There is currently no regulation that requires manufacturers to use non-flammable materials to protect fridges from ignition. Photo / 123RF
There is currently no regulation that requires manufacturers to use non-flammable materials to protect fridges from ignition. Photo / 123RF
It is too early to tell exactly how the Grenfell Tower fire started - but one of the theories that's been aired over the past 24 hours is that the flames can be traced back to a household refrigerator.
Witnesses described hearing one distressed resident apparently telling neighbours his faulty fridge caused the blaze.
Fridges, when ignited, can cause fires to develop quickly, giving off toxic gases.
According to the London Fire Brigade (LFB) there is an average of at least one fridge fire a week.
Earlier this year a study revealed a number of components and flammable materials used to manufacturer domestic fridges. The study paid particularly close attention to the components that fail and then go on to act as an ignition source.
According to the LFB website, a number of fires which start in fridges begin in a component called a "capacitor". These are a "passive two-terminal electrical component that stores electrical energy in an electrical field."
While most modern fridges are now covered in metal, older models, and even a handful of newer ones, still use a plastic backing. The plastic is highly flammable and, if ignited, can cause fires that develop quickly and powerfully while giving off toxic gases.
The report also highlighted plastic drip trays, twin-wall backing materials and polyurethane foam insulation panels to be key causes for the escalation and spread of fire.
There is currently no regulation that requires manufacturers to use non-flammable materials to protect fridges from ignition.
In 2015, former LFB deputy commissioner Rita Dexter said: "Every home has a fridge or freezer and the chances are it will be plugged in and working safely for years but it is no exaggeration to say that they are potentially the most dangerous household appliances if they are involved in a fire.
"They contain large amounts of highly flammable foam insulation, often only protected by a thin plastic covering. This can be a recipe for disaster if a fault occurs or if a fire spreads from somewhere else to the fridge or freezer.
"They are also one of the few electrical items in your home to be always left on and these fires pose an even greater risk if they start when people are sleeping.
There is currently no regulation that requires manufacturers to use non-flammable materials to protect fridges from ignition. Photo / 123RF
"Putting a simple non-combustible or fire-retardant covering at the back of appliances is a relatively simple change that manufacturers can make and one that we believe would reduce the number of injuries, and potentially deaths, caused by fires involving fridges and freezers."
In a controlled burn test conducted by the LFB, they found that a plastic backed fridge went up in flames after just 90 seconds and had to be extinguished after two and a half minutes because the fire was beginning to overwhelm the testing room.
In comparison, the fire set in the metal backed fridge didn't take hold and burned for 20 minutes before self extinguishing.
• Keep your white goods out of the way and keep all escape routes clear. The LFB advise against putting your freezer in the hallway as it can block your exit.
• Make sure you have a minimum of one smoke alarm fitted per floor. Ensure they are tested regularly.
