NITE Alert_69
December 1, 2005
Safety Alert on Electric Heater (Carbon Circle Heater) Incidents
In response to the accidents involving electric fan style heaters (carbon electric heater, shaped like electric fans), the National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NITE) urged the safe use of these electric heaters with its Safety Alert of April 28.
The glass tube may break during operating and cause burn damage to flammable materials nearby.
With the increasing use of heaters at this time of year, more accidents attributable to these heaters have been reported.
Alert: Discontinue use of any the following products immediately, if they have not been inspected or repaired by Sogo Giken Kabushikigaisha
Product detail
- Product name:
- Carbon Circle Heater
- Model Nos.:
- S-700CL, S-600CM
- Country of origin:
- China
- Imported by:
- Sogo Giken
- Period of sales:
- September 2003 - February 2004
- Sales quantity:
- 19,000 units
- No of accidents:
- 5 cases
(3 cases before and 2 cases after the announcement)
1. Background
On February 18 and 19, 2004, NITE sought information on incidents involving electric heaters (carbon circle heaters) imported by Sogo Giken, with defective glass heating tubes that burst during use and burned the floor or carpet. After investigating and evaluating accident causes, followed by further examination by the Accident Trend Committee, NITE disclosed the following information on
December 7, 2004.
Sogo Giken, the importer, placed an announcement in newspapers on February 11, 2004 after the incidents had occurred, and inspection and repair services had been provided free of charge. However, Sogo Giken was declared bankrupt by the Tokyo District Court and voluntary inspection and repair services have since been discontinued.
2. Cause of accident
The glass heating tubes spontaneously shatter while the heater is operating due to a manufacturing defect.
3. Outline of recent incidents
- In March 2005, in Ishikawa Prefecture, the user of a presumed uncorrected heater switched off the heater upon noticing that the glass heating tube had become white during use, but the glass heater tube suddenly shattered, burning the carpet and flooring.
- In November 2005, in Osaka Prefecture, the glass heater tube of a presumed uncorrected heater shattered suddenly after about two hours consecutive use, burning the carpet. (An investigation is currently underway)
Fore more information;
National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NITE)
Product Safety Technology Center, Product Safety Investigation Division
Contact us
- Consumer Product Safety Public Relations Division Product Safety Technology Center National Institute of Technology and Evaluation
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Phone number:+81-6-6612-2066
Fax number:+81-6-6612-1617
Address:1-22-16 Nankokita, Suminoe-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka 5590034, Japan MAP