KILLERS IN OUR KITCHENS
As it is revealed the Grenfell blaze was started by a fridge-freezer... these are fires in typical appliances from the UK & US after just 55 secs
FRIDGE-FREEZERS similar to the one that sparked the Grenfell Tower blaze can burst into flames in seconds.
Those with plastic rather than metal backs cannot contain fire.
Fire chief Andy Vaughan-Davies said: “It can be just 90 seconds before the kitchen is engulfed. They burn extremely quickly.”
FIRE chiefs have long called for a ban on plastic fridge-freezer backs because they burst into flames so rapidly kitchens can be engulfed in seconds.
And it is suspected one of the dangerous devices sparked the Grenfell Tower inferno that killed 79 people and left scores of others injured and homeless.
It comes as police revealed the cladding and insulation on the high-rise block in North Kensington, West London, failed all safety tests.
And detectives said they were considering manslaughter charges and looking into every company involved in the original building and recent refurbishment.
The fridge-freezer involved was a Hotpoint FF175BP. Ministers launched an investigation into the appliance and could order a product recall. The machines are packed with highly flammable insulation and shocking footage revealed how quickly the ones with combustible plastic backs can go up in flames.
But in similar metal-backed ones there was no spread of the fire and they burned for about 20 minutes before self-extinguishing.
London Fire Brigade watch manager Andy Vaughan-Davies said: “Once a spark ignites in the compressor which powers the freezer, it can be as little as 90 second before the whole kitchen is engulfed in flames. The foam used to insulate
them is highly flammable and is the equivalent to having four gallons of petrol around your freezer. Once ignited it produces an intense heat three times that of a large bonfire. This is the cause of some of the worst home fires we have had.
“Once they catch fire, they burn extremely quickly producing thick smoke and intense heat
“This has been going on for several years, which is the frustrating part.”
Fridge-freezers are considered by fire experts to be the most dangerous electrical appliance in the home.
They are one of the few electrical items always left on and fires in them pose an even greater risk if they start when people are sleeping. They have been linked to one fire a week in the capital alone. Since 2015, the London Fire Brigade has asked the Government to ensure the backs of fridge freezers are made of non-combustible or fire-retardant materials as standard.
Casualties are caused when cheap plastic-backed fridges catch fire in the UK in 20% of cases.
In America, where the threat of litigation means metal-backed machines are used, fires result in casualties in just 3% of cases.
Safety regulation there is largely driven by powerful claims industry body the Underwriters Laboratory. In Europe they are largely controlled and set by large manufacturers.
Mr Vaughan-Davies added: “In the United States fridge-freezers are built safer with a metal back and they don’t have the same problems with fire. This should be a win-win situation.”
He added: “Manufacturers should get smaller claims and less people should suffer serious fires, injuries or even death, not to mention the deep
We are looking at every criminal offence from manslaugher onwards FIONA McCORMACK MET POLICE CHIEF
psychological impact of having a fire in their home.”
The FF175BP had not been recalled in the past because of any faults but the manufacturer said it was doing further tests.
Whirlpool, which owns the Hotpoint brand, refused to confirm whether the affected machines feature the plastic backing.
Met Det Supt Fiona McCormack is leading the team investigating last week’s blaze.
She said documents and materials had been seized form a “number of organisations”.
The officer added: “We are looking at every criminal offence from manslaughter onwards, we are looking at every health and safety and fire safety offences and we are reviewing every company at the moment involved in the building and refurbishment of Grenfell Tower.
“The scientists are actually pulling burnt bits off the tower bock itself.
“The insulation was more flammable than the cladding.” Ms McCormack also warned the Grenfell death toll could yet rise as there may be people missing who have not yet been reported because of fears over immigration status.
Action group Radical Housing Network, which incorporates the Grenfell Action Group, said: “Today’s initial verdict from investigators, which could lead to criminal charges, is beyond damning. It is an indictment of a broken housing model, one where council housing is systematically run down and tenants are treated with contempt.
“People need and deserve safe, decent and genuinely affordable housing run for the public good, not for profit.”
The Mirror has called for government reform of the product recall system since 2015 when Whirlpool admitted selling 5.3 million faulty tumble dryers over a decade. Consumer champion Lynn FauldsWood carried out an independent review for the Government in 2016 but it has so far failed to act on any of her proposals. She called for a single national product recall database for consumers to check whether they have a faulty device.
Lynn also wanted improved funding and training for authorities such as Trading Standards. She added: “It’s disgusting that a government department can have so little interest in an issue that had killed people in fires and caused so much misery.” Whirlpool told customers who own affected models FF175BP or FF175BG (in grey graphite) to phone 0800 316 3826 or visit hotpointservice.co.uk/ fridgefreezer to register their details. A spokesman said: “Words cannot express our sorrow at this terrible tragedy. We offer our condolences to the victims, those who have lost loved ones, homes, and possessions, and to their friends and families. “We are working with the authorities to obtain access to the appliance so we can assist with the ongoing investigations. We are unable to speculate on further details. “We are addressing this as a matter of utmost urgency and assisting the authorities in any way we can. We will provide additional updates as our investigations progress.”