Recall: Ceiling Fans Recalled by Emerson Electric

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 12, 1999 Release # 99-047

Company Phone Number: (877) FAN KITS CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: Kim Dulic, (301) 504-7058

CPSC, Emerson Electric Co. Announce Recall to Repair Ceiling Fans

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the Air Comfort Products Division of Emerson Electric Co., of St. Louis, Mo., is recalling about 20,000 ceiling fan installation kits. Over time, the bracket holding the fan can fail, causing the fan to fall or hang by its electric wires. The fans can fall at anytime, possibly causing injuries to bystanders. In addition, exposed wires could pose an electrical shock hazard.

Emerson Electric is aware of 12 reports of the brackets failing, causing the fans to fall. A 13-year-old boy suffered a laceration on the nose from a falling ceiling fan.

These ceiling fan kits are model CF10N1 made to use with Emerson fans. The kit is used when a fan is installed on a sloped ceiling or in a "close to the ceiling" mode. The kit only poses a hazard when installed in the "close to the ceiling" mode -- which allows the fan to be mounted higher on low ceilings. The outside housing or canopy of the kit comes in two pieces, and was sold in five colors -- brown, polished brass, antique brass, white and antique white.

Lighting showrooms, electrical distributors and hardware stores sold these ceiling fan kits from December 1984 through December 1989 for about $20.

Consumers should immediately check to see if their Emerson ceiling fan's housing has a two-piece canopy. Air Comfort will arrange to help consumers identify if their ceiling fans are part of this recall and provide installation if needed. Consumers should immediately stop using the ceiling fans installed with these kits and have them repaired. To verify a fan is part of this recall, to receive a repair kit or for more information, consumers should call Air Comfort at (877) FAN KITS between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST Monday through Friday.