Safety concerns ongoing with Kidde extinguishers
Kidde extinguishers are under fire once again.
It started with a recall in 2009, then another recall in 2015, and finally a 2017 recall ordered by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission report.
Clogging, requiring excessive force to discharge, and failing to activate were listed as potential hazards, according to the recall notice.
The 134 models of Kidde fire extinguishers which were part of the most recent recall (2017) by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission included fire extinguishers often carried in commercial trucks.
Unfortunately, the latest recall did little to remedy Kidde’s wrongs.
In fact, Kidde was found to have replaced recalled extinguishers with other models that had also been recalled, according to a U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission report. The company maintains the replacement units were damaged in transit and steps were taken to provide working extinguishers to customers with damaged devices.
A January 2021 Consumer Reports investigation detailed how Kidde failed to initially share information about problems with their products, putting consumers at risk. As a result, a $12 million settlement was ordered by the Department of Justice as part of a consent decree.
Based upon this ruling, Kidde knowingly misled the government about the extent and scope of its products problems, but it did not admit it violated federal law as part of the settlement.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimated 2.5 million extinguishers were potentially affected by the 2017 recall.
If you have a Kidde fire extinguisher that has been recalled, you are encouraged to contact the company to have it replaced immediately.
Commercial trucks and buses are required by law to be equipped with at least one fire extinguisher with an Underwriters’ Laboratories rating of 5 B:C or more; or two extinguishers with an Underwriters Laboratories rating of 4 B:C or more. Hazmat haulers must have a fire extinguisher with a rating of 10 B:C or more. LL