Press release 2012.06.21 [Prevention of accidents involving air conditioners and electric fans]

Prevention of accidents involving air conditioners and electric fans

National Institute of Technology and Evaluation
Product Safety Technology Center
June 21, 2012

NITE (National Institute of Technology and Evaluation; President: Itaru Yasui) gave a presentation for the media on preventing accidents involving dryers and dehumidifiers as shown in the attached materials.

1. Press release

Release date:

June 21, 2012

Title:

Prevention of accidents involving air conditioners and electric fans

Publisher:

Product Safety Technology Center

Summary:

Of the product accident information reported to the NITE Product Safety Technology Center, 470 cases involved air conditioners, including those not caused by the product and those whose cause is unclear, and 231 cases involved electric fans during the period from fiscal 2006 to 2011 on a "date of occurrence" basis. As for the 470 accidents involving air conditioners, an analysis of phenomena at the time of occurrence of accidents revealed that the following accidents occurred frequently:

[1]

Improper addition of a relay cord for the power cord and connecting cables and improper connection of the power cord and the plug caused a poor connection, leading to ignition.

[2]

Adhesion of a cleaning solution etc. caused a tracking phenomenon, causing a short circuit.

[3]

Aging deterioration of electric components etc. caused a short circuit.

As for electric fans, "accident caused by aging deterioration" has frequently occurred. An analysis of phenomena at the time of occurrence of accidents involving electric fans revealed that the following accidents occurred frequently:

[1]

After turning on an electric fan, the user left the place. Then aging deterioration of the capacitor and other components caused a short circuit.

[2]

A user went to bed with an electric fan turned on. Then aging deterioration of the capacitor and other components caused a short circuit.

As for the prevention of accidents involving air conditioners and electric fans, we promoted consumer awareness four times in fiscal 2010 (June and August) and 2011 (May and June). However, there were many accidents involving electric fans in the Kanto region where strong requests for saving energy were made to the citizens last year. This year, a similar situation is expected due to the increasing nationwide requests for saving energy. Hence, we urge you to take note of safe and proper use of the products again to prevent such accidents.

Press briefing paper in Japanese

• http://www.nite.go.jp/jiko/press/prs120621.pdf [PDF:70KB]
• http://www.nite.go.jp/jiko/press/prs120621set.pdf [PDF:2,078KB]
• http://www.nite.go.jp/jiko/poster/poster.html#senpuki3