LANSDALE, Penn., June 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Tyco Fire and Building Products (TFBP), based here, announced today that it has entered into a license agreement with The Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co., Inc, The Viking Corporation, and Victaulic Company of America, concerning Tyco's low pressure, early suppression, fast response (LP/ESFR) patented fire sprinkler technology. Sprinklers developed using the proprietary LP/ESFR technology have revolutionized the protection of warehouses and high-bay storage from high challenge fires. TFBP, a division of Tyco International Ltd., reached this agreement on behalf of Central Sprinkler Company, a TFBP company that originally developed the technology prior to being acquired by Tyco.
As part of the agreement, each of the licensees has acknowledged the validity of each and every claim of Central's U.S. Patent Nos. 6,502,643 and 6,868,917. The agreement fully resolves all claims and counterclaims asserted during four years of activity in the litigation entitled Central Sprinkler Company v. The Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co., Inc., Civil Action No.03-CV- 0112 (S.D.N.Y.)(CLB) and related litigation, all of which now will be dismissed.
"This is an important agreement for our business," said Robert Brinkman, President of Tyco Fire and Building Products. "It vindicates the position that TFBP has taken in vigorously protecting its patents on this important technology against challenges brought by competitors and hopefully will make specification and use of this revolutionary fire sprinkler more wide spread. In the end, we hope more people and more property will be protected by this superior product."
The LP/ESFR technology featured in the ESFR-25 fire sprinkler allows for up to four stories of warehousing rack storage to be protected by sprinklers located only at the ceiling -- versus the requirement for sprinklers located at different levels within the racking itself in combination with ceiling sprinklers. This allows warehouses much greater flexibility for modifying storage and rack arrangements. The ESFR-25 distributes a high volume of water -- generally 100 gallons or more per minute, per sprinkler -- using lower water pressure, and suppresses fires more quickly than other systems in high bay applications. In short, the technology provides better protection with fewer operating sprinklers in a fire condition, and in a less obtrusive system.
The agreement, the exact terms of which are confidential, is an indication of the tremendous commercial and inventive contributions of Central's technology. "As a leader in the fire protection industry, our customers can continue to rely upon Tyco Fire & Building Products for product innovation, technology enhancements, and providing solutions for unique fire protection applications," said Brinkman.
Tyco Fire & Building Products, a division of Tyco Engineered Products and Services, is a leading manufacturer of water-based fire suppression system components and ancillary building construction products. Through innovative research and product development, Tyco Fire & Building Products produces and distributes more than 28 million sprinklers worldwide every year and is continually expanding the capabilities it provides to customers in residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings. Please visit http://www.tyco-fire.com/ for more information.
Tyco International Ltd. is a global, diversified company that provides vital products and services to customers in five business segments: Fire & Security, Electronics, Healthcare, Engineered Products & Services, and Plastics & Adhesives. With 2004 revenue of $40 billion, Tyco employs approximately 250,000 people worldwide. More information on Tyco can be found at http://www.tyco.com/.
© 2005 PR Newswire
