K-GUARD®, SENTRY® and FLAG FIRE® Model Fire Extinguishers

CPSC Recall #07-507 - November 12, 2006

Recall Summary

Recall Number07-507
Recall DateNovember 12, 2006
Remedy TypeInspect, Replace
Units AffectedAbout 154,000
ManufacturerAnsul Incorporated, of Marinette, Wis.
Manufactured InUnited States

Where It Was Sold

Ansul Incorporated
through its authorized fire equipment distributors
from May 2003 through September 2005. Extinguishers were sold by distributors to their end users for about $150 to $225 each for the kitchen units and for about $100 each for the water units.

Product

K-GUARD®, SENTRY® and FLAG FIRE® Model Fire Extinguishers

Description

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Ansul Incorporated, of Marinette, Wis., is voluntarily recalling about 154,000 K-GUARD®, SENTRY® and FLAG FIRE® Model Fire Extinguishers. If the fire extinguisher is dropped horizontally from a height of approximately 2 to 3 feet, the pick-up tube could crack at the threads between the pick-up tube adaptor and the stainless steel tube. If a pick-up tube is cracked, the extinguisher can fail to discharge properly when activated, which can put users at risk during a fire.Name of Product: K-GUARD®, SENTRY® and FLAG FIRE® Model Fire ExtinguishersUnits: About 154,000Manufacturer: Ansul Incorporated, of Marinette, Wis.Hazard: If the fire extinguisher is dropped horizontally from a height of approximately 2 to 3 feet, the pick-up tube could crack at the threads between the pick-up tube adaptor and the stainless steel tube. If a pick-up tube is cracked, the extinguisher can fail to discharge properly when activated, which can put users at risk during a fire.Incidents/Injuries: None reported.Description: The recall involves K-GUARD® Wet Chemical, FLAG FIRE® KITCHEN ONE® Wet Chemical, FLAG FIRE® Water and SENTRY® Water Fire Extinguishers manufactured and shipped between May 2003 and September 9, 2005. The recall program involves pick-up tube replacements in the following extinguishers:BrandModelPart Number(s)K-GUARD® Wet ChemicalK01-1430849 (UL)430850 (ULC)K01-2432843 (UL)432848 (ULC)SENTRY® WaterW02-1430847 (English)430848 (Spanish/English)FLAG FIRE® KITCHEN ONE® Wet ChemicalKS-6000552055 (UL)552500 (ULC)FLAG FIRE® WaterPWS-25G552050 (UL)552501 (ULC)Model numbers can be found on the fire extinguisher labels. Affected models meet the following criteria: The year 2004 or 2005 is stamped on the hanger hook attachment on the shell. For 2003 models, information on specific serial numbers included in the recall can be found at www.ansul.com for the K-GUARD Wet Chemical and SENTRY Water extinguishers, or at www.pyrochem.com for the FLAG FIRE and KITCHEN ONE Wet Chemical extinguishers. Contact the firm to determine if your extinguisher is included in this replacement program.Sold by: Ansul Incorporated, through its authorized fire equipment distributors, from May 2003 through September 2005. Extinguishers were sold by distributors to their end users for about $150 to $225 each for the kitchen units and for about $100 each for the water units.Manufactured in: United StatesRemedy: Pick-up tube replacements will be performed during routine annual maintenance. The pick-up tube assembly is inside the extinguisher and cannot be visually inspected without de-pressurizing and disassembling the extinguisher. This work should only be done by an authorized ANSUL® distributor. Owners concerned about an extinguisher prior to the scheduled maintenance, due to signs of physical damage such as dents or scratches, should contact their authorized ANSUL® distributor to request a free replacement.Consumer Contact: For more information, call your ANSUL® or PYRO-CHEM® distributor or Ansul Incorporated's and PYRO-CHEM's Quality Assurance Department at (800) 906-3575 (US/Canada) or (715) 732-3575 (Outside US/Canada) between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. CT Monday through Friday. Alternatively, you can find additional information by visiting the ANSUL® Web site at www.ansul.com or the PYRO-CHEM® Web site at www.pyrochem.com.

Hazard

If the fire extinguisher is dropped horizontally from a height of approximately 2 to 3 feet, the pick-up tube could crack at the threads between the pick-up tube adaptor and the stainless steel tube. If a pick-up tube is cracked, the extinguisher can fail to discharge properly when activated, which can put users at risk during a fire.

Incidents & Injuries

None reported.

Remedy Instructions

Pick-up tube replacements will be performed during routine annual maintenance. The pick-up tube assembly is inside the extinguisher and cannot be visually inspected without de-pressurizing and disassembling the extinguisher. This work should only be done by an authorized ANSUL® distributor. Owners concerned about an extinguisher prior to the scheduled maintenance, due to signs of physical damage such as dents or scratches, should contact their authorized ANSUL® distributor to request a free replacement.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Inspect, Replace at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly, either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Inspect, Replace) at no cost to you.

If the product caused a fire or burn injury, document the incident with photos and preserve the product if it is safe to do so. Report the incident to the CPSC at SaferProducts.gov and to your local fire department. Contact the manufacturer to inform them of the incident, they are required to track and report injuries to CPSC. You may also want to consult a personal injury attorney, as fire and burn injuries caused by defective products can be grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer.

In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.

If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney, parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.