Refrigerators are probably too innocuous a domestic electrical appliance to warrant any serious concern over their safety.
But the results of a test to monitor the safety of refrigerators available in the local market have produced quite a different picture.
In fact, not one single refrigerator, included in the test, could achieve full compliance with the latest international safety standard (IEC60335-2-24:2002).
The test was conducted by the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD), in collaboration with the Consumer Council, on 11 models of the 2-door type, ranging in price from $1,430 to $4,980, and in power from 95 W to 156 W.
The first and foremost deficiency concerned insufficient electrical protection against accidental contact.
The internal wires with basic insulation of the samples, according to the test, could be accessed by a test finger and come in contact with the body, posing potential hazard of a nasty electric shock.
Another potential hazard concerned their flammability. The test showed that enclosures of some of the models of refrigerators could not withstand and failed the needle-flame test which meant a refrigerator may catch and spread fire in the event the nearby surrounding was set aflame.
Other common deficiencies included: earthing terminal screws without the secure means against loosening, and lacking appropriate warning labels.
However, the EMSD assured that there is no cause for immediate concern in the continued use of these refrigerators in question, as all samples had complied with the previous version of the safety standard or equivalent available in other countries.
Nonetheless, manufacturers are urged to improve the designs and materials used for refrigerators in order to comply with the latest safety standard requirement.
Consumers, on the other hand, are advised not to attempt maintenance themselves including such seemingly easy task as replacing light fittings. Instead, always arrange for a registered electrician to carry out the work.
For comparison, the samples were rated based on their score on: protection against electric shock (30%), flammability (30%), construction (25%), provision for earthing (10%) and marking and instruction (5%).
Overall, the samples were favourably rated with score ranging from the least 4 points to the maximum 5 points, on a scale of five.
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