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Home appliances causing 60 fires a week in the UK.. ideas to reduce the risk

shabaz

Posting in IoT for lack of a better section.. and solutions or monitoring of home appliances may use IoT.

 

I was quite surprised to see this statistic : (

Faulty appliances 'cause 60 fires a week' - BBC News

It seems a huge number. Apparently this is mainly due to washing machines and tumble dryers. The following article discusses what causes the fires for tumble dryers, and how to reduce the risk of it:

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/five-rules-stop-your-tumble-14112798

 

I've never had a tumble dryer (I use a clothes line if it isn't raining) so I can't be sure, but reading through that article, it seems the procedure to reduce the risk is really onerous. The article suggests vacuuming around the dryer and fluff can accumulate at the rear of the dryer. I can't imagine many people moving a dryer to vacuum behind it frequently, because of the weight of it, and presumably some are integrated (bolted) into position. This video only discusses how to clean fluff from the front filter, which looks easy enough: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQruzikHdQI  but it doesn't address the other areas that may need to be regularly inspected and cleaned.

 

The article also discusses that tumble dryers should not be operated at night when people are asleep, or when no one is at home. To me, that seems like the lowest-hanging technical workaround until tumble dryers can be made safer; retro-fitting them for free, with a lockout system that will prevent operation unless light and motion (i.e. occupancy with activity) can be sensed - perhaps by Bluetooth. If either light or motion is not sensed for longer than (say) ten minutes then the dryer could be powered down. A fire alarm should also be fitted for free if one is not already fitted. Anything less seems unreasonable, considering tumble dryer manufacturers must know their machines pose such a high risk.

 

How do other people manage the risk? I would trust myself not to use a tumble dryer in the evening, but what if someone fell asleep on the sofa during the daytime and no-one else was at home. Or teenagers. Can they really be trusted to avoid using a tumble dryer at night, and adhering to the no house-parties rules : ) when parents are traveling?

 

And on another note.. it will be likely country-specific, but it would be good to hear advice on fitting fire alarms in locations where washing machines and tumble dryers will be fitted - e.g. what type of alarm, what distance is recommended, etc, from those who are experienced in this area. It would be valuable information to a lot of people.

Parents

  • Shabaz,

     

    You've started an interesting and worthy discussion here. Our tumble gets the two door filters cleaned of lint every use as they are easily accessible. Occasionally I have pulled the unit out from under the worktop and again hoovered lint out of the 4" output duct. What did surprise me was that a few years ago I did open the case up and found some lint had gathered internally in areas that you wouldn't imagine.....you have reminded me to do that again. Maybe I should try and get some photos to share on here.

     

    There is some good advice here from the E14 community and the links about ameliorating the risks. I know someone who actually has their tumble drier outside (under cover).

     

    I would think that lint build-up would be the main cause of fires in tumble driers and/or combined with simple component or wiring failure. When that happens we are essentially past the usefulness of thermal cut outs and probably MCBs on the electrical distribution. Therefore highest priority is to reduce that lint build up. Manufacturer's could take a better approach to mechanical design to mitigate against leakage of particles into the heater box. Suitable IP rated internal enclosures could provide additional protection to lint ingress around cables and connectors for high current). I am however amazed at the photos that show them burning so fiercely - I bet you'd find it hard to light one on purpose with a match !

     

    As mentioned by they do also need more sensors.

     

    There are two sensors I can think of that should be mandated in the legal specifications for all countries (with an indicator to show this is why the machine isn't working):

     

                 (1)     Optical sensor(s) in high risk areas of the machine - namely around the heater and high current wiring to detect lint not smoke.

     

    AND      (2)     An optical particulate measurement in the hot airflow - which cuts out should that count of particles get too high.

     

     

    I guess we all want to know why manufacturers haven't done this so far.....and I guess the answer is that we want cheap goods. Correct me if I'm wrong, but most of the makes listed in the news article seem to be at the lower end of the price range.

     

    I look forward to reading more on this thread and as mentioned I will try and add some photos from my tumble drier.

     

    Rod

  • in reply to 14rhb

    Hi Rod,

     

    That's really interesting information. It is worrying that the lint gets right into the machines since not everyone can open them up. It would be awesome to see photos when you do open your machine next time.

    You're right, Whirlpool seems to be the offender according to that report for certain fires, i.e. their Hotpoint/Indesit/Creda brands which are built down to a cost.

     

    It's all a very unfortunate combination - heater, lint, air, and no easy way of monitoring/inspecting, if there are a lack of sensors fitted.

    Maybe another mode is damp/conductive lint near motor brushes too, igniting and then all other dry dust and lint will just stoke the fire immensely : (

  • in reply to shabaz

    Hi Shabaz,

     

    You also know that there is also a catch-22 for anyone who decides to service their own machine; any fire and the insurance company/manufacturer's could try and claim no responsibility if they can proove it could have be due to a negligent service !

     

     

    So although that is a minor dilema for us techy types, as you have mentioned, many folk cannot get to do their own service for numerous reasons. You are quite right - a robust fail safe solution is needed.

     

    [Might need to alias myself when posting those photos inside my tumble  image ]

     

    Rod

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  • in reply to shabaz

    Hi Shabaz,

     

    You also know that there is also a catch-22 for anyone who decides to service their own machine; any fire and the insurance company/manufacturer's could try and claim no responsibility if they can proove it could have be due to a negligent service !

     

     

    So although that is a minor dilema for us techy types, as you have mentioned, many folk cannot get to do their own service for numerous reasons. You are quite right - a robust fail safe solution is needed.

     

    [Might need to alias myself when posting those photos inside my tumble  image ]

     

    Rod

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