Are fridge/freezers firebomb?

[melthebell]

be awkward throwing a fridge freezer tho tbh if you was trying to firebomb a shop

[woolyhead]

Some answers here- it seems this type uses quiet, variable speed DC motors controlled by (digital) electronics. Could be good, possibly safer, although if it went wrong..........£££££?

 

https://www.quora.com/What-is-a-digital-inverter-compressor-in-a-refrigerator

 

In this diagram the back of the fridge has hot coils on it. On my machine there are no such coils and it's cold, colder than the room temperature. Why or how is this?

Edited July 3, 2017 by woolyhead

[El Cid]

In rare cases, the compressor pump can seize then overheat and ignite excess fluff, paper etc that might be around.

 

A friend was saying that the problem is that many things are made from plastic, so they burn. It was said that fridges in the USA are safer because they use more metal and less plastic. Its down to what regulations they are made to.

[tinfoilhat]

Dont some countries have laws where all appliances must have (or at least the equivelent of) PAT testing? If grenfell tower was an office block, everything would (or at least should) have been tested. Should that be a law thats brought in - at least in high rise tower blocks?

[carosio]

Dont some countries have laws where all appliances must have (or at least the equivelent of) PAT testing? If grenfell tower was an office block, everything would (or at least should) have been tested. Should that be a law thats brought in - at least in high rise tower blocks?

 

Question is, who would pay for it, how often, and would it be just for large appliances such as fridges/freezers/cookers/tvs/microwaves? In addition there could be a up to a couple of dozen other devices in a household that rely on safe wiring/insulation.

[tinfoilhat]

Question is, who would pay for it, how often, and would it be just for large appliances such as fridges/freezers/cookers/tvs/microwaves? In addition there could be a up to a couple of dozen other devices in a household that rely on safe wiring/insulation.

 

If you are a landlord you must to the best of my knowledge have a gas boiler checked and serviced in a property you rent out. Im not sure if its the same case with any electrical appliances that are being supplied by a landlord. In the case of grenfell tower, it will be down to the council or management company. Again, all those things youve listed have to be tested if they were in an office or warehouse, pub etc - and theyre probably more likely to be newer and looked after.

[carosio]

In this diagram the back of the fridge has hot coils on it. On my machine there are no such coils and it's cold, colder than the room temperature. Why or how is this?

 

Sorry, can't answer you on that one, perhaps your model has a conventional compressor.

 

Whilst searching I came across this report from 2009 (the Hotpoint fridge model which was described as "exploding" was made between 2006 and 2009):

 

http://www.dailymail/news/article-1210334-alert-new-wave-exploding-fridges-caused-environmentally-friendly-coolant.html

[richb99]

Fridge freezers are left on all the time and therefor pose a bigger risk than other appliances. The videos showing plastic backed fridges burning uncontrollably after 90 seconds, compared to the metal backed ones which self extinguished after 20 minutes, makes me think the plastic backed ones should be banned in a similar way to upholstery foam in furniture. The price (sometimes marginal) isn't everything.

Edited July 3, 2017 by richb99

[carosio]

Looks like my Beko has a plastic (foamed) back, labelled C and I-Pentane, which is the type of insulation foam used and in many other makes.

[woolyhead]

I've asked LG the questions that I asked this forum but so far, one week after asking, they haven't replied. They may not do so of course, as they wouldn't want to admit that any fire hazard exists. I have always gotten the best answers from this forum plus good comments.