Bi-fold Doors

CPSC Recall #99-010b - October 19, 1998

Recall Summary

Recall Number99-010b
Recall DateOctober 19, 1998
Remedy TypeRepair
Units AffectedApproximately 500

Where It Was Sold

Home improvement stores
lumber yards and custom builders nationwide sold these bi-fold doors from January 1984 to August 1993 for between $800 and $4
500
depending on the size of the door.

Product

Bi-fold Doors

Description

PRODUCT: Bi-fold Doors - Schweiss Distributing Co., of Fairfax, Minn., is recalling to repair approximately 500 bottom-operated, bi-fold doors, manufactured by a predecessor company. These very large doors, used for barns, aircraft hangars and commercial buildings, roll up from the bottom to open and fold the door in half as it raises. These doors can be up to 150 feet wide. Writing on the doors includes, "Schweiss Chicken Pluckers." Home improvement stores, lumber yards and custom builders nationwide sold these bi-fold doors from January 1984 to August 1993 for between $800 and $4,500, depending on the size of the door. These bi-fold doors were not manufactured or designed by Schweiss Distributing Co. PROBLEM: The doors lack a safety shield which could allow door operators and bystanders to become entrapped in moving door parts, such as the drive drums and cables, causing serious injuries such as amputations and fractures. INJURIES: CPSC and Schweiss are aware of three injuries involving these doors. All the injuries involved children having fingers amputated, with one child having six fingers amputated and both arms broken. WHAT TO DO: Schweiss is offering a free safety shield to help prevent further injuries. To receive a shield, consumers should immediately call Schweiss Distributing Co. at (800) 746-8273 any time. Until the safety shield is installed, consumers should use extreme caution when operating the doors.

Hazard

The doors lack a safety shield which could allow door operators and bystanders to become entrapped in moving door parts, such as the drive drums and cables, causing serious injuries such as amputations and fractures.

Incidents & Injuries

CPSC and Schweiss are aware of three injuries involving these doors. All the injuries involved children having fingers amputated, with one child having six fingers amputated and both arms broken.

Remedy Instructions

Schweiss is offering a free safety shield to help prevent further injuries. To receive a shield, consumers should immediately call Schweiss Distributing Co. at (800) 746-8273 any time. Until the safety shield is installed, consumers should use extreme caution when operating the doors.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Repair 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 (Repair) at no cost to you.

Yes. If you were injured by a defective consumer product, whether recalled or not, you may have grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer and potentially the retailer. A recall notice can serve as evidence that the manufacturer was aware of the defect. Injuries that may support a claim include burns, lacerations, fractures, electric shock, choking incidents, and chemical exposure. Most product liability attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. Consult an attorney promptly, as statutes of limitation vary by state.

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.