LETTERS: FAULTY SPRINKLERS NOT USED HERE

To the editor:

This letter is in response to the published article by the Associated Press as presented recently in the Southeast Missourian. Reacting to published reports by the media about failures of Omega fire sprinklers produced by Central Sprinkler Corp., I also was alarmed that this equipment may have been installed in our area. A survey of the sprinkler contractors that have worked in the Cape area shows that the Omega sprinkler head is not in use.

A news release by the American Fire Sprinkler Association stated, "`We are surprised at these sudden inflammatory stories about Omega sprinkler failures. This problem was announced months ago by Central Sprinkler Corp., and it affects only a small number of installed sprinklers,' said Steve Muncy, president of the American Fire Sprinkler Association. `The manufacturer has been working with testing laboratories to address and solve the problem,' he added."

The failure rates quoted in the media imply that a large number of these sprinklers would fail in a fire situation. In an Underwriters Laboratories test of 800 Omega sprinklers, 69 percent of the sprinklers tested operated at 5 psi. Many others operated within a range that would not constitute an absolute "sprinkler failure," even though they did not operate within the 7 psi for which the sprinklers are listed. Eighty percent operated at 40 psi or less, which means they would have operated under normal water-pressure conditions.

Robert McCullough, president of Allsouth Sprinkler Co., in Lilburn, Ga., and chairman of the American Fire Sprinkler Association, stated that people must keep this issue in perspective and remember that automatic fire sprinklers are still the best method available to protect lives and property from fire.

"Although this is indeed a serious situation, it is important to remember that only a portion of a single model of automatic sprinklers have failed, and then only under unusual circumstances. Some sprinklers that were listed as `failures' actually operated, but at a higher pressure than that established for the Omega sprinkler. In the event of fire, the chance of these sprinklers controlling the fire is extremely high."

In the Cape Girardeau area, we have never had a recorded fire loss attributed to malfunction of a sprinkler system. The proper installation and maintenance of a sprinkler system have been proven to save lives and property.

With the advent of new technology, the fastest growing home protection segment is in residential sprinkler systems along with smoke detectors. The size, types of building materials and cost of new housing is making sprinkler systems more imperative for the homeowner to protect his family and investment.

If anyone has questions in regard to this article or would need other information on residential or commercial fire protection programs, I can be contacted at the Cape Girardeau Fire Department at 334-3211.

THOMAS G. HINKEBEIN, Fire Marshal

Cape Girardeau Fire Department