set_time_limit seems to have no effect

hello,
despite tuning the max exec time, i have this message:
mod_fcgid: read data timeout in 31 seconds

i am running a webscrape through a proxy, all is going fine, until this messgae happens.
the safe mode is disabled, and i have this instruction at the beginning of the script
set_time_limit(200);
why is the script still stalling at 30 seconds? thank you for your answer.

Ok the solution is at the Apache server level i found the solution on this page
http://www.phpninja.fr/execution-de-long-script-en-php/
sorry but it is in french
so you must edit the apache config file and set the variable IPCCommTimeout to a longer duration

Howdy,

You may want to go into Server Configuration -> Website Options for this particular domain, and in that screen, set “Maximum PHP script run time” to a higher value.

-Eric