Mend > Steam Irons

Dangerous 13 Amp plugs on a Breville iron?

Are there any other examples out there of the back cover on a 13 Amp plug as fitted from new to a Breville VIN214 'TECHnique digital' steam iron simply falling off while the plug is still fitted to a wall socket exposing the electric terminals within carrying 240 Volts mains electricity?

The plug, which has BSI Kitemark approval licence KM/09977, is so designed that the attachment of the back cover can break easily as a result of its initial fitting by the iron manufacturer with potentially lethal consequences.

Bryan N
August 2012

Breville Breville VIN214 Household Appliances, Steam Irons Plugs Plug Fitted

Problem has now been taken up by Trading Standards after further conversation - so await outcome! :-)

Bryan N
August 2012

Nigel,

I did and was asked what evidence I had that the problem was widespread - which is why I'm asking the question because the design fault is clearly apparent even to a year one engineering student but I have no means of knowing if anyone else has suffered the same problem. I get the impression that someone needs to be electrocuted through the back falling off one of these plugs before anyone will take the problem seriously.
I've also complained to the BSI who allowed their kitemark to adorn this plug to suggest that they are wrong to have done so. Their response is the usual 'corporate BS' with the standard comment "BSI prides itself .... etc, etc" and telling me that any discussion they have with the plug manufacturer cannot be reported back to me for "reasons of confidentiality between BSI and their client (the manufacturer)"!

Bryan N
August 2012

Take it to your local trading standards office, they will take it up for you, obviously a design flaw

nigel
August 2012