66 BULLETIN" 801, U. S. DEPARTMENT OE AGRICULTURE. 
AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEM. 
The automatic sprinkler system is particularly well adapted to tlie 
cotton warehouse. There are few conditions which justify a ware- 
house of any reasonable size being- without the sprinkler protection. 
Aside from the actual reduction in fire damage throughout the 
country by its use, the warehouse owner nearly always will find the 
automatic sprinkler a good investment from the standpoint of reduced 
cost of insurance. A recent survey of warehouse facilities, made by 
the Department of Agriculture, showed that out of 1,768 cotton ware- 
houses reporting the 133 which were sprinklered had an average in- 
surance rate of 36 cents while those not sprinklered had an average 
rate of $2.43 per annum per $100 valuation on contents. Moreover, 
the record of fires held in check or extinguished by the sprinkler sys- 
tern is most satisfactory. These facts give some idea both of the value 
of protection and saving in cost of insurance which the warehouse- 3 
man may secure by sprinkler installation. 
Automatic sprinkler installations are shown in Plates XVI, XXII, 
XXXI. The views show the sprinkler heads, or nozzles, placed so 
that a spray of water will be thrown over the ceiling and the cotton 
when a fixed temperature is reached, usually 165°. As shown, the 
piping is arranged and proportioned to give promptly an acle- I 
quate amount of water flowing from a number of heads, provided the 
supply is satisfactory. These are the results which all requirements 
for sprinkler equipment are aimed to secure. 
tion that water leaking past the valve will not rot the hose at the connection, j 
This is a potent source of deterioration. Also, if the pressure is likely to be- 
come very high, as from direct pumping, the riser outlet should be equipped 
with a relief valve which would discharge and so dissipate the water pressure 
in case it exceeded the safe pressure for the hose. Usually one such valve for 
each riser is sufficient. 
Each standpipe outlet should be provided with a complete hose station, each 
equipped in about the same manner as the hose house previously described. 
An exception to this equipment is that the hose may be linen, unlined, and 
for most cases the two lengths of hose need be only 50 feet each. The exact 
amount of hose depends, of course, on the arrangement of the system and 
building. The size of hose usually should be the same as that for the hy- 
drants, though frequently li-inch hose is satisfactory. The size of the riser, 
however, need not exceed 4 inches and frequently may be less, depending on 
the number of stories. The water supply usually should be from the hydrant 
system. One outlet for each floor from each riser is satisfactory for most 
cases. A simple hose station is shown in Plate XXXII. 
Standpipe systems, like the hydrant systems, have been standardized com- 
pletely. The arrangement and specifications should be decided after con- 
sultation with the insurance inspection department having supervision. In 
this way the warehousemen may secure such recognition of equipment as the 
system entitles him to. 
