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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Mark Ross
April 8, 1999
(301) 504-7076
Release # 99-092
CPSC, Interstate Engineering Announce Recall of Heat
Detectors
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product
Safety Commission (CPSC), Interstate Engineering, of Dallas,
Texas, is voluntarily recalling about 40,000 heat
detectors. These heat detectors can fail to alarm or alarm for a
shorter period of time than intended when fire is
present.
Interstate Engineering and CPSC are aware of one incident
when a heat detector failed to operate properly during a retail
demonstration. Subsequent testing by Interstate Engineering
produced approximately 38 additional failures. CPSC is not aware
of any failures during use by consumers, and no injuries have
been reported.
The heat detectors are round, have an off-white aluminum
cover, are roughly 7 inches in diameter and 3 inches high, and
have a round, brass-colored metal disk at the center of the
cover. They are mechanical, and do not use batteries or
electricity. The heat detectors were sold under the following
private label brand names and models, which were printed on
labels on the back of the detectors:
MasterGuard model MG-50/70;
Responsive model TRI70;
Rescue II model R-50FT
The recalled heat detectors have the following serial numbers on
the label that is beneath the removable mounting bracket on the
back of each unit: 980400001 through 981108112.
These heat detectors were sold nationwide primarily through
in-home demonstrations and sales parties from May 1998 through
December 1998 for about $225 or higher. Prices
were determined by Interstate Engineering's private label
resellers.
Consumers should stop using these heat detectors immediately
and call Interstate for a free replacement at (540) 645-2887
between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday EDT.
Heat detectors are intended to supplement smoke detectors to
warn of fire, but CPSC reminds consumers they should not rely on
heat detectors as substitutes for smoke detectors.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
protects
the public from unreasonable risk of injury
or death from 15,000 types of consumer products under the
agency's jurisdiction. To
report a dangerous product
or a product-related injury and for information on CPSC's
fax-on-demand service, call
CPSC's hotline at (800)
638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (301) 595-7054. To order a
press release through
fax-on-demand, call
(301) 504-0051 from the handset of your fax machine and enter the
release number.
Consumers can obtain this
release and recall information or report product hazards to
info@cpsc.gov.
