Press release 2010.10.28 [Preventing Accidents Involving Kerosene Bath Boilers, Kerosene Water Heaters and Dual fuel Heaters]
Preventing Accidents Involving Kerosene Bath Boilers, Kerosene Water Heaters and Dual fuel Heaters
National Institute of Technology and Evaluation
Product Safety Technology Center
October 28, 2010
NITE (National Institute of Technology and Evaluation; President: Itaru Yasui) gave a presentation for the media on preventing accidents involving induction cooking stoves as shown in the attached materials
1. Press release
- Release date:
- October 28, 2010
- Title:
- Preventing Accidents Involving Kerosene Bath Boilers, Kerosene Water Heaters and Dual fuel Heaters
- Publisher:
- Product Safety Technology Center
- Summary:
- Product accidents reported to the Product Safety Technology Center at NITE include 663 cases involving kerosene bath boilers, kerosene water heaters and dual fuel heaters*1 in the five years from fiscal 2005 to fiscal 2009*2, including 10 cases involving casualties, six cases involving severe injuries, and 159 cases that led to a room or wider area catching fire. By category, 119 accidents involved kerosene bath boilers, including two cases with casualties, two cases with severe injuries and 55 cases that led to a room or wider area catching fire. By cause of accident, a significant number of accidents were caused by improper use or carelessness: 27 cases were fires caused by trying to heat an empty bath; 18 cases were due to improper installation, repair or shipping by the contractor; and 10 fires caused by improper use including not being connected up correctly and insufficient maintenance. Accidents involving kerosene water heaters reached 433, including one case with casualties, four cases with severe injuries, and 30 cases that led to a room or wider area catching fire. By cause of accident, a significant number of accidents were caused by design faults: 123 fires were caused by leaking fuel due to deteriorated O-rings; 73 fires were caused by fuel leaks due to improper assembly of the electromagnetic pump gland flange; and 53 fires were caused by other design defects or poor quality control. Accidents involving dual fuel heaters reached 111, including seven cases with casualties and 74 cases that led to a room or wider area catching fire. By cause of accident, a significant number of accidents were caused by design faults: 29 cases involved fires caused by using the product with the fire door open; nine cases involved fires caused by careless handling of embers or ashes; and seven cases involved fires due to improper use including not being correctly connected up and insufficient maintenance.
Because accidents involving kerosene bath boilers, kerosene water heaters and dual fuel heaters are often expected from October onwards, NITE has decided to promote consumer awareness of this issue to prevent accidents by understanding why type of accidents occur and how to use the product correctly, and to prevent accidents caused by aging deterioration and to encourage checks to be made on recalled products.- *1
- Dual fuel heaters: Heaters that can also use wood as fuel, including kerosene/wood bath boilers, kerosene/wood water heaters, kerosene/wood bath boilers and water heaters
- *2
- Number excluding overlapping cases or non-applicable cases at October 1, 2010
- Press briefing paper in Japanese
For 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