NFPA's "U.S. Experience with Sprinklers and Other Fire Extinguishing Equipment" states that sprinklers reduce the chances of dying in a fire by one-half to three-fourths, and that sprinklers are now estimated to operate in 93 percent of fires large enough to activate them.

The NFPA study also documents that nearly all sprinkler failures involve errors of human judgment, including 65 percent that occurred because the systems had been shut off prior to the fire.

To obtain the study, visit NFPA at www.nfpa.org, or call Margie Coloian at the NFPA Public Affairs Office, 617/984-7275.