The new Glenmont fire detection and suppression systems required underground piping near the house and equipment in the basement.

Perhaps you will be incredulous to learn that Glenmont, the 23-room, red brick and wood Edison home, has been standing since the late 1800s without adequate fire protection. An important goal of the Edison National Historic Site renovation and restoration project is to remedy that deficiency.

In addition to bringing new water mains to the building, this phase of the project also required the installation of piping, sprinklers, and sensors throughout the house. Planners, supervisors, and workers faced almost daily puzzles on how to fit the pieces together without hurting your view of this historic structure.

This phase of the project is complete.

Whenever possible, workers took any procedures that could threaten the house outside. This picture shows some of the precautions taken throughout the Edison National Historic Site during this project. The welder is working over a fireproof blanket. A fire extinguisher and safety observers stand nearby.

The installation of sprinklers and piping throughout the house often required painting to restore walls and to make new fixtures as unobtrusive as possible.

Contractors worked with conservators to match historic paint colors