PFD report

Anthony Lapping · Prevention of Future Deaths report

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Issued 8 May 2014•Newcastle upon Tyne

Report record

Published report and response evidence

This page connects the concerns raised in this report with statements found in recipients’ published responses. A link shows a clear evidence connection; it does not assign responsibility.

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Concerns
1

Raised in this report

Recipients
1

Named on the report

Responses found
1

Of 1 recipient

Stated actions
4

Described in responses

Recipients and published responses

Source document

Full report text

This is the full text from the original published report.

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Concerns and recipient responses

Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.

Concerns raised1

  1. Failure by fridge-freezer manufacturers to address risks posed by highly flammable insulation materials
    Part of recurring concern: Inadequate controls for fire risks in domestic fridge-freezers
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 recipient says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to a concern raised.1

  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 recipient says about a concern when it does not describe a specific action.1

  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.

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Failure by fridge-freezer manufacturers to address risks posed by highly flammable insulation materials

Wider context from the report

“(3) There is a clearly identified risk of further deaths if manufacturers do not address the risks posed by the highly flammable nature of the insulation material used in the manufacture of kitchen equipment (fridge freezers) in common use by the public at large. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

Yes — Inadequate controls for fire risks in domestic fridge-freezers.

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Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Assess and develop methods for introducing aluminized cardboard coverings over key insulation areas on the new 60cm product platform.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Future Developments Currently, we are assessing proposals to reduce the potential flammability of cooling products even further, through the possible introduction of an aluminized cardboard covering for the key insulation areas. Unfortunately due to constraints within the design that we have in production now, particularly the fact that our insulation is quite convex, introduction of this material today is not feasible. However, we are studying methods of introducing such a material on our new 60cm product platform which is under development.”

Source location

2014-0214-Response-by-Indesit
Page 3 · response
Published 8 May 2014

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Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Introducing aluminized cardboard covering is currently not feasible because existing insulation design constraints prevent its implementation.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Future Developments Currently, we are assessing proposals to reduce the potential flammability of cooling products even further, through the possible introduction of an aluminized cardboard covering for the key insulation areas. Unfortunately due to constraints within the design that we have in production now, particularly the fact that our insulation is quite convex, introduction of this material today is not feasible. However, we are studying methods of introducing such a material on our new 60cm product platform which is under development.”

Source location

2014-0214-Response-by-Indesit
Page 3 · response
Published 8 May 2014

Open published response

Other statements in published responses

These actions and other statements could not be clearly connected to one concern in this report.

Recipient-stated actions An action is something a recipient says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to a concern raised.3

  1. 1

    Replace P0 run capacitors with P2 capacitors in refrigeration appliances to reduce rupture risk.

    Stated by Hotpoint UK Appliances LimitedStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 8 May 2014.
  2. 2

    Use a more severe light-box test with the door closed, continuous illumination and temperature stabilization before assessing plastic softening.

    Stated by Hotpoint UK Appliances LimitedStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 8 May 2014.
  3. 3

    Continue designing refrigeration products in line with applicable technological developments and changes to safety standards.

    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.

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Replace P0 run capacitors with P2 capacitors in refrigeration appliances to reduce rupture risk.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Run capacitor – Alternative Design Starting from 2009, we have changed the capacitors used in the production of our refrigeration appliances from type ‘P0’ to type ‘P2’. This change was not mandatory/driven by changes to the Standards but as we felt that an improvement in Safety Levels could be obtained, we unilaterally decided to make this change. The main differences between the ‘P0’ and ‘P2’ run capacitors are as follows:”

Source location

2014-0214-Response-by-Indesit
Page 2 · response
Published 8 May 2014

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Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Use a more severe light-box test with the door closed, continuous illumination and temperature stabilization before assessing plastic softening.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Testing of light boxes To increase the severity of the test, from 2008 the test was changed such that the door is now in the most unfavourable condition of being closed, (previously the test had been carried out with the door open). The light remains switched on continuously and the temperature is measured until it has stabilised. At the measured temperature the plastic on the light box must not soften.”

Source location

2014-0214-Response-by-Indesit
Page 2 · response
Published 8 May 2014

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Continue designing refrigeration products in line with applicable technological developments and changes to safety standards.

Verbatim wording from the response

“In summary, for Hotpoint, product safety is of paramount importance and every product sold under our brand is fully compliant with the Safety Standards in force at the time of manufacture, and so irrespective of the model, this was certainly the case for Mr Lapping’s appliance. Additionally, since the appliance in question was manufactured in 1998/99, both the Safety Standards and where appropriate, Hotpoint’s own component specifications have moved in the general direction to which you refer and hence have reduced any possible risk levels even further. Going forwards you have our absolute assurance that as we have always done, Hotpoint will continue to design our products in line with any appropriate technological/market developments that become available, or changes to the Standards that occur.”

Source location

2014-0214-Response-by-Indesit
Page 3 · response
Published 8 May 2014

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Information checked against the published report and official responses · Data reviewed 7 Sep 2026 · About data quality and limitations

Data last updated 7 September 2026