February 23, 2012
Alert #12-725 |
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Suntech America Recalls SolarBlend Roof Tiles Due to Fire Hazard
The following product safety recall was voluntarily conducted by the firm in cooperation with the CPSC. Consumers should stop using the product immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.
Name of Product: SolarBlend™ Roof Tiles
Units: About 300 installations
Importer: Suntech America Inc., of San Francisco, Calif.
Manufacturer: Wuxi Suntech Power Co. Ltd., of Wuxi, China
Hazard: The connectors between the solar roof tiles can become loose, posing a fire hazard.
Incidents/Injuries: Suntech has received one report of one fire involving six SolarBlend roof tiles. Only the tiles were damaged and no one was injured.
Description: SolarBlend roof tiles replace conventional roof tiles to provide solar energy to the building. This recall involves all SolarBlend roof tiles with model numbers STP050D-5/ZCB (brown), STP050D-5/ZCF (terra cotta), and STP050D-5/ZCG (gray).
Sold by: Roofing retailers and installers in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Kansas and Nevada from October 2009 through March 2011. Depending on the solar energy system size, installation cost can range from $15,000 to $100,000.
Manufactured in: China
Remedy: Suntech has been notifying consumers directly. Consumers who have not been contacted by Suntech should turn off their solar energy systems immediately. Consumers should contact Suntech to schedule a free inspection and repair of the solar energy system. Suntech will repair the solar energy system at no cost to the consumer.
Consumer Contact: For additional information and to schedule a free inspection and repair of the solar energy systems, contact Suntech toll-free at (866) 966-6555, ext 3 between 5 a.m. and 4 p.m. PT Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s website at http://www.suntech-power.com/product-safety
Single SolarBlend™ Roof Tile
SolarBlend™ Roof Tiles in a residential application
SolarBlend™ Roof Tiles as viewed from the ground
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.