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Q. What militaries today exemplify 'quality over quantity'?A. Due to the small size of their population/military, their existential requirement to not lose any war, and relative large war chest, Israel and Singapore are kindred in having quality state of the art weaponry and hard training.Articles discuss Quality vs Quantity views from various sources/think tanks, including the Moscow Times. In addition lively Quora discussions over the subject using WWII as proof. Finally analysis of IDF and Singaporean Armed Forces, their wikipedia links and discussions of current relative military strengths and ranking.Future War: Why Quantity Will Trump Quality (thediplomat.com) counterintuitiveQuality and quantity (defenseissues.net) long treatiseQuality Over Quantity (moscowtimes.com)In war is quantity over quality better? (Quora)Can it be said WWII was a war of quantity against quality? It has been alleged that WWII can be seen a war between quality(Germany and Japan) and quantity-oriented powers (the USSR, USA, and China), so that the quantity prevailed. (Quora)In WWII it seemed that quantity trumped quality. The current US arsenal seems to have both quality and quantity. What would it take for the US to shift from quality to quantity in their military? (Quora)Singapore, a military power in South Asia built on the Israeli modelNathalie BoehlerIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Singaporean counterpart, Lee Hsien Loong, April 19, 2016The ties between the two countries started even before diplomatic relations were formally established in 1969The current Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Hsien Loong, responded to the invitation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The third head of government in the history of Singapore is its first leader to visit Israel, where he arrived on Monday as part of a historic visit consolidating nearly fifty years of relations and cooperation between the two states.The link between the Lion City and the Jewish state goes back to the first years after the establishment of Israel, even before diplomatic relations were officially established in 1969.It was then that the premier — and the father of the current prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew — quit the Malaysian Federation in order to found Singapore. His army was then comprised of merely two infantry regiments commanded by British officers and two thirds of the soldiers were foreign. Like Israel in 1948, Singapore has very quickly felt the need to build a defense amid a turbulent local and regional situation.Defense Minister Goh Ken Swee and Major General Rehavam Zeevi (Gandhi), 22 July 1967Seized by the urgent task, Lee Kuan Yew first turned to India and Egypt, the "natural" allies of the "nonaligned," eventually choosing to secretly deploy Israeli military advisers.General Rehavam Zeevi (Gandhi), Colonel Yaakov Elazari and Colonel Yehuda Golan and other officers nicknamed "the Mexicans" by the Singapore government who wanted to hide their presence in the region, have overseen the creation of the current Singaporean army and were the source of its military doctrine: the "brown Book.""The Singapore army was built, trained and equipped following the model of the Israeli army. Singaporeans are surrounded by Muslim countries, making their islands susceptible to paranoia. For this reason the State has developed a disproportionate military, broad and powerful. And from this point of view, their army is for them very similar to the Israeli army," said Yossi Melman, Israeli security and intelligence expert.Singaporean men, whether they are Chinese or belong to small Malay and Indian minorities are subjected to two years of military service followed up by reserve duty that can amount to up to forty days a year until they reach the age of 40.The Singapore Armed Forces, an army modeled on the Israeli armyThe Singaporean army, today considered one of the most powerful in Southeast Asia has, since the late 1960s, used the same type of weapons as Israel's military and can mobilize hundreds of thousands of reservists within a few hours.Since Israeli military advisers gradually left the city-state in the mid-1970s, close relationships have developed in the field of defense industry and technology in general.For Israel, Singapore is now one of the main customers of its military industry, the outcome of forty years of cooperation carefully kept as a secret.Singapore's Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen considering purchase of Lockheed Martin's F-35 fighter jet"We find in Singapore almost all the types of weapons produced by the Israeli army. The research projects or prototypes of some of them are sometimes partly funded by the city-state, which then has a license to produce these systems," says Melman.The arms trade contracts between Israel and Singapore include the sale of tanks, air-to-ground "Barak" missiles and the "Hermes" drone system, fighter jets equipped with the latest Israeli electronic devices and warships.Recently, cooperation between the intelligence services of the two states has increased due to the terrorist threat posed by the Islamist organization "Jemaah Islamiyah," responsible for the Bali bombings in 2002 and the Marriott Hotel bombing in Jakarta the following year.Guided missile corvette "RSS Victory." Israeli electronics and SAM "Barak""Israel has a significant presence in Singapore with experts, delegations and military installations. In addition, there is close cooperation in terms of exchange of information in the field of intelligence, particularly due to the presence in Asia southeast of terrorist groups such as al-Qaida and Hezbollah-affiliated networks," Melman says.In 2014, the Israeli military industry unveiled at the Singapore Airshow its drone Super Heron, touted as "the world's most advanced MALE or super-tactical UAV," developed by IAI (Israel Aerospace Industries) whose characteristics surpassed those of its predecessor, the Heron ("Shoval" in Hebrew), operational since 2005.Singapore Land Systems,Singapore Military Power Force, Military SingaporeIn addition, the show was an opportunity for the Israeli weapons producer Rafael to unveil for the first time its "Iron Beam" defensive shield, inspired by the famous "Iron Dome" and capable of intercepting mortars and missile fired from a very short range by using a laser.Additionally, the visit of Lee Hsien Loong is returning the friendly gesture and declarations of Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, who went to Singapore to pay his last respects to the first premier who died last March at the age of 91."I will represent the State of Israel and its citizens, not only to express our condolences on the death of a founder of Singapore, but also to express our appreciation for his work as valuable and important leader. And I have no doubt that relations between the two countries will continue to strengthen," Rivlin asserted.Nathalie Boehler is journalist for i24newsThe Singapore Armed Forces: Protecting Singapore in 2030Intelligence File: The ties that bindIsrael and Singapore’s discreet but flourishing defense relationship.BY YOSSI MELMAN MAY 1, 2016 12:38In first visit ever by Singapore PM, leader thanks Israel for defense aid over the yearsPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with visiting counterpart from Singapore, Lee Hsien Loong. (photo credit: HAIM ZACH/GPO)Last week Lee Hsien Loong, the prime minister of tiny Singapore, paid an official visit to Israel. It was the first visit of its kind. Accompanied by ministers and businessmen, he and his host, Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu, issued statements praising the good relations and joint ventures between the two countries in the fields of hi-tech, cyber, water, environmental conservation and more.Netanyahu also mentioned the first prime minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, who happens to be the father of the current one and is considered in his country as the founder of the republic. Netanyahu “forgot” to mention the first chief minister, David Marshall, who was a local Jew, whose legacy has been erased from Singaporean history books by the dictatorial regimes of father and son.However, what was missing during the visit in all public declarations was the glue that binds the two countries. That glue, according to foreign reports, is the military, intelligence and security ties between the two countries. The ties are very close to the extent that Singapore has over five decades become a very important market for Israel’s military industries not only in Southeast Asia but on a global level, and a partner in joint research and development ventures of advanced weapon systems. The country attracts hundreds of former Israeli military and intelligence officers and hosts major security corporations such as Israel Aerospace Industries, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Elbit Systems, in addition to the Israeli Embassy with its military attachés.Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd: Iron DomeSurprisingly, it was the guest who recalled the secret past military ties by saying, “We thank Israel for your assistance when Singapore was forced to get its independence in 1965, when our security and survival were in doubt. Israel Defense Forces helped to build our armed forces when other states refused.”Lee also recalled how he first visited Israel in 1977 when he was a junior military officer while escorting Lt.-Gen. Winston Choo, then his country’s chief of staff and now the ambassador in Tel Aviv.Singapore is a modern-day city-state spread over 700 square kilometers, with a population of 5.5 million. Seventy-five percent are of Chinese descent, 13% Malayan Muslims and 10% Indians. It is surrounded by two large Muslim nations – Malaysia and Indonesia.In that sense Singapore sees parallels between its situation and Israel’s: two small nations with advanced economies, surrounded by hostile states with different backgrounds, religions and cultures.Israeli soldier with Spike anti-tank missile launcherThis seeming similarity brought Singapore in the mid ’60s to ask Israel to build its armed forces, after India, Egypt and Britain declined.In 1965 Israel sent a military delegation led by Col. Yaakov Elazari and later by Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, who years later would be the defense minister. The Israeli advisers advised Singapore to form an army based on the IDF’s experience, tactics and doctrines.To conceal the presence of their nationality the Israeli advisers were locally referred to as the “Mexicans.”After forming the armed forces, Israel began supplying Singapore with weapons of all sorts and, according to foreign reports, it continues to do so today. According to these reports, the arms deals have included patrol and missile boats, upgrading of fighter planes, intelligence equipment, missiles and control and command centers.Defense News reported that the Singaporean air force is flying two squadrons of Israeli- made drones. One is composed of the Hermes model manufactured by Elbit, and one the Heron made by IAI.The French newsletter Intelligence Online wrote last year that Singapore also purchased dozens of Israel made Merkava tanks to be used as artillery to repel any future invasion of the country.Merkava Mk.4 - Israel Main Battle Tank [Review]Since the Defense Ministry doesn’t name the countries that purchase weapons from Israel, it is unknown what the export volume to Singapore was. But if all the deals, as reported in the foreign media, are added up, it is possible to conclude that Israel has sold Singapore over the years weapons worth billions of dollars.It was also reported that the two countries’ military industries cooperate in joint ventures in third countries.For example, IAI and its Singaporean counterpart won a tender to upgrade Turkish fighter planes. Another pattern revealed by some foreign reports is that Singapore invests money in the research and development of Israeli weapons systems and in return gets to manufacture them in its own industries.One example stands out. For the last five years there were consistent reports in the foreign media that Singapore was financially involved in the Israeli-made Iron Dome, a system to “kill” rockets and missiles, which was used in the last two wars in Gaza.Both Israel and Singapore didn’t comment.Last week during Lee’s visit, it was the Singaporean Ministry of Defense that broke its own silence by announcing that it had bought advanced radar from Elta, a subsidiary of IAI. This radar is part of the Iron Dome system.US grants $225 million more to Israel’s anti-missile Iron DomeIn the last decade-and-a half, since 9/11/2001, intelligence cooperation between the two nations to combat terrorism has been on the increase. Together with foreign intelligence agencies, Singapore exposed terrorist cells of al-Qaida and recently Islamic State that originated in neighboring Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.The cells planned to hit ships anchoring in or sailing to the port of Singapore, embassies and other Western installations, including Israel’s.The Mossad, for its part, uncovered a Hezbollah plot that spread from the Philippines to bomb the Israeli Embassy in Thailand.One can expect that after the visit of Lee, who invited Netanyahu for a reciprocal visit, Israeli-Singaporean relations will develop even further.The 25 most powerful militaries in the worldSkye Gould and Paul Szoldra Mar. 15, 2017, 1:16 PMUS NavyAn all-out fight may be the only real way to compare military strength, but fortunately, the world hasn't had many opportunities lately.Despite an increasingly tense situation in the South China Sea , continued fighting in Ukraine , and proxy wars throughout the Middle East , warfare between nation-states has mostly taken a backseat to peacekeeping missions and fights against terror groups.Still, a simple evaluation of pure military power can be interesting, so we turned to the Global Firepower Index , a ranking of 106 nations based on more than 50 factors — including each country's military budget, manpower, and the amount of equipment each country has in its respective arsenal, and its natural resources.It's important to note the index focuses on quantity while ignoring significant qualitative differences. For example, North Korea's 70 submarines are old and decidedly low-tech compared to what the US and others have. The index doesn't take into account nuclear stockpiles , which are still the ultimate trump card in geopolitics. And it doesn't penalize landlocked nations for lack of a standing navy.We've created a chart to compare the top 25 militaries according to the Global Firepower Index. The ranking was released in April (before events like the Russian invasion of Eastern Ukraine in August, ISIS's blitz through Iraq, and the flare-up between Israel and Hamas) and involves a complex set of data that is subject to ongoing adjustments and corrections.Skye Gould/Business InsiderHere Are The Key Findings From The Index :America's investment in being the world's leading military force.The US leads the world in military spending at nearly $600 billion a year. China is in a distant second, at nearly $160 billion — less than one-third of America's overall spending.The Ministry of Defence of the Russian FederationAccording to a report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) , the US has reduced its defense budget by 7.8% chiefly because of America's gradual withdrawal in overseas military operations, such as in Afghanistan and Iraq. However, President Donald Trump's proposed budget would effectively reverse that downward trend.Russia, meanwhile, has increased its arms spending and continues to modernize its military equipment and implement higher quality training for its personnel.Aircraft carriers are key, but few countries have even one.Aircraft carriers contribute greatly to a country's overall military strength. These massive vessels allow nations to project force far beyond their borders and across the entire face of the globe. They're essentially mobile naval and air force bases.Aircraft carriers can also carry unmanned aerial systems — drones — which significantly change the global surveillance game.The US's absolute monopoly on super-carriers significantly boosts its forward operating power. The US has deployed an aircraft carrier toward the Persian Gulf to bolster its sea and air power before possible strikes against ISIS in Iraq. It also has others keeping a close on the Korean peninsula.Russia has previously deployed an aircraft carrier to the Mediterranean to support the Assad government in Syria.KCNA/ReutersNorth Korea's submarines are pretty much useless.At first look, it seems North Korea is amazing when it comes to submarine warfare, but there's a little more to the story.Pyongyang does command one of the largest submarine fleets on earth, but most of its vessels are unusable.A third of North Korea's subs are noisy diesel-powered Romeos, which have been obsolete since 1961 . These submarines have a weapons range of only four miles, whereas a modern US submarine has a range of 150 miles. The Hermit Kingdom's fleet is unsophisticated but still durable, according to the Pentagon.In a fight with a more sophisticated adversary, North Korean subs would be toast.Here's the hardware the world's top 25 militaries have in their arsenalsAndrew Renneisen / Stringer / Getty ImagesThe US is the world's most powerful military, according to firepower.Russia and China aren't far behind.President Donald Trump has reemphasized military strength, reportedly planning to ask for $716 billion in defense spending in 2019 — a 7% increase over the 2018 budget (though spending is currently limited by budget caps).US defense spending is the highest in the world, more than the combined budgets of the next several countries. But US plans to ramp up acquisitions of military hardware will only add to an already booming arms industry.Between 2012 and 2016, more weapons were delivered around the world than during any five-year period since 1990.Below, you can see the world's top 25 militaries and the assets they can deploy to the battlefield, as ranked by Global Firepower Index.The ranking assesses the diversity of weapons held by each country and pays particular attention to the manpower available."Balance is the key — a large, strong fighting force across land, sea and air backed by a resilient economy and defensible territory along with an efficient infrastructure — such qualities are those used to round out a particular nation's total fighting strength on paper," the ranking states.But a few defining aspects of those countries' ability to muster military power are not directly related to their armed forces.Employees stand in front of the Indian navy's first Scorpene submarine at Mazagon Docks in Mumbai, April 6, 2015.REUTERS/Shailesh Andrade/FileGeographical factors, logistical flexibility, natural resources, and local industry all influenced the final ranking, Global Firepower said.Each of the top 10 countries have a labor force of more than 30 million people. Three of the top five — the US, China, and India — have more than 150 million available workers.The following 15 countries vary more widely in labor-force size — from 123.7 million in Indonesia to 3.9 million in Israel — but they still have more than 37.2 million workers on average.Industrial and labor capacity are complemented by robust logistical capabilities, including extensive railway and roadway networks, numerous major ports and airports, and strong merchant-marine corps. Extensive coastlines and waterways also facilitate the movement of goods and people.For the US, those logistical capacities have been tested by increasing activity in Afghanistan as well as efforts to built up its presence in Europe.The US Army's 1st Armored Division Sustainment Brigade served as the logistics headquarters in Afghanistan in 2017. During its six-month deployment, the unit distributed more than 380 million gallons of fuel throughout Afghanistan — a landlocked country roughly the size of Texas."It's not easy to [transport] fuel. You have to get it to the right place at the right time. You have to make sure it's of the right quality, and you have to make sure you have storage on one end and distribution capability on the other end," Col. Michael Lalor, the brigade commander, said in late February. "That's what always kept me up at night."Vehicles and other cargo are unloaded from the USNS Bob Hope by the soldiers of the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, US Army/Sgt. Jaccob HearnUS Military Sealift Command (MSC), which oversees the US Navy's fleet of mostly civilian-crewed support ships, is adding ships to boost its presence around Europe and Africa, in response to both insurgent activity and growing tensions with Russia — all of which have added tension to the US's already strained supply lines.In 2017, MSC moved twice as much ordnance, three times as many critical parts, and one-third as much cargo in Europe and Africa as it did in 2016."I definitely don't see (activity) going down any time soon," Capt. Eric Conzen, MSC commander in Europe and Africa, told Stars and Stripes of his unit's workload. "There's a desire for it to increase."NOW WATCH: How Russia's most advanced military equipment stacks up against NATO hardwareIsrael Defense Forces - WikipediaSingapore Armed Forces - WikipediaThe Value of Sustainability for the Singapore Armed Forces by LTA Julie Lim Yee Sin (www.mindef.gov.sg)Singapore vs. Israel: Who’s the better role model?“The grass is always greener…” may be a banality, but it’s an appropriate one for what is turning out to be an internal debate in two countries known for their technology – Israel and Singapore.At an event in Tel Aviv Monday, both Economics Minister Naftali Bennett and Google Israel chairman Meir Brand bemoaned (or at least expressed concern) over why Israel, despite its reputation as the Start-Up Nation, was failing to “cash in” the way Asian tiger countries like Singapore have.But in conversations with the Times of Israel, it’s Israel that students, entrepreneurs, and business figures from south Asia, including Singapore, feel that their countries should emulate. “The Asians just don’t have the start-up spirit,” said Singaporean Adry Lee, who in a recent interview described himself as a serial entrepreneur.Lee’s comments were typical of those of numerous Singaporeans the Times of Israel has interviewed at several events geared to promoting Israel-Asia business relations, such as last May’s Israel-Asia Business Summit. “It’s very hard for Singaporeans to think out of the box and come up with non-traditional ideas as Israelis do,” he said.That wasn’t the feeling in Israel, or at least among the speakers — including Economics Minister Naftali Bennett and Google Israel chairman Meir Brand — at the launch of an initiative called E-nnovate Israel, a hub initiated by Google Israel for projects and studies to promote innovation and economic growth in Israel, with an emphasis on strengthening the country’s information infrastructure.As its first project, E-nnovate introduced on Monday a report by consulting firm Trigger-Foresight Group Deloitte — the report was funded by Google Israel — which compared the impact of Israel’s tech economy on the country’s overall economy. Israel, according to the study, is a world leader in the size of its “internet economy,” the term used to describe industries that produce “information economy” internet-related products and services (like most high-tech companies). Those companies represented 6.4% of Israel’s GDP in 2009, and will exceed 8% by 2015 — on a par with most advanced European countries, like Germany and the UK, and not far behind the US.But somehow Israel’s tech savvy has not translated into economic benefits, as it has elsewhere. The study took Singapore as a good example of how well Israel hasn’t done. The GDP for both countries was similar throughout the 1980s — but then Singapore’s fortunes took off, leaving Israel in the dust. Today, the Asian tiger’s GDP is about $60,000 — nearly double that of Israel.What happened? It’s not about military spending, as many believe; surprisingly, Singapore’s per capita defense spending for 2012 ($1,593) wasn’t that much less than Israel’s ($1,882); Singapore, it turns out, ranked 23rd in the world in military expenditures in 2012, compared to Israel’s 17th-place ranking.What it is about, said the report, is that Singapore has much more successfully leveraged its Internet technology to make its economy more efficient. Israel hasn’t, and that has been very bad for the economy. The report cited an analysis of productivity in Israel which said that despite Israel’s position as a high-tech country, it’s only 24th (out of 30) in the OECD in terms of productivity. “Even though Israel, in its early years, narrowed the productivity gap between itself and the OECD countries, it stagnated on par with the OECD average from the 1970s until today,” said the study.It was a future told by American economist Robert Solow, who won the Nobel Prize in 1987 for proving the close connection between economic growth and increased productivity and innovation, the study said. “However, innovation also necessitates creatively providing useful, efficient and effective solutions to non-economic problems. This is the only way to increase productivity and create growth in advanced economies.” The way to do that, the study said, was for Israel to implement Internet-efficient communications and technologies in a much wider manner.And the only way to make that happen, said Google chairman Brand, was for the government to embark on an aggressive Internet infrastructure investment campaign. “A program like this would require an investment in infrastructure, but could save the economy millions,” he said. The money could go towards direct funding for infrastructure projects, or be available for low-cost loans for organizations that wanted to upgrade their communications and network systems to make themselves more efficient.For example, said Google’s Doron Avni — who heads Google’s Middle East, Israel, and Africa government relations department — the government here could fund a project similar to one in the UK, where the National Health Service borrowed money to set up an online portal for information, appointments, and self-diagnosis for certain conditions (via apps, questionnaires, etc.) The money was given as a loan to the NHS, which paid it back in full within four years, and saved the organization 110 million euros in 2008 alone.Another example is that of the Virtual High School in Florida, a special online and in-person school that has students doing much of their work through the internet via videoconferencing with teachers, remote submission of reports and homework, and more. Costs to the state for students in such schools are $1,000 less than for students in “regular” schools.According to entrepreneur Lee, Singaporeans ‘don’t have the chutzpah you need to buck trends… We are taught to listen to our elders’The secret to getting this done, said Brand, is instituting an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) policy, as successful countries — such as Singapore, Germany, Japan, and others have. Such a policy, he said, would ensure that Israel could enjoy the economic benefits of the technology developed here, instead of just making others richer. “The likelihood that Israel will develop the next big thing in telemedicine, for example, but that the device will be used in Denmark, Singapore, and Finland – but not here – is very high,” said Brand. “In order to avoid this, Israel must learn from other countries that have developed successful ICT policies, to develop the Internet and make it into a tool that can be used in many areas.”But is Singapore the right role model for Israel? According to Singaporean entrepreneur Lee, “the government has been spending a lot of money setting up incubators and accelerators for entrepreneurs, but the program has been less successful than they hoped it would be.” While Singapore has the “form” of a start-up nation, Singaporeans “don’t have the chutzpah you need to buck trends and come up with something truly innovative. We are taught to listen to our elders,” he said, “and of course to teachers.” Whereas stories about Israeli or American tech heroes who were dropouts are not uncommon, said Lee, no Singaporean in his or her right mind would drop out of college, much less high school, for fear they would be frozen out of jobs at large corporations.It’s the same Asian mindset described by another Asian entrepreneur, Bowei Gai, in a recent interview with the Times of Israel. Describing why Israelis start-up entrepreneurs are more creative and innovative than those in China, Gai said that China — considered by many to be the most dynamic and creative economy in Asia — concentrates on what he calls “commodity innovation,” a rehashing of existing technology and methodologies that builds on widely known models. “In the end it’s about making money, and the best and easiest way to do that in a place like China is by using proven models that have been successful elsewhere. There are so many ways to make money in China using these models because there are so many people to market to, and they don’t need to innovate or invent something new to succeed. It’s much easier to go for the ‘low hanging fruit’ of commodity innovation by basically duplicating existing technology,” said Gai.But you can’t argue with the bottom line, Bennett said at the E-nnovation event Monday. Israelis may have “creative genes,” he said, “but genes alone, like a seed, cannot grow unless planted in the right kind of soil. The government’s job is to prepare that soil so that the seeds can sprout. Entrepreneurs and the private sector are racing ahead, while the government remains behind. We must invest in physical infrastructure, and develop the human infrastructure.”

By Ron KantermanWhether you've been on the line for one year or 25 years and have not had the time to understand sprinkler systems basics, this article is for you.Frederick Grinnell, a graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, worked in railroad engineering until he retired as chief mechanical engineer and general manager of the Jersey City Locomotive Works. Soon after his retirement, he purchased a controlling interest in the Providence Steam and Gas Pipe Company. Grinnell already knew Henry S. Parmalee, who patented the first automatic fire sprinkler head in 1874. Providence Steam & Gas partnered with Parmalee and manufactured the Parmalee sprinkler. Grinnell also designed and erected the piping installations into which the Parmalee sprinkler heads were fitted. Grinnell improved Parmalee's first practical automatic sprinkler and patented his own Grinnell sprinkler in 1882.Continual improvements resulted in the glass disc sprinkler in 1890. With slight modifications, this sprinkler head is still used in modern fire sprinkler systems; sprinklers are even called le Grinnells in France. In 1892, Grinnell organized the General Fire Extinguisher Company, which was renamed the Grinnell Fire Protection Company after his death in 1919.So, sprinklers have been around and effective in fire control for about 140 years. Yes, those little brass and chrome-plated beauties have been the front line of defense against fire in commercial buildings for quite some time and, more recently, in people's homes. For many years, it was the insurance industry that advocated for sprinklers in commercial buildings. Sprinklers minimized the loss, minimizing insurance payouts and enhancing their profits at the same time. Although the insurance industry still avidly supports sprinkler system installations, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) is the current advocate for residential sprinklers, according to Initiative 15 of the NFFF's 16 Life Safety Initiatives: "Advocacy must be strengthened for the enforcement of codes and the installation of home fire sprinklers."SPONSORED CONTENT BY Miliken ?Reducing the Impact of Heat Stress within the Fire Service IndustryEvaluating key factors contributing to, and exacerbating, the heat stress risks within the fire service industry, readers can explore important preventative protocols to help alleviate the hazard.Brought To You ByBasicsThere are two common types of systems, wet and dry pipe systems. In addition, there are two other less common systems, preaction and deluge, used for special hazards and applications. Foam may be used in some systems, particularly when dealing with flammable liquid hazards. All of these systems simply send water or foam (foam is just water with its specific gravity rearranged so it floats on top of hydrocarbons instead of sinking in them) to the fire's location to control; confine; and, in some cases, extinguish it. Very effective! You still need people to rescue victims and pull them out of harm's way, so sprinklers only support staffing-they do not replace it. They are a tool to protect property and, in some cases, life (residential) and to assist the fire service with effective, efficient, and safe operations. Sprinklers save firefighters lives, too!Wet SystemsAs implied, they are wet, and the system pipes are full of water up to the sprinkler heads. Because of this, wet systems are the quickest, most reliable sprinklers around. The fire actuates the individual sprinkler heads-this is the only way that water gets on the fire. Sprinkler heads use either a fusible link with a predetermined melting point or a glass bulb filled with a liquid designed to boil, expand, and shatter the bulb. Others use a chemical pellet to retain the water cap, which is released after the pellet melts or bursts, and the water is there immediately. The main riser and related equipment (known as "trim" in the sprinkler business) is where it all starts. The riser is connected to a water supply with a main control valve, a main drain, an alarm check, a retard chamber, a couple of gauges, a fire department connection (FDC), and a water motor gong (photo 1).1 Photos by Paul Dansbach.When one or several sprinkler heads open, water flows though the alarm check, which sends an alarm (that's why they called it that) possibly to a central station and to the local water motor gong on the outside of the building. That's the bell that's ringing when you pull up at 0300 hours and there's water pouring out from under the door. The exterior gong is there to notify people walking or driving by to call the fire department. The retard chamber is there to take surges in the main. The surge enters the retard chamber so it won't lift the alarm check clapper, it won't send a water flow alarm, and you can stay in bed on a 10°F night. It retards the alarm and then automatically drains.You will find wet systems in areas that are heated at all times and not subject to freezing conditions, such as malls, hotels, schools, office buildings, warehouses, factories, hospitals, and industrial processing sites. Wet systems are also found in private homes. Unless there is a reason you shouldn't have a wet system (e.g., no heat, water-reactive chemical storage) then most codes and standards (and insurance companies) require wet systems.Dry SystemsA dry pipe sprinkler system has no water in the pipes. A compressor or other source of air or nitrogen holds back the dry pipe valve (a clapper) until the heat of the fire melts the link or bursts the bulb on the sprinkler heads. The air then rushes out of the heads, releasing the pressure on the dry pipe valve, and the water starts to flow. These systems are used in buildings and areas of buildings where there is no heat (e.g., refrigerated warehouses, outdoor sheds, loading docks, multilevel parking structures, and structure attic areas). To reduce response time, some systems use "accelerators" or "exhausters," also known as quick opening devices (QODs), which help release the air out of the system and more quickly open the dry pipe valve (photo 2).(2) Photo by Bill Gustin.As with the wet system, the riser is connected to a water supply, but there is a dry pipe valve in place of the alarm check. It will also send a water flow signal after it trips. It has a main control valve, a main drain, a couple of gauges, an FDC, and a water motor gong. This system also has a compressor or a nitrogen supply, and an air gauge is on the upstream side of the dry pipe. If it starts to bleed down, a signal will go to the fire alarm panel, reporting a "low air alarm."Pre-ActionA pre-action system is also dry, but two distinct actions must occur for water to enter the occupancy. Pre-action sprinkler systems are used in places (e.g., computer rooms, hospital operating rooms, and museums) in which any accidental water discharge is to be avoided. Because two distinct actions must take place to put water in the room, merely snapping off a sprinkler head by accident will not activate the system. Unlike the dry pipe, an opening caused by an accidental break in the piping or a head will not trip the valve. Pre-action valves are electronically tripped through heat or smoke detection (photo 3).3 Photos by Paul Dansbach.Note the following sequence of actuation of a typical pre-action system in a computer room:A smoke condition occurs in the room.A smoke detector picks up the smoke and signals a small pre-action panel (similar to a fire alarm panel) or the main fire alarm panel for the entire building. In either event, the signal goes to a panel. The smoke detector indicates, "Smoke has been detected in the room. Open the pre-action valve."The panel signals the pre-action valve at the riser, "A smoke condition has been detected in the computer room. Trip and open to flood the piping system and stand by for fire."An electronic solenoid switch on the pre-action valve at the riser activates and electronically "pulls a pin," which trips the valve. Water flows into the system. At this point, we now have a wet system.When the fire grows and reaches the set temperatures of the sprinkler heads (usually 165-175°F in a computer room), the heads will start to open over the fire.DelugeThe main difference between the deluge system and a dry system is that all sprinkler heads are open with no fusible elements or glass bulbs. It discharges lots of water everywhere and all at once. These systems are usually actuated by heat detection and are mainly found in heavy industrial applications (e.g., around transformers, processing tanks, processing pads with large vessels, small flammable liquid storage tanks). Since the heads are always open, using compressed air to hold a dry pipe valve back won't work. Activation is similar to that of a pre-action system.A heat detector detects fire around a transformer and signals the panel.The panel signals the deluge valve at the riser, "A fire condition has been detected. Trip and open to deliver water to all heads and all sides of the transformer."An electronic solenoid switch on the deluge valve at the riser activates and electronically "pulls a pin," which allows the valve to trip. Water flows into the system and all heads. At this point, we now have a deluge of water surrounding the subject equipment on fire.Deluge systems sometimes require an immediate activation pull station at the hazard (in this case, the transformer) and in the riser room, so a person can intervene and manually activate the system even before the detection kicks in (photos 4, 5).(4-15) Photos courtesy of the United States Fire Administration.ValvesAll fire service control valves must be indicating valves-i.e., just by looking at them you can see whether they are open or closed.Outside stem and yoke (OS&Y). The amount of stem showing should be the same as the depth of the valve body-i.e., six inches of valve, six inches of stem. When the stem is out, it's open. The red box is a tamper switch that will send a signal to the panel if someone tries to maliciously shut the valve. The lock and chain shown here are an insurance requirement, not code (photo 6).Post indicator valve (PIV). This valve is found outside buildings and has a window that will indicate OPEN or SHUT. A wrench sits on the operating nut as it does on a hydrant and can be locked on the side. Both PIVs shown are also electronically supervised with tamper switches (photo 7).Wall PIV. Found on the outside wall of a commercial building, similar to the PIV, it has a window indicating OPEN or SHUT. On the inside of the wall attached to this valve is a large fork that spears the operating valve on the riser so you can operate the riser valve from the outside of the building. The valve shown has a tamper switch on it as well (photo 8).Indicating butterfly valve (IBV). This valve is found on the riser usually for smaller piped systems. Larger risers require larger valves and operating handles. The indicator is the yellow bar in the center of the valve. As it opens and closes, the bar rotates. Since sprinkler valves must be indicator valves, an open valve will show the bar in line with the pipe. This one is open (photo 9).Sprinkler HeadsSprinkler heads come in various sizes, configurations, and temperatures. All have a specific purpose and use. One size does not fit all!Upright. This sits on top of the pipe and is usually found in dry systems so that when the system drains down after tripping, the water doesn't remain in the heads and pipe nipples. In an unheated area, if the temperature were to drop below freezing, water remaining in the system could damage it. This head has a chemical pellet fusible element that melts and allows the water to flow (photo 10).Pendant. This sprinkler head hangs from under the piping. In some cases, it's placed on a long "drop" and pokes through a dropped ceiling. The oblong device is a lead link holding the two levers together under tension. It's designed to melt at a given temperature, releasing the arms and allowing water to flow (photo 11).Sidewall. These were designed primarily for retrofitting hotels and motels. A pipe is placed along the upper corner of the corridor and a sprinkler head is inserted into each room and into the corridor itself. It operates like other standard sprinklers and will have a link, a glass bulb, or a chemical pellet (photo 12).Early suppression fast response (ESFR). The insurance industry designed this head for high-piled storage warehouses (e.g., big-box stores and other places with high racks of combustible storage). Because of the large water demand, you need larger pipes than usual and, in most cases, a fire pump. If ever you've noticed sprinklers inside the racks in your favorite home supply store, they can be eliminated if an ESFR system in installed at the ceiling. It puts out lots of water really fast. Compare the difference in size between an ESFR and a standard head (photo 13). The "fast response" comes from a pencil-thin glass bulb that will burst a lot more quickly than a standard-size sprinkler bulb (photo 14).High-pressure water mist sprinkler head.Developed by and for the cruise ship industry, these sprinkler heads can provide extinguishment into a compartment without necessarily flooding it. The water is discharged as a high mist fog and cools the atmosphere and the burning materials. Other applications include computer rooms instead of gas systems using halon and laboratory fume hoods where the scientists do their experiments. The water output from these heads is negligible, and they are also the only heads that have a filter screen on the nipple where it connects to the piping to eliminate any pipe scale, sludge, or other foreign matter that would be detrimental to the operation of this type of head. Note the quartzite bulb for activation (photo 15).Tactical TipsAlways send personnel with a radio to the riser room on arrival to check the status of the sprinkler system.Place a dry line from the first-due engine to the FDC, and prepare to augment pressure in the system. Know the local pressure demands for the systems in your district; also know that the rule of thumb for FDCs for sprinklers is 150 psi.Shut sprinkler control valves only on the express order of the incident commander (IC). Let the system do what it was designed for, which is to confine, contain, and possibly extinguish the fire. ESFRs are designed to extinguish. Sprinklers will buy you some time to set up and get going.Carry sprinkler head clamps to help minimize water damage. Sometimes two wood chocks work, but they would have to be cut to the right size.Be ready to deploy salvage tarps for water traveling down to the floors below.It's extremely difficult and dangerous to fight a fire when sprinklers are operating. It is recommended that you don't. The water from the heads is pushing the heat and steam down on top of you, and visibility is worse than usual. Coordinate your actions. Vent, shut the valve (by the IC's order), and move in with a line as simultaneously as you can.For stubborn deep-seated Class A or Class B fires, consider pumping finished foam solution into the FDC. Also consider pumping foam solution into FDCs feeding standpipe systems so you can have a foam handline if you need one on the upper floors of a building. We tried this in industry, and it worked! ("New Uses for Foam in Industry," Fire Engineering, November 2001, http://bit.ly/1zHnRoQ). Standard sprinkler heads, although not necessarily listed for "foam service," will effectively discharge foam.Depending on your department's policies, you may be expected to restore the system before you leave. There should be six spare heads and a wrench at the riser for this purpose. It is ultimately the owner's responsibility to ensure that the system gets restored in a timely manner. Codes will not allow some occupancies to be occupied unless the sprinklers are in service (e.g., child care center), so immediate restoration of the system may be warranted vs. a "vacate" order.If the swivels on the FDC are frozen, won't spin, and won't allow you to hook up, pull three feet of the line between your knees, and lock it there. Backtwist the line about seven turns and then place it on the frozen swivel and let it thread itself. Try this during a drill. Different thread types will bring different numbers of backtwists.Sprinkler Training Tips for the Company OfficerOne of the many responsibilities of the company officer is to ensure the members of his crew are familiar with active and passive fire protection. This segment on sprinklers (active fire protection) is key to understanding the basics of water-based fire protection systems. Knowledge of these systems lends itself to safe and efficient operations. Try these training tips to get your crew familiar with sprinklers:Review the basic wet and dry systems as outlined. Explain the importance of knowing these systems and how they will help you fight the fire more effectively and how they assist with firefighter safety.Review the tactical tips as outlined.After review, go to the field and find these systems.At a building in your response district, have the building engineer or other responsible party walk you through the systems.Go to another building and have the members identify the components on the systems there. They need to know and understand the basics so when you send them to the "main control valve," they'll know what you mean.Take advantage of your fire prevention bureau, fire marshal's office, or fire academy. They have expertise in this area. Drop your pride, and improve your safety and fireground efficiency.When you think your members know the basics, do it one more time. Just like standard tactics, knowledge of these systems needs to be second nature.Make this part of your regular training, and take the time to examine these systems. Do it on or after runs or during downtime. If you're driving by a building and you spot a water motor gong, an FDC, or a fire pump manifold, stop and take a look.Ron Kanterman is the chief of the Wilton (CT) Fire Department and a 40-year fire service veteran with experience in municipal and industrial fire protection, volunteer and career services, emergency management, and emergency response. He has a bachelor's degree in fire administration and master degrees in fire protection management and in environmental sciences. Kanterman is a contributing author to Fire Engineering, FireEngineering.com, Fire Engineering's Handbook for Firefighter I and II, and the new edition of The Fire Chief's Handbook. He co-hosts an FE Blog Talk Radio show "The Back Step Boys" and lectures around the country on various fire service topics. He is an adjunct professor of fire science and emergency management at the University of New Haven in Connecticut. Kanterman is also an advocate for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and its programs and is the chief of operations for the annual National Memorial Weekend.More Fire Engineering Issue ArticlesFire Engineering Archives0 commentsSign inPost comment as...Newest | OldestDid you like this article? 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