The Recall Desk
SevereCPSC·01201·Announced 2001-01-13

Central Sprinkler Company Recalls 35 Million Fire Sprinklers With O-Ring Seals

Central Sprinkler Company is voluntarily replacing 35 million fire sprinklers with O-ring seals that may fail to activate during a fire due to corrosion or mineral buildup.

What this means for you

Illness, injury, or structural failure has been reported. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a structural safety defect in fire protection equipment that failed to activate during fires, resulting in reported property damage claims, which aligns with the rubric criteria for significant property-damage reports.

Plain-English summary

Central Sprinkler Company, an affiliate of Tyco Fire Products LP, is conducting a voluntary recall to replace 35 million fire sprinklers equipped with O-ring seals. The affected products include 33 million "wet" sprinklers manufactured from 1989 to 2000, 2 million "dry" sprinklers manufactured from the mid-1970s to June 2001, and 167,000 sprinklers manufactured by Gem Sprinkler Co. and Star Sprinkler Inc. from 1995 to 2001. These sprinklers were installed nationwide in various buildings, including houses, apartments, hospitals, schools, and office buildings.

The recall is being issued because corrosion or minerals, salts, and other contaminants in water can affect the rubber O-ring seals, potentially causing the sprinkler heads not to activate in a fire. Central has received 13 reports of sprinklers failing to activate during a fire, which resulted in two property damage claims.

Building and home owners should check their fire sprinklers immediately to see if they are part of this voluntary replacement program. Central will provide free replacement sprinkler heads and the labor needed for installation, arranging for the work through its own field service crews or professional contractors. For more information on identifying affected sprinklers and participating in the program, consumers can call 1-800-871-3492 or visit www.SprinklerReplacement.com.

The recalled product

Product
Central fire sprinklers with O-ring seals
Manufacturer
Central Sprinkler Company, an affiliate of Tyco Fire Products LP, of Lansdale, Pa.
Category
Consumer Product — Fire Safety Equipment
Hazard
Affected units
35

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

Related recalls

Same manufacturer · Central Sprinkler Company, an affiliate of Tyco Fire Products LP, of Lansdale, Pa.

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Same hazard · fire safety failure

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