FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: CPSC Hotline: (800) 638-2772
September 27, 2000 CPSC Contact: Ken Giles
Release # 00-190 (301) 504-0580 Ext. 1184
Please
note the update (posted 01/25/2001) at the bottom of this web page.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
(CPSC) is warning consumers in California that certain gas-fired
horizontal forced-air furnaces manufactured by Consolidated
Industries (formerly Premier Furnace Company) present a substantial
risk of fire. There have been about 30 reports of fires and
damage to homes associated with these furnaces, as well as failures
of burners and heat exchangers that can lead to fires. The furnaces
were installed exclusively in California.
Consolidated manufactured approximately 190,000 of these furnaces
from 1983 through 1994 under many different brand names. Most
of the furnaces were manufactured under the Premier/Consolidated
labels. All of the furnaces can be identified by the fact that
they are equipped with steel control rods installed above the
burners. These steel rods were required to satisfy California
air quality regulations for nitrous oxide emissions.
Many of these furnaces are still in use. Normally, the furnaces
are installed in attics, although some may be installed in crawl
spaces. The Commission is warning consumers to have their gas-fired
furnaces inspected by a licensed heating contractor to determine
whether the furnaces are subject to this safety alert. The contractor
also should determine whether the burners and/or heat exchangers
of units are damaged, or whether wood under or near the furnaces
shows signs of damage, such as charring or blackening. If this
is the case, the furnace should be replaced immediately or repaired.
Because Consolidated is currently in bankruptcy liquidation,
the availability of repair parts is at this time unresolved.
However, there is on-going private litigation which could enable
consumers to recover at least some of their out-of-pocket expenses
for replacement or repair of the furnaces.
Suggestions
for improving the fire safety of all horizontal forced-air
furnaces in attics are:
- Protect
the wood deck or rafters on which the furnace is mounted
by covering it with a non-combustible material such as cement
board that extends a minimum of 12 inches past the side
of the furnace.
- Provide
an air space beneath the furnace. A licensed contractor
can perform this work and can offer the homeowner several
ways to accomplish this.
- Make
sure the furnace is installed correctly and serviced at
least annually. The inspection should include a safety inspection
of the burner assembly and heat exchanger.
- Install
an ionization-type smoke detector inside the attic to provide
an early warning of smoke or fire.
For additional
information, consumers should contact CPSC's toll- free hotline
at (800) 638-2772.
UPDATE
The
following is a copy of a letter sent to Southern California
Gas clarifying the Commission's September 27, 2000 press release
on horizontal furnaces manufactured by Consolidated Industries/Premier
Furnace Company. San Diego Gas and Electric received the same
letter, and Pacific Gas and Electric received a copy of the
Southern California Gas letter.
(Begin
Letter)
November 7, 2000
Mr. David Beliveau
Southern California Gas
55 West Fifth Street
GT28G2
Los Angeles, CA 90013-1011
Dear Mr. Beliveau,
In
September, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
issued a warning that certain gas-fired horizontal forced-air
furnaces manufactured by Consolidated Industries /Premier
Furnace Company may present a substantial risk of fire. Recently,
however, we became aware that, in response to this alert,
gas companies may be "red tagging" furnaces unnecessarily.
Accordingly, we are issuing this letter to clarify the scope
of the Commission's concern.
The
safety alert is directed at furnaces equipped with steel "NOx"
rods installed above the burners to control the emission of
nitrogen oxide compounds. The suffix "X" at the end of the
model number designates those furnaces with steel rods. The
Commission staff has no reason to believe that furnaces that
are not equipped with NOx rods present a risk of fire. Moreover,
the data on which we based the safety alert relates to NOx
rod furnaces with a rating of 60,000 BTU's or greater. We
have not evaluated smaller NOx rod furnaces with a rating
of 50,000 BTU's or less, nor are we currently aware of any
data that indicate that such smaller units present a risk
of fire similar to that associated with the larger units.
Even
if a NOx rod furnace is subject to the safety alert, it may
continue to be used in the short term if there is no evidence
of burner or heat exchanger deterioration and if fire safety
improvements are made. Suggestions to improve fire safety
are: Make sure the furnace is installed and fired correctly,
and serviced at least annually. Annual service should include
a safety inspection of the burner assembly and heat exchanger
and replacement of any components that show signs of deterioration.
If permissible under local codes, remove the NOx rods.
Protect
the wood deck or rafters on which the furnace is mounted by
1) placing underneath the furnace a non-combustible material
such as cement board that extends a minimum of 12 inches past
the side of the furnace, and/or 2) providing an adequate air
space between the floor of the furnace and any wood surface
on which it is mounted. A licensed contractor can perform
this work and can offer the homeowner several ways to accomplish
the appropriate remedy or combination of remedies. Install
an ionization-type smoke detector inside the attic to provide
an early warning of smoke or fire.
I
trust that this letter serves to clear up any confusion that
the safety alert might have engendered. Please contact me
at (301) 504-0626 ext. 1344 if you have any questions or need
additional information.
Sincerely,
Michael
J. Gidding
Attorney, Legal Division, Office of Compliance, Consumer Product
Safety Commission
(End
Letter)
With
respect to 50,000 or less BTU furnaces, while we have not
received reports of fires, we have a few anecdotal reports
that the burners and heat exchangers in some units have experienced
damage. Consumers who have one of these furnaces should arrange
to have them inspected annually.
Consolidated
manufactured horizontal furnaces with NOx rods for a number
of other manufacturers who then sold those furnaces under
their own labels and model numbers. The model numbers of these
private label units do not necessarily have the suffix "X"
to designate them as having NOx rods. The following manufacturers
have identified the furnaces listed below as being manufactured
by Consolidated Industries and subject to the Commission's
safety alert.
For information
concerning other brands and models of private-labeled furnaces,
please contact your local distributors of those brands and models.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
protects the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death
from 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call
CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at
(800) 638-8270, or visit CPSC's web site at http://www.cpsc.gov/talk.html.
For information on CPSC's fax-on-demand service, call the above
numbers or visit the web site at http://cpsc.gov/about/who.html.
To order a press release through fax-on-demand, call (301) 504-0051
from the handset of your fax machine and enter the release number.
Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at
CPSC's web site at http://www.cpsc.gov.
CPSC Warns
About Defective Furnaces in California
NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer
Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public
Affairs Washington, DC 20207
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