> CPSC, Mealane Corp. Announce Recall of Star Fire Sprinklers
>
> WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product
> Safety Commission (CPSC), Mealane Corp. of Philadelphia, Pa., is
> voluntarily recalling up to 1 million "Star" brand fire sprinklers
> manufactured from 1961 through 1976. These sprinklers could fail in a
> fire, exposing the public to bodily injury or death. These sprinklers
> have been installed nationwide, primarily in nursing homes. They also
> may be found in hospitals, schools, resorts, stores, office
> buildings, warehouses and supermarkets.
>
> CPSC reports that 67 percent of the sprinklers that were removed from
> locations across the country and submitted for testing to independent
> testing laboratories, such as by Underwriters Laboratories and
> Factory Mutual Research Corp., failed to activate as they should.
> CPSC has received one report of a Star sprinkler allegedly not
> functioning in a bedroom fire in a nursing home.
>
> The Star sprinklers being recalled are dry-type models D-1, RD-1,
> RE-1, E-1 and ME-1 made from 1961 through 1976. The name "Star"
> appears on the sprinkler, along with the model number and date of
> manufacture. With "dry-type" sprinklers, portions of the pipe do not
> have water in them until the sprinkler activates. The former Star
> Sprinkler Co., of Philadelphia, Pa., sold its assets and changed its
> name in June 1976 and became known as Mealane Corp.
>
> The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, an
> independent, not-for-profit organization that evaluates and accredits
> hospitals and other long-term-care facilities, is supporting the
> recall with CPSC.
>
> Consumers and property owners should determine whether their
> facilities contain these recalled sprinklers and if so, call the Star
> Sprinkler Recall Hotline at (800) 866-7807 or access the website at
> www.star-recall.com to participate in the recall. Mealane will
> provide free replacement sprinkler heads and reimbursement for the
> labor costs of removing and replacing the old units.
>
> CPSC is continuing its ongoing investigation of fire sprinklers.

> Note --->

> For those who have been involved with the fire sprinkler industry for
> more than a few years, it will be obvious that the official "recall"
> agreement between CPSC and Mealane Corp. (as described below in the
> CPSC press release), is not a recognition of a new problem. The
> problems associated with the "Star" brand dry-type sprinklers
> identified in the press release have been known since 1989 and a
> voluntary recall and replacement program was started in 1990. The
> Consumer Product Safety Commission was notified of this problem in
> 1991. The voluntary program has continued for almost ten years, and
> is only now classified as a CPSC recall. Under the voluntary program,
> thousands of these sprinklers have already been replaced.
>
> It is also important to note that the references in the recall to
> Star Sprinkler Corp. do not refer to the current sprinkler
> manufacturer doing business under the name Star Sprinkler
> Corporation. As stated in the press release "The former Star
> Sprinkler Co., of Philadelphia, Pa., sold its assets and changed its
> name in June 1976 and became known as Mealane Corp."
>
>


___________________________________________________
Randall L. Hormann
Fire/Safety Specialist
Miami University, Ohio

6 Hughes Hall (EHSO)
Oxford, Ohio 45056
Office: 513-529-2461, Fax: 513-529-2830
E-Mail: [log in to unmask]

State:  Ohio Fire Safety Inspector - Instructor
Chair:  Fire Safety Professionals @ Ohio Colleges and Universities
Member: Ohio Fire Chiefs Assoc., Fire Code Committee.
Member: Ohio Fire Officials Association.
Advisor: Sigma Alpha Epsilon - Fraternity.
Advisor: Alpha Lambda Delta / Phi Eta Sigma - Honor Society.

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