Products Liability Law Daily Wrap Up, CPSC NEWS—INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL EQUIPMENT—CPSC, Tyco renew warning over recalled fire sprinklers, (Sep 24, 2026)

By WK Editorial Staff

A significant number of the products may still be in use, posing fire-safety hazards to consumers.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission and Tyco Fire Products LP are again urging consumers and building owners to identify and replace certain recalled Central Sprinkler fire sprinkler heads that can fail to activate during a fire, creating a potentially fatal fire-safety hazard (CPSC News Release, No. 26-800 (Sept. 24, 2026)).

The affected sprinkler heads were manufactured from the mid-1970s through June 2001 and were originally recalled in July 2001. According to a CPSC news release, minerals, salts, and other contaminants in water can degrade the sprinklers' rubber O-ring seals over time, preventing the units from operating as intended during a fire. The recall was modified in May 2003 and formally closed in August 2007 after millions of sprinkler heads were replaced.

Recalled units may remain in service. Despite years of remediation efforts, CPSC and Tyco Fire said a significant number of recalled sprinkler heads may still be installed in homes, residential facilities, and commercial buildings across the United States. The National Fire Protection Association standards require regular inspections, testing, and maintenance of fire suppression systems, including annual, five-year, and 20-year evaluations.

The release pointed to a July 13, 2025, fire at an assisted living facility in Fall River, Massachusetts, as an example of the risks associated with unremediated recalled sprinklers. The fire killed 10 residents and injured dozens more. Dozens of recalled sprinkler heads at the facility had not been replaced, despite being identified during a previous fire-safety inspection. CPSC and Tyco Fire said the incident underscores the importance of replacing recalled units wherever they remain in use.

Recommended actions. CPSC and Tyco Fire are urging consumers, businesses, government entities, and property managers to inspect fire sprinkler systems immediately to determine whether recalled units are present. They also recommend replacing any recalled sprinkler heads using a qualified fire-protection professional and reviewing maintenance records to confirm whether affected units were previously identified and removed.

In addition, CPSC and Tyco are encouraging building managers, homeowners associations, schools, hospitals, nursing homes, and administrators of older facilities to alert responsible parties about the recall and take steps to ensure recalled sprinklers are no longer in service.

Further information is available at www.tyco-fire.com/Central-Sprinkler-O-Ring-Notice.

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