62-07: Fire Protection of Water Cooling Towers

Late in 1951, one our factory insurance association (known usually as just the FIA) 
representatives was making an inspection of a chemical plant when a fire was discovered 
in a cooling tower.  The tower was practically a total loss and he wanted to know how 
to protect such a tower from fire.  All he got was a horselaugh from everyone.  The 
question was: How could a tower burn when it was wet at all times?  He was persistent 
and referred this matter to the loss analysis department and it was found that the losses 
in cooling tower fires were no laughing matter.  As a result, this problem was referred 
to our engineering council for study in 1952, and tentative standards for fire protection 
for cooling towers were developed.  One of our representatives was appointed to serve 
on the National Fire Protection Association (known as the NFPA) Water Cooling Tower 
Committee in 1958, and also on an American Standard Association committee on the subject of fire protection for water cooling towers.