Fire risk flaw of fridges in millions of our kitchens

FRIDGE-freezer manufacturers are facing urgent calls to stop fitting plastic panels on the rear of their products because of the risk of fire.

Consumer group Which? is so concerned that it is demanding tough new safety standards to outlaw their use.

And it has removed 28 appliances with the panels from its respected list of ‘best buy’ products.

There has been mounting alarm at the number of fires caused by household items such as tumble dryers, washing machines, dishwashers, fridges and freezers. The figure for England alone is running at five a day.

The move by Which? comes in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy, which is thought to have claimed about 80 lives and was triggered by a faulty fridge-freezer. Experts at the consumer champion say the panels spread fire much quicker than a metal casing, but companies started using them over the past ten years because it cut the cost of manufacturing.

Tests by firefighters show that a fridge with a back panel made of non-flame retardant plastic will go up in flames in just 90 seconds.

In contrast, a fire in one with a metal backing did not take hold for 20 minutes before self-extinguishing.

Which? has established that most brands use plastic back panels, including Hotpoint, Zanussi, Smeg, John Lewis, Hoover, AEG, Electrolux, Ikea, Hisense, Currys Essentials, Frigidaire, Bush, Logik and Candy.

It is now demanding that appliance firms stop using them voluntarily on fridges and freezers with immediate effect until safety standards can be toughened up to outlaw their use. It has also accused the Government of being slow to respond to serious product safety incidents and is calling on ministers to establish a new national body responsible for policing the recall of dangerous products.

Alex Neill, managing director of Which? home products and services, said: ‘Manufacturers must immediately stop making fridges, freezers and fridge-freezers to a standard they know is clearly deficient and inadequate, and could be putting people’s lives at risk.

‘This shows the UK’s product safety regime is simply not fit-for-purpose and the Government can no longer continue to allow it to fail.’

The London Fire Brigade has raised the dangers of using plastic back panels on fridges and freezers.

Assistant commissioner Dan Daly said: ‘They are potentially the most dangerous appliance in the home because they contain so many flammable materials. They are also one of the few electrical items always left on when you are sleeping.

‘We are calling for the Government, manufacturers and retailers to make changes that will make people safer.’

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said: ‘Britain’s safety requirements are among the highest in the world. Manufacturers are legally responsible for ensuring white goods sold in the UK are safe, and standards are kept under review.

‘Our product recall website makes it easier for consumers to identify if they have an unsafe appliance which needs to be repaired or replaced.’

Which? experts checked more than 500 models of fridge, freezer and fridgefreezers and have noted those which have flame-retardent back panels.

The results are available at which. co.uk/reviews/fridge-freezers; which. co.uk/reviews/freezers; and which.co. uk/reviews/fridges.

‘Deficient and inadequate’