 CPSC
HONEYWELL FINE
Honeywell
Consumer Products Agrees to Pay $800,000 for Delay in
Reporting Defective Humidifiers, Ceramic Heaters, and Baseboard
Heaters
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that Honeywell Consumer Products Inc. (HCP), of Southborough, Mass, has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $800,000. The penalty settles allegations that Duracraft Corp. failed to report to the CPSC in a timely manner incidents associated with its humidifiers, ceramic heaters, and baseboard heaters as required by the Consumer Product Safety Act. Honeywell Inc. acquired Duracraft Corp. in May 1996, which later became HCP d/b/a Duracraft Corp.
The CPSC alleges that Duracraft began to receive in 1990 complaints about the ceramic heaters smoking or flaming. In December
1995, Duracraft began to receive reports from consumers who observed that the baseboard heaters were smoking or flaming. As of February
1996, Duracraft had notice of at least 33 incidents involving overheating in the ceramic heater, as well as 68 reports of humidifiers emitting smoke, sparks, or catching on fire. In November 1996, a 6- year-old child died during a fire, which CPSC attributes to a failed humidifier.
Duracraft's product tests on several failed ceramic heater units, conducted between May 1996 and June 1997, confirmed the units could fail. Duracraft's testing in February 1996 on the failed baseboard heaters revealed that low fan speeds were causing the failures. Duracraft was aware of failures of the humidifier's safety device, beginning in 1993.
CPSC charges that prior to the acquisition, Duracraft Corp. failed to report these fire hazards to the CPSC. In addition, CPSC charges that after the acquisition, HCP also failed to report to the CPSC in a timely manner.
In agreeing to settle this matter, HCP denies the CPSC's allegations and denies that it violated the Consumer Product Safety Act or any other laws administered by the CPSC.
In cooperation with CPSC, in 1997 and 1998 Duracraft recalled about 1 million humidifiers, 50,000 baseboard heaters, and over 1.6 million ceramic heaters. The humidifiers subject to the recall are model DH-901 through DH-904 units with date codes that fall within the range of 900101 to 941231 and all model DH-3001 through DH-3006 units.
The model number and, if applicable, date code are located on a sticker on the bottom of each humidifier's base. The model CZ-520 Space Saver baseboard heaters' exterior housing is constructed of white thermoplastic and a black steel grill, and has two heating control knobs on the right side. The word "Duracraft" is written in gray on the top, right side of the unit. The model number, CZ-520, is located under the words "Made in China" on a silver sticker on the bottom of the heater. The ceramic heaters were sold under the Duracraft and DeLonghi brand names. Duracraft models CZ-303, CZ-304, CZ-308, CZ-318, CZ-319, and DeLonghi model CER-1 are subject to the recall. The model number is located on a silver sticker on the bottom of the heater.
For more information about the three recalls, contact HCP at (800)
431-2165.
If you would like to see each of these
recalls, then visit the CPSC website and do a search on the company
name Duracraft.
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This
past week I inspected the brand new to the dozer bait. In fact, I
inspected two homes that I had to step the client back on the lot and say..... "You
see where the electrical power comes from that power pole through the old
deteriorated power lines to the house. Well I recommend that you contact a
licensed Electrician to come out here and give you a bid on starting from that
power pole and running an entire brand new system. I found no redeeming
value to any of the existing system and a full upgrade is your safest and best
option." This is rare for me to have to say that and to have
to do it twice in one week caught me off guard. Usually just part of the
system needs repair or evaluation, but these two homes had so much old wiring
and so much upgraded wiring by a person with absolutely no electrical knowledge
that it would have been cost prohibitive to try to restore any level of
integrity to the system.
