Twenty–five years ago, a special commission recommended to the U.S. Congress and the American public that the solution to preventing fire deaths in homes was rather simple. Since there already is a water piping system installed in every home for plumbing fixtures, why not tap into that system to install a few sprinklers to protect against fire? The idea seemed so obvious, one has to wonder why it took until the early 1970s for it to become a known fact.
Many predicted the concept of installing a combination sprinkler system/potable water piping system would take hold immediately. Predictions that by the year 2000 every new home constructed would be equipped with a sprinkler system abounded. Fire deaths in homes would become a thing of the past. Between 4,000–6,000 lives a year would be saved.