Facts About Sprinkler Systems

• Sprinklers save lives
• Sprinklers save property
• Sprinklers pay for themselves in decreased
   insurance premiums and save you money

In 1874, American, Henry S. Parmalee invented fire sprinklers to protect his piano factory.  Until 1940 fire sprinklers were installed exclusively for the protection of storage buildings and factories with insurance savings as the major incentive.  Following fires with large losses of life, fire and building officials found that buildings equipped with fire sprinklers had an amazingly good life safety record as well as reporting minimal property damage due to fire, compared to buildings without fire sprinklers.

November 28th, 1942, histories worst nightclub fire occurred at the Coconut Grove in Boston, 492 people died.  This fire directly influenced legislation to protect lives in public buildings.  The scope of legislation changed to include fire prevention codes and the development of the science of fire protection.

November 21st, 1980, MGM Grand fire Las Vegas, Nevada, upon investigation the following was revealed:  Fire Marshals insisted fire sprinklers be installed, the hotel refused and a building department official sided with the resort and omitted the fire sprinklers that would have prevented the disaster.  In lieu of spending 192,000.00 for the fire protection system, 223 million dollars was spent in legal settlements, and 30 million dollars in property damage.  Las Vegas is now the undisputed leader of the world when it comes to fire safety.