London Fire Brigade (LFB) is warning households in the capital to be aware of fire risks associated with faulty fridges, which cause on average one fire every week in London.
BBC News reports that LFB has warned that some fridge freezers are insulated with flammable materials, including highly flammable foam covered with a thin layer of plastic.
LFB deputy commissioner Rita Dexter told the BBC:
"This can be a recipe for disaster if a fault occurs or if a fire spreads from somewhere else to the fridge or freezer.”
Coroners have also been calling for safer fridges, following a fatal fire caused by a fridge freezer in north London, in which Santosh Benjamin-Muthiah died in November 2010.
However, manufacturing standards experts say that making changes to the insulation of fridges would “take time”.
The London Fire Brigade said that manufacturers should fireproof fridge freezers, as fires linked to the units have killed seven people in London since 2010, as well as injuring 71 people in fridge freezer house fires.
Ms Dexter said the fact that fridges and freezers are always switched on – including while people are asleep – can make them even more dangerous.
“Putting a simple non-combustible or fire retardant covering at the back of appliances is a relatively simple change that manufacturers can make.
“We believe it would reduce the number of injuries and potentially deaths caused by fires involving fridges and freezers,” Ms Dexter added.
A spokesperson for the Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances said that fridge manufacturers tested their products for resilience to fire.
“There is a proposed amendment to the international standard that specifies how to test for flammability for refrigeration products,” said the spokesperson.
“However, changes to international safety standards take time as they require agreement from all the standards bodies.”
Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Solicitors – Faulty Goods Claims
Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors can advise consumers who have suffered injury as a result of faulty goods on how to make a no win no fee claims for compensation, including claims relating to:
• Carbon monoxide poisoning (water heaters, cookers, boilers)
• Faulty children’s toys and equipment (baby bouncers, soft toys)
• Faulty DIY equipment (drills, sanders, saws, mowers)
• Faulty electrical equipment (hairdryers, cookers, heaters)
• Faulty household goods (roller blind cords, preservatives in leather sofas)
• Faulty sports equipment (riding equipment, water sports equipment, safety hats, ski equipment).
Personal injury claims usually have to be made within three years of injury or diagnosis of injury – and children can make a compensation for injuries as a result of faulty goods up to the age of 21.
For expert legal advice on no win no fee Faulty Goods Claims, contact Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors on 020 7923 4020.