishm ent m ay be stored in steel cupboards (subhead E.4), which m ust be placed in a safe locality w ithin a fire-resisting building, away from radiators, heating devices or the direct rays of the sun.

(v) No smoking or naked lights are to be allowed in rooms where steelcupboards containing film are stowed, nor is combustible m aterial to be stowed w ithin a distance of 10 ft. of such cupboards.

(vi) Rooms and cupboards used for the storage of film are to be inspectedand ventilated daily by a responsible and com petent rating.

(vii) Regulations for the storage of more than 200 standard 1,000-ft. cansof film or their equivalent will be prom ulgated in a further A.F.O.

(viii) No smoking or naked lights are to be allowed anywhere where film is situated in or out of cans or where film is handled, even if no film is present a t the tim e.

(ix) No projector fitted w ith an autom atic fire extinguisher m ay be usedunless the device is se t and fitted w ith a loaded cylinder of C 02 (Roc Cylinders Full, P a tte rn No. 3735). The autom atic fire extinguisher has a lim ited application and will no t provide complete im m unity from fire. A reserve stock of n o t more than six and no t less than two Roc cylinders m ust be m aintained.

17. The vast m ajority of fires in cinemas are caused by negligence. I f a fire occurs in a projector, the operators are generally to blame for carelessness in projecting, examining or rewinding th e film and are to be held responsible accordingly, even if no damage is caused.

18. Projection, rewind and film storage rooms are to be kep t a t a tem perature of about 60°. Adequate ventilation m ust be provided. H eating m ust be by w ater or steam pipes or by low tem perature tubular electric heaters mounted a t a height of 6 ft. 6 in. from the deck. W here this is not practicable, guards are to be provided 4 in. clear from the heating appliance. Electric filament heaters or open fires are no t perm itted.

19. D ust covers are to be provided for cinema projectors and amplifiers.

20. (a) Amplifiers are to be m ounted on a shelf fixed a t a convenient height on the wall in which the ports are pierced and on the right hand (operating) side of a single projector or between the two projectors where a dual installation is provided.

(6) The following tools and equipm ent should be provided for the use of cinema operators if these operators have no t already been supplied w ith them from th e R.N . School of Cinema Projectionists, R.N . Barracks, Chatham

Feeders, oil ... ... P atte rn No. 402 Nos. 1Feeders, oil ... ... P a tte rn No. 21 Nos. 1 (35-mm.

installations only).Screw drivers P a tte m No. 3603 Nos. 1Screw drivers ... P a tte m No. 3604 Nos. 1Pliers ... P a tte m No. 1398 Nos. 1Pliers ... P a tte rn No. 3605 Nos. 1Brushes, crow, small ... P a tte rn No. C.356 Nos. 1Brushes, crow, small ... P a tte rn No. C.380 Nos. 1Scissors ... P a tte m No. 50 1 pairChamois leather Nos. 1Carbon tetrachloride 2 gallonCleaning cloth, surgical spirit and

cambric for lens cleaning.

21. F urniture and apparatus in operating and rewind rooms is to be arranged so as to afford unimpeded egress in case of fire, and m ust be lim ited to a to ta l of one chair or stool for each operator in these com partm ents.

22. Construction of operating boxes and rewind rooms.— Operating boxes and rewind rooms m ust be constructed of fireproof material. Non-perm anent com partm ents of tim ber framework, covered bo th sides w ith flat asbestos sheeting,

5 5938are permissible and a suitable design is given in A.F.O. Diagram 368/43, (C.E.-in-C., Drawing No. 5452/43). Where operating boxes of the “ portable ” type are used, a railing or other device m ust be placed outside to prevent access to within 3 feet of the structure except as is necessary for the exit of the operators.

Instructional Cinema Auditoria23. Films are only to be shown in rooms w ith a t least two exit doors. All exit

doors are to open outwards.24. In rooms regularly used for showing films, all exits are to conform to the

following scale :—(i) Units of E xit Width

(а) In new buildings the un it of exit w idth should be 22 in., and all doorwaysbe a t least 2 units wide, i.e. 44 in.

(б) In existing buildingsDoorways 40 in. to 55 in. m ay count as 2 units.Doorways 56 in. to 75 in. m ay count as 3 units.Doorways 76 in. to 100 in. m ay count as 4 units.Doorways 101 in. to 125 in. m ay count as 5 units.

(c) In determining w hat exits are needed, doorways under 40 in. should be disregarded, except th a t, in small halls seating 150 persons or less, doorways 30 in. wide m ay count as single units.

In aU buildings, neither revolving doors, doors opening inwards, nor turnstiles, should be taken into account as exits.

(ii) Number of Exits and Units NeededThe following table shows the minimum number of units of exit w idth

and the minimum num ber of exits required, according to the number accommodated :—

Number accommodated Units and ExitsUnder 80 ... 2 units 1 exit

80 to 350 4 units 2 exits350 to 500 5 units 2 exits500 to 750 8 units 3 exits750 to 1,000 10 units 4 exits

1,000 to 1,250 13 units 4 exits1,250 to 1,500 15 units 5 exits

I f it is desired to work to floor areas instead of numbers accommodated, six square feet should be allowed per person in a closely seated audience.

Persons moving in an orderly manner w ithout hurry should pass a t the ra te of about 40 persons per m inute per standard of unit of exit width.

The above table provides for the auditorium to be em ptied in 2 \ m inutes or less.

(iii) There should be an exit w ithin 75 feet from any p art of the floor. AU entrance doors, corridors and stairways (if any) should be available for purposes of exit, the doors opening outwards from the building.

25. Gangways of a minimum w idth of 3 ft. 6 in. are to be provided to allow unobstructed passage to , and m aximum egress through, all exits. Sufficient room m ust be left between rows of seats to allow the audience to stand, tu rn and march out in an orderly manner.

26. Whenever films are shown, a responsible officer or rating m ust be present to take charge in the event of emergency, and rules for the evacuation of the cinema are to be posted prom inently within the building.

27. F ire appliances, suitable to the character of the building and adequate to deal w ith an outbreak of fire, are to be provided and m aintained in good order a t suitable fire points clearly m arked as such.

28. Where exits from auditoria open directly on to a staircase, continuous handrails are to be fitted and the exits are to open immediately on to a landing giving a space of a t least five feet from the exit to the top stair. W here the level of an exit is four feet or less from the ground, a ram p of a suitable and safe gradient is to be fitted.

5938 6

29. (<z) Safety or emergency lighting is to be provided in the auditorium and the exits therefrom, and m ust be m aintained during the whole tim e the audience is present. This lighting is to consist of one of the following systems :—

(i) Electric from batteries.(ii) Gas.

(iii) Oil or candle lamps.

(6) “ E X IT ” signs in 6-in. letters are to be posted over each exit from the auditorium, and the position of safety lighting fittings is to be such th a t these signs are adequately illuminated. Sufficient illumination is to be provided so th a t, in the event of failure of the main electricity supply, the audience is able to see its way out.

(c) Any new schemes for safety lighting to comply w ith the above conditions are to be prepared on minimum lines to m eet site requirem ents and, where electrical work is involved, this m ust be carried out in consultation w ith the Electrical Officers of the associated dockyard. Full details of all schemes are to be forwarded to the Admiralty for information.

30. The above regulations, w ith the exception of paragraph 20 (6), apply to 35-mm. cinemas only and not to cinemas whose equipment consists solely of 16-mm. machines using “ non-flam ” film. The tools and equipment listed in paragraph 20 (6) are to be provided for all installations.

(95474) Wt. 8153/2290 9,009 12/43 Hw. G.338'10.

6emergency lighting is to be provided in th e auditorium and nd must be m aintained during th e whole tim e the audience ng is to consist of one of the following systemsjctric from batteries.i.or candle lamps.

s in 6-in. letters are to be posted over each exit from the ■jition of safety lighting fittings is to be such th a t these signs ated. Sufficient illumination is to be provided so th a t, in the main electricity supply, the audience is able to see its

nes for safety lighting to comply w ith the above conditions linimum lines to m eet site requirem ents and, where electrical lust be carried out in consultation w ith the Electrical Officers ard. Full details of all schemes are to be forwarded to the ion.

illations, with the exception of paragraph 20(6), apply to nd not to cinemas whose equipment consists solely of 16-mm. Bam ” film. The tools and equipment listed in paragraph 1 for all installations.

A.F.O. DIAGRAM 368/43

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737/43 N.C.

MISCELLANEOUS.CINEMA PROJECTION BOX FOR 35 MM. FILM

CENERAL ARRANCEMENT. d ,c.n o5452/43