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GOOOOOD MORNING, A.I.I.™It's a great day at Michael Leavitt & Co Home Inspections. July is in full swing. Utah is preparing for its annual celebration called Pioneer Day. This occurs each year on the 24th of July and the celebrating far exceeds the 4th of July. This year it occurs on Saturday and the day will be filled with parades, BBQ's and Pioneer games. Friday will be the celebration day that the State will shut down....... The funny thing is that I never heard of the holiday before moving to Utah back in 1992.
CPSC ANNOUNCEMENTOn October 12, 1998 the following was shared in the MMM...
File this following Press Release in the "For What It's Worth" file. I know that many of you perform commercial inspections. I think that this topic is important to be aware of. I also realize that the evaluation and testing of fire sprinkler safety systems is beyond the scope of our typical inspections. Knowing all of this, I still think that we need to become well-versed in their design and use since they are becoming more popular in residential construction. For more Fire Sprinkler information I would urge you to study the back issues of the Journal of Light Home Construction.
NEWS from CPSC ........... Release # 98-075
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product 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: C1 (or C-1), C1A (or C-1A), C-1A PRO (or C1-A PRO), C1-A PRO QR, C-1A PRO ID, EC-20, EC-20A, EC-20 AID, R-1, R-1A, R-1M, Flow Control (FC; Flow Control-FC), M, Protector-M or M Protector (Upright, Pendent, Sidewall, Sidewall EC), HEC-12, HEC-12 RES, HEC-12 EC, HEC-12 EC PRO, HEC-12 ID, HEC-12 PRO, HEC-12 PRO QR, HEC-20, HEC-20 ID, Prohibitor QR and AC. 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 fire safety publications.
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, to complete the fire sprinkler questionnaire. If you have questions send an email message to info@cpsc.gov or call CPSC's toll-free Hotline at (800) 638-2772, ext. 300.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
protects the public from the unreasonable risk of injury or death
from 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury and
for information on CPSC's fax-on-demand service, call CPSC's hotline
at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270.
To order a press release through fax-on-demand, call (301) 504-0051
from the handset of your fax machine and enter the release number.
Consumers can obtain this release and recall information via Internet
gopher services at cpsc.gov or report product hazards to info@cpsc.gov.
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The following was released this week by the CPSC.......
For Immediate Release Contact: Ken
Giles
July 16, 1999 (301) 504-0580 Ext. 1184
Release # 99-143
CPSC Reminds Consumers that Deadline Nears for Fire Sprinkler Claims
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is
reminding property owners that they
must submit a proof of claim form, waiver and release form to
Central Sprinkler Co. postmarked by August 1, 1999, to qualify
for reimbursement for labor costs associated with replacing their
Omega brand fire sprinklers. CPSC and Central
Sprinkler announced the recall of approximately 8.4 million Omega
brand fire sprinklers last October. Since the announcement, CPSC
has received additional reports of fires in which Omegas have
allegedly failed to activate. Previously, CPSC had reported 17
fires that caused at least four injuries and over $4.3 million
in property damage.
Under the recall, consumers with Omegas
have until August 1, 1999, to file a claim to receive replacement
sprinklers and monetary reimbursement toward installation costs
incurred in replacing the Omegas. Consumers missing this deadline
remain eligible to receive free
replacement sprinklers, but no labor reimbursement.
Consumers can obtain the proper forms needed by clicking on the Omega recall website at www.omegarecall.com or calling the Omega recall hotline at (800) 896-5685.
Omega brand sprinklers were one of
the most popular residential fire sprinklers installed in homes,
schools, hospitals, dormitories, nursing homes, prisons, and hotels.
Consumers can identify most Omegas by the three flat round dime-size
metal disks stacked one above the
other with a small space between each disk. The specific Omega
sprinkler models recalled are referred to or marked as follows:
C1 (or C-1), C1A (or C-1A), C-1A PRO (or C1-A PRO), C1-A PRO QR,
EC-20, EC-20A, R-1, R-1A, R-1M, Flow Control (FC, Flow Control-FC),
Protector-M or M Protector (Upright, Pendent, Sidewall, Sidewall
EC), HEC-12, EC-12 RES,
HEC-12 EC, HEC-12 EC PRO, HEC-12 ID, HEC-12 PRO, HEC-12 PRO QR,
HEC-20, Prohibitor QR and AC.
QUOTABLE QUOTES: "If you always do what you've always done, you'll
always get what you've always got."[Michael Leavitt's Home Page | Back Issues of the MMM | Current Issue of the MMM]
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