Newsroom

Date:12/23/2004

CPSC - 2 Recalls

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Robertshaw's Hotline: (800) 232-9389
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

CPSC, Robertshaw Controls Company Announce Recall of Certain Models of 7000 Series Gas Control Valves

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the manufacturer 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: Robertshaw 7000 Series Gas Control Valve

Units: About 425,000 gas control valves

Manufacturer: Robertshaw Controls Company of Long Beach, Calif.

Hazard: Fire hazard. If the pilot light goes out, the gas valve could stick in an open position, permitting gas to continue to flow. This can result in a gas explosion and fire, which could result in severe personal injury or property damage.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received three reports of flash fires, involving three reports of injuries. The injuries involved first and second degree burns.

Description: The 7000 Series Gas Valves that are being recalled are installed in gas appliances including residential space heaters, wall heaters, boilers, fireplaces, pool heaters, infrared heaters and furnaces, and commercial heating applications such as commercial cooking appliances, fryers, commercial water heaters, and poultry brooders. The recalled valves were manufactured between February 2003 and September 2004 and have production dates beginning with code 0306 and ending with 0436.

However, not all 7000 Series valves manufactured during the indicated timeframe are being recalled. Of particular note are model numbers containing the letters "MV." Recalled gas valves include "MV" models that also include the letters "LP" and model numbers 7000AMV; 7000BMV; 7000BMV-S7CL; 7000MVLC; and 7000MVRCLC. All "MV" valves with the indicated date codes that have been converted to Liquid Propane (LP) gas use are also included in the recall. NOT included in the recall are model numbers 7010 and above; model numbers containing the letters "D" or "BV;" and model numbers containing the letters "MV" except for the ones listed above. A full list of recalled model numbers is available at www.robertshaw.com or can be obtained by calling (800) 232-9389.

Sold through: Gas appliance retailers and distributors; food service equipment manufacturers and dealers; specialty retailers, such as fireplace, pool and spa dealers; and poultry equipment manufacturers. The gas control valves and components were also sold separately through gas appliance service providers.

Manufactured in: Assembled in Mexico.

Remedy: Free repair or replacement if necessary. If you smell gas near the appliance or in the building, immediately leave the area and call your gas company or a certified gas technician to investigate the cause. If you do not smell gas, check the pilot lights on your gas appliances. If any pilot lights are out, do not attempt to relight. Have the appliance examined by a qualified technician. Have the date-code of your 7000 gas valve ready when you contact Robertshaw.

Consumer Contact : Call Robertshaw toll-free at (800) 232-9389 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT, Monday through Friday, or visit www.robertshaw.com to review a list of affected appliances and register for the recall.

View this recall online at:www.cpsc.gov

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Release # 05-074
Crosman Recall Hotline: (866) 583-7340
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

CPSC, Crosman Corporation Announce Recall of Air Pistols

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the manufacturer 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: Walther CP Sport, CP99, and Nighthawk CO2 Air Pistols

Units: About 24,000

Manufacturer: Umarex, of Arnsburg, Germany

Distributor: Crosman Corporation, of East Bloomfield, NY

Hazard: The air pistols' safety might move from the engaged or "safe" position to the disengaged or "fire" position when the trigger is pulled once or more and then released. This poses a risk of serious injury if the air pistol is loaded and unintentionally fired.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: The recalled air pistols include the Walther models CP Sport, CP99, and Nighthawk manufactured throughout 2003. The recalled models have a serial number of "J3," which is located on the right side of the air pistol. The Walther CP Sport and CP99 CO2 air pistols capture the look and feel of a Walther firearm. The Nighthawk air pistol is outfitted with a compensator, red dot sight, flashlight and a mounting system. If there is an asterisk inscribed next to the serial number, the air pistol is not part of the recall.

Sold at: Sporting goods stores and gun shops nationwide sold the CP Sports and CP 99s from February 2003 through July 2004 and the Nighthawks from October 2003 through July 2004 for between $85 and $300.

Manufactured in: Germany.

Remedy: Consumers should stop using these air pistols immediately and contact the company to receive a free inspection and repair or replacement unit.

Consumer Contact : Known purchasers have received a notification from Crosman of this recall. Consumers who have not received direct notification should call the company toll-free at (866) 583-7340 anytime or visit the company's Web site at www.cpsc.gov

Release # 05-075 CPSC Media Contacts: Eric Criss, (301) 504-7908 and Ken Giles, (301) 504-7052

CPSC Votes to Propose Fire Safety Standard for Mattresses and to Initiate Rulemaking for Bedclothes

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) voted unanimously (2 to 0) on Tuesday to issue a proposed safety standard to reduce deaths and injuries from fires involving mattresses. The proposed standard for mattresses addresses fires ignited by an open flame. CPSC also voted to issue an advance notice of proposed rulemaking to develop a separate safety standard to address bedclothes (such as blankets, comforters, and pillows) flammability.

"This is a significant step toward reducing deaths and injuries from mattress fires," said CPSC Chairman Hal Stratton. "This is a top priority at CPSC. Voting for this proposed mattress standard means we are pretty far down the road toward a final standard."

CPSC Commissioner Thomas Moore added, "This proposed standard will lead to mattresses that are a dramatic improvement, in terms of fire resistance and lives saved, over most mattresses currently on the market."

The proposed mattress standard will be published in the Federal Register, requesting public comment for a period of 75 days. An opportunity for oral testimony will also be scheduled.

From 1995 through 1999, mattresses and bedding were the first items to ignite in an estimated 19,400 residential fires each year. These fires resulted in an estimated 440 deaths, 2,230 injuries and $273.9 million property losses annually. CPSC staff estimates that most of these deaths and injuries would be addressed by the proposed standard.

Fires involving mattresses of traditional constructions can reach flashover (when the entire contents of the room ignite) in less than 5 minutes. The proposed mattress standard would limit the size of the fire and prevent or delay the time to flashover. This would allow people more time to discover and escape the fire, reducing deaths and injuries. Staff believes that materials are commercially available that can be used to produce comfortable, practical, and reasonably-priced mattresses with significantly improved fire performance.

The CPSC rulemaking proceeding to set flammability standards for bedclothes will begin with a notice in the Federal Register requesting public comments on the fire risks and possible approaches to reducing them. Bedclothes are the first item to ignite in about 80 percent of mattress and bedding fires and can contribute substantially to the risks associated with mattress/bedding fires.

View this press release online at:www.cpsc.gov