FIRE PREVENTION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19009, 9 May 1924, Page 3

FIRE PREVENTION

THE “GRINNELL” SYSTEM. SUCCESSFUL DEMONSTRATION LOCALLY. The pealing of a fire alarm in front of the D.I.C. Drapery establishment, the rising of dense volumes of smoke from the rear of the premises, and the activity of the Fire Brigade at about 2.30 o’clock yesterday afternoon, caused quite an anticipating crowd to congregate in the Avenue and St. Hill Street. Those who were looking forward to a destructive conflagration, however, were sadly disappointed, for all the commotion was caused by a demonstration of the Grinnell system of automatic sprinklers and fire alarms, 470 of which have been installed in the D.I.C. premises, for the purpose of protecting them against incipient outbreaks. A number of local business men have interested themselves in the system, and it was principally for their benefit that the demonstration was arranged. An automatic sprinkler was connected to a shed at the rear of the building, and alarms at the Fire Station and in the Avenue. Inflammable matter in the little structure was lighted, and within a few moments the sprinkler operated. A huge stream of water in the form of a shower was released, and at the same time both alarms were set going. The brigade turned out with their usual despatch, and arrived on the scene Imin. 35 secs. after the water commenced to flow. By the time of their arrival the flames were completely quelled, thus displaying the effectiveness of the system in preventing the spreading of outbreaks of fire. There are many points in favour of the Grinnell sprinkler—which is by no means a new invention—and it has been the means of saving from complete destruction thousands of buildings in the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, and many other countries. It not only extingulsfies incipient fire and sets alarms going, but the direct effects of its installation are the reduction of insurance premiums up to 37} per cent., and absolute security against loss of business. The primary function of the “Grinnell” is to extinguish the fire and localise the damage by water. In over 20,000 fires it has proved infallible, and in 95 per cent, of the cases when the sprinklers have operated, the flames lup’c been quelled before the arrival of* the brigade, at an average loss for each outbreak of under £6O.

The principle of the system may be observed from an inspection of the D.I.C. buildings,‘the reticulation work there having been carried out by Messrs Ballinger and Co., of Wellington, for Messrs Arthur D. Riley and Co. Ltd., ,of Wellington, under the direction of Mr Robert Whitson. Water pipes are suspended from the ceilings of all rooms and offices in the premises, at intervals of about 10ft., and a sprinkler head is attached to each one in such a manner that no portion of the floor is left unprotected. No matter in what odd corner a fire may originate, there is a sprinkler head on duty ready to take care of it. The internal water service is connected directly with the city mains, and will operate immediately should an outbreak occur. The sprinkler heads, inset in the pipes throughout the building are, in other words, vents for the water held closed by a soft solder, which fuses at the low temperature of 155 degrees Fahr. When a fire commences the heat rising to the ceiling fuses the sprinkler over the seat of the fire, and releases a stream of water which strikes a deflector, throws first up against the roof, and then descends in a heavy deluge of rain on the fire beneath. Should the first sprinkler be unable to cope with the outbreak, others automatically open as their assistance is required. The flow of water in the pipes operates the brigade and outside alarms, but the point to bear in mind is that before the brigade can leave the station the “Grinnell” is already at work on the fire. In fact, the sprinklers are on duty 24 hours a day, and are more effective in quelling outbreaks than any other system known. Thirty-two ox the fires which have occurred in New Zealand have been suppressed as a result of this splendid system.