Toe-Heaters Recalled Due to Fire Hazard

[hausdok]

Washington, D.C./August 30th - Release #07-298

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Berko Electric, of Peru, Ind., now known as MarleyEngineered Products, of Bennettsville, S.C., today announced a voluntary recall of approximately 84,000 Toe-Space Electric Heaters. The fan can stop working and the heater continues to run, causing the unit to overheat, posing a fire hazard..

Marley has received 29 reports of fires resulting in property damage. No injuries have been reported.

The recall involves electric, toe-space heaters typically installed in kitchens and bathrooms at floor level in the recessed space under cabinets. The recall includes Berko Electric catalog numbers TS, TS-1 and TS-1A and Emerson Electric "Chromalox Comfort Heating" and "Environmental Products" catalog number KSH2000.

The heater is controlled by a wall thermostat or a thermostat mounted on the front of the heater. The heater has a removable, black metal grille that measures 23 1/2 -inches wide and 3 1/2 -inches tall with five sets of openings,each with seven horizontal louvers.

The heaters were manufactured in the United States and sold by Berko Electric wholesale distributors nationwide from 1972 through February 1985 and Emerson Electric wholesale distributors from1980 through February 1985 for between $70 and $170.

Inspectors that see these heaters should notify homeowners or their agents about this recall and advise them to immediately turn off the heater at the thermostat and, if possible, at the home's circuit breaker or fuse. Consumers should contact Marley to confirm that they they have a recalled heater and request further instructions.

For additional information, call Marley at (800)642-4328 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's Web site at www.berkomep.com/ts.htm

To see this recall on CPSC's web site, including pictures of therecalled products, please click here.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $700 billion annually. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard or can injure children. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

[hausdok]

Hi All,

I've seen a lot of these over the years. I'll wager many other inspectors have as well. For those of you who have newsletters that you periodically send to your past clients, this would be an ideal entry.

ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!

Mike

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