Staff Publications
November 02, 2005 Journal of Architectural Conservation St. John the Divine, Techniques to Identify Fire Soil
September 27, 2002 Journal of Architectural Conservation BCA Decodes a Picturesque National Landmark
November 01, 2005 Journal of Architectural Conservation If Your Church Is Damaged By Fire, How Do You Document It To Satisfy Your Insurance Company?
December 19, 2008 APT International Architectural Finishes: Research and Analysis
April 01, 2009 APT Bulletin Analyzing Mortars and Stuccos at the College of Charleston: A Comprehensive Approach
August 01, 2007 Traditional Building BCA’s Unique Software Program Keeps Track of Wear and Tear on Historic Buildings in Real Time
September 27, 2002 Journal of Architectural Conservation Evaluation Of Cleaning Methods For The Exterior Brick At The Brooklyn Historical Society
St. John the Divine, Techniques to Identify Fire Soil
Abstract
The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine is the third largest church structure in the world. It is located on the upper west side of Manhattan in New York City. A fire in December of 2001 badly damaged the stonework of the unfinished north transept and spread thick black smoke through the entire building. After the fire, a comprehensive investigation was undertaken to identify the unique characteristics of the fire soil and then to use that information to determine the extent to which these materials had deposited on surfaces in the building. A direct correlation was made between the materials of construction that burned during the fire and the particles present in samples of soiling removed from throughout the Cathedral. It was therefore possible to establish that the fire soil had penetrated to all areas of the Cathedral and that all surfaces required cleaning. This paper describes the techniques used to carry out the investigation.
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