Outdated APC Surge Protectors Recalled for Fire Risk
A line of APC surge protectors that have been out of production for a decade just got recalled over fire safety concerns.
"The surge protectors can overheat, smoke and melt, posing a fire hazard," the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) said in its recall statement issued earlier this month.
According to the CPSC, about 15 million units are covered by the recall, which involves APC 7 and 8 series SurgeArrest protectors.
The APC 7 Series (top) and the APC 8 Series (bottom).
"The firm has received 700 reports of the surge protectors overheating and melting and 55 claims of property damage from smoke and fire, including $916,000 in fire damage to a home and $750,000 in fire damage to a medical facility. There are 13 reports of injuries, including smoke inhalation and contact burns from touching the overheated surge protectors," the CPSC statement said.
It took the CPSC and APC, now owned by Schneider Electric, more than a decade to recall the devices, which were sold between 1993 and 2002 at Best Buy, Circuit City, CompUSA and other stores for between $13 and $50.
A Schneider Electric/APC page lists the affected model numbers and instructions for getting a free replacement.
The CPSC statement notes that it is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled product.
Posted by Scott Bekker on October 08, 2013