The Hotpoint FF175BP Refrigerator made in Italy was the source of the Grenfell Tower Fire.
The fire apparently started in the electronics unit, then spread to the Refrigerator's combustible backing, then exited out of the kitchen window to the exterior cladding.
Here in the US, all white goods have metal non combustible backs.
Is combustible backing on white goods still allowed to be sold in the UK?
Peter Brooks MIET
Palm Bay Florida USA
The fire apparently started in the electronics unit,
I was under the impression the 'balance of probabilities' consideration by the expert witness, was that the seat of the fire was arcing that fused two mains-powered conductors - although their insulation (being 'tri-rated' cable type or similar) had previously probably been damaged by overheating of a component related to the compressor motor (relay I seem to remember)?
... the fire then spreading to the backing, rest of the kitchen (and flat), then exiting out of the kitchen window ...
Is combustible backing on white goods still allowed to be sold in the UK?
Even if standards change, it takes time for existing products to be sold ...
It's worth reinforcing at this point, that if the fire were contained to the flat, we wouldn't be having such discussions. The real issue with Grenfell is that the fire was not contained as the designers thought. That is perhaps the real issue, not the fridge-freezer.
ost white goods (washing machines, ovens, etc) still have steel backs here.
True, BUT washing machines and tumble dryers on sale in the UK have plastic or wooden or composite material tops ... although I understand flammability tests are included in the standards. The backs on are actually much less likely than the tops on these kinds of appliances to be able to propagate fire like with a fridge-freezer, because there's a lot of wiring near the top in the UK under-counter machines, PLUS effect of the heat and flame rising in those appliances is not impeded before reaching the top, as it would be in a fridge-freezer.
HOWEVER, if metal tops are used on under-counter washing machines and tumble-dryers, this might not stop heat-damage or potentially fire in wooden kitchen units, unless non-combustible thermal insulation were also used ... so perhaps composite tops with appropriate fire resistance tests are more appropriate for those appliances??
The fire apparently started in the electronics unit,
I was under the impression the 'balance of probabilities' consideration by the expert witness, was that the seat of the fire was arcing that fused two mains-powered conductors - although their insulation (being 'tri-rated' cable type or similar) had previously probably been damaged by overheating of a component related to the compressor motor (relay I seem to remember)?
... the fire then spreading to the backing, rest of the kitchen (and flat), then exiting out of the kitchen window ...
Is combustible backing on white goods still allowed to be sold in the UK?
Even if standards change, it takes time for existing products to be sold ...
It's worth reinforcing at this point, that if the fire were contained to the flat, we wouldn't be having such discussions. The real issue with Grenfell is that the fire was not contained as the designers thought. That is perhaps the real issue, not the fridge-freezer.
ost white goods (washing machines, ovens, etc) still have steel backs here.
True, BUT washing machines and tumble dryers on sale in the UK have plastic or wooden or composite material tops ... although I understand flammability tests are included in the standards. The backs on are actually much less likely than the tops on these kinds of appliances to be able to propagate fire like with a fridge-freezer, because there's a lot of wiring near the top in the UK under-counter machines, PLUS effect of the heat and flame rising in those appliances is not impeded before reaching the top, as it would be in a fridge-freezer.
HOWEVER, if metal tops are used on under-counter washing machines and tumble-dryers, this might not stop heat-damage or potentially fire in wooden kitchen units, unless non-combustible thermal insulation were also used ... so perhaps composite tops with appropriate fire resistance tests are more appropriate for those appliances??
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