Dodgy white goods cause 13 fires a day

FAULTY kitchen appliances such as tumble dryers and fridges are responsible for an average of 13 fires every day, figures reveal.

There were 4,732 fires across the UK last year caused by electrical products – some of which had been previously identified as a fire risk by their manufacturers.

The figures were compiled by the charity Electrical Safety First, which warns that millions of appliances that are known to be dangerous are being used in homes.

Concern about electrical appliances has spiralled in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy in London last year, which claimed 71 lives and, according to fire chiefs, was triggered by a faulty fridge freezer.

There is growing pressure to improve the product recall system so items discovered to be faulty or a fire risk are swiftly repaired or replaced. Currently, fewer than one in five products that are subject to a safety recall are ever repaired or disposed of.

A spokesman for Electrical Safety First said: ‘Since 2007, there have been 516 recall notices issued for electrical goods in the UK. Given that only 10 to 20 per cent of faulty goods are ever returned or repaired, there are potentially millions of dangerous appliances still in people’s homes.’

MPs and consumer groups have been calling on manufacturers to take urgent action to ensure their products are safe. They have been particularly critical of Whirlpool, whose tumble dryers – sold under the Indesit, Hotpoint and Creda brands – have been responsible for 750 fires in the past decade. Electrical Safety First is calling on buyers of new household appliances to regmonth ister their name and address with the manufacturer, which will make it much easier to contact them if a fault is discovered.

The charity also recommends that Whitehall establishes a product recall database, which would allow consumers to check that the appliances in their homes are safe. Last the Government launched the Office for Product Safety and Standards, which aims to improve the recall system.

Consumer watchdog Which?, councils and fire chiefs have become increasingly alarmed over manufacturers’ use of cheap flammable plastic panels on the back of fridges. As many as 46 per cent of appliances on the market have these panels, including top brands such as Zanussi, Smeg, Hoover and Electrolux.

Tests have shown that electrical fires in these fridges and freezers can take hold and spread far more quickly than those with non-flammable metal back panels.

Electrical Safety First has been working with the London Fire Brigade to develop a ‘voluntary mark’ to be awarded to manufacturers that use fire-resistant materials.

‘Potentially millions of dangerous appliances’