Inadequate controls for fire risks in domestic fridge-freezers
First to latest report 8 May 2014 — 28 Jan 2019
Reports that mention this concern
3
Times this concern has been raised
4
Stated actions linked to this concern
7
What this concern includes
Includes failures of controls specifically dedicated to preventing, detecting or mitigating fire risks in domestic fridge-freezers, including unsafe components or materials, inadequate manufacturer risk assessment, design or manufacturing safeguards, recall or remedial action where directly tied to the appliance fire risk, and related controls addressing capacitor ignition, flammable insulation or refrigerant-vapour leaks.
What is not included
Excludes generic electrical-appliance fire risks where the assertion does not specifically concern domestic fridge-freezers.
Excludes ordinary appliance maintenance, misuse or installation failures where no design, manufacturing or product-safety control deficiency is identified.
Excludes general product warnings, consumer information or recall-process failures unless they directly concern controlling a fire risk in domestic fridge-freezers.
Excludes fire risks from unrelated kitchen equipment, refrigeration equipment used in commercial or industrial settings, and hazards arising solely from external wiring or premises conditions.
Trends
Reports over time
Reports mentioning this concern, over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Association of British Insurers1
Beko PLC1
British Retail Consortium1
British Standards Institution1
Chartered Trading Standards Institute1
Department for Business, Innovation & Skills1
Glen Dimplex Home Appliances Limited1
Hotpoint UK Appliances Limited1
Institution of Fire Engineers1
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government1
National Fire Chiefs Council1
Office for Product Safety and Standards1
The Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances1
The Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences1
UK Association of Fire Investigators1
Private limited company3
Fire professional body1
Ministerial department1
National fire and rescue body1
Product safety regulator1
Professional body1
Professional membership body1
Public limited company1
Standards body1
Trade association1
Reports and published responses 3 reports
See individual reports that have raised this concern, and the actions taken in response
Lincolnshire
Concerns raised1
Domestic fridges in circulation at risk of vapour leaks causing fires
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
North London
Concerns raised2
Lack of requirements to isolate or protect refrigeration-appliance insulation from ignition
Underestimation of capacitor-related fire risk in Beko fridge-freezer risk assessment
This report raised 8 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked responses
BSI Committees CPL/61 and PEL/33
Department for Business, Innovation & Skills
The Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.6
The Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances
Prepare and advance an international standards proposal addressing refrigeration-appliance construction and fire safety concerns.
BSI Committees CPL/61 and PEL/33
Progress a proposal requiring flame-retardant coverings over foam insulation.
Department for Business, Innovation & Skills
Continue promoting best practice and drawing attention to Prosafe risk-assessment guidance.
BSI Committees CPL/61 and PEL/33
Amend the capacitor standard to introduce segmented-dielectric requirements, revise destruction testing, and establish safety classes S0 through S3.
BSI Committees CPL/61 and PEL/33
Consider amending the appliance safety standard to reference the amended capacitor standard and its S0–S3 safety classes.
BSI Committees CPL/61 and PEL/33
Consider specifying the highest capacitor safety protection levels, S2 and S3, for refrigeration applications.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.5
The Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances
Continued use of highly flammable insulation in refrigeration appliances, with slight containment material changes, is considered satisfactory because it meets Ecodesign performance requirements.
Existing arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
BSI Committees CPL/61 and PEL/33
The high fuel load from polyurethane insulation is necessary to achieve the performance required by the Eco-design Directive.
Disputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
BSI Committees CPL/61 and PEL/33
Changing the relevant British Standards requires international or European committee proposals and formal voting, so BSI cannot determine the outcome unilaterally.
Unable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
BSI Committees CPL/61 and PEL/33
Changing standards and manufacturers’ designs will take time, limiting the speed of any resulting safety improvements.
Unable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
BSI Committees CPL/61 and PEL/33
Changing the standards will not eradicate risks from products already in use.
Unable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Newcastle upon Tyne
Concerns raised1
Failure by fridge-freezer manufacturers to address risks posed by highly flammable insulation materials
Linked response
Hotpoint UK Appliances Limited
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Hotpoint UK Appliances Limited
Assess and develop methods for introducing aluminized cardboard coverings over key insulation areas on the new 60cm product platform.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Hotpoint UK Appliances Limited
Introducing aluminized cardboard covering is currently not feasible because existing insulation design constraints prevent its implementation.
Unable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.
Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.