Skip to main content

Fire Pump Sensor Recall

Gem Sensor 3100 Recall Notice

Gem Sensor - Old 3100 model
Gem Sensor - Model 3300 (new)
On April 24, 2012 the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a press release, CPSC #12‐156, for the voluntary recall of Gems 3100 Pressure Detectors/Transducers because the transducer can fail to accurately detect water pressure in a fire suppression sprinkler system. This could cause the sprinkler system to fail to activate and pump water to the sprinklers in the event of a fire. The failure associated with the Transducer is not a sudden loss of function but rather a slow degradation of performance over many hours of continuous use with constant water pressure. The use of the transducer in non‐water and/or fluctuating pressure applications has not shown the same potential problem.

The sensors are basically failing in a "high" pressure rating (e.g. will read 100 PSI higher than actual pressure).  So it is easy to spot, but does require good on-going maintenance.  One should install a calibrated gauge and compare the pressures.

The transducer has "Gems Sensors & Controls," as well as the 18- digit part number, printed on a label affixed to the center of the transducer. Part numbers beginning with "3100" are included in this recall.

Gems sold the recalled 3100 Pressure Transducers directly to end-users and through distributors from January 2006 through February 2012.

The 3100 has been replaced with the new 3300 series model.  Replacement transducers are avaliable at no cost from Gem.

The newer 3300 model has a green sticker as shown in the figure to the right.  The older 3100 model has a white sticker.



_________________________________________________________________________________

NEWS from CPSC

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Office of CommunicationsWashington, D.C.


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 24, 2012
Release #12-156
Firm's Recall Hotline: (855) 877-9666
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

Gems Sensors Recalls Pressure Transducers Used in Fire Pump Controllers Due to Risk of Failure in a Fire

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Gems 3100 Pressure Detectors/Transducers

Units: About 25,000

Importer: Gems Sensors Inc., of Plainville, Conn.

Hazard: The transducer can fail to accurately detect water pressure in a fire suppression sprinkler system. This could cause the sprinkler system to fail to activate and pump water to the sprinklers in the event of a fire.

Incidents/Injuries: None.

Description: The Gems 3100 Pressure Transducer is used to detect pressure in a range of applications, including the detection of water pressure as part of a fire pump controller in a fire suppression sprinkler system. The transducer has "Gems Sensors & Controls," as well as the 18- digit part number, printed on a label affixed to the center of the transducer. Part numbers beginning with "3100" are included in this recall.
Sold by: Gems sold the recalled 3100 Pressure Transducers directly to end-users and through distributors from January 2006 through February 2012 for about $250.

Manufactured in: England

Remedy: Contact Gems to receive enhanced twice monthly inspection instructions and information about a free replacement transducer, when warranted. End-users who use the 3100 Pressure Transducer in other applications in which water pressure is measured should contact Gems to determine if their units are affected.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, call the company toll-free at (855) 877-9666, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's website at http://www.gemssensors.com

Gems 3100 Pressure Transducer

Gem Sensor - Old 3100 model

---
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about your experience with the product on SaferProducts.gov

CPSC is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of the thousands of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $900 billion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.


Under federal law, it is illegal to attempt to sell or resell this or any other recalled product.

Popular posts from this blog

Installation of Diesel Fuel Tanks for Fire Pumps (OLD)

This article is based upon 2009 IFC codes and is obsolete. See newer version here:  https://blog.anvil-fire.com/2024/03/installation-of-diesel-fuel-tanks-for.html After you have determined the size of fuel tank you need for a diesel fire pump, what are the general requirements for installation?  Assuming that you are under under the International Building/Fire Codes, you would go through the following chain of code references: IFC (2009 edition) 3401.2 Nonapplicability. This chapter shall not apply to liquids as otherwise provided in other laws or regulations or chapters of this code, including: ... (3) Storage and use of fuel oil in tanks and containers connected to oil-burning equipment. Such storage and use shall be in accordance with Section 603 . For abandonment of fuel oil tanks, this chapter applies. IFC (2009 edition) 603.1 Installation. The installation of nonportable fuel gas appliances and systems shall comply the International Fuel Gas Code. The installation of all oth

Diesel Exhaust Requirements

The exhaust from a diesel engine driving a fire pump is an often-overlooked item.  The high heat put out by the exhaust is a hazard to occupants and can greatly contribute to overheating the room itself. NFPA 20 (2013 edition), section 11.5 covers "Engine Exhaust" and should be carefully reviewed. However as a starting point, the following items should be considered. Exhaust Discharge Location The first step is to determine where you are going to discharge the exhaust gases. NFPA 20 section 11.5.3 for "exhaust discharge location" has the generic common-sense requirements of do not discharge where you might hurt people, damage the building, or directed on combustible materials. But very little specific requirements are provided. There is a loose reference in NFPA 20 back to NFPA 37 ( Standard for the Installation and Use of Stationary Combustion Engines and Gas Turbines ). In addition, the International Mechanical Code (IMC) section 915.1 directs us back to NFPA 3

Fire Pump Rating (Size) Selection

Fire pump sizing is not like commercial pump sizing. We don't care about efficiency, and you order pumps in only specific sizes. This article touches upon some items to consider when picking a fire pump. In general, the first step is determining your system demand point. Discussion of how exactly you determine this is beyond the scope of this article and has a lot of nuance depending upon your site-specific needs. However, for simplicity let's assume that you have a dry-system in an attic with a demand point of 305 gpm (2535 sq ft x 0.10 gpm/sq ft x 1.20 overflow/imbalance factor). Rated Flow (gpm) Sizing The first item you must specify is the pump flow rate. Per NFPA 20 (2013 edition) table 4.8.2 pumps are only allowed to be listed with the following flow rates in gpm: 25, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 400, 450, 500, 750, 1000, 1250, 1500, 2000, 2500, 3000, 3500, 4000, 4500, 5000 So with our example demand of 305 gpm, would you go with a 300 or 400 gpm rated fire pump?