(by Craig Issod, [email protected])
Last season I wrote an article called "Danger Ahead !, Are the New Gas Appliances Safe ?". Since that time the gas industry has struggled to improve the safety of appliances by using "relief valves", screens and other measures that reduce the possibility of injury due to gas explosions. In light of recent events, I think it's time to revisit the subject and determine the problem, causes and possible solutions.
Manufacturers, retailers and testing labs should take this subject very seriously. First and foremost, a regard for human health and safety should create a body of knowledge to further the science of gas technology.
The scenario is easy to imagine. There have already been many gas explosions in the field, and folks have already been hurt. These products are entering the mainstream, and the customer base will include regular joes, as well as lawyers, movie stars and folks from all walks of life. What do you think the jury award to a "working joe" who was disfigured by flying glass would be ? How about the award for a famous model or actress ? Suffice it to say that these awards could easily run into 10 million $$$ plus. Now let's take it further and add improper installation by customers who might cause a fire and burn their house down....loss of life is a possibility ...or even a probability.
Yes, the subject is gloomy, but I've never forgotten the statement that Eva Horton (the first importer of Jotul Stoves) said in her training books "It's tough selling stoves when you know that , sooner or later, one of these stoves will burn someones' house down, and even perhaps cause loss of life" (note: not an exact quote)
First. let's discuss the obvious. It's evident that many gas units have exploded in the field. B Vents, Direct Vents, Stoves and Fireplace...all have had their share of problems. We can use the "tip of the iceberg" theory to determine that there are more problems than the few we've heard about. Some companies, among them industry leaders Vermont Castings and Travis Industries, have been very forthright about these problems and communicated such to the dealers, test labs and customers. Other companies, which shall remain nameless, have chosen to try to sweep these problems under the rug and keep their dealers and customers uninformed or misinformed.
It appears that most problems are the result of mistakes made during installation. It would be nice to adopt a "pie in the sky attitude" and try to put more warnings in the manual, but it's safe to assume that no matter what is done on this front, folks will continue to install the stoves and fireplaces incorrectly.
The other problem involves house fires. The stories go on and on. The other day a customer stopped in my store looking for an 18 inch set of unvented gas logs. After questioning him a bit, turns out he had already installed a set of 24" Vent Free logs and a firebox (purchased at Home Depot) into his home. The logs were too big for the firebox, so he needed an 18" set. The firebox, of course, was a standard woodburning model, purchased from the friendly Home Depot salesperson without the required chimney.....The gentleman was creating his own "roll your own" ventless UNAPPROVED, UNSAFE AND UNLISTED fireplace.
Another customer came in and said his ventless logs were working great for a number of months, but now he smelled a "smoky" smell. Further questioning revealed that he had built his own wood frame fireplace with one layer of face brick to house his vent free logs....a close one !
And the possible winner is the customer who came into our store, referred by the local Builders Square (a Mass Merchant). He needed a 8" to 4" adapter so he could hook up the Woodburning Fireplace and VENTED logs he had purchased to an existing 4" B vent chimney. When we told him he couldn't do this, he returned the logs and FP to Builders Square..and we received a phone call from the Builder Square salesperson complaining about how we ruined his sale !
So, it's not an accident waiting to happen, it's accidents that ARE happening !
So, as I see it, the problem is two fold.....
1. Explosions with flying glass
2. Improper installations resulting in house fires
#1 - Explosions
A. Equip ALL units with a safety screen...even if they test well without it. You cannot simulate the "infinite number of monkeys" in the test lab. B. Have a central contact within the industry to report ALL incidents to. Develop a database of potential problems and solutions. C. Continue revision of the test standards...to include even "wrong" installations that might be done in field. The standard should be "zero possible injuries". D. Manufacturers...you must communicate with your dealers and the test labs about incidents and problems. It is evident that most problems are the result of improper installations, so don't take it too personal...If your dealer find out the "hard way", you'll lose a lot of credibility.
#2 - Improper Installations
A. Continuing MANDATORY education of the trade on installation issues. B. Sell through these educated channels only (yes, a shameless plug for the specialty store, but it will reduce your exposure greatly). C. Larger labels on product and signs on POP advising professional installation. D. National networks of trained installers and sellers, all available to the retail customer thru an 800 number, etc. This might tie into the FIREWORKS campaign with HPA. E. FREE inspections of installations, perhaps paid for by the manufacturer...especially valid in Mass Merchant and DIY situations. This might be expensive, but it would take a lot of $30. inspection fees to equal one lawsuit !
This topic is too important to sweep under the rug. We are ALL responsible for public safety, and for the continued financial success of our operations and industry. We MUST band together to assure ourselves and our customers of the SAFEST PRODUCT POSSIBLE.
Your thoughts, please to [email protected]
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