Commercial Fire Alarms are Mandatory in Many Places

Even back in the early days of industrial America, a need for fire safety measures was already being acknowledged. In the textile mills, with their highly-combustible materials, sprinkler systems of perforated pipe were installed. These first systems were not automatic and had to be worked by hand. So, in 1872, Philip W. Pratt patented the first automatic sprinkler system. It was an improvement on the hand-operated system, but not much. This system was followed in 1874 by an improved one which offered the first practical sprinkler head. The inventor, Henry S. Parmalee, installed the prototype in his own piano factory.

The only people who were interested in installing these primitive sprinkler systems were men employed in commercial enterprises, but they didn’t do it to save lives. By having sprinklers installed, their insurance companies gave them reduced rates. Since the discount was enough to more than offset the cost of the sprinkler system, they quickly had them put in. What a way to make a profit! Things stayed this way until the 1940s when stricter building codes required that schools, hospitals, hotels, and other public buildings have sprinklers installed, too.

The Fire Sprinkler Becomes Mandatory

As people in the U.S. became more safety conscious, it became mandatory to install fire alarms in facilities where one hundred or more people could assemble. This meant that every school, church, shopping mall, hospital, theater, hotel, and other large facilities were required to install fire alarm systems. In addition, any public facility that is located farther than 75 feet from a fire station or fire hydrant is required to install one, as well as buildings where hazardous materials are stored.

Insurance companies are refusing to insure businesses which don’t comply with the laws requiring fire alarm systems. Because of this, they are no longer taking on the responsibility of insuring businesses which they feel are at high risk of sustaining high-ticket claims for building loss, property damage, and human casualties. In addition, in order to have insurance, any business where people can stay the night must also have a fire alarm installed.

The high-tech ESFR sprinkler system uses cutting edge methods designed to contain fires and keep them from spreading. These sprinklers are pre-programmed to activate when their sensors feel a certain temperature. At that time, they will go on only in the areas of the building where they are needed. The other sprinklers remain off so that all of the available water pressure is funneled to the areas where the fire is.

Sometimes companies will have areas where they keep sensitive materials which absolutely cannot be exposed to water unless there’s an emergency. There are alarms which are designed especially for areas like these that are called “dry systems”. If an alarm is triggered in this water-sensitive area, sensors will respond by using smoke and heat detectors and will determine if there really is a need for water. This type of system drastically reduces the chance that sensitive items will accidentally be exposed to water.

Modern technology keeps supplying us with more and more effective methods of fighting fires and saving lives. We can live without the fear of those old fires in the workplace that killed hundreds. No one thinks of workplace deaths any longer since they’ve become so rare. Don’t you think Henry S. Parmalee would love to see what’s happened to his little invention?