Recalls & Notices

 2010-03-29
Simpson Dura-Vent Recalls Fireplace Dampers Due to Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Hazard
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of product: DuraTech Anchor Plate with Damper and DuraChimney II Anchor Plate with Damper

Units: About 500

Manufacturer: Simpson Dura-Vent Company Inc., of Vacaville, Calif.

Hazard: When the consumer attempts to open/close the damper, it can become stuck in its current position. In addition, some of the dampers were assembled backwards and are set to the closed position when the consumer attempts to open the damper. Both pose risk of carbon monoxide poisoning to the consumer.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: This recall involves DuraTech Anchor Plates with Dampers and DuraChimney II Anchor Plates with Dampers. The products are intended for use as a starter section for chimneys in fireplace applications. The dampers allow the chimney to be closed when the fireplace is not in use. Each damper is a short sheet metal vent pipe fitted with a circular damper plate within the vent pipe, and attached to a square anchor plate. The damper plate rotates around an axis rod to control the flow of air through the vent pipe. The damper plates have a weight attached to one side, and a chain attached to the other side. When installed in a fireplace application, the square anchor plate is generally not visible.

The DuraTech Anchor Plate with Damper was manufactured in five sizes, as follows:

Dura-Vent Product Description Dura-Vent Product Number
10" diameter DuraTech Damper 99142
12" diameter DuraTech Damper 99242
14" diameter DuraTech Damper 99342
16" diameter DuraTech Damper 99442
18" diameter DuraTech Damper 99542

The DuraChimney II Anchor Plate with Damper was manufactured in four sizes, as follows:

Dura-Vent Product Description Dura-Vent Product Number
10" diameter DuraChimney Damper 10DCA-APD
12" diameter DuraChimney Damper 12DCA-APD
14" diameter DuraChimney Damper 14DCA-APD
16" diameter DuraChimney Damper 16DCA-APD

Sold by: Dura-Vent distributors to fireplace/chimney contractors and by installers to home builders nationwide from January 2007 through May 2008 for between $100 to $150, depending on the model and size.

Manufactured in: United States

Remedy: Consumers should ensure that their damper is in the open position when the fireplace is in use. Consumers or distributors with defective fireplace dampers should contact Dura-Vent to schedule a free repair. The remaining unrepaired recalled dampers were distributed in Washington and California. Consumers and distributors whose dampers were previously inspected and repaired do not need to schedule an additional inspection.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, consumers can contact Simpson Dura-Vent at (866) 860-7908 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's Web site at www.duravent.com

 2008-10-27
RECALL RCL08-20
Maple Chase Company Recalls Carbon Monoxide & Carbon Monoxide/Smoke Combo Alarms Due to False Alarm
Toronto, ON.

The Electrical Safety Authority in cooperation with Maple Chase Company is notifying the public that Maple Chase Company has announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer products. Consumers should not take their products out of service until they obtain a replacement product from the company and the new alarm has been installed.

Name of Product: Firex branded 10000 series carbon monoxide (CO) alarms and 12000 series smoke/CO combo alarms.
Units: About 36,000 units across Canada and 16,000 in Ontario.
Manufacturer/Importer: Maple Chase Company of Plain City, OH.
Hazard: The alarms may go into a “double chirp” fault mode in the presence of CO prior to the unit going into full alarm mode. This early fault presents a safety hazard if, consistent with the instruction of the Owner’s Manual, a consumer takes the alarm out of service once it is determined that pressing the reset button does not correct the fault. This creates the potential for the consumer to take the alarm out of service during a CO emergency.
Incidents/Injuries: There have been no incidents or injuries reported relating to the hazard.

Description/Models: This recall involves Firex branded 10000 and 12000 series alarms with item numbers: 12000C and 12400C sold in Canada. The recall applies to units manufactured between June 1, 2007 and February 1, 2008. Units with a manufacture date code prior to June 1, 2007 are not affected by this recall. Affected units can be identified by the date code, which appears on the back of the unit. The format of the date code is a four-digit year, three-digit month, followed by the day (e.g., 2007 JUN01 for units manufactured on June 1, 2007).
Sold by: All units sold in Canada were sold through commercial distribution.
When was distributed: Between June 1, 2007 and Feb 1, 2008.
Manufactured in: Mexico

Remedy: Consumers should contact Maple Chase immediately to receive a free comparable replacement alarm and make arrangements to return their affected alarm(s).

Consumer Contact: For more information, contact Maple Chase toll-free at (888)-879-3906 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. CST Monday through Friday or go to the firm's Web site at www.firexsafety.com/stepone.aspx for more information.
Remarks: The recalled units are certified to Canadian Standards by Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC). For more information about ULC product certification process please visit: www.ulc.ca.

Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) is responsible for public electrical safety in Ontario. For more information visit: www.esasafe.com/ Page 1 of 1