History of Fire Sprinkler Manufactures

Reliable (Reliable Automatic Sprinkler or RASCO)

Reliable—otherwise known as the Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Company or RASCO—turns 100 this year. When they say it’s a “family-owned business,” they mean it: ancestors of Frank J. Fee, Reliable’s founder, hold the titles of board chairman, president, advisor, and vice presidents. Fee, an Irish immigrant, began work as a plumber and steamfitter who, unable to buy sprinklers elsewhere, merely began making his own.

Reliable offers fusible-link and glass-bulb sprinklers, along with components as wide-ranging as deluge valves, nipples, and air compressor equipment. In the past two years, they’ve moved ahead by introducing:

Window protection sprinklers. Model WP Series heads work to maximize permissible spacing between sprinklers—with an “industry-leading listing of 12 [feet]”—and minimize the water required.

New and relocated distribution centers in Capitol Heights, Maryland, and Richmond, Virginia. RASCO retains a powerful presence along the east coast, the central US, and elsewhere.

Impact-resistant fire sprinkler heads for commercial buildings and in-rack storage. The company’s KFR-series heads include a fusible link rather than a glass bulb, permitting them to be shipped and installed without protective covers. Each thermal link is inspected by X-ray—and the series includes guards, shields, and wrenches.

We’ll learn more about RASCO this year, as the company commemorates its centennial. But early signs of the festivities include a look at antique water motor gongs, historic glass-bulb sprinklers, and even a quaint ashtray/sprinkler head combination from the mid-1970s.

Tyco (along with acquisitions like Central, Gem, Grinnell, and Star) Johnson Controls

Tyco has been around since 1960—but the fire sprinkler manufacturers and other organizations now under its corporate umbrella have histories that reach to the middle of the 19th century. We’ve covered a few major purchases that have made some sprinkler lines obsolete, including:

Central Sprinkler Company (CSC or Central). After a series of devastating lawsuits and recalls, Tyco ended this Pennsylvania-based company’s 30-year run with a 100-million-dollar purchase.

Gem and Grinnell. These companies joined Tyco in the 1970s, but Gem’s run as a brand-name fire sprinkler manufacturer persisted for decades—until it was consumed by the same enormous fire sprinkler recall that took out Central. Both groups bring more than a century’s worth of experience to the table.

Star Sprinkler. Like Central, Star joined Tyco in the 1990s, bringing a hundred years in fire protection to a close.

Incorporated in Ireland and headquartered in New Jersey, Tyco International’s reach spans five continents and several industries as wide-ranging as electronics, healthcare, fire protection, and security. Press releases for the last 20 years show a company involved in unbending innovation, with the release of new products like:

The first UL-listed antifreeze solution for wet-pipe fire sprinkler systems.

New lines of “poly-stainless” sprinklers—available for the TY-B and TY-FRB models—for highly corrosive settings.

Various early suppression, fast response (ESFR) heads made to cut the costs of protecting storage facilities against fire.

RAVEN Studio sprinklers, which have an “industry-first option to paint escutcheons in the field, even after installation.”

Victaulic (purchased Globe Sprinkler)

Victaulic began in the pipefitting industry—and it shows. Grooved pipes and couplings continue at the company’s core. But the company’s knowledge with sprinkler manufacturing (and a recent acquisition of Globe Sprinkler) strengthens Victaulic’s position in the industry.

Victaulic’s history stretches back to World War I, where grooved pipes—a creation that would later grow to be the company’s bread-and-butter innovation—made the rapid supply of fuel and water possible. The Victory Pipe Joint Company wouldn’t develop until the year after the war’s end, but in the decades to come, grooved products would flourish, protecting underground cables, delivering fuel underwater, and serving as plumbing aboard warships.

Although it’s been in business for more than 100 years, Victaulic spent much of that time as a manufacturer of grooved pipe and fittings. It wasn’t until 1997 that it created an associated company tasked with fire protection (although patents indicate Victaulic created related products in the years prior). Since then, Victaulic has created a full catalog of commercial and residential fire sprinklers with innovations like:

Specialized brackets that permit installers to adjust sprinkler height even against hard ceilings.

Flexible dry sprinklers designed to stop damage from expanding ice.

“Installation-ready” storage and warehouse sprinklers that substitute thread seal tape, threaded ends, and sprinkler wrenches with a drill-ready grooved coupling.

A quick tribute to Globe Sprinkler

Globe Sprinkler holds American patents extending back to 1979. But the Michigan-based company has a far lengthier history, with its first sprinkler—the Globe Issue “A”—introduced more than 100 years ago. Like numerous fire sprinkler manufacturers in the USA, Globe started as a full-service firm that not only manufactured and sold sprinklers, but also “estimated, designed, installed, and maintained” them. Over the 20th century, Globe improved the industry with innovations like the SaveAll™ Center Strut Sprinkler—which used heat-activated chemical pellets in the place of traditional fusible links—and its acknowledgement of the small, color-coded glass bulbs now pervasive in modern sprinkler design. In a centennial tribute published in Fire Protection Contractor Magazine, Globe’s director of marketing indicated that the decision even influenced their competitors’ choices

Potter Roemer Fire Protection Since 1937

Our Beginning Potter Roemer was founded in 1937 as a manufacturer’s representative agency by Glen K. Potter and Ray H. Roemer. Like many small companies, it was started with modest capital. Growth in the early years was slow, but steady.

Continued Growth One of the manufacturers they represented had a small side line of hose rack and standpipe equipment. When the manufacturer decided to discontinue the line, the dies, tools and patents were purchased by Potter Roemer.

The years surrounding World War II were challenging, but the steady growth continued. The post-War construction period of the late 1940’s and early 1950’s fueled continued growth. Robert Roemer joined the company in 1949, after completing college and his armed services obligation.

1955- The decision was made to expand to a full line of fire protection equipment and the manufacturer’s representative business was slowly phased out.

1970- Potter Roemer had expanded its representation and had become a major player in the fire protection industry. With the addition of representatives in the northeast, as well as the opening of an eastern distribution center, Potter Roemer became a critical element in maintaining the link between specifier, installer and supplier.

1989- A regional sales office was opened in Florida; in 1994 it was relocated to an enlarged southeastern regional distribution center in Atlanta, Georgia.

1998- We again moved our corporate offices and manufacturing to an 110,000 sq.ft. facility in Santa Ana, California.

2000- Fire Pro was purchased.

2002- A partnership alliance was formed between Acorn Engineering Company and Jay R. Smith Mfg.Co., relocating Potter Roemer to City of Industry, California near the headquarters of Acorn Engineering Company. Donald Morris became President and Jay L. Smith Chairman.

2005- Our new branch was opened in Miami, Florida, making this location the 5th Potter Roemer distribution center throughout the United States.

2006- We expanded our distribution center in Chicago, Illinois to represent Acorn and Potter Roemer under one roof.

2012- Potter Roemer celebrates 75 years of innovation, quality and service. Potter Roemer’s commitment to producing quality fire safety equipment is as steadfast as it has ever been. As a member of Morris Group International, Potter Roemer is well-equipped to face future changes and challenges with the same innovative spirit as our founders. 

History of CPVC Plastic Fire Sprinkler Material

You may be surprised to know that CPVC material was invented in our labs, which gives us a unique vantage point as to where these materials originally started – and how our precise R&D and engineering has enhanced them over the decades.

It all started in 1938, when Waldo Semon of the specialty chemicals team at BF Goodrich was looking for a way to manufacture synthetic rubber, because natural rubber from trees was becoming too pricey. While PVC had been found back in the 19th century, no one had discovered a practical use for it, until Semon discovered a plasticization technology. This was the invention of vinyl – a soft, rubber-like material utilized initially as a water-resistant coating for fabrics. In fact, during World War II, this very same vinyl material was used to insulate the wiring on military ships.

The company’s specialty chemicals division later became part of Lubrizol Advanced Materials, which includes BlazeMaster® CPVC and its sister brands FlowGuard Plus® and Corzan®.

Through the 1940s and 50s, PVC was further developed into rigid materials for pipes and different applications. In 1942, chlorine was added to the material composition for the first time, and R&D persisted until PVC chlorination technology was patented in 1958. And CPVC was born – a thermoplastic created from a base PVC polymer, fortified with chlorine molecules, and specialized additives that allows it to stand up to the extreme heat and pressure.

The first field trials started in 1960, as CPVC pipe was installed in plumbing in an experimental home built by the National Association of Home Builders. The triumph of that project led to the beginning of commercial production as soon as 1962. Next year, the company’s CPVC compound was incorporated into research houses in the Baltimore, Maryland area. More than 30 years later, a team was able to get samples of the piping from the homes and – no surprise – found them to be in ideal condition.

Growth of BlazeMaster® CPVC Fire Protection System

The company entered the fire protection system market in 1984 with the launch of BlazeMaster® CPVC. With its straightforward installation, low maintenance and natural corrosion resistance, it offered the market a feasible alternative to steel pipes.

BlazeMaster® CPVC Fire Protection System continued to grow during the 2000s as:

Over 15 years of usage since its introduction in 1984 brought out the biggest advantage of BlazeMaster® CPVC compound over metals – its resistance to corrosion, which today is a major hurdle with steel pipes. 

The company developed new listing improvements which enabled the CPVC fire protection system to be installed in basements, attics, and multiple other applications.

Combined with BlazeMaster®’s easy, one-step solvent cement solution that simplifies installation, this helped enhance CPVC’s ease of installation when compared to metals.

BlazeMaster® CPVC sales continue to develop globally reaching markets in Europe, Latin America and Asia, including India.

The FBC™ System Compatible program was started in 2002 to ensure additional products such as thread sealers and lubricants are chemically consistent with all brands of Lubrizol pipes.

Global growth brought investment in manufacturing facilities. In 2014, Lubrizol launched a $400 million global expansion of its CPVC resin which further increased its manufacturing capacity. A wholly owned CPVC compounding manufacture was launched in 2016. In 2020, Lubrizol Advanced Material and Grasim Industries joined a final agreement to manufacture and supply CPVC resin in India, for which a 1,00,000 metric tonne state-of-the-art CPVC plant is being set up at Vilayat, Gujarat. Once commissioned, this will be the largest CPVC manufacturing plant in the world.  

So, when you look up and see the now famous orange pipe, know that it all began with Waldo Semon and his innovations many years ago. Today, his legacy lives on in fire protection systems around the world, and India is a critical next chapter that can help lead the world towards a strong, safe and sustainable future just like BlazeMaster® CPVC fire protection systems.

Elkart Brass Fire Sprinkler Materials

Elkhart Brass is the highly experienced manufacturer of innovative firefighting and fire protection equipment. They manufacture more than 2,000 products used in every facet of fire fighting. Our products are found in fire departments around the world, building systems and off-shore drilling sites, as well as the military, marine and industrial firefighting applications.

Renowned for its commitment to quality, value and customer service, Elkhart celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2002. In 2015, Elkhart Brass was purchased by Safe Fleet which created the leading global provider of safety solutions for fleet vehicles. The combination of Elkhart Brass with FRC and FoamPro allows the company to create integrated systems of monitors, valves, foam proportioning and electronic controls for the global emergency market.

Headquartered in Belton, MO, Safe Fleet owns a portfolio of brands that provide increased functionality and integrated solutions for fleet vehicle manufacturers and operators around the world. These brands serve six major markets including: Emergency, Military and Industrial, Work Truck, Waste, Truck and Trailer, and Bus/Rail/RV. With more than 1000 employees, the Safe Fleet family of brands operates over 500,000 square feet of manufacturing space and targets markets with a growing demand for operator, passenger, and pedestrian safety. For more information about Safe Fleet please visit www.safefleet.net.

Elkhart Brass still operates at its original site in Elkhart, Indiana. In addition to manufacturing and management, the location contains product research and development, engineering, and product testing.