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56
RAG FLOCK
The sale and use of Rag Flock is regulated by Section 136 of the Public Health (London) Act,
1936, and the Regulations made by the Ministry of Health in 1912.
These Regulations prohibit the sale or use of unclean flock manufactured from rags in making
any article of upholstery, cushions, bedding, etc., and provide that when not less than 40 grams of
flock are thoroughly washed with distilled water at a temperature below 25° C., the chlorine must not
exceed 30 parts per 100,000 of flock. This standard ensures a certain degree of cleanliness.

SMOKE ABATEMENT
During the year 12 complaints regarding smoke nuisance were received and 48 observations
on chimneys were made by the Sanitary Inspectors ; in two cases Intimation Notices were served
on the owners to abate the nuisance. No legal proceedings were necessary during the year.
ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION.
During the year probably the largest commercial user of coal in the Borough completed certain
plant improvements which included the installation of three new water tube boilers with a total
evaporative capacity of 99,000 lbs. per hour. While undergoing experimental trials with these
boilers, considerable nuisance from grit was experienced, in spite of extensive tests under working
conditions with different fuels. The firm, after consultation with my department, have agreed to
install an electrostatic precipitator in an endeavour to free flue gases from grit and dust. This is
likely to be an expensive undertaking, but one which I considered justified.
A large chemical works came under the observation of my Inspectors as the result of continued
emissions of dark smoke. Examination of the plant disclosed that the boiler settings were defective
and leaky, largely accounting for the smoke and what must have been a considerable loss in efficiency.
Repairs were effected with marked improvement in lessening the smoke output. The firm were finally
persuaded to install mechanical stokers to each of the boilers which, after a short period on trial,
have proved completely successful, practically no visible vapour being emitted from the shaft.
One of the larger laundries in the Borough has been entirely reconstructed during the period
and it was decided to scrap the steam-raising plant, as it was not entirely blameless in the matter of
smoke and grit emission. As a result of suggestions from my department, an oil-burning watertube
boiler has been erected with almost complete absence of atmospheric pollution.
The Fulham Power Station has been running continuously throughout the period under varying
loads and no complaints of nuisance or annoyance have occurred.
Several blocks of residential flats have been erected in the Borough, and with the increasing
use of gas and electricity and the almost universal use of coke, for central heating plants, these additions
all tend to lessen the air pollution of the town.