Ben, I can't recall if it was George and me, but that theme about indoor plumbing is an analogy of troglodytism I commonly use to demonstrate conservative reaction to new technology. Whether NAHB was around at the time the outhouse moved inside or not I can't say but I have fun talking about spurious arguments they could have used to oppose a new idea and then relate it to the current debate over home sprinklers and the former debate over "home smoke detectors (as someone said smoke alarm was not yet a term in the seventies)."
I was working in a building supply company, a lumberyard that was at the cutting edge of the lumber/building supply outlet, in the mid seventies. Although I can't find any literature the HAHB was opposing mandatory smoke detection using the same arguments they use against sprinklers. I remember, I am that old. And truth, they were expensive. If I recall in 1974-75 the device cost $100.00 to $120.00 in mid-seventies dollars (I was making $5.00 and hour as a department manager at the place I was working and that wasn't good money, but not terrible). The batteries were special and cost about $10.00. Once they became mandatory the price crashed and then when they came out with the ones powered by 9v batteries the price fell hard again. As interconnection became prevalent and then the increasing numbers of places they needed to be per house the price of the units continued to fall and the increased number became a wash as the law of economy of scale took over. But of course the most humorous part of the NAHB's arguments against sprinklers is how the ubiquitousness of smoke alarms which they opposed so hard for so long is the panacea that makes sprinklers redundant. Every time I hear this I ask my interlocutor if the loud noise scares the fire out. On Thu, May 28, 2015 at 4:01 AM, Ben Young <[email protected]> wrote: > I do recall a conversation maybe involving George Church and Ron Greenman > (maybe) talking about how one could probably go all the way back to indoor > plumbing and boilers and the NAHB most likely being against them as well > for the added cost. > > One could make an argument (or attack ad) with a list of these things, and > how the NAHB has been opposed to making your home more comfortable and > safer for over 100 years... > > > Benjamin Young > > On Tue, May 26, 2015 at 2:43 PM, David Blackwell < > [email protected] > > wrote: > > > I'll preface this with request with an admission that I am a history buff > > and I love to know and share the history of things. > > I especially love to showcase when history repeats itself. > > > > Several years ago during the big residential sprinkler systems debates > > someone sent me a copy of a news article from decades ago [the 1970s?] > > which showcased the NAHB position against home smoke "detectors" [I do > not > > believe that the term "smoke alarms" was being used at that time]. > > The arguments made then about the cost and affordability of smoke > > detectors mirrored arguments made more recently about the cost of home > > sprinklers. > > Does anyone on the forum remember such a post or have a copy of the news > > article. > > I have been having a time locating it since I have gotten a new PC and > > moved offices since receiving the article. > > > > Feel free to email it to me directly at [email protected] > > > > Thanks in advance! > > > > Respectfully, > > > > > > David W. S. Blackwell, II, PE, CFPE, CFI I > > Chief Engineer > > Office of State Fire Marshal > > SC Department of Labor, Licensing, & Regulation, 141 Monticello Trail, > > Columbia, SC 29203 > > Telephone: 803.896.9800 [Office] 803.896.9833 [Direct] > > Fax: 803.896.9806 [Office] > > Email: [email protected] > > Website: http://www.scfiremarshal.llronline.com/ > > > > > > Please note that you can sign up to receive automatic information on SC > > Division of Fire and Life Safety current events, policies, laws and > > procedures by visiting our Web site at: > > http://www.scfiremarshal.llronline.com/ > > > > > > > > > http://lists.firesprinkler.org/listinfo.cgi/sprinklerforum-firesprinkler.org > > _______________________________________________ > > Sprinklerforum mailing list > > [email protected] > > > > > http://lists.firesprinkler.org/listinfo.cgi/sprinklerforum-firesprinkler.org > > > _______________________________________________ > Sprinklerforum mailing list > [email protected] > > http://lists.firesprinkler.org/listinfo.cgi/sprinklerforum-firesprinkler.org > -- Ron Greenman Instructor Fire Protection Engineering Technology Bates Technical College 1101 So. Yakima Ave. Tacoma, WA 98405 [email protected] http://www.bates.ctc.edu/fireprotection/ 253.680.7346 253.576.9700 (cell) Member: ASEE, SFPE, ASCET, NFPA, AFSA, NFSA, AFAA, NIBS, WSAFM, WFC, WFSC They are happy men whose natures sort with their vocations. -Francis Bacon, essayist, philosopher, and statesman (1561-1626) A problem well stated is a problem half solved. -Charles F. Kettering, inventor and engineer (1876-1958) _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://lists.firesprinkler.org/listinfo.cgi/sprinklerforum-firesprinkler.org
