Voluntary Recall to Replace O-Ring Fire Sprinklers
By John Millrany - July 23, 2001The US Consumer Product
Safety Commission (CPSC) and Central Sprinkler Co., an affiliate of Tyco
Fire Products LP of Lansdale, Pa., have announced a voluntary program to
provide free parts and labor to replace 35 million Central fire sprinklers with
O-ring seals.
The replacement program, third
largest in CPSC history, also includes a limited number of O-ring models sold
by Gem Sprinkler Co. and Star Sprinkler, Inc. totaling about
167,000 sprinkler heads.
CPSC said Central initiated the action upon discovering that the performance of
the O-ring sprinklers can degrade over time. The sprinkler heads can corrode,
and minerals, salts and other contaminants in water can affect the rubber
seals.
These factors could cause the sprinkler heads not to
activate in a fire. Central is providing newer fire sprinklers that do not use
O-ring seals, and is voluntarily launching this program to provide enhanced
protection to its sprinkler customers.
"I am pleased that Central is voluntarily undertaking this major program
proactively to replace sprinklers nationwide and protect consumers from the
risk of fire," said CPSC Chairman Ann Brown.
Central will provide free of charge replacement sprinkler heads and the labor
needed to replace the sprinklers. Central will arrange for the installation by
using either its own Central field service crews or by contracting with
professional sprinkler contractors.
The program includes two kinds of sprinklers, "wet" and
"dry." "Wet" sprinklers are installed in piping that is
filled with water. "Dry" sprinklers are used in areas that may be
exposed to very cold temperatures and the exposed piping does not contain water.
Central has received four reports of "wet" sprinklers failing to
activate during a fire and nine similar reports on "dry" sprinklers.
The incidents resulted in two property damage claims against Central.
The sprinklers were installed nationwide in a wide variety of buildings,
including houses, apartments, hospitals, day care facilities, schools,
dormitories, nursing homes, supermarkets, parking garages, warehouses, and
office buildings.
Central manufactured 33 million "wet" sprinklers with O-rings from
1989 until 2000 that are covered by the program. Central also manufactured 2
million "dry" sprinklers with O-rings from the mid-1970s to June 2001
that are covered by this program. The program also covers 167,000 sprinklers
with O-rings manufactured by Gem Sprinkler and Star Sprinkler from 1995 to
2001.
Meanwhile, commercial and industrial property insurer FM Global
recommends, as a precautionary measure, that its customers promptly identify
whether their facilities contain such sprinklers. If so, policyholders should
contact Central.
According to Joseph Hankins, a senior engineering specialist at FM
Global, there's a need to take action but not to panic. "A property
owner who has these sprinklers installed in his or her facility should not
conclude that the facility is similar to one without fire sprinkler
protection."
In a February 2000 news release, FM Global's scientific research and
testing affiliate, Factory Mutual Research and Approvals, indicated it
was one of the first testing laboratories to identify O-ring problems in some
Central fire sprinklers.
The public should not lose faith in the value of fire sprinkler
protection, Hankins said. "For over 100 years, sprinklers have been the
best defense in fire protection and have had an unparalleled record of
success for protecting life and property.”
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