1) What year was the first automatic fire extinguishing system on record patented in England?
1723

2) The first form of fire sprinkler system in the United States was a perforated pipe system in what year?
1852

3) Who paid for the first fire departments in the cities of the United States?
The insurance companies. It was done on a subscription basis.

4) When a fire occurs, does every sprinkler head go off?
Sprinkler heads are activated individually by fire. Most fires are contained early by just a few heads being activated. Often times, one sprinkler will control or extinguish a fire.

5) Will the water damage be worse than the fire damage?
Water damage in a small area of a building is certainly less expensive than an unchecked fire which could destroy the entire structure. A strategically placed sprinkler head controls the fire with one tenth the water introduced by a fire hose from the fire department.

6) Are sprinklers needed when I have smoke detectors?
Smoke detectors send out a warning. They do nothing to put the fire out or protect the residents during escape or if they cannot escape for some reason. And you do not have to change the battery!

7) Are fire sprinklers ever "off line"?
These silent watchdogs work 24 hours a day whether you are there or not. And with alarm options, they will even call the fire department for you.

8) How expensive are fire sprinkler systems?
In commercial applications, they will run from $1.50-$2.50 per square foot. In residential applications, they will run from 1%-2% of construction costs (about the same as carpet). And you can often recover the cost through insurance premium savings!