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Author
Beyreis, J. R.
Title
New Developments in Fire Protection: Evolution to the Systems Approach Presentation to U.S.-Japan Panel on Fire Research and Safety.
Coporate
Underwriters Labs., Inc., Northbrook, IL
Report
NBSIR 85-3118
Distribution
Available from National Technical Information Service
Book or Conf
National Bureau of Standards. 7th Joint Panel Meeting of the UJNR Panel on Fire Research and Safety. October 24-28, 1983, Gaithersburg, MD, 547-564 p., ['1983', '1985']
Keywords
fire protection | automatic sprinkler systems
Abstract
In earlier times, the outbreak of fire frequently led to the destruction of entire communities. Over the ages, fire regulations have developed which have made such occurrences largely a thing of the past. The earliest of these regulations was, perhaps, the banning of commonly used combustible materials such as thatched roofing. Efforts at suppression developed. At first, this involved hastily arranged bucket brigades which later led to organized fire companies of more modern times. In the last century, automatic sprinkler systems were introduced. By the early part of this century, the focus turned to the effort to contain fire to a single building by fire separation walls between buildings and later to the objective of confining fire to a single floor or single compartment within a building. Attention was also given to the objective of limiting rapid fire spread involving combustible materials in places of assembly such as theaters and night clubs.