Robertshaw TS-11 Thermal Safety Control Gas Valve and the "magnet head" on the gas valve
CPSC Recall #05-031 — October 31, 2004
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 05-031 |
| Recall Date | October 31, 2004 |
| Remedy Type | Replace, Repair |
| Units Affected | 123,544 gas valves and 37,350 magnet heads |
| Manufacturer | Robertshaw Controls Company of Long Beach, California |
| Manufactured In | Assembled in Mexico |
Where It Was Sold
| Original equipment manufacturers and food service equipment dealers to commercial food service providers (such as restaurants). The recalled products were sold from February 2003 through August 2004. |
Product
Robertshaw TS-11 Thermal Safety Control Gas Valve and the "magnet head" on the gas valve
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Robertshaw Controls Company of Long Beach, California is voluntarily recalling 123,544 gas valves and 37,350 magnet heads. If the pilot light goes out, the gas valve can stick in an open position, permitting gas to continue to flow. This can result in a gas explosion and fire which could result in severe personal injury or property damage.Name of product: Robertshaw TS-11 Thermal Safety Control Gas Valve and the "magnet head" on the gas valveUnits: 123,544 gas valves and 37,350 magnet headsManufacturer: Robertshaw Controls Company of Long Beach, CaliforniaHazard: If the pilot light goes out, the gas valve can stick in an open position, permitting gas to continue to flow. This can result in a gas explosion and fire which could result in severe personal injury or property damage.Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received 12 reports of flash fires, including 9 reports of injuries. The injuries involved first, second, and — in one instance — third degree burns.Description: The TS-11 Thermal Safety Control Gas Valves are installed in commercial cooking equipment with pilot lights, including ranges, griddles, fryers, and warming trays. The recalled gas valves were produced between February 2003 and August 2004. The "magnet heads" on the gas valves were made during the same range of dates. The recalled products can be identified by date codes 0306 through and including 0432. The TS-11 gas valve with different manufacturing dates and a different hazard was recalled in 2002.Sold through: Original equipment manufacturers and food service equipment dealers to commercial food service providers (such as restaurants). The recalled products were sold from February 2003 through August 2004.Manufactured in: Assembled in MexicoRemedy: Free repair or replacement (if necessary). Robertshaw Controls Company will arrange for free repair or replacement of the recalled gas valves. If you smell gas near the appliance or in the building, immediately leave the area and call your gas company or a certified gas technician to investigate the cause. If you do not smell gas, check the pilot lights on your gas appliances. If any pilot lights are out, do not attempt to relight. Have the appliance examined by the gas company or a qualified technician. Have the date-code of your TS-11 gas valve ready when you contact Robertshaw.Consumer Contact: Commercial food service managers should call Robertshaw toll-free at (800) 232-9389 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT, Monday through Friday, or visit www.robertshaw.com.
Hazard
If the pilot light goes out, the gas valve can stick in an open position, permitting gas to continue to flow. This can result in a gas explosion and fire which could result in severe personal injury or property damage.
Incidents & Injuries
The firm has received 12 reports of flash fires, including 9 reports of injuries. The injuries involved first, second, and — in one instance — third degree burns.
Remedy Instructions
Free repair or replacement (if necessary). Robertshaw Controls Company will arrange for free repair or replacement of the recalled gas valves. If you smell gas near the appliance or in the building, immediately leave the area and call your gas company or a certified gas technician to investigate the cause. If you do not smell gas, check the pilot lights on your gas appliances. If any pilot lights are out, do not attempt to relight. Have the appliance examined by the gas company or a qualified technician. Have the date-code of your TS-11 gas valve ready when you contact Robertshaw.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Replace, 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 (Replace, Repair) 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.