October 1, 2001—The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Central Sprinkler Company have announced a voluntary replacement program that will provide free parts and labor to replace 35 million Central fire sprinklers with O-ring seals. The program also includes a limited number of O-ring models sold by Gem Sprinkler Company and Star Sprinkler, Inc., totaling about 167,000 sprinkler heads.
Central initiated this action because it discovered the performance of these O-ring sprinklers can degrade over time. These sprinkler heads can corrode, or minerals, salts and other contaminants in water can effect the rubber O-rings seals. These factors could cause the sprinkler heads to not activate in a fire. Central is providing new fire sprinklers that do not use O-rings seals. This is the third largest replacement program in CPSC history.
This replacement 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.
To identify whether your fire sprinklers qualify, the sprinkler heads have the words “CENTRAL” or “STAR,” the letters “CSC,” the letter “G” in a triangle, or a star-shaped symbol stamped on either the metal sprinkler frame or on the deflector. For more information on how to identify sprinklers subject to this program to learn how to participate, call the Notice Packet Request Line at (800) 871-3492 or access the programs Web site.
Based on a report from BOMA International
