Surge Suppressors (Last Updated 06/27/2006)
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) staff is participating in voluntary standard activities related to transient voltage surge suppressor relocatable power taps (surge suppressors). CPSC staff is currently working with Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) Standards Technical Panel 1449, Transient Voltage Surge Suppressors, to address fires caused by overheating of surge suppression components in cord-and-plug connected and direct plug-in devices.
CPSC technical staff reviewed 74 in-depth investigation reports on surge suppressor-related incidents for the period January 1, 1997 through September 1, 2002. Most of these incidents involved fire or potential fire. CPSC staff also conducted 39 technical evaluations of surge suppressors that were collected from incidents that occurred between January 1, 1997 and September 1, 2002. In 25 of the 39 incidents, internal failures within the surge suppressors resulted in fire that penetrated the product enclosures. CPSC staff requested that Underwriters Laboratories develop performance requirements to address the fire hazard associated with component failures in surge suppressors.
Additional Information
voluntary Standard and Code Activities:
Correspondence to Underwriters Laboratories Inc./UL 1449 STP
September 7, 2004, CPSC staff comments to June 11, 2004, bulletin on proposed requirements for the 2nd Edition of UL 1449Correspondence to Underwriters Laboratories Inc.
November 12, 2002, letter requesting new requirements to address fire hazard associated with component failure
Underwriters Laboratories Inc.
For further information concerning UL 1449 Standard for Transient Voltage Surge Suppressors, please contact Brad Schmidt at Bradley.J.Schmidt@us.ul.com
Contact CPSC
For additional information or to comment, please contact CPSC’s Office of the Secretary at cpsc-os@cpsc.gov
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