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Fire chiefs back tougher fridge standard

UK: The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has backed calls by consumer group Which? for tougher safety standards on refrigerators.

Which? has described the current safety standard for fridges, freezers and fridge freezers as deficient, allowing manufacturers to sell products that are a potential fire risk.

While non-flame-retardant plastic-backed fridges, freezers and fridge freezers pass existing safety standards, Which? has warned that these safety tests are inadequate, not fit for purpose and do not come close to replicating the source of a real house fire.

The NFCC says it is pleased that Which? is raising consumer awareness about the need to improve the safety of fridges and freezers from fire. “The fire service has been calling for change since 2012 following several serious incidents which included the loss of life,” the group says in a statement.

“NFCC supports calls which are in line with the London Fire Brigade’s Total Recalls campaign which fire and rescue services across the country have given their support to, along with the NFCC,” it says.

Related stories:

Which? calls for tougher fridge tests now8 December 2017
UK: Consumer group Which? has called on manufacturers to implement tougher testing immediately and voluntarily on all new domestic fridges. Read more…

Fridge safety standards “inadequate” – 21 September 2017
UK: Consumer group Which? has called for an end to fridges using non-flame retardant plastic backs and describes current safety standards as “inadequate”. Read more…

LFB demands action on fridge standards – 21 August 2017
UK: The London Fire Brigade has demanded action on manufacturing standards for fridges and freezers following the Grenfell Tower fire in June. Read more…

Fridge freezer caused Grenfell fire – 23 June 2017
UK: The UK government has ordered an immediate examination of the fridge freezer confirmed today as the source of the Grenfell Tower fire in London earlier this month. Read more…

Fridge safety standards must change – 25 June 2017
COMMENT: The Grenfell Tower fire will undoubtedly have far reaching consequences for the way we live, the way we construct and renovate our buildings and the way we deal with fires in high rise buildings. Read more…

Study pinpoints fridge fire hazards – 5 March 2017
UK: A number of components and flammable materials used in domestic refrigerators are identified in a new study into the reported 300 fridge fires a year in Great Britain. Read more…

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