In the next edition of 921 it makes the comment when addressing fire sprinkler systems, “The distribution of water is intended to extinguish a fire or to prevent its spread.” In conducting many years of research I have never seen a statement indicating fire sprinkler system are designed to do any more the to control the spread of a fire. Have there been cases where the fire was extinguished, of course. In my 40 plus years of involvement with evaluating these systems I have seen them control the fire until the fire department arrived than completely extinguishing the fire. The whole concept of the design area in sprinkler design is to contain the fire within that specific area.

What I am looking for is any document that specifically states that a fire sprinkler system design includes the extinguishment of the fire.

Jim Mazerat
Forensic Investigations Group