FM Global

Property Loss Prevention Data Sheets 2-74

December 1989
Revised January 2001
Page 1 of 4

IDENTIFICATION OF FACTORY MUTUAL RESEARCH APPROVED PLATED SPRINKLERS

Table of Contents
Page

1.0 SCOPE ................................................................................................................................................... 2

2.0 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................... 2

List of Figures
Fig. 1. Section of a typical automatic link and lever sprinkler. Labeled components are used in
identifying Factory Mutual Research Approved plated sprinklers. ..................................................... 2

©2000 Factory Mutual Insurance Company. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in whole or in part, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of Factory Mutual Insurance Company.
2-74 Approved Plated Sprinklers
Page 2 FM Global Property Loss Prevention Data Sheets

1.0 SCOPE
This data sheet lists the identifying markings on the Factory Mutual Research Approved Plated Sprinklers.
These markings confirm that the sprinklers were plated by the manufacturer as part of the manufacturing
process.

2.0 INTRODUCTION
In early 1960, it was discovered that some sprinklers were being plated at the time they were being installed.
The sprinklers would be plated as a whole unit causing the sprinklers to be inoperative. Samples of such
sprinklers were tested, and up to 80% of them either did not fuse, or the orifice cap would not dislodge from
the seal.
Since then, it has been an Factory Mutual Research Approval requirement that there be a way to identify
the sprinkler as being plated by the manufacturer during the manufacturing process. Currently, most manu-
facturers have the individual parts plated before final assembly of the sprinkler. This allows the moving parts
to operate properly.
When the orifice cap or the tension screw is not plated, this generally shows that the sprinkler was plated
before final assembly. Also, bulb-type sprinklers cannot generally be plated after final assembly because the
bulb would burst during the plating process.

Fig. 1. Section of a typical automatic link and lever sprinkler.

Labeled components are used in identifying Factory Mutual Research Approved plated sprinklers.
* Only ‘‘Automatic’’ and Raisler (Grimes) have a fulcrum pin.
CSB has a wedge.
** For Bulb type, this is the lower bulb seat area.

©2000 Factory Mutual Insurance Company. All rights reserved.

Approved Plated Sprinklers 2-74
FM Global Property Loss Prevention Data Sheets Page 3

MANUFACTURER AND MODEL IDENTIFICATION

Astra Sprinklers Ltd.

Astra B Unplated copper gasket and tension screw.

‘‘Automatic’’ Sprinkler Corp of America

‘‘Automatic’’ Type 38B Unplated seat, gasket, fulcrum pin and tension screw.

‘‘Auto-Bulb’’ Type 38D Unplated gasket and tension screw.

Automatic F Unplated gasket (F).

Automatic Bulb H Unplated lower bulb seat (H).

Central Automatic Sprinkler Co.

Central Type D Unplated seat and gasket.
Square-shaped staking of frame boss.

Central A Unplated gasket and raised CR on tension screw plate.

CSB Sprinkler,
Div. Vogel Fire Protection Co. Inc.
CSB Type A Unplated gasket, sides of lever fulcrum and link.

Firematic Sprinkler Devices Inc.

Rockwood Type-TU-57, TP-57 Slotted tension screw.

Firematic A, S Unplated tension screw and seat.

Fire Protection Co.
FPC Type B Unplated seat, gasket and tension screw. Diamond-shaped staking of frame
boss.

Globe Automatic Sprinkler Co. Inc.

Div. of Fyr-Fyter Co.
Globe Saveall Type D Unplated seat and gasket.
Frame boss staked on Globe side.

Globe Model G Unplated seat and gasket.

Frame boss staked on Globe side.

Globe Bulb J Unplated lower bulb seat.

Grinnell Corp
Duraspeed Issue C, F950 Letters CP stamped in middle of strut. One letter cut by heat-collecting bell.

Quartzoid Issue D Flat button stamped CP on top of tension screw.

Grinnell Bulb F980 Unplated lower bulb seat.

Hodgman Mfg Co.

Hodgman Type D Unplated gasket. Words
CHROME PLATED stamped on underside of deflector.

Hythercanics Inc.
Afcon Issue A Unplated valve cap and gasket.

Raisler Corp

©2000 Factory Mutual Insurance Company. All rights reserved.

2-74 Approved Plated Sprinklers
Page 4 FM Global Property Loss Prevention Data Sheets

MANUFACTURER AND MODEL IDENTIFICATION

Grimes Model D Unplated seat, gasket and fulcrum pin. Cross-shaped staking of frame boss.

Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co. Inc.

Reliable Issue C

Chrome Plated Unplated seat and gasket.

Diamond-shaped staking of frame boss.

Cadmium Plated Diamond-shaped staking of frame boss.

Standard Fire Protection Equipment Co.

Standard Model A Raised cast letters CP on one side of wrench head.

Star Sprinkler Corp.

Stargard Model D Unplated seat and gasket.
Raised cast star on tension screw.

Star E, H, LD2 Raised letter P on center strut (E, H, LD2).

Star Bulb J Unplated lower bulb seat (J).

Superior Automatic Sprinkler Co. Inc.

Superior Type B Unplated seat, gasket and tension screw. Y-shaped staking of frame boss.

Viking Corp.
Viking Type C Unplated gasket and tension screw. Link turned 180° from normal. Year and
rating on link front are closest to valve seat.

Viking Bulb M Unplated lower bulb seat and tension screw.

FM Engr. Comm. Oct. 1989

©2000 Factory Mutual Insurance Company. All rights reserved.