|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) estimates in 2001 put the number of residential fires caused by movable or "space" room heaters in the US at over 25,000 per year. More than 300 persons die in these fires and an estimated 6,000 persons receive hospital emergency room care for burn injuries associated with contacting hot surfaces of room heaters, says CPSC. In India, we do not have any such data, but in March this year, newspapers reported the tragic death of a couple from Ludhiana, while on their honeymoon in Kashmir. Initial reports said the death was believed to be caused by "gas leakage" from the room heater. The exact nature of the room heater or the gas used were not mentioned, but it is quite possible that the death could have been caused by accumulation of carbon monoxide in the room. In the US, gas-fired room heaters are required to be equipped with an oxygen-depletion sensor which shuts off the heater before a hazardous level of carbon monoxide accumulates. Today, we have a variety of gadgets to heat the house in winter, but barring the most basic of home heating devices — the radiator (that consists of a reflective surface and one or two heating elements which together provide the heat), none of the other heating devices are under mandatory quality certification. The Electrical Wires, Cables, Appliances and Protection Devices and Accessories (Quality Control) order covers only radiators among the home-heating devices. This means that there is no third party certifying and guaranteeing the safety of the other heating devices available in the market. This is a major lacuna as far as consumer safety is concerned and the government should bring all these heating devices under mandatory certification. In fact, Ahmedabad-based consumer group Consumer Education and Research Society (CERS) recently tested eight brands of heaters-with-fans against the standards formulated by the Bureau of Indian Standards. The test results also highlight the urgent need for bringing them under mandatory certification. The tests have also focused on the need for upgrading the BIS standards. Of the eight different brands of room heaters tested, CERS found only three brands conforming to the safety and performance parameters. The rest failed in one test or the other. For example, ‘thermal cut-out’ is a necessary safety device meant to protect the gadget from high voltages that may cause overheating. Out of the eight brands tested, one did not have the thermal cut-out at all. Out of the seven that had, three did not work. Similarly, out of the eight, four brands did not even have a thermostat. Of the remaining four, the thermostat did not function in one brand. A thermostat is a temperature-sensing device and can be adjusted to achieve the desired temperature. As per BIS standard, these room heaters should have either a thermostat or a thermal cut-out, says CERS. So you can imagine how safe these gadgets are. In recent years, the markets are full of oil heaters. In these heaters, hot oil that circulates in the fins warms up the room. These heaters look good and are said to be far more efficient, but they are also comparatively expensive. Besides, in these kind of heaters, oil leakage is a possibility, if the metal used for the fins is not of good quality or if the fins are not welded properly. So you have look at the quality and safety of the product before you buy. For that matter, whichever heater you buy, safety is one of the most important features to look for. And so also energy efficiency of the product. And this is where a certification from a third party would be of immense help in choosing the right heater. So if you are buying a room heater this winter, here is a checklist: 1.Safety first: check how safe the product is. What are the safety features in the product? Do they have a certificate from the Bureau of Indian standards? If you are buying radiators, do not buy them if they do not have an ISI mark 2.Find out their energy efficiency and buy only those that are most energy-efficient. 3.Ask about the guarantee /warranty on the product. What does it cover and for how many years? 4.Check on the after-sales service too 5.Many of these products carry an exaggerated maximum retail price. So bargain hard and get the best price. Similarly, remember these safety tips during usage 1.Always keep them on a hard, level surface, away from paper, clothes, curtains, carpets plastic, etc. 2. Switch them off before going to sleep and also when you go out of the house. 3. Have them serviced
every year from a qualified technician and ensure that they are
maintained properly.
|
