First reported 8 May 2014•Latest report 28 Jan 2019
Definition
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.
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.
Reports
3
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
4
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2014–2019
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
7
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports 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
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
Lincolnshire
Concerns raised1
Domestic fridges in circulation at risk of vapour leaks causing fires
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
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.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.6
Action
Prepare and advance an international standards proposal addressing refrigeration-appliance construction and fire safety concerns.
Stated by The Association of Manufacturers of Domestic AppliancesStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 5 November 2014.
Action
Progress a proposal requiring flame-retardant coverings over foam insulation.
Stated by BSI Committees CPL/61 and PEL/33Stated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 5 November 2014.
Action
Continue promoting best practice and drawing attention to Prosafe risk-assessment guidance.
Stated by Department for Business, Innovation & SkillsStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 5 November 2014.
Action
Amend the capacitor standard to introduce segmented-dielectric requirements, revise destruction testing, and establish safety classes S0 through S3.
Stated by BSI Committees CPL/61 and PEL/33Stated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 5 November 2014.
Action
Consider amending the appliance safety standard to reference the amended capacitor standard and its S0–S3 safety classes.
Stated by BSI Committees CPL/61 and PEL/33Stated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 5 November 2014.
Action
Consider specifying the highest capacitor safety protection levels, S2 and S3, for refrigeration applications.
Stated by BSI Committees CPL/61 and PEL/33Stated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 5 November 2014.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.5
Position
Continued use of highly flammable insulation in refrigeration appliances, with slight containment material changes, is considered satisfactory because it meets Ecodesign performance requirements.
Stated by The Association of Manufacturers of Domestic AppliancesExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Position
The high fuel load from polyurethane insulation is necessary to achieve the performance required by the Eco-design Directive.
Stated by BSI Committees CPL/61 and PEL/33Disputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Position
Changing the relevant British Standards requires international or European committee proposals and formal voting, so BSI cannot determine the outcome unilaterally.
Stated by BSI Committees CPL/61 and PEL/33Unable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Position
Changing standards and manufacturers’ designs will take time, limiting the speed of any resulting safety improvements.
Stated by BSI Committees CPL/61 and PEL/33Unable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Position
Changing the standards will not eradicate risks from products already in use.
Stated by BSI Committees CPL/61 and PEL/33Unable 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
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Action
Assess and develop methods for introducing aluminized cardboard coverings over key insulation areas on the new 60cm product platform.
Stated by Hotpoint UK Appliances LimitedStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 8 May 2014.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Introducing aluminized cardboard covering is currently not feasible because existing insulation design constraints prevent its implementation.
Stated by Hotpoint UK Appliances LimitedUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
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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.
