New-York tribune., 1911-04-02
THE AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER
Its Value in Discovering aid Checking
Fires and in Giving an Alarm.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir. II is very commendabie to build 90
chilled Nreproof buildings buildings or slow
burning construction and those that res's.
nre-and to improve the conditions py r'k,o
Inspections. demanding various ssregua'''
and improvements, so as 10 make '"e
chance Of fire as remote az possible aI"
the conditions as near freproof as poss'p'e'
But with every care exercised IN thls oirec-
ton il still leaves each and every buid'ns
| IN such n state that q fire may occ"''
causing loss OF life and property AS long
as the contents OF building and the ma
terials manufactured are such as Will Durh.
this dangerous condition will exist II fires
cannot therefore he prevented. we must
look 10 the best method Of handling them,
means which viii prevent recurrence
OF such n calamity. means which VIII
save life and property.
We must find some means OF. hrst. as
covering the fire: second. promptly extln-
gushing Il: third. giving an alarm notry-
inc those whose duty II is to fight ano ex-
| tnguish fires. The automatic IRE alarm -
good for discovering the fire and giving
tie alarm: the standpipe and hose appa-
ratus is good for extinguishing the fire II
there Is some coolhcaded person on the
premises TO use IL. Fire extinguishers also
play an important part In eXtlnguisnih6
/ fires. The Ere drills are excellent, as they
tend to prevent panics. Fire escapes ano
! freprcof stairways are necessary to give
emple means for the occupants TO ieaVe
the buildings in as short space or time as
possible
The only way TO accomplish the results
referred 10 appears 10 be the installation
Of a complete equipment Of automatic
sprinllers. with reliable and efficient water
supply.
First-As there is one automatic sprinkler
- every one hundred square feet OF ceiling
surface. there must be one directly over or
within five feet OF every place nre couiu
occur: and as it takes only 1so degrees "i
heat to open the sprinkler, can we not seie-
" expect that the automatic sprinkler VIII
rromptly discover the fire?
Second-As soon as the automatic sprin-
l1ler is opened by tn efire II fulhls the re-
cuirement of extingIishing the blaze as
4. throws water directly on the nre ana
either extinguishes II or holds it in check.
giving an opportunity TO the occupants 70
get out of the building and chance TOT
the Fire Department upon it's arrival 10 OK
tingush It.
Third-As soon a the automatic sprinkler
is opened bv the fire and the water starts
10 flow. il fulfls the requirement OF glvins
an alarm. as It will sound an alarm inside
and outside the building and at the Fire
Department. If desired thus notifying the
reople on the premises and giving them
chance To escape. ard promptly notifying
the Fire Department. enabling it 10 respond
promptly.
This method Of protection is not new. IL
has been adopted in factories. stores anc
warehouses throughout the country TOT
more than twenty years and has saved
many lives and millions of dollars worth
Of pronerty The nre insurance companies
recognize il TO such an extent that they
do not hesitate to reduce materially the in
surance cost on building and contents where
this system is installed.
Z. l.. THOMPSON.
Brooklyn. March 81. 1911