Kidde 10 lb. industrial dry chemical fire extinguishers with black plastic Zytel® nylon valves in...

CPSC Recall #05-589 — July 25, 2005

Recall Summary

Recall Number05-589
Recall DateJuly 25, 2005
Remedy TypeNew Instructions
Units AffectedAbout 470,000
ManufacturerWalter Kidde Portable Equipment Inc., of Mebane, N.C.
Manufactured InUnited States

Where It Was Sold

Commercial fire equipment distributors and stores nationwide between 1991 and 2000.

Product

Kidde 10 lb. industrial dry chemical fire extinguishers with black plastic Zytel® nylon valves in steel cylinders manufactured between 1991 and 2000

Description

This Alert involves all Kidde 10 lb. dry chemical fire extinguishers manufactured with a black plastic Zytel® nylon valve assembly and a steel cylinder between 1991 and 2000. These units were the subject of Kidde Service Bulletin 007 issued on July 21, 2004. These units were designed for commercial and industrial applications, and the majority of these units were placed into service in factories, plants, businesses and other commercial locations as they require service by a qualified Fire Extinguisher Distributor or Service Organization every 6 years. Some of these units are in use in residential settings. The affected extinguishers have a steel cylinder with a welded neck ring and are between 19 to 21 inches tall as depicted in the image below. This Alert does not apply to Kidde's smaller 2 1/2 and 5 lb. residential fire extinguishers.

Hazard

The nylon valves on these extinguishers can separate from the steel cylinder during the 6-year recharge service or shortly afterwards creating a safety hazard to fire extinguisher service personnel and consumers.

Incidents & Injuries

Kidde has received five reports of valve separation during either technical service of the units or shortly afterwards, resulting in three reports of injuries.

Remedy Instructions

Fire Extinguisher Distributors and Service Organizations must immediately stop servicing all units covered under this Alert. Kidde has instituted a Fire Extinguisher Replacement Program ("Replacement Program") for all units covered by this Alert. If you are a Fire Extinguisher Distributor or Service Organization and you have not already received a copy of the Replacement Program, as outlined in Service Bulletin 007, please contact the number below. Only professional Fire Extinguisher Distributors and Service Organizations should remove the affected units and the steps as outlined in the Replacement Program must be followed. 

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a New Instructions 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 (New Instructions) 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.