Phoenix Fire & Systems
Recalled Central O-ring fire sprinkler heads can still be installed in commercial buildings, and they can fail to open in a fire. If your building was sprinklered or renovated before mid-2001, have a qualified fire-protection contractor check the heads now and replace any recalled ones.
Why this is back in the news
On Sept. 24, 2026, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Tyco Fire Products LP issued a new alert (release 26-800). They warned that previously recalled Central sprinkler heads may still be in service in homes, residential facilities, and commercial buildings. They urged owners to inspect now and replace recalled heads using a qualified fire-protection professional.
The alert cites a July 13, 2025 fire at an assisted-living facility in Fall River, Mass., where recalled heads found in an earlier inspection had not been replaced.
The problem is the seal. Minerals, salts, and other contaminants in the water can degrade the rubber O-ring inside the head. A head with a degraded seal may not activate when the fire reaches it.
The dates that matter
The affected heads were made from the mid-1970s to June 2001. The recall started in July 2001, was modified in May 2003, and closed on August 31, 2007.
The free voluntary replacement program ended August 31, 2007. There are no free heads and no free labor today. Replacing recalled heads now is paid work for the building owner.
The historical program covered Central heads plus Gem and Star O-ring models. Model names and markings are listed in Tyco's identification documents: Tyco Central Sprinkler O-ring notice.
How to tell if the building still has them
Start with the records. Pull past sprinkler inspection reports, deficiency lists, and any old invoices for recall work. The CPSC asks owners to confirm whether recalled heads were identified and actually removed. A report that flagged them years ago does not mean they were replaced.
Then look at the age of the system. A building sprinklered before mid-2001, or an area added or renovated before then, is the place to look. Older wings and back-of-house spaces get missed when only part of a building was redone.
Then look at the heads. Each head carries a maker's mark and model information on the frame or deflector, and that is what gets compared against Tyco's identification documents. Concealed heads sit behind cover plates. High ceilings need a lift. Leave this to the contractor rather than staff on ladders.
Check the spare-head cabinet too. Spares are supposed to match the heads installed in the building, and old recalled spares should not go back into the system.
The annual sprinkler inspection under NFPA 25 (2023) and the 2025 Ohio Fire Code (effective Nov. 20, 2025) is one place a recalled or deficient head should get flagged. See NFPA 25 sprinkler inspection in Ohio.
What the owner does
Hire a qualified fire-protection contractor to identify and replace the recalled heads. Replacement heads have to be approved and listed, with the right characteristics for that spot in the system, including style, orifice size, temperature rating, and response type. Repair work is a person qualified for that work.
Replacing heads usually means draining part or all of the system. While it is down, the system is impaired. Follow the impairment steps on Ohio annual inspection tags and impairments.
In Ohio, the building owner must notify the fire code official in writing once recalled sprinkler heads have been replaced (Ohio Fire Code Section 901.10, OAC 1301:7-7-09). Keep a copy of that notice with the work order and the updated inspection report.
The Ohio Fire Code is the statewide minimum. A city or township that adopts its own fire rules can add requirements that meet or exceed it.
Hiring a contractor does not move the duty. The owner still owns inspection, testing, maintenance, and the fix: building owner sprinkler ITM.
In a fire, call 911. For a non-emergency recall check or replacement, call Phoenix Fire & Systems at (937) 637-7768, or see fire sprinkler service and request a quote.
