Residential Sprinklers

In response to Gordon Tippell’s letter (Nov. 22) concerning residential sprinkler systems. It is unfortunate that we continue to take a proven and simple concept that we know for sure can affect life safety and turn it into a complex issue involving political infighting and ambiguous rhetoric. We have been sprinklering warehouses for years but curiously resist sprinklering structures where human beings live.

For Tippell to suggest that “public safety benefits are marginal” is confusing. Water has been putting out fire for a long time. In today’s homes, filled with petroleum based synthetics, early application of water has never been more important.

Consumer demand has not been demonstrated simply because they don’t know about it. The costs are modest contrasted with other things people buy for the homes. The argument of costs ignores the taxpayers’ cost of building new fire stations.

One fact stands out, however, above all the rest. In the history of this country, no more than two people have ever died in a fully sprinklered building. What more needs to be said.

C. THOMAS KELLY

Chairman, Coalition

for Home Fire Sprinklers

Anaheim