Posted By lewes
If you are concerned about them I would contact the applicable manufacturers.

Its not like you can PAT test them but I can see where you are coming from. I would take a common sense approach about it and try not let it being another 'health & safety bans air freshners' type headline.

Posted By ivorfire
As a fire service officer that also carries out comprehensive fire scene investigations, I can confirm that this is not a urban myth.

Please be assurred that fires have occurred with these devices. However, I would estimate that they are low in number on a national UK scale. (More fires are caused by fragrant candles as by way of a comparison or a product).

The problems are caused by poor manufacturing as the example below illustrates, but also (and more generally) caused by people who do not follow the instructions or misuse the devices, especially as "they think they know best" sort of attitude.

The example below is taken from www.firefindings.com, (please copy and paste. You need to search a little but this example is there). It is taken from an USA website, purely because when I checked www.tradingstandards.gov.uk there was no example immediately to hand because the examples only go back a few months in 2005.

The following information is taken from a product recall;

CPSC, SC Johnson Announce Recall of Glade Extra Outlet Scented Oil Air Fresheners
Company
SC Johnson, of Racine, Wisconsin

Product
Glade Extra Outlet Scented Oil Air Fresheners

Product Photo
Click here to view photo

Quantity Recalled
2.5 million

Product Description
The Glade Extra Outlet Scented Oil electric air fresheners come in two fragrances, Sky BreezeTM and Mystical Garden. The air fresheners have a unique rotating plug-thru outlet, which allows other electrical devices to be used in the same outlet as the plug-in. The rotating outlet says "15 Amps Max" on the front and has a yellow disk on the back. The Extra Outlet Scented Oil units have a model number "SCJ079" on the back. No other products, sold under the Glade PlugIns brand names, are part of the recall. Grocery and retail stores nationwide sold the air fresheners for between $4 and $5.

For More Information
SC Johnson (800) 571-0920 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT, Monday through Sunday http://www.scjohnson.com,

Model #(s)
SCJ079, which appears on the back of the unit.

Sold from
January 2002 to April 2002

Problem
These Extra Outlet PlugIns(r) may have been misassembled during manufacture, which could pose a risk of fire.

Fire Findings Issue #
V10N3

Notice Source
CPSC

Notice Date
Apr 19, 2002

Release #
02-144

Please note that I am not saying that this product is unsafe, but using it to illustrate the type of device and quash the idea that it is a myth. There are often cheaper imports etc. If the better firms can sometimes make a mistake and get it wrong (but do take a reasonable course of action to notify), what about those manufacturers who do not?

Hope this helps.
Shaun

Posted By Helen Horton
I know the original post was related to fire but please also bear in mind that some people are not able to tolerate the strong perfumes these things give out. I tried one once and gave myself the worst asthma attack of my life and felt ill for weeks after I had got rid of the thing.

Posted By ivorfire

This is not a hoax.

As I said I used this to illustrate the point. I wanted to use information until recently which was available on the UK website of tranding standards. However, this is now not available. I used the next best things, (reluctantly using USA information).

I have personally attended at least two fires in the last few years that was a direct result of a plug in type air fresheners, in my capacity of a fire officer.

The problems are that people leave them in and they get obstructed, no ventilation, over heat and cause a small fire. If something combustible is in close prioximity this goes up e.g. a pices of clothing which has fallen accidently onto the socket etc, or a newspaper fallen down at the side of a chair.

I did research the SC Johnson website and I did see the remarks made by them and I wondered if any one would pick up on the remarks made. They are in the business to sell the damm things! Therefore, they do not want to own up to anything as they will open the flood gates in the home of claims for litagation, in USA.

Try the following website link. http://www.fireservice.c...index.php?showtopic=1095

It also mentions SC Johnson product but as stated there is more than one manufacturer.

People may wish to make there own mind up. Personally, I have seen at least two fires that have been caused by this type of products over heating. Fortunely, in both cases there was no major fires caused. From memory, I do not think it was SC Johnson product, but a cheaper alternative, but I would not swear to it.
Personaly, I won't have them in my house.
Have a safe day.
Shaun

Posted By Eric Burt
Ivorfire

Thank you for this up-date.

I have checked the web-site you refer to and once again there is no evidence in the postings to support the statement that these cause fires.

However, I note that you have personal experience of them causing 2 fires so if you could advise me which Fire Authority you were attached to I would like to make a Freedom of Information Act request to have sight of the official fire reports.

Please feel free to e-mail me directly if you wish to maintain a degree of confidentiality.

Many thanks


Eric