Free Standing Kitchen Ranges (Last Updated 12/03/2007)
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) staff is supporting voluntary standards activities to review performance requirements for free standing ranges (kitchen stoves) to address stability. Staff is participating in Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Standard Technical Panel (STP) activities for UL 858, Household Electric Ranges.
From January 1, 1980 through December 31, 2006, CPSC staff is aware of 107 incidents associated with range tipovers. The incidents include 33 fatalities. Nearly half of the 33 fatalities (47%) involved children younger than 2 years of age. During this same time period, CPSC received reports of 84 injuries. The majority of injuries, regardless of age, were burns suffered when hot liquids spilled from the pots or pans that tipped when the range tilted.
Anti-tip brackets have been required since approximately 1988; however, concerns have been raised that, despite the brackets being made available, they require special installation procedures which homeowners and/or non-certified installers may disregard. CPSC staff is working with the UL STP to determine if the current range stability requirements are adequate or if additional or modified requirements need to be considered.
Additional Information
Incident Data:
Voluntary Standard and Code Activities
Correspondence to Underwriters Laboratories, July 27, 2007 to request meeting to discuss range stability
Contact Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.
For further information contact Joe Musso at Joseph.R.Musso@us.ul.com
Contact CPSC
For additional information or to comment, please contact cpsc-os@cpsc.gov
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