This bulletin is to alert MIIA members to the risk of bodily injury and property damage due to potentially defective fire sprinklers. The fire sprinklers have been identified as Central Sprinkler Company's "Omega" series. The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) has filed an administrative complaint against the company seeking a recall of approximately 10 million of the fire sprinklers that have been sold since 1982, and are in service around the U.S.

In its complaint, the CPSC staff alleged that these sprinklers are defective and are likely to fail in a fire situation. The sprinkler may not properly activate in the event of a fire, thus exposing the public to bodily injury or death. The CPSC is aware of six fires in which "Omega" series fires sprinklers reportedly failed to operate. In one of these instances, the fire caused more than $3 million in property damage.

The CPSC is requested that the company mail warning notices to everyone who has purchased the product. The notices are to describe the hazards and provide clear instructions on how the company will either repair or replace the sprinklers or refund the price of purchase to the consumer.

You may have to determine whether you have Omega sprinklers by a visual inspection of the sprinkler head. Most Omega models have one to three flat, round metal discs stacked one above another with a small space between each disc.

To conclusively determine whether the "Omega" series fire sprinklers are installed in your building, the CPSC strongly advises that you contact your architect, builder, sprinkler contractor, or plumber. DO NOT UNSCREW the sprinkler or shut the system down.

If you think that any of your buildings are installed with "Omega" series fire sprinklers, please read the attached information and review your emergency evacuation plan and fire safety practices in order to reduce the risk of bodily injury or property damage in the event of a fire.

If you have "Omega" series fire sprinklers installed in any of your buildings, please complete the attached Sprinkler Questionnaire and return copies to your MIIA loss control representative, your sprinkler contractor, and Central Sprinkler Company.

If you have any questions, please call Jeff Siena at MIIA Loss Control (800) 882-1498, or the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission at (800) 638-2772.

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U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Sues Central Sprinkler Over Defective Fire Sprinklers

The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that its staff has filed an administrative Complaint against Central Sprinkler Corp., and its subsidiary Central Sprinkler Co., of Lansdale, Pa., alleging that Central's "Omega" series fire sprinklers present a substantial product hazard. The Complaint seeks a nationwide recall of the approximately 10 million Omega fire sprinklers that Central has manufactured since 1982.

In its Complaint, the CPSC staff alleges that these sprinklers are defective and are likely to fail in a fire situation. The sprinklers may not properly activate in the event of a fire, thus exposing the public to bodily injury or death. CPSC is aware of six fires in which Omega fire sprinklers reportedly failed to operate. In one of these instances, the fire caused more than $3 million in property damage.

The Commission staff filed the Complaint after discussions with the company and its representatives failed to result in a voluntary recall and replacement plan acceptable to CPSC. This type of legal action against a company is rare. This is only the second time in 10 years that the CPSC staff has filed such a suit.

In seeking a recall of the Omega sprinklers, the Complaint calls for extensive public notice of the hazard and remedy. Only Central's Omega series fire sprinklers are involved, including, but not limited to, models referred to or marked as follows:

Cl (or C-1) CIA (or C-IA) C-IA PRO (OR CI-A PRO) C-IA PRO ID Cl-A PRO QR EC-20 EC-20 AID EC-20A Flow Control (FC; Flow Control-FC)

HEC-12 HEC-12 EC HEC- 12 EC PRO HEC-12 ID HEC- 12 PRO HEC- 12 PRO QR HEC- 12 RES HEC-20 HEC-20 ID

M, Protector-M or M Protector (Upright, Pendent, Sidewall, Sidewall EC) Prohibitor QR and AC R-I R-lA R-IM

They are installed in homes, schools, hospitals, dormitories, nursing homes, offices and other buildings.

From a distance, consumers may be able to make a preliminary determination of whether their homes or other buildings are equipped with Omega fire sprinklers. On most models, consumers will be able to see one to three flat round metal disks stacked above one another with a small space between each disk. Because it is difficult to conclusively determine whether Omegas are installed, CPSC strongly encourages consumers to contact their architect, builder, sprinkler contractor, plumber, homeowners' association or property manager. Consumers should not attempt to unscrew the sprinkler or shut down their sprinkler system to determine if they have Omegas.

While the Commission staff pursues an acceptable recall and replacement plan, consumers with Omega fire sprinklers should be sure to have at least one fully operational smoke detector on every floor of their home, especially near bedrooms. The Commission staff also recommends that consumers have a well defined and rehearsed escape plan and an alternate escape plan in the event of a fire. As always, consumers should diligently practice fire safety to reduce the possibility that a fire will occur. Consumers can obtain fire safety information by calling CPSC's toll-free hotline at (800) 638-2772 or by visiting CPSC's web site at www.cpsc.gov.

The Commission staff urges anyone who is aware of any instances in which an Omega sprinkler has failed to activate when tested or in a fire, or who has questions about this announcement, to call CPSC's toll-free hotline at (800) 638-2772.

Editor's Note: To access a product photo (showing one sprinkler model) in JPEG (JPG)format, go to this press release on CPSCs web site at: http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PREREL/PRHTML98/98075.html.

- Office of Information and Public Affairs, Washington D.C., 3/4/98

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Sprinkler Questionnaire

Download PDF File

Download Adobe Reader (Reads PDF files)

Please complete the form and return a copy to MIIA Loss Control, attention Jeff Siena, your sprinkler contractor, and Central Sprinkler for future action.

Property Name:
Property Address:
Contact Person for the Property:
Title:
Telephone:
Fax:
Sprinkler Contractor:
Year sprinkler system was installed:
Number of floors:

Static Pressure of the sprinkler system:    psi.

Pipe System:

Steel

CPVC

Copper

Polybutylene

 

Please Indicate Quantity of Each Omega Model

Type of Omega Sprinkler*	Number of Heads (quantity)	Orifice Size	Temperature Rating (oF)	Finish or Color

*AC Concealed, CI-A, EC-20A. HEC-12, HEC-20, Prohibitors, Model M, Flow

Central Sprinkler Omega Customer Service
Phone: 1-800-638-1531
Fax: (215) 412-8133

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