FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 30, 2003
Release # 03-077 |
Cooper Lighting Hotline: (800) 954-7145
CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: Ken Giles, (301) 504-7052
|
CPSC, Cooper Lighting Warn About 500-Watt Halogen Bulbs
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Cooper Lighting Inc., of Peachtree City, Ga., is warning consumers that nearly 600,000 Regent 500-watt halogen bulbs may pose a fire hazard if used in torchiere floor lamps or other indoor residential fixtures. These 500-watt light bulbs generate very high temperatures compared to incandescent and lower wattage halogen bulbs and can start a fire if they come in contact with curtains, clothes or other flammable material. These bulbs are intended for use in outdoor work lights and flood lamps.
While Cooper has not received any reports of fires or injuries, the CPSC is aware of at least 290 fires and 25 deaths since 1992 involving halogen torchiere floor lamps.
Current packaging for the Regent 500-Watt Halogen Bulb, with model numbers WM500Q and BP500Q, does not contain the recommended warning label of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The label should read, "Warning: Fire Hazard! Do Not Use In Torchieres Or Other Indoor Residential Fixtures." Cooper has asked retailers to add the label to bulb packaging currently on store shelves and new 500-watt halogen bulbs will contain the label.
Wal-Mart, Lowes and smaller retail outlets nationwide sold these 500-watt halogen bulbs between January 1999 and October 2002 for about $4.
Consumers currently using these 500-watt bulbs in a torchiere or indoor residential fixture should remove them immediately. Consumers can continue to use the 500-watt halogen bulbs in work lights, flood lamps, and similar outdoor fixtures. For more information, consumers can contact Cooper Lighting at (800) 954-7145 anytime or log on to the company's website at www.cooperlighting.com.
To meet the current Underwriters Laboratories standard, halogen torchiere floor lamps must be equipped with a protective glass or wire guard and have a halogen bulb that is 300 watts or less.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about your experience with the product on SaferProducts.gov
CPSC is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of the thousands of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $900 billion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals - contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.
Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly-announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury go online to www.SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or teletypewriter at (301) 595-7054 for the hearing impaired. Consumers can obtain news release and recall information at www.cpsc.gov, on Twitter @OnSafety or by subscribing to CPSC's free e-mail newsletters.