Behind the Tools - Business Summits
Behind the Tools - Business Summits
Energy Safety has extended its clampdown on Serene wall mounted bathroom heaters. These have been identified as not meeting New Zealand’s strict safety standards.
S2068 model
A prohibition notice was issued in February for the S2068 model, this encompassed specific serial numbers. This has now been extended to include all units of this particular model sold since June 2018.
The S2068 model is considered a significant fire risk, and should not be used at all.
This prohibits the importation, sale, installation, and most notably use of these heaters.
This model has been recommended for voluntary recall by MBIE
S207T/S2069 models
Further Gazette notices have now also been issued for all S207T models sold since January 2018, and S2069 models sold since June 2018
The prohibition notice for the S207T model restricts the sale and installation of these models
And the S2069 model has had deemed approval removed, due to being found non-compliant with New Zealand safety standards.
The S207T, and S2069 models are considered relatively low risk by Worksafe, but should be monitored closely.
These models have been recommended for voluntary recall by MBIE
Advice for consumers
Advice for members
What has happened?
Serene heaters were deemed a inexpensive and practical product for bathroom heating, they were widely available and hence why they have been fitted into a number of bathrooms in New Zealand.
Any electrical product being imported, sold, or used in must be electrically safe. These heaters were portrayed as such by Serene. Several fires caused by these heaters prompted an investigation by Worksafe. Subsequent testing revealed that this was not the case.
Master Electricians acknowledges that Worksafe, Energy Safety, and MBIE needed to undertake due diligence around the matter. In this time period the company responsible for importing these heaters ceased trading.
Beyond the notable safety concerns the repercussions for the industry are that wholesalers and retailers don’t have redress to claim back from a supplier who ceased trading in New Zealand. Our members and electrical contractors who have installed the affected products have no redress for the cost in uninstalling the recalled heaters and installing their replacements.
The situation has highlighted a glaring issue in the regulatory process for the electrical sector, where MBIE is not allowing the regulator for the electrical industry, Energy Safety, to keep safety regulations up to date, and regulate the electrical industry effectively. This has inherent repercussions in preventing issues, such as those we are currently experiencing.
There has been no significant update since 2013 to electrical safety regulations, and these issues will only worsen if MBIE does not act to let the regulator do what is necessary to maintain and improve electrical safety in New Zealand.
Furthermore, this highlights the need and importance of the Government engaging with industry associations regarding the recent announcement to make it easier and cheaper for construction to use overseas building products by loosening rules. Master Electricians has the ability to pull together industry stakeholders within the sector – wholesalers, retailers, suppliers, and manufacturers – to provide constructive feedback on how to ensure construction is more affordable without compromising the safety of New Zealanders.