Norwich bulletin., 1916-08-28
CHIEF STANTON OFF FoR
 PRoVIDEN5E CONVENTIONS
Will Attend Gathering of Fire Ensi- neers In Little RhodyE This Week.


 convention Of the International Asso- citation of Fire Engineers, in Providence this week. Chief Stanton is chairman of an important committee on fire sprtnklers and will submit a. report for his committee at the convention. Chief Stanton is also serving on other com unitteeS.
 Says the latest issue of Fire Pro- lection, a Cincinnati publication, re- garding Chief Stanton and the inpor- tant committee of which he is chair uaan:
 The committee authorized at the-Cfn- cinnati convention of the I. 4. F. B. to- investigate ways and means whereby | automatic sprinkler systems may be used to best advantage by fire depart merts as fire defense auXlliaries, of which Howard L. Stanton, chief of the fire department at Norwich, Conn, is Chairman, sent out an. elaborate QueS- t1onnafre to fire chiefs throughout the countrg; on the replies to which the report to be submitted at the Provi- dence convention the last Of this month has been predicated. Nothing is known Gs to the form and conclusions of the report, but the questionnaire was lines and enters deeply into the whole problem of the use of sprinkler sys- teIns as auxiliar1es to fire depart merts.
 Chief Stanton, who for many years has been a member of the \. F. P. A. committee on standard hose connec- tions and hydrant fittings, has happy faculty of going deeply into any prob lem for the solution of which he is seeking. The procedure followed in eliciting information as the basis of the report to be made by his commit tee indicates that his usual thorough ness has dominated the proceedings, although he was particularly fortunate in the selection of the men associated with him on the committee.
 No less than B questions are asked regarding sprinklers, 26 of which ap- ply to inside sprinkler systems, and seven to open or outside or as they are commonly known, water curtains. Under the head of Fire Depart ment Connections, four questions are asked:
 Are sprinkler systems provided with fire department connections-one-w way or two-way (Siamese) couplings-for attachment of hose to supply water to systems?
 Do you attach hose to fire depart ment connections of sprinkler systems when responding to alarms of fire in sprinkleTed buildings?
 If you do attach hose to fire depart nlent connections. will you please ex- plain what method you follow, wheth- CT first or second crew responding couples up etc, also what orders in effect [please send @ copy of them, if posslble) and all other details about how you use fire department connec- tions of sprinkler systems? If you do not attach hose to fire de- pertinent connections of sprinkler sys- terns, will you please explain why you do not?
 The second heading deals with Pro- cedure Followed at Fires in Sprinkler ed Risks. There are five questions un- der this heading:
 What practice do you follow in handling fires in sprinklered risks
 Do you require that water shall not be shut off from sprinkler heads until the fire is under control?
 Do your men shut off the water when fires are controlled?
 Do you require that sprinkler sys- ters be put in commission, fused heads replaced, water turned on, be- fore all ffremen return to quarters?
 Do your men replace fused sprink- lers with new heads and turn on wa ter?
 The third heading, Sprinkler System Automatic Alarms, is one that gives the fire departments of the country the most trouble.
 Are any sprinkler systems in your Jurisdiction equipped with automatic alarm valves which have connection in some way with fire headquarters? |? C the kinds Of connections. What practices do you follow in re- spending to sprinkler system automa- tic alarms?
 Is there a full or partial frst-alarrn response?
 Are you troubled any with needless alarms from sprinkler system automa- tic alarms, alarms not caused by fires?
 What do you think the reasons are for the needless alarms? One of the vital factors in the eff cient coordination of sprinkler sys- tenS to fire department use and prac- tfce is found in the fourth heading, which deals with Knowledge of Sprinkler Systems. Questions under this heading are:
 What officers of your department are familiar with the sprinkler systems in your jurisdiction, the location of control valves an dthe parcg of the systems they control. etc, particularly the sprinkler systems in the buildings in the high-vaIue districts?
 How have officers bemore familiar with the sprinkler systems-by in speCting the mindependentIy or in company with insurance inspectors, or with engineers or fOremen of the sprinkler companies? Do you maintain a practice of monthly or quarterly inspections of sprinkler systems, and. if so, who in speCts?
 Do you have one man or crew of men who expressly look after springIer systems, either at all times or at fires?
 Do you keep Q record of the names Of sprinklered risks?
 Do you keep a record of the Condi- ton of sprinkler systems, whether they are in service or not etc, ?
 Do you have in your files complete descriptions of sprinkler systems, either written reports or plans?
 Do you keep a record of the fires controlled by spr1nklers?
 Do you require owners of sprinkler ed properties to send vol reports of fires controlled by sprinklers?
 How many sprinklered risks are thera in your Jurisdiction?
 The rest of the subject of inside sprinkler systems is dealt with in two questions under the reading, Other Things" as follows:
 What do you think about autoTna- tic sprinkler systems as a practical help to firemen?
 Have you any suggestions in mind for things or changes in sprinkler sys- ten1s that will make them conform better to fire department practices?
 There Is only one group of questions dealing with open or outside sprink- lers. They are preceded by a note