150 Years of Leadership in Fire Sprinkler Protection

SimplexGrinnell's fire sprinkler business was born with the formation of the Providence Steam and Gas Pipe Company, of which Frederick Grinnell became the majority stakeholder in 1869. In 1881 Grinnell was awarded a patent for the first "sensitive" sprinkler head. Following the purchase of two similar sprinkler firms, in 1893 Grinnell merged the three into the General Fire Extinguisher Company.  By then Grinnell held 41 patents for automatic sprinkler systems. In 1896 Grinnell was instrumental in forming the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), which continues as the world leader in developing and promulgating codes and standards relating to life safety systems. Another major industry organization was born a few years later. In 1905, shortly after the death of Frederick Grinnell, John Moore of the General Fire Extinguisher Company, along with two other specialty contractors, formed the National Automatic Sprinkler Contractors Association, which today is the National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA). Finally in 1944, the General Fire Extinguisher Company changed its name to Grinnell Corporation. In 1976, Tyco International Ltd. acquired Grinnell Fire Protection. Following its acquisition of Simplex Corporation, in 2001 Tyco merged the two entities into SimplexGrinnell, combining the strengths of two of the most respected, dominant firms in the fire and life-safety industry.

Frederick Grinnell's determination to make the fire sprinkler industry a top professional life-safety business lives on in the tradition of quality and excellence at SimplexGrinnell. Quality products and services, pride in continually improving the skill sets of our employees, and the drive to provide value to our customers are all reflected in our many offerings.