Nation’s No. 2 Sprinkler Maker to Recall 9 Million Devices

The nation’s second-largest manufacturer of fire sprinklers will recall more than 9 million possibly defective sprinkler heads under a settlement tentatively approved Tuesday, a lawyer said.

Central Sprinkler Corp. of Lansdale, Pa., agreed to the deal, which would settle class-action lawsuits filed in Los Angeles and Santa Clara, Calif.

The agreement mirrors the terms of a federal recall order issued last week that requires Central Sprinkler to replace Omega sprinkler heads at no charge to customers, said attorney Clifford H. Pearson, who represented homeowners in the suit filed in Los Angeles on Aug. 21, 1997.

Omegas have failed to activate in 17 fires since 1990, resulting in the injury of at least four people and property damage of more than $4.3 million, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said. The sprinklers also have high failure rates in laboratory tests.