Portable butane cookers withdrawn from sale in NSW

[sweetpea]

This was posted on the ironman 4x4 facebook page.  Seems it's stems from idiots not reading the instructions. Some used one without turning the trivet over, and then used a large pan. Heat the was deflected into the canister and it blew up

I have had two of these over the last 10 years and both had an interlock that prevented the gas being turned on unless the trivet was the right way up and installed correctly.

Something doesn't smell quite right in this story.

S.

[alnjan]

And I have yet to see a list of the 31 brands that are supposedly being recalled. And are there any that are "safe" and not on the recall list. Or are there only 31 brands sold and all are being recalled.
Nothing yet on here https://www.recalls.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/952434

They are not being recalled. 

Read the post

http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/ftw/About_us/News_and_events/Media_releases/2015_media_releases/20150304_public_warning_on_portable_butane.page?DCSext.ref=HomePageClick:ScamandAlerts

“We recommend consumers do not buy portable cookers of this type,” Mr Stowe said.
“Compliance certification for all current models of ‘lunchbox’ type gas cookers has been suspended by the independent safety certifiers and cookers of this type can no longer be sold lawfully in NSW.
“Up to 31 models of butane gas cookers have been withdrawn from sale as they do not meet Australian Standards. Retailers in NSW should no longer be stocking or selling these products.
Mr Stowe said consumers who have purchased cookers should refrain from using them.
“Consumers who have purchased a non-compliant gas cooker and have proof of the purchase should return the product to their retailer and seek a refund of the full purchase price as soon as possible.

We will choose to not refrain from using our cookers as they work well

[KingBilly]

As I posted this alert/warning originally, and since there have been some questioning regarding its authenticity, I have just phoned Fair Trading NSW and I can confirm that this is genuine.  If anybody has any doubts, feel free to phone 133220 and confirm it for yourself.

KB

[fluids]

Trivet not turned over correctly ... add a large frypan or as I've seen done, a BBQ plate ..... AND LOTS of people use a folding wind break around the stove .... which just adds to the problem. I've seen these things flame out from poorly fitted canisters (father in law has 2x and I cringe everytime he uses them as he's a bit slap happy).

Before we got the camper we were using 2x Coleman 533 single burner pressure stoves (replaced all our old out of date gas cylinders). They work fantastic on shellite or ULP .... Sit a pot stand over the stove, add a large frypan, and wrap a wind break around the setup, and the fuel tank gets to insanely high temperatures (way way too hot to touch) ... and that's pressurized Shellite/ULP in a heavy steel pressure cylinder under the flame/burner ...

... not a lightweight steel tin can next to the burner ....

I'd be eerrring on the side of safety until there's a clearer outcome on the fair trading notice.

For the saftey of the lowest common denominator .... Darwin award anyone ? 

[sweetpea]

Darwin was an optimist.

[edz]

Dundaburra campground on Fraser, Three back packers [ Nice Danish / german girls ] set up a 4.5 kg gas bottle on the picknic table beside us [ all the paint had been burnt off the top section ], then put  a large saucepan on the top ring handle open tap and light it , huge orange yellow flames and black smoke .. Nooooo !!!! ... Got very upset when I turned it off and tried to explain why ... After digging through there gear we found the screw on burner / cooker that fitted the gas bottle ...They had cooked on the bottle for three days prior .. So how close did they come to going home in a pine board box ..

[GGV8Cruza]

None on the shelves at Anaconda this afternoon.

GG

[InMused]

Dundaburra campground on Fraser, Three back packers [ Nice Danish / german girls ] set up a 4.5 kg gas bottle on the picknic table beside us [ all the paint had been burnt off the top section ], then put  a large saucepan on the top ring handle open tap and light it , huge orange yellow flames and black smoke .. Nooooo !!!! ... Got very upset when I turned it off and tried to explain why ... After digging through there gear we found the screw on burner / cooker that fitted the gas bottle ...They had cooked on the bottle for three days prior .. So how close did they come to going home in a pine board box ..

That's just bloody scary.  Well done for intervening.

[Herks]

The article says,  “Consumers who have purchased a non-compliant gas cooker and have proof of the purchase should return the product to their retailer and seek a refund of the full purchase price as soon as possible."
So are there any compliant ones of this type?   It is a shame as they are dam handy.  Kevin

Well I have 2 as well and checking the model numbers on the Fair Trading attachment, my 2 are not listed. They both have an AGA approval and both were manufactured in 2008 and still going great.
Go figure!!!
Ta
John

[Pog]

None on the shelves at Anaconda this afternoon.

GG

Same in Adelaide. I asked if I could get a few cheap, but they frowned upon it... They don't have a sense of humour.

I have used the same one for years, and never had a problem with it.

[slcs78]

When did fair trading make this public? We removed ours a week ago from sale

[olddigger]

My BigW (Perth northern suburbs) had racks full of the canisters for sale today. Didn't look for stoves. I have two of these and they are good gear.
When I bought the first one, my initial thought was : don't use a big pan which overlaps that canister!
If we now have to legislate to stop stupidity, this country is in more trouble than I feared.

Cheers, Tony

[dales133]

Will the canisters still be avaliable?
Does anyone know?

[edz]

I know Im about to go get a few extra packs of them today just in case.

[gordo350]

Is it only the models listed that are dangerous.  Mine is not listed and I have noticed that if is is in direct sun the lever that activates the canister pops up. It wont re engage till it has cooled down.  Do the listed models not do this?

[paceman]

Is it only the models listed that are dangerous.  Mine is not listed and I have noticed that if is is in direct sun the lever that activates the canister pops up. It wont re engage till it has cooled down.  Do the listed models not do this?

i would say that if it is not currently on the list, then by definition, it is not affected.... BUT

that's not to say it won't be on the list tomorrow, or the next day, or the next day...

they recommend that you don't use this style of cooker any more... take that as you wish, but i'm going to keep using mine as it is not on the list at the moment...

[dales133]

Might have to go get a bunch of canisters today

[paceman]

for those looking at stocking up:

supercheapauto
campmaster - 4 pack - $4.48 ($1.12 each)  CRV confirmed

rays outdoors
campmaster - 6 pack - $6.49 ($1.08 each) CRV confirmed
wild country - 6 pack - $6.49 ($1.08 each) CRV confirmed

bcf
campmaster - 6 pack - $7.99 ($1.33 each) CRV confirmed

bunnings
gasmate - 4 pack - $4.40 ($1.10 each) CRV status unknown


these are just their online prices... YMMV...


edit:  CRV status of canisters added, as per KingBilly's post...

[jswaggerking]

Don't know why it's taken so long for them to test and recall these thing have been around for years -.-


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[dales133]

Km art were pretty cheap last time I was in there too

[KingBilly]

Make sure you only buy CRV canisters

Tink

[Fathom]

I remember at Bribie Island once seeing one go up in flames.
To be fair to the design. They were using it without taking it properly out of the plastic case and the plate up the wrong way...
When done. They just closed the case.
Perhaps turning the gas/flame off first may have saved their stove.  As a first step at least.

[dales133]

Make sure you only buy CRV canisters

Tink

Pretty sure rays ect would only have the right ones....but I've been wrong once before

[KingBilly]

Pretty sure rays ect would only have the right ones....but I've been wrong once before

One would hope the majors are.  But unfortunately non CRV cannisters are still being sold.  Buyer beware.

Tink

[#jonesy]

Looking at it if used correctly they would be safe, and is probably how it was tested. Obviously there have been a number of accidents , likely from incorrect use. My wife at one point didn't seat the can properly so it was leaking as soon as the lever was lowered and turned it on. Lucky I was there and simply flicked the lever up and out went the flame.

I have a double  with a plate that happens to be the perfect size. I can see a possibility of accidently sliding the plate to one side over the can. Not through ignorance or stupidty, but simply turning I er the bacon and eggs. That's the flaw in the design. If it had a short windbreak or similar between the trivet and can area, to stop pans fitting may be all that's needed.

Why don't they read the instructions?  Simply do YOU read the instructions on everything you use?



Anaconda have the cans 4 for $3.99