Sprinkler Manufacturers Announce Research Consortium

A number of NFSA members have inquired about recent announcements regarding testing or replacement of certain specific types of fire sprinklers. Some have questioned whether something has gone wrong with sprinkler performance. They are concerned that the outstanding record of fire sprinkler systems has been tarnished. Some have asked if something needs to be done to ensure that confidence in automatic fire sprinklers remains high.

The recent events are viewed by most as isolated incidents related to the tremendous growth in acceptance of the fire sprinkler concept and the massive introduction of new fire sprinkler technologies in the 1990's. No fundamental problems are believed to exist that would prevent fire sprinklers from continuing to be considered the best single tool for the protection of lives and property from fire.

Just to be sure, though, the fire sprinkler manufacturers have joined together to fund an outside audit of quality assurance practices and testing in the fire sprinkler manufacturing industry. Officially formed as the Fire Sprinkler Manufacturers Joint Research and Development Consortium and registered with the federal government as required by law, the group consists of the following companies:

Central Sprinkler Co.

Firematic Sprinkler Corp.

Gem Sprinkler Co.

Globe Fire Sprinkler Corp.

Kidde Fire Fighting USA

The Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co.

Star Sprinkler Corp.

Victaulic Fire Safety Co.

The Viking Corp.

The joint effort of the sprinkler manufacturers has been titled Enhancement of Long-Term Field Performance of Automatic Fire Sprinklers. Battelle Columbus Laboratories has been contracted to undertake the work, with a summary report of findings and recommendations due later this year.

The purpose of the Battelle study is to review present industry practices and standards applicable to the manufacture and use of automatic sprinklers, to review available performance data, and to recommend field sampling and laboratory tests as needed to support development of mechanisms for enhancing long-term field performance. Battelle plans to review the basis and assumptions of present performance standards and tests and assess their modern relevancy.

Quality assurance has traditionally been provided by adherence to product safety standards issued by listing organizations. It is a process that has its roots in testing of fire sprinklers performed as early as 1884 by Mr. C.J. H. Woodbury of the Factory Mutual Fire Insurance Companies. The first systematic sprinkler product testing was initiated by Underwriters Laboratories in 1901. Today, Factory Mutual and Underwriters Laboratories, like the Loss Prevention Control Board in the UK, the Verband der Schadenversichen of Germany, the Japanese Fire Equipment Inspection Institute, and similar laboratories around the world, continue to evaluate automatic fire sprinkler designs against rigorous standards of performance in terms of thermal sensitivity, distribution, strength of frame, resistance to impact damage, corrosion resistance, and dozens of other areas of concern. When sprinklers are qualified as listed products as defined in NFPA standards, they can be installed in accordance with NFPA 13 and its sister standards, and maintained in accordance with NFPA 25. NFPA 13 and NFPA 25 contain requirements related to installation and inspection that also affect the long-term integrity of the sprinklers.

It is possible that the long-term reliability of automatic sprinklers will benefit from research in a number of areas, including tolerances, component force analysis, material compatibility, and environmental expectations. Although many of these factors are considered in product standards currently used in evaluation and listing activities, refinements may be appropriate. For example, there are no "reasonably extreme" water supply characteristics (i.e. chemical composition, debris, effects of microbiologically-influenced corrosion) used to evaluate the ability of sprinkler components to withstand exposures, over a reasonable service life, without impairing proper operation. Some of these issues extend to installation and inspection/testing/maintenance standards. Even small incremental improvements in design, performance testing or inspection will be considered valuable.

One of Battelle's preliminary observations in the ongoing research is that there have been significant changes in indoor air quality in recent years that may impact the choice of materials used within fire sprinklers. Corrosion tests will need to be re-evaluated as a result to ensure that they are not missing key elements. Changes will be recommended to installation and maintenance standards as needed.

The current sprinkler industry situation is somewhat analogous to a healthy person going in for a physical examination. Everything seems to be working well, but a check-up is always in order. The goal is essentially to make an already well-designed and reliable product even better. The fire sprinkler manufacturers are to be commended for undertaking this effort to make sure that their products can continue to be counted on to perform when needed during a fire, and to maintain the excellent record of sprinklers in saving lives and property.