Fire Sprinklers: Who Invented Them?
Fire sprinklers are mandatory in some situations. Today, you would feel immediately uneasy if you entered a building without a fire sprinkler system in place. They have saved countless lives over the years and remain doing so to this very day. Given how important they are, it is strange that as a society we don’t know much about them. Fear not, within this article we shall discuss their historical background and development.
Who Invented Fire Sprinklers?
It was not until the early 18th century, roughly 1723, that the first automated sprinkler system came into action. Ambrose Godfrey, a chemist, used gunpowder to release large quantities of water to extinguish the fires. This would then cause an explosion designed to release large quantities of liquid that would put the fire out. Although not the safest approach, it was still better than nothing at the time!
At the Theatre Royal in London, the first contemporary sprinkler system in the world was set up 100 years later. William Congreve, a British inventor, created this. This had a system that utilised an airtight reservoir with about 100 tonnes of water in it. This reservoir would supply water to a network of smaller pipes that had been punctured with holes in the event of a fire, resulting in a sprinkler effect. The emphasis shifted to automating Congreve’s design fifty years later. The main problem was that the system was not automatic, so starting in 1860, designers began developing designs that could turn on independently. But it took another 12 years before this was put into practice.
Fast forward to 1954, the design of fire sprinkler systems remained untouched. The focus was put on improving fire safety as a whole. Up until the year 2000, fire sprinklers started to be installed more commonly in newly constructed buildings such as schools, hotels, and other public buildings. 13 years later, the installation of fire sprinklers became mandatory by law, meaning that every building had to have them. Following the tragic Grenfell Tower incident in 2017, efforts to improve fire safety have also recently increased, with new legislation ensuring that fire installation is required in newly constructed apartments.
RAD Fire Sprinklers
Our home fire sprinkler systems are installed in compliance with all applicable laws, including BS9251, and according to industry standards. Since 2001, the experts at RAD Fire Sprinklers have been installing home fire sprinklers. We have developed and honed all the skills necessary to ensure a skillful installation. For more information, or to receive a quote, fill in our form here. Or, give us a call on 01892 680 090.
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