Consumer Product Safety

NITE Alert_85

November 22,2007

Safety Alert on recalls of Kerosene fired water heaters

Failures have been found in some components of "Kerosene-fired water heaters and Kerosene fired water heater fitted bath-tubs" manufactured by Noritz Corporation,TOTO Ltd. (manufactured by TOTO Yupro Ltd) and Choshu Industry. Continuous use of the relevant products has caused multiple accidents including fires and internal burnouts of the appliances. In response,three companies have placed company announcements in newspapers and offered inspection and repair services to prevent further accidents. However,similar accidents have continued to occur despite their efforts. NITE encourages consumers to check the manufacturer and model of the products in use. If the products you have are subject to recall,we ask you to discontinue using them and contact your manufacturer.

1. Noritz Corporation

This recall involves products manufactured between March 1997 and March 2001. An O-ring in an electromagnetic pump installed in a fuel passage gets hardened and contracted. Kerosene leaking from the contracted O-ring accumulates in the combustion chamber and is ignited by the burner,which can cause a fire. As of end-October,2007,the firm has completed inspections and replacements for 93.3% of the total recalled products.

pic

  • * Check the sticker affixed as above for the model number and the production period.
<Model Numbers subject to recall>
Noritz Corporation　 Brand: NORITZ
OTQ-302*,OTQ-303*,OTQ-305*,OTQ-403*,OTQ-405*,OQB-302*,OQB-305*,OQB-403*,OQB-405*
  • *An alphanumeric character comes in the suffix position. The recall applies to all the above models.
Takagi Industrial Co Brand: PURPOSE
AX-400ZRD
Hitachi Housetec Co (Hitachi Chemical Co)
HO-350*, HO-360*, HO-450*, KZO-460*
  • * An alphanumeric character comes in the suffix position. The recall applies to all the above models.

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2. TOTO Ltd.

This recall involves products manufactured between August 1995 and June 1999. The O-ring used on the external seal of an electromagnetic pump with a fuel adjustment valve contracted. Kerosene leaking from the contracted O-ring accumulates in the combustion chamber and is ignited by the burner, which can cause a fire. As of end October 2007,the firm has completed inspections and replacements for 80.1% of the total recalled products.

toto1

  • * Check the sticker affixed as above for the model number and the production period.
<Model Numbers subject to recall>
TOTO Ltd Brand: TOTO
PE32K*,PE40K*,PE41K*,RPH32K*,RPH40K*,RPH41K*
  • * An alphanumeric character comes in the suffix position. The recall applies to all the above models.
Note:
The products were manufactured by TOTO Yupro Ltd.? The company was dissolved.
Choshu Industry Brand: CIC
PDF-321V,PDF-411D-A,PDX-321V,PDF-401A,DX-411D,PDX-411D
Nepon Inc Brand: NEPON
URA320,URA320S,URB320,URB320S,UR320
UR320S,UR404S
Takagi Industrial Co Brand: PURPOSE
TP-BS320*-D excluding TP-BS32
TP-BS420*-D,TP-BSQ402*
  • * An alphanumeric character comes in the suffix position. The recall applies to all the above models.

<Remedy>
Consumers should call toll free 0120-444-309 (9:00-18:00 Mon-Fri) to receive a free inspection and repair.

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3.Choshu Industry

The recall involves products manufactured between May 1996 and October 1999. An O-ring, used for sealing an electromagnetic pump with a proportional valve, becomes hardened and contracted due to deterioration. Kerosene can leak from a hexagon cap nut of the valve, ignite and cause a fire. As of end-October, 2007, the manufacturer has completed inspections and replacements for 74.9% of the total recalled products.

choushu1 choushu2 choushu
  • * Check the sticker affixed as above for the model number and the production period.
<Model Numbers subject to recall>
Choshu Industry Brand: CIC
PDX-403D,DX-403D,PDF-403D,DF-403D,DX-403DF
Wakasa Co Brand: WAKASA
WBF-400C
Tokyo Tsuchiya Hanbai (The company was dissolved.)
Brand: Tsuchiya
EX-403A,AX-402A,FK-405A,FC-406A

<Remedy>
Consumers should call toll free 0120-652-963 (8:00-19:00 Mon-Fri) to receive a free inspection and repair.

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
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
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