Safety Recall TOTAL/FLAMEFAST CO2

[AnthonyB]

NOTE TO END USERS - TOTAL are a trade supplier and you will have obtained these through an extinguisher service company so if you do not recognise the brand do not automatically ignore this and actually look at the extinguishers!

TOTAL – FLAMEFAST SAFETY BULLETIN
Dear Colleagues,
It has come to our notice that there have been a small number of incidents relating to valves on the 2kg and 5kg aluminium CO2 extinguishers sold in the UK under the TOTAL and FLAMEFAST brand names. It appears that stress corrosion cracking has caused the valve to fail on an extremely small number of occasions. The risk of an incident is very low but it may increase if the extinguishers are handled without following our instructions. On rare occasions, the valves may be ejected under high speed to cause severe injuries.
The safety of our customers is our utmost priority and as a precaution, we are asking customers not to use, service and/or move the affected extinguishers themselves in any way, and following standard safety practices, should not lean directly over the head of the extinguisher.
These incidents relate to a small number of the 2kg and 5kg extinguishers which were sold between 2007 and April 2011. These extinguishers can easily be identified:
- by their labels which are clearly marked with either the FLAMEFAST or TOTAL brands
- they are a CO2 extinguisher with a 2kg or 5kg capacity and
- the valves are stamped ‘231’.
The valves in question, which are in line with all approvals and certifications (CE) were purchased by Tyco and did not meet the supplier’s specifications.

[kurnal]

Do we know whereabouts on the valve  is stamped "231"?

[TFEM]

What are the instructions for servicing companies AB? Presumably it's a removal with care and replace???
Once again, no communication direct from the manufacturer to their customers or service providers.
John

[TFEM]

Have found the following letter which states the units were manufactured between April 2006 and March 2011.
http://www.expressfire.com/Tyco_Distributor_Letter_0611.pdf
It is undated and we have had no communication as yet from Express/Tyco.
John

[TFEM]

It would appear that the problem only occurs in the UK under the flamefast brand (where some German units were imported) and Germany under other brand names, although we wait firm confirmation of this.
John

[AnthonyB]

The more detailed UK specific warning direct from TYCO UK the importer (Express are TYCO's appointed distribution agent, but TOTAL is a TYCO company) clearly states that all UK TOTAL extinguishers may be affected - very few TOTAL items are sold as 'Flamefast', most are sold as TOTAL via Express Fire and the supplier adds their own company label, so don't be mislead by the Neuruppin letter.

I copied my text from the far more comprehensive TYCO document that includes photos & pictures of the two types of factory labelling & the extinguishers - both the more common TOTAL and less common Flamefast ones.

Stamping is normally on the face of part of the brass valve - it will include the year of manufacture and the CE mark, plus other numbers such as batch number, etc - this is where the 231 would be.

Again check anything TOTAL!

(Ironically TYCO, although owning TOTAL, don't use their extinguishers in the UK, instead briefly used Excelsius and more recently Firemark!)

[TFEM]

I think this is going to be massive.
John

[Davo]

Anthony


Can't find any details on the Tyco site, have you got a link?


davo

[TFEM]

I understood that there was a big conference last week about the problem and special tools were being made to assist with recovery.
TG have written to customers saying that they do not use the valves. Several large suppliers are still using the valves....I'm still installing them. We need to know what's going on, this is not a little problem with a low pressure unit, we're talking CO2's with 50 bar pressure.
I too can find nothing on any suppliers site except a copy of the letter on the Express Fire site.
John

[TFEM]

Also believe that 234 is the critical number stamped on the valve of the UK affected units. 231 applies in other countries.
Note that Isogard have recalled CO2 units in France.
John

[AnthonyB]

I have no link to the TYCO recall as I got it via the British Fire Consortium, the Neuruppin one via Express has similar text but not the two pages of pictures of the units and labels involved.

Considering these are proper pressure vessels it's not the best recall in the world, TG & Gloria have been better in the past.

[The Reiver]

Latest amendment:

http://www.bafe.org.uk/uploads/DOC4E0B2D3EBBDFF.pdf

[AnthonyB]

Which doesn't help much beyond the correct number, still a mystery what to do next other than put up Danger UXB signs!

[TFEM]

At last a little clarification.....been waiting for this for over a month now.
What, however, are the other manufacturers/refurbishing companies doing about it? These valves were not exclusive to Tyco.
I'm still installing new and refurbished equipment with these valves on....they're on my vans now!
John

[AnthonyB]

Allegedly TG have sent some customers a letter saying their stuff isn't affected, but beyond that heard nothing, I may (if I get chance) drop Jewel & PJ a line to see their take.

The problem is so many virtual identical (in appearance & stamping) valves come out of several different Chinese factories it's difficult to keep track of!

If it's the valves used by ZHEJIANG ORIENTX FIRE SAFETY EQUIPMENT CO.,LTD then there is a wide problem as that would include TG, Firex, Titan and Jactone Economy ranges.

Excelsius seem to come from Zhejiang Winner Fire Fighting Equipment Co.,Ltd.

Not sure on PJ Fire & Jewel as both say they have their own factories out there.