It's not quite 'resistance', it's more a matter of different priorities. US safety standards major on protection against fire because they were originated by the insurance industry (Underwriters Laboratory) for obvious financial reasons, while European safety standards major on prevention of electric shock, because 230 V is more dangerous than 120 V (but of course not more dangerous than 240 V!), and timber-framed buildings are relatively rare in Europe.
I guess that the applicable safety standard (IEC/EN 60335-2-xxx) isn't strongly influenced by US experts (US may even have voted for it) and thus doesn’t require a metal back panel, whereas the UL standard (which may be the IEC standard with a modification or several) does require one. All the Sections of IEC 60335-2 are under continuous review as technologies change, and the recent incidence of fires may well result in significant changes. However, unlike the tumble dryer case, where numerous fires were reported, this fridge-freezer fire is just one incident, and may be due to a 'one-off' fault' or obstruction of the ventilation. Even the enquiry that is being held may not be able to assign a definite cause. I suspect that fridge fires are very much rarer than tumble-dryer fires, even if, to be fair, the epidemic dryer fires are excluded. With best wishes DESIGN IT IN! OOO – Own Opinions Only www.jmwa.demon.co.uk J M Woodgate and Associates Rayleigh England Sylvae in aeternum manent. -----Original Message----- From: Scott Xe [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 25 June 2017 09:35 To: [email protected] Subject: [PSES] Metal back of US fridge - Grenfell Tower Fire According to London Fire Brigade, they are calling for manufacturers to use metal rather than cheaper plastic to make the backs of fridges in order to protect flammable polyurethane insulation from components that could cause a blaze. They added US fridges have metal back while the EU has not regulated this requirement. What is the resistance for EU to adopt this requirement? Thanks and regards, Scott - ---------------------------------------------------------------- This message is from the IEEE Product Safety Engineering Society emc-pstc discussion list. To post a message to the list, send your e-mail to <[email protected]> All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at: http://www.ieee-pses.org/emc-pstc.html Attachments are not permitted but the IEEE PSES Online Communities site at http://product-compliance.oc.ieee.org/ can be used for graphics (in well-used formats), large files, etc. Website: http://www.ieee-pses.org/ Instructions: http://www.ieee-pses.org/list.html (including how to unsubscribe) List rules: http://www.ieee-pses.org/listrules.html For help, send mail to the list administrators: Scott Douglas <[email protected]> Mike Cantwell <[email protected]> For policy questions, send mail to: Jim Bacher: <[email protected]> David Heald: <[email protected]> - ---------------------------------------------------------------- This message is from the IEEE Product Safety Engineering Society emc-pstc discussion list. To post a message to the list, send your e-mail to <[email protected]> All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at: http://www.ieee-pses.org/emc-pstc.html Attachments are not permitted but the IEEE PSES Online Communities site at http://product-compliance.oc.ieee.org/ can be used for graphics (in well-used formats), large files, etc. Website: http://www.ieee-pses.org/ Instructions: http://www.ieee-pses.org/list.html (including how to unsubscribe) List rules: http://www.ieee-pses.org/listrules.html For help, send mail to the list administrators: Scott Douglas <[email protected]> Mike Cantwell <[email protected]> For policy questions, send mail to: Jim Bacher: <[email protected]> David Heald: <[email protected]>
