UL restricts use of O-rings in fire sprinklers
NOTE: This information is from a previously printed press release, newsletter, or other dated document. It is presented here for archival purposes only.
NORTHBROOK, Ill., July 27, 2001: Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL), the leading product safety testing and certification organization in North America, has revised UL's Standard for Safety for Automatic Sprinklers for Fire Protection Service, UL199, regarding the use of O-ring water seals in fire sprinklers. After January 2003, O-ring water seal constructions in sprinklers will no longer be permitted by the standard.
This action follows a UL-funded two-year investigation of the field performance of O-ring sprinklers that included the extensive examination, testing and analysis of samples from more than 200 locations across the country, including hospitals, schools, offices, warehouses and residences. The revised standard was published on July 9, 2001.
"Fire sprinklers have an excellent field record, have saved countless lives and reduced property damage. The fact that numerous lives and millions of dollars worth of property are lost each day to fires in structures not having sprinkler systems clearly indicates the need for expanded usage of sprinkler protection," said Jim Beyreis, UL's vice president of Global Engineering. "Based on our research, we have found that some O-ring sealed sprinklers can degrade over time due to corrosion or build up of minerals, salts and other elements in water that could affect how the sprinklers activate in a fire.
Even though the vast majority of sprinklers would operate, UL is making these revisions to enhance the level of safety sprinkler systems have provided for decades."
Another key revision to UL 199 includes the addition of a dry sprinkler deposit loading test that exposes representative samples to a carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide atmosphere at elevated temperatures. This revision introduces additional testing that exposes sprinklers to even harsher environmental conditions.
A third revision includes the requirement that brass sprinkler parts exposed to sprinkler system water and containing more than 15 percent zinc be subjected to a dezincification test. This revision addresses the potential for selective removal of zinc from brass sprinklers, which can weaken pressure-retaining capabilities and potentially cause leakage or inhibit sprinkler operation.
Based upon the results of on-going sprinkler research activities, UL has disseminated several public notices reporting on the operating performance of certain sprinklers and recommending specific precautionary actions. UL issued public notices regarding dry sprinklers on January 22, 1999 and March 3, 2000. On February 2, 2000 and April 24, 2001, notices regarding the Model GB series sprinklers manufactured by Central Sprinkler Company were issued. Central Sprinkler Company recently announced a voluntary replacement program for these and other similarly constructed sprinklers. Additional information regarding this replacement program can be obtained by visiting the web site www.SprinklerReplacement.com.
As a precautionary measure for existing sprinkler systems that are not part of the Central Sprinkler voluntary replacement
program, UL continues to urge immediate inspection and sample testing of all systems with sprinklers incorporating an O-ring water seal, regardless of the year of manufacture or installation location. Building managers and property owners can verify whether the sprinklers in question utilize O-ring components by contacting the sprinkler manufacturer or UL.
Building owners desiring to have installed sprinklers tested should have representative samples of these sprinkler models removed from the installation and sent to UL for testing. Before representative sprinkler samples can be submitted to UL for testing, it is important to consult directly with the sprinkler manufacturers or through their customer service representatives for information regarding removal and replacement of the test samples, as well as the applicable terms of the manufacturer's warranty.
Once properly removed and packaged according to the instructions, sprinkler samples can be sent directly to Mr. Kerry Bell at Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL), 333 Pfingsten Rd., Northbrook, Ill., 60062 (phone: +1 847 664-2629; e-mail: kerry.m.bell@us.ul.com) for operational testing. In keeping with UL's not-for-profit, testing for public safety mission, UL will conduct these operational tests at no cost to the submitter during the course of UL's on-going investigation, with the exception of expenses related to sprinkler removal, replacement, shipping and handling.
UL is an independent, not-for-profit product safety certification organization that evaluates products, materials and systems in the interest of public safety. As part of its safety mission, UL has investigated and Listed automatic sprinklers for fire protection for nearly a century. More than 17 billion UL Marks appear on new products each year, and more than 18,000 types of products are tested at UL's five U.S. laboratories located in: Northbrook, Ill.; Melville, N.Y.; Santa Clara, Calif; Research Triangle Park, N.C.; and Camas, Wash. Worldwide, the UL family of companies includes more than 190 inspection centers in 72 countries; and affiliate in Canada; and subsidiaries in Mexico, Brazil and countries throughout Europe and Asia.
