The first automatic fire sprinkler system was patented by Philip W. Pratt of Abington, MA, in 1872, although Henry S. Parmalee of New Haven, Connecticut is considered the inventor of the first practical automatic sprinkler head.
Parmalee improved upon the Pratt patent and created a better sprinkler system and in 1874, he installed his fire sprinkler system into a piano factory he owned.
The first battery-operated home smoke detector was not patented until ninety-five (95) years later in 1969 by Randolph Smith and Kenneth House and are now required in every residential property built today.
With all the tout across our nation about being “GREEN” to aid in the health and conservation of the environment and the economy, I’m glad that most everyone is finally catching up to fire sprinklers.
5. Fire Sprinklers have been saving treated water by the millions (probably billions) of gallons.
4. Fire Sprinklers have been reducing the amount of toxins introduced into the environment and atmosphere by extinguishing fires while they are in the incipient stage or still small.
3. Fire Sprinklers have been saving the amount of damage caused by fire which significantly reduces the use of our natural resources to rebuild the burned out structures.
2. Fire Sprinklers dramatically reduce the amount of waste piled into our landfills from burned out structures and personal property.
1. More importantly and last but not least is LIFE SAFETY. Fire Sprinklers allow the time for occupants to escape a burning structure.
For the last 134 years (thank you Henry Parmalee) the Fire Sprinkler Industry has not only been saving lives, but has been FIRE SPRINKLER GREEN!
Gary D. Turner is the Owner and President of Urban Fire Protection since 1993 with corporate offices located in Mesquite, Texas and one branch office located in Houston, Texas. Gary worked as a structural steel detailer for seven years preparing fabrication drawings for fabricators of heavy steel for projects like the World Trade Center, Dallas, Texas and the Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Station, Glen Rose, Texas prior to entering the fire sprinkler arena. Gary began his fire protection career designing fire sprinkler systems in March of 1979. Gary currently holds a NICET Level III Certification in Automatic Fire Sprinkler Layout, Texas State SCR License, Texas State RME License with a GD attached suffix designation for Residential Fire Sprinkler System Inspections and is a Vice President of the Texas Fire Sprinkler Contractors Association (TxFSCA). Gary is a member of NFPA, AFSA, NFSA, NAHB, TxHBA, TxFSCA.