Cover Story

John Carey began experimentation with sprinkler systems in England. He created a sprinkler system that consisted of counter weights and a series of strings. The fire would burn the strings that attached the counter weights to the valves; when the weights fell, water emerged from the valves.

The first sprinkler was patented by Barnabas Wood, of Nashville, Tennessee.
Stewart Harrison developed the first automatic sprinkler head in London, England.

Henry Parmelee improved upon Pratt's design and created the Parmelee Sprinkler head, the first automatic sprinkler head with the ability to control which heads of the system discharged water and the first legitimate step towards modern sprinkler systems.

A group of insurance representatives met in New York in an effort to establish fire protection standards.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) was founded in Massachusetts. Among the various projects of NFPA was the implementation of standards for the installation of automatic fire sprinklers through the first published code for automatic sprinkler installation.

A study showed that only five people had been killed in fires in sprinklered properties after 38 years of sprinkler instillations.

NFPA released the first guide regarding fire sprinkler systems.

NFPA adopted a standard on the Care and Maintenance of Sprinkler Systems.

"NFPA Quarterly" showed sprinklers to have been over 96 percent effective in recorded incidents of fire.

The first National Sprinkler Industry Seminar was held in Burlingame, California. NFPA issued its first formal standard on foam-water sprinklers and water spray systems.

The America Burning report was released. Central Sprinkler Company of Lansdale, Pennsylvania pioneered the miniaturization of sprinklers.

NFPA 13D, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in One- and Two-Family Dwellings and Manufactured Homes, was first issued.

The National Fire Prevention and Control Administration-now known as the U. S. Fire Administration (USFA)-began to fund research programs that focused on the residential fire problem in general, and residential fire sprinkler protection in particular. The aim of their efforts was to optimize fire sprinkler devices for residential dwelling use.

Eighty-five guests and workers were killed in a fire at Las Vegas' MGM Grand Hotel. This tragedy led to one of the nation's first fire sprinkler retrofit ordinances for high-rise buildings.

Central Sprinkler Company pioneered and introduced the industry's first ELO (Extra Large Orifice) sprinkler, followed by the introduction of the first "residential shut off valve."

The Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition was formed to inform the public about the life-saving value of home fire sprinkler protection.

NFPA 1, Fire Code; NFPA 101, Life Safety Code; and NFPA 5000, Building Construction and Safety Code, all require automatic residential fire sprinklers in all new one- and two- family dwellings.

International Code Council includes sprinkler provision in 2009 International Residential Code.

NFPA launches the Fire Sprinkler Initiative: Bringing Safety Home to advocate for the requirement of residential fire sprinklers in new one- and two-family dwellings.