"People think we just stick red pipes in the ceiling," Elias told his intern, Sarah, as they traced the main atrium’s high ceiling. "But at ninety-five feet, a standard sprinkler would be useless. The water would evaporate before it even hit the flames". The Science of Safety

Elias explained that their job wasn’t just about putting fires out; it was about managing them through a layered approach:

: They pulled up a computer simulation. Hundreds of digital "occupants" moved through the virtual library. "We model how people move when they're panicked," Elias said. "If the exits are too narrow or the signs are confusing, the physics of a crowd can become as dangerous as the fire itself". A History of Innovation