Fridge fires and mitigation
Discussion
Since recent events have highlighted the dangers of fridges catching fire I was wondering what 'best practice' is if you have a plastic-backed fridge.
I just pulled ours out of its alcove and inspected the back. It is a tall Samsung fridge in the RR series. I removed the grille at the bottom and checked for fluff and dust - there was a tiny bit but easy to vacuum out. The compressor is marked as having a thermal fuse. Unfortunately the back panel of the fridge looks like it is hard plastic, so other things being equal it is more combustible than a metal back panel.
There is a smoke alarm just outside the kitchen door, but when it arrives tomorrow I will be adding a heat-activated alarm at the top of the alcove. However, given the revelations of the Fire Brigade video showing how combustible the plastic back can be I was wondering if there is a way of making the back panel more fire-retardant. Perhaps an adhesive metal layer (sticky-backed thick metal foil?) would help, or would that make it worse? Any other treatment that might be an improvement over bare plastic?
The other solution is to buy a fridge with a metal back of course. Since the Samsung is relatively new that might simply exchange one fridge for another with unknown safety factors.
I just pulled ours out of its alcove and inspected the back. It is a tall Samsung fridge in the RR series. I removed the grille at the bottom and checked for fluff and dust - there was a tiny bit but easy to vacuum out. The compressor is marked as having a thermal fuse. Unfortunately the back panel of the fridge looks like it is hard plastic, so other things being equal it is more combustible than a metal back panel.
There is a smoke alarm just outside the kitchen door, but when it arrives tomorrow I will be adding a heat-activated alarm at the top of the alcove. However, given the revelations of the Fire Brigade video showing how combustible the plastic back can be I was wondering if there is a way of making the back panel more fire-retardant. Perhaps an adhesive metal layer (sticky-backed thick metal foil?) would help, or would that make it worse? Any other treatment that might be an improvement over bare plastic?
The other solution is to buy a fridge with a metal back of course. Since the Samsung is relatively new that might simply exchange one fridge for another with unknown safety factors.
You have a new fridge.
The Grenfell fridge was a decade old.
The refrigerant used changed several years ago for a non-flammable one.
http://www.ukfiretraining.com/news/fridge-freezer-...
To put it into proportion... In 2015/16, "other electrical appliances" (not cooking or heating appliances) were the cause of around 10% of domestic accidental fires. 36% of all accidental dwelling fires were misuse of appliances, only 15% were faulty appliances.
fig 4.1, p11 - https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa...
The Grenfell fridge was a decade old.
The refrigerant used changed several years ago for a non-flammable one.
http://www.ukfiretraining.com/news/fridge-freezer-...
To put it into proportion... In 2015/16, "other electrical appliances" (not cooking or heating appliances) were the cause of around 10% of domestic accidental fires. 36% of all accidental dwelling fires were misuse of appliances, only 15% were faulty appliances.
fig 4.1, p11 - https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa...
As said.
7 deaths and 71 injuries in London 2010-2014 due to fridge fires
8,000,000 people in London
Unlikely to ever happen, and if it does you will all survive.
There are probably other things in your house more likely to cause a fire. Best off looking at house wide upgrades -Are your doors fire doors, can you get out safely from a bedroom window, fire extinguishers, smoke/heat alarms, CO alarms. Anything that modern regulations require that you don't have.
7 deaths and 71 injuries in London 2010-2014 due to fridge fires
8,000,000 people in London
Unlikely to ever happen, and if it does you will all survive.
There are probably other things in your house more likely to cause a fire. Best off looking at house wide upgrades -Are your doors fire doors, can you get out safely from a bedroom window, fire extinguishers, smoke/heat alarms, CO alarms. Anything that modern regulations require that you don't have.
Edited by hyphen on Saturday 24th June 10:44
My friend bought a brand new dishwasher...(Not sure what make)
The very first night he put it on when he went to bed, set on fire at 1.00am, woke up with smoke detectors, wife, house ablaze him, wifey and two kids managed to get out, but his £500,000 house was burnt out.
Had to spend six months in a hotel until his house was rebuilt.
The very first night he put it on when he went to bed, set on fire at 1.00am, woke up with smoke detectors, wife, house ablaze him, wifey and two kids managed to get out, but his £500,000 house was burnt out.
Had to spend six months in a hotel until his house was rebuilt.
I've just pulled the fridge completely out, and I'm pleased to find that what I thought was a plastic back is in fact a brushed finish metal. Less worrisome.
I agree that there are plenty of other things that can ignite - there are two routers, an alarm system, a Sky HD box and a NAS that are active all the time, and plenty of devices on standby. Smoke alarms are in the appropriate places (and tested), and in the event of the downstairs escape route being impassable we can leave the bedrooms via the window onto a low roof if necessary. No household extinguisher though, I've seen somebody on here recommending the water mist ones so I'll be looking into that.
I agree that there are plenty of other things that can ignite - there are two routers, an alarm system, a Sky HD box and a NAS that are active all the time, and plenty of devices on standby. Smoke alarms are in the appropriate places (and tested), and in the event of the downstairs escape route being impassable we can leave the bedrooms via the window onto a low roof if necessary. No household extinguisher though, I've seen somebody on here recommending the water mist ones so I'll be looking into that.
As a former fire surveyor for a major insurer can I throw a few things into the mix:
If you were to have fridge fire it's highly unlikely any extinguisher would put it out, the combustible insulation is protected from the extinguishent by the metal cover (in a similar way to Grenfell cladding though the actual metal cladding there also burns in that case).
Any fire not just as above - there are too many have a go heroes who end up getting hurt or dying in their attempt to put out a fire. I'd only recommend having a go at the equivalent of a waste bin fire. Statistically a domestic fire will have grown too big by the time you've filled a bowl with water. If you can hit it immediately with an extinguisher you've a chance but around 50% of an extinguisher is wasted though misuse or panic - the reality is you have about 15 seconds to knock down the fire. Then just get out!
Job's comforter mode off
If you were to have fridge fire it's highly unlikely any extinguisher would put it out, the combustible insulation is protected from the extinguishent by the metal cover (in a similar way to Grenfell cladding though the actual metal cladding there also burns in that case).
Any fire not just as above - there are too many have a go heroes who end up getting hurt or dying in their attempt to put out a fire. I'd only recommend having a go at the equivalent of a waste bin fire. Statistically a domestic fire will have grown too big by the time you've filled a bowl with water. If you can hit it immediately with an extinguisher you've a chance but around 50% of an extinguisher is wasted though misuse or panic - the reality is you have about 15 seconds to knock down the fire. Then just get out!
Job's comforter mode off
Elanfan... makes sense. I may get an extinguisher for the open fire just incase but fire brigade pretty much said the same thing... get everyone out call 999
I was wondering though the difference between a normal door and a fire door in terms of protection in a domestic dwelling. We currently have the kitchen door wedged open for the cats... however this makes me feel nervous because as mentioned above there are the sources of ignition which are likely to cause major issues (dishwasher, washing machine, tumble dryer, fridge).
Is it worth getting closers and fitting an acoustically activated door stop to a normal door? Or is that a waste of time?
Nb this would be a door into the primary means of exit (hallway).
I was wondering though the difference between a normal door and a fire door in terms of protection in a domestic dwelling. We currently have the kitchen door wedged open for the cats... however this makes me feel nervous because as mentioned above there are the sources of ignition which are likely to cause major issues (dishwasher, washing machine, tumble dryer, fridge).
Is it worth getting closers and fitting an acoustically activated door stop to a normal door? Or is that a waste of time?
Nb this would be a door into the primary means of exit (hallway).
lucido grigio said:
Train your cats to use an extinguisher,obviously !.....
Why, do they not they like the charred BBQ taste 
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
In a domestic house fire at night which it sounds like you are concerned about I think the main thing would be to ensure you have upper floor smoke detectors (the light type are probably the better/quicker operating) mounted at the highest point. This should give warning to allow escape from windows if necessary.
Nothing wrong with sound operated door closers they could hold back the smoke to allow escape via your normal route. Normal doors probably won't hold much smoke back to be honest (and in a way you want smoke to reach the detector to make it work!!). btw you can get roll up ladders you wall mount below a window which you can just throw out in the event of a fire.
Nothing wrong with sound operated door closers they could hold back the smoke to allow escape via your normal route. Normal doors probably won't hold much smoke back to be honest (and in a way you want smoke to reach the detector to make it work!!). btw you can get roll up ladders you wall mount below a window which you can just throw out in the event of a fire.
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