I POINT/COUNTERPOINT

WHY AUTOMATIC SPRINKLERS

WERE IN THE CLOSET FOR 100 YEARS

— RICHARD M. PATTON
From the time the National Fire Protection
Association took over control of fire sprinkler
technology during 1896 until at least into the 1950's,
there was virtually no change or progress at all. The
1956 sprinkler system was remarkably similar to the
1896 issue. This represented an incredible degree of
stagnation. It probably was a miniature model of what
must have transpired in Europe during the so called
"Dark Ages," during which intellectual and
commerical growth stopped and civilization went into
a regressive stage.
It would seem to me that it was not only a model of
how one segment of a free and progressive society
could become stagnated under certain controls and
restrictions, but it was more. I see it as a scale model
of human behavior that illustrates how organized
disinformation and the perceived profit oriented
advantages could influence a segment of our society
to turn its back on massive human suffering by
concluding that the suffering is someone else's RICHARD M. PATTON
problem. An entire segment of our society continued
for decades in a self serving direction that produced a while the insurers wanted the very large undivided
very heavy toll in human life. This was, as I say, a "risks" (catastrophic fire potential) protected because
small model of a frightening type of social behavior enormous sized losses disrupted their system; the
that manifested itself during this century in many continuity of small losses was "the business" of the
countries; and as such, I've long believed that our industry. Thus, the NFPA/Insurance combined and
social scientists should be made more aware of this cooperated to orient the sprinkler controls toward big
phenomenon and be alerted to give greater study to it pipe, large water supplies and installation costs very
and its causes. excessive to the small property. But, this was just a
How did it happen? Probably we'll never know the beginning in the 1890's. Surely, within the U. S., the
full story. Along the way there had to be continued system would right itself. That was a virtual certainty.
organization and intelligent deterrents to change Why?
because, within the American society during this Because in order for a sprinkler system to survive
period, technological progress was flowing like a river with an orientation toward NOT protecting small
in its bed during the spring thaws. The rivers of properties, and compartmented properties such as
progress flowed naturally during this time period hotels, it would become necessary for the controllers
except where a dam was erected to halt the flow. to convince at least 90% of all property owners that
How can we determine how and why it was done, higher insurance rates were more beneficial to them
and comprehend how and why so many lives could than low cost sprinklers. This was an impossible
be sacrificed to maintain the status quo. How can we task.
understand behavior where so many know the awful To accomplish their goals over a time frame of
consequences, yet not resist it? decades, it would become necessary for the
Well, as a start, let's go back in time to when it all controllers to convince the entire fire protection
began, and see what had to be done to prevent the community that sprinklers protected property only,
change, to dam the flow of the river. This, at least, not life. But, sprinklers were nearly 100% perfect at
will be a beginning of our perception of the events. protecting life, so obviously this was an
The insurance industry of New England founded impossibility.
the National Fire Protection Association. Of course, See POINT, page 57
a4 Mar' pPOTFCTION CONTRACTOR DECEMBER, 1987
POINT, cont. from page 46
It would become necessary to convince the have to be accomplished across an entire society,
sprinkler industry that a policy of NOT allowing even though, of all the fears of man, the fear of fire is
sprinklers into small or compartmented properties was perhaps the most supreme, the most basic fear of all.
beneficial to the sprinkler industry itself. Now this Truly, this was impossible. This was the most
was most clearly impossible. impossible of the impossibilities.
It would be necessary for them to convince the fire Well, we've gone back in time to the beginning of it
chief out in the country that sprinklers could not all. I feel it was a most successful trip. At least now,
protect the country property because there wasn't we know how it was done. We know how they did it.
enough water out there to feed a sprinkler system. It The answer is clear. They simply DID THE
would become necessary to set up controls on IMPOSSIBLE!
pumps, tanks, and related equipment so as to be able
to price them too high for protecting rural properties. ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Seemingly, this also was impossible. Richard M. Patton is a Registered Professional
It would become necessary to indocrinate the home engineer and a licensed fire protection contractor in
owner to the belief that it was more important to buy the state of California.
insurance for his house than it was to protect his You may communicate with him by writing: Patton
children from fire. Now surely this had to be Fire Suppression Systems, Inc., 5316 Roseville Road,
impossible. Suite P, North Highlands, CA 95660, or by calling
It would become necessary for the code system to (916) 338-0943.
fool the fire protection community into believing that
a committee that was more than 50% filled with
insurance representatives was a "consensus
committee." That should be impossible, or so
it would seem to me.
It would become necessary to convince the fire
protection community that the concept of fireproofing
the structure so as to withstand a four hour fire
represented good protection for the people who
would be inside the furnace when the fire occurred.
Indeed, it would not only be necessary to do this, but
to suffer human life losses within the fireproof
buildings, as the insides burned, time after time after
time again, for decades; and then investigate these
fires and provide misinformation so oriented as to
convince the fire protection community that the
concept itself was okay, but that some "deviations"
were always the fault. This incredible scenario
had to be the most improbable of all to bring
to a reality.
Further, within that country that has the most
extensive antitrust laws, they would have to structure
a control system that would defeat the laws and stop
free commerce in its tracks. Impossible!
It would become necessary to either prevent
engineers from entering the field, or prevail upon
them to abandon their engineering skills and hydraulic
logic, and believe only in what the printed page
allowed. Impossible.
As the base of fire codes enlarged, the system
would need to find a niche for every business that
demanded entry, and give each a bone or two, so as
to maintain all content within the tent; and also
convince the builders and architects that the great
array of costly but mostly marginal cures was
necessary. Impossible.
As American technology progressed, as symbolized
by Kittyhawk to the outer planet probes, a 99%
reliable solution to the fire would need to be
maintained 99% nonapplicable to the property types
where nearly all the fire deaths occurred. This would
DECEMBER, 1,87