ABSTRACT
This book uses two new methodologies: how to conduct studies and analyze documents. While a literature review tries to find theories or practices hole, document examination is a systematic tool to examine documents to find the answer to the question, “Is a study done in a satisfactory, scientific way?” This book suggests a systematic method of validation. The studies of interest are: Marryatt’s Fire—A Century of Automatic Sprinkler Protection in Australia and New Zealand—1886–1986 and NFPA’s Fire Journal: “Automatic Sprinkler Performance Tables, 1970 Edition”; “U.S. Experience with Sprinkler and Other Automatic Fire Extinguishing Equipment”; “U.S: Experience with Sprinklers 2010–14”; and “Efficiency and Effectiveness of Sprinkler Systems in the United Kingdom: An Analysis from Fire Service Data.” Even if several factors indicate the study, in general, is done in a scientific way, the conclusion is that it cannot be used to document reliability or predict the probability that sprinkler systems will function as designed.
