Notice Type
Authorities/Other Agencies of State
Notice Title

Electricity Regulations (Prohibited Electrical Appliances - Goldair Branded Wall-mounted Fan Heaters Models 3108 and 3109) Notice 2014

Pursuant to Regulation 87 of the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010 ("the Regulations"), I, Mark Stephen Wogan, Manager, Energy Safety, WorkSafe New Zealand, give the following notice.
N o t i c e
1. Short title and commencement-(1) This notice is the Electricity Regulations (Prohibited Electrical Appliances - Goldair Branded Wall-mounted Fan Heaters Models 3108 and 3109) Notice 2014.
(2) This prohibition is to take effect on and from the date following the date of publication of this notice in the New Zealand Gazette.
2. Prohibited equipment-The sale (including offer to sell), and use of the electrical appliances, being "Goldair Branded Wall-mounted Fan Heaters Models 3108 and 3109" as prescribed in this notice, are prohibited.
3. Description-(1) The Goldair Branded Wall-mounted Fan Heaters Models 3108 and 3109 ("prohibited appliances") to which this notice applies are products that are used primarily in bathrooms and are intended to be wall mounted, further described below.
(2) The prohibited appliances have been sold nationally by various electrical retail outlets, most likely prior to 2010. The prohibited appliances may also have been available elsewhere including second-hand in New Zealand.
(3) The prohibited appliances have known markings that include:
- "Goldair", "Model 3108", "220-240V 50Hz", "1000/2000-1200/2400 W", "DO NOT IMMERSE", "DO NOT COVER", and includes the Class II double insulation symbol; or
- "Goldair", "Model No. 3109", "230-240Va.c.- 50Hz", "IP22", "Wattage:2400W", "DO NOT IMMERSE", "DO NOT COVER", and includes the Class II double insulation symbol.
(4) The approximate overall dimensions of the prohibited appliances are: 23.5 x 23.5 x 13.5cm.
(5) The prohibited appliances have an off-white coloured plastic enclosure, pull-cord operation, separate wall-mounting bracket and a red indicator light. The Goldair 3108 has two power output levels and the 3109 has a single power output level.
(6) The images shown below are views of one sample of the Goldair branded wall-mounted fan heater model 3108, produced for identification purposes. The Goldair model 3019 is similar in appearance.


Figure 1 Front view of a Goldair 3108 wall heater. Figure 2 Side view of a Goldair 3108 wall heater.
4. Details of hazard-The prohibited appliances are, or may be, electrically unsafe in that:
(a) The materials used for the construction of the appliance and/or the appliance itself are such that they do not function safely in both normal and abnormal conditions so as to prevent fire or the appliance overheating (Regulation 23(1)(b)).
(b) There have been multiple house fires involving the prohibited appliances.
5. Reasons for prohibition-The prohibited appliances described in this notice are, or may be, electrically unsafe as defined in Regulation 5 of the Regulations, in that there is significant risk that a person may suffer harm or significant property damage may occur as a result of dangers arising from the continued use of, or passage of electricity through, the appliances. There is therefore a significant risk of further fires associated with the continued use of appliances of the same construction that are still in use.
Dated at Wellington this 23rd day of June 2014.
MARK STEPHEN WOGAN, Manager, Energy Safety, WorkSafe New Zealand.