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from
CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Policy
Washington, D.C. 20207
____________________________________________________________________________
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August
4,
1999
Release
#99-152
Contact:
Ken Giles at (301)
504-0580 Extension 1192
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 1-800-866-7807 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.
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