May 13, 2009 By Blake Harris Photo: Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute seniors Erik Kauntz, Jake Pyzza, and Ryan Clapp
designed and built an early prototype of a new "smart" fire
suppression system. Between 35 and 40 million fire sprinklers
are now installed each year in the United States, more than in
any other country in the world, according to Russell Fleming,
executive vice president of the National Fire Sprinkler
Association. "The traditional use of fire sprinkler systems in
the United States, as in other parts of the world, was for
property protection and the resulting insurance savings," says
Fleming. "However, it was found that sprinkler systems provided
a life safety benefit as well. By the 1940s it began to be
apparent that fires with large losses of life were taking place
only in buildings without sprinkler protection." Building codes
in most jurisdictions now mandate fire sprinkler systems for
certain classifications of buildings. That's the good news.
However, such systems are not perfect. Indiscri