Safety probe gives all clear to Hotpoint fridge-freezers

Whirlpool has announced that the two Hotpoint fridge-freezer models implicated in last year’s Grenfell Tower fire in London have been exonerated by two separate investigations.

It has confirmed that the Hotpoint FF175BP and FF175BG fridge-freezers are safe to use.

They have been rigorously tested and analysed since it was claimed the tower block blaze, in which 71 people died, may have originated in the vicinity of a Hotpoint fridge-freezer model number FF175BP.

Two investigations were undertaken – one led by the Government’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), and a second by product safety experts at Whirlpool Corporation.

Both independently found no evidence of any fault with the FF175BP model, or its colour variant, the FF175BG. They also confirmed that they complied fully with all current legal, safety, and regulatory requirements.

BEIS today (May 15) announced that, based on these findings, it has advised Whirlpool there is no reason to undertake a recall or any other kind of corrective action.

It also confirmed there is no reason to change the advice previously given to consumers that they may continue to use these appliances as normal.

From June last year, as a precautionary measure, Whirlpool invited consumers who owned these models to contact them and register their details so they could be reached if it was necessary to provide further information. The company said it would like to thank all the owners who got in touch, and is currently contacting each of them directly to provide this update.

Said Whirlpool spokesman Jeff Noel: “Nothing matters more to us than people’s safety. We wish to reassure consumers that these models are safe and that people may continue to use them as normal.

“We have fully cooperated with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy as it undertook its full and thorough investigations and has now confirmed that there are no concerns with these models.

“We wish to thank all owners of these appliances for their patience while these investigations have been carried out.

“With over 100 years of manufacturing experience, we have industry-leading processes that continuously review all our products to ensure they are safe.”

He added: “We are committed to assisting the Grenfell Tower Inquiry in any way we can as it sets out to examine all the potential causes of the fire and how it spread.

“We extend our deepest sympathies to all those affected by the fire – to the victims, those who have lost loved ones, homes, and possessions, and to their friends and families.”

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