SIEMENS GFCI BREAKERS ON HOT TUBS AND SPAS

NEWS from CPSC

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

CPSC, Siemens Energy & Automation Inc. Announce
Recall of GFCI Circuit Breakers Used with Hot Tubs and Spas

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Siemens Energy & Automation Inc. of Alpharetta, Ga., is voluntarily recalling about 144,000 2-pole ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) circuit breakers, typically used with hot tubs and spas to prevent shock or electrocution. These GFCI circuit breakers could overheat and lose their ability to prevent injury or death.

Siemens is not aware of any injuries involving these circuit breakers. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injury.

The 2-pole GFCI circuit breakers involved in this recall carry the Siemens or Murray brand name. The face of the black plastic units have a large, white button with the word "TEST" molded into it. The circuit breaker's rating is printed in white at each end of the handle's horizontal bar. A product identification sticker is affixed to the face of each unit near the "TEST" button. The word "Siemens" or "Murray" will be found at the top of the sticker, and the phrase "2 Pole Unit" is printed on the bottom of the sticker. Only 2-pole units are being recalled.

The GFCI circuit breakers were sold primarily to electrical contractors and hot tub manufacturers through independent wholesale electrical distributors. A small percentage were sold to contractors and consumers through home improvement stores. They were sold nationwide from March 1996 through April 1998 for about $100.

Consumers should switch the recalled GFCI circuitbreaker to the "off" position immediately to disconnect the power supply. Consumers should call Siemens at (800) 443-2123 between 7 a.m. and 12 midnight EST Monday through Friday or between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. EST Saturday and Sunday to arrange to have qualified personnel replace the breakers at no charge to the consumer. Consumers should not attempt to remove the GFCI circuit breaker because high voltage can cause death or serious injury. Consumers should not use their hot tubs and spas until a replacement breaker has been installed.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission protects the public from the unreasonable risk of injury or death from 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury and for information on CPSC's fax-on-demand service, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270. To order a press release through fax-on-demand, call (301) 504-0051 from the handset of your fax machine and enter the release number. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information via Internet gopher services at cpsc.gov or report product hazards to info@cpsc.gov.

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