CEO, Firewize
19 Jul, 2024
In October 1998, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Central Sprinkler announced a nationwide recall of Omega brand fire sprinklers manufactured since 1982 by Central Sprinkler Corp. and its subsidiary, Central Sprinkler Co.
It was found that between 30 and 40 percent of the recalled Omega sprinkler heads had failed testing, endangering people and buildings. These failures were primarily due to design and manufacturing defects.
Specifically, the Omega sprinklers used O-ring seals prone to deterioration over time. These seals could either stick to the valve seat or become damaged, causing sprinkler activation failure. Environmental factors such as temperature fluctuations and water quality exacerbated the degradation of the O-rings.
Additionally, some sprinkler heads showed evidence of corrosion, further compromising their functionality during a fire. These defects led to a significant portion of Omega sprinklers failing to operate correctly during testing, posing a serious risk to people and property by not providing adequate fire protection.
The issue of product recalls of fire sprinkler heads has not only been limited to the Omega brand, other fire sprinkler head manufacturers have also been subject to product recalls over many years in the United States.
In addition to product recalls, there are many other fire sprinkler heads that incorporate an “o-ring seal design” that are subject to a voluntary replacement program (VRP) from Central Sprinkler Company, Gem Sprinkler Company and Star Sprinkler Company. This voluntary replacement program covered literally dozens of sprinkler head types, including Pendent, Upright, Concealed Pendent, Horizontal Sidewall, Vertical Sidewall, Window Vertical and Window Horizontal.
This is a huge array of fire sprinkler heads that are subject to the voluntary replacement program. There is no doubt that these automatic fire sprinkler heads exist in many other countries in addition to the United States, including Australia.
In Australia, there is no information about the similar product recalls of automatic fire sprinkler heads on the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (“ACCC”) Product Safety website.
Instead, it is left up to experienced industry professionals to identify “at-risk” fire sprinkler heads from information garnished from the United States and make their own judgement.
Notwithstanding there being no information about product recalls of automatic fire sprinkler heads in Australia, vulnerable sprinkler heads, as well as other defective sprinkler heads may be found as part of a routine maintenance and testing program set out in Australian Standard AS 1851.
AS 1851 requires a representative sample of fire sprinkler heads be tested as follows;
These tests involve removing sample sprinkler heads selected from a range of diverse site environmental conditions to ensure the sample taken is representative of all types of conditions where sprinkler heads are installed.
After the samples are removed, a series of tests and a report should be prepared by a registered testing authority, that will make observations about each sample and and test each sample to verify the following;
The Standard goes on to say the following;
Should one or more sprinklers fail any of the above tests, further sampling and testing should be conducted until the results can be considered truly representative. The extent of sprinkler replacement, if any, will be dependent on the results of testing.
In the process of creating this article we have compiled a database from available public sources of automatic fire sprinkler heads that are either subject to a statutory recall or a voluntary replacement program from the United States.
If you would like us to check a specific sprinkler head against our database, simply fill in the form below and we will send you back a report with the results.
Building owners in Australia are generally required to maintain the automatic fire sprinkler systems in buildings in accordance with State and Territory Legislation and Australian Standard AS 1851.
At the time of publishing this article (July 2024) there are no specific product recalls from the ACCC in Australia related to automatic fire sprinkler heads. That said, building owners and fire maintenance contractors should ensure that all automatic fire sprinkler systems are maintained in accordance with AS 1851 and that fire sprinkler system heads are tested in accordance with the Standard.
We recommend that you engage a competent and appropriate qualified contractor to undertake the routine servicing of your fire sprinkler system. They should have in place a system or methodology for checking the age of your fire sprinkler system and if it is due or overdue for the sprinkler head test in the Standard.
They may also be able to determine without removing any sprinkler heads if the installed sprinkler heads are subject to recall or voluntary replacement.
Trying to determine if a sprinkler head needs to be replaced or at least tested can be a little tough, but it is possible. In most cases, there are inscriptions on the sprinkler head frame or deflector plate with details about the age, make and model of the sprinkler head. Here are a few things you should look for;
Once you know these details, either speak to your incumbent fire maintenance contractor or Firewize for additional information and advice about what to do next.
If through inspection, or testing you find your fire sprinkler heads are subject to a mandatory or voluntary product recall, then your insurance provider and your statutory obligations to provide a safe workplace will likely require you to take action.
The action taken will depend on the extent of the installation of sprinkler heads used throughout the building, but in most cases all sprinkler heads of the same type will need to be replaced. The cost of replacement fire sprinkler heads will vary according to the location of the building, the method in which the sprinkler heads have been installed, the height of each sprinkler head, fire sprinkler fitter labour costs and material costs.
There may also be a risk of damage to ceilings to make replacement possible. It would not be unreasonable to expect a rate per sprinkler head replacement of between $200 and $300 per head (based on cost rates set out by quantity surveyors).
In conclusion, the responsibility of ensuring the reliability and functionality of fire sprinkler systems lies heavily on the shoulders of experienced and competent fire contractors in Australia.
By adhering to the Australian Standard AS 1851 and maintaining vigilance in identifying and testing vulnerable sprinkler heads, contractors can significantly mitigate the risks associated with faulty fire protection systems.
Leveraging resources and information from international recalls and voluntary replacement programs, coupled with rigorous testing and maintenance practices, will enhance the safety and compliance of essential automatic fire sprinkler systems.
Through the use of expert systems, diligent work and informed decision-making, fire contractors like Firewize play a critical role in safeguarding people and property from the devastating effects of fire.
Firewize policy is one of continuous improvement, details of products, procedures or methods described within this document are subject to change without notice. All information provided here is believed to be correct at the time of publication.
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information which is provided in good faith nothing contained herein is intended to incorporate any representation or warranty, either express or implied or to form the basis of any legal relations between the parties hereto, additional to or in lieu of such as may be applicable to a contract of sale or purchase.
This website is provided solely on the basis that users will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information. Firewize does not accept any liability for any injury, loss or damage incurred by use of or reliance on the information.
