Industry support for heater labelling proposals

MEDIA RELEASE

15 September 2010

Industry support for heater labelling proposals

New labelling proposals that will hammer home how to use LPG cabinet heaters responsibly and effectively have been welcomed by the LPG industry.

“We take this issue very seriously and invest a lot of time and effort in public awareness campaigns to stress these points,” said LPG Association executive director, Peter Gilbert.

The Ministry of Economic Development has issued proposals that will make cabinet heaters ‘declared articles’.

This move puts additional responsibilities on manufactures to provide evidence of an appliance’s safety rating before it can be sold in New Zealand.

It also means these heaters will wear new labelling that highlights how they should be used for maximum safety and effectiveness.

“There are hundreds of thousands of these heaters in use in New Zealand and it is important to ensure owners and users know how to use them properly and responsibly,” Mr Gilbert said.

“These new proposals will certainly help.”

He said cabinet heaters must always be used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

They are not suitable for all situations and should not be used in households where occupants are infirm or incapable of manhandling the appliance, or which may have children suffering from asthma or chest complaints.

The LPG Association produces an annual awareness campaign which stresses five basic rules of responsible use of cabinet heaters.

These rules are:

Test your connections.
Keep a safe space around the heater.
Keep a window partly open to ensure a flow of fresh air.
Use your nose and if you smell LPG turn off immediately.
Service your heater annually.
Only keep a maximum of 20kg of LPG indoors.

ENDS

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