Question: One of the most important innovations in fire protection engineering is the automatic sprinkler. When was the first patent awarded for this industry changing system?
Answer: 1874. It was awarded to Henry S. Parmelee. Frederick Grinnell further refined the sprinkler design in the early 1880’s.
The earliest examples of fire protection engineering go as far back as 64 AD when Emperor Nero required that fireproof material be used in rebuilding the city after the Great Fire of Rome.