Wednesday 18th June 2014

Residents in Derbyshire are being warned to be extra vigilant when charging electronic cigarettes following incidents where the devices have exploded in people's homes.


Picture courtesy and © scd.france24.com

Derbyshire County Council's trading standards team have issued the warning after several reports of electronic cigarette batteries overheating or exploding while being charged.

In one incident last October, a 68-year-old woman living in a private care home in Hasland, Chesterfield, died following a fire in her room, which firefighters later attributed to an e-cigarette battery part overheating.

County council trading standards officers recently carried out a sampling exercise following dozens of complaints about unsafe e-cigarette chargers and batteries.

They visited 14 shops across the county and bought re-fillable e-cigarettes, wall chargers and e-liquids in March and April mainly from independent shops specialising in the products.

The products were sent away for testing and results showed that many of the items purchased did not meet acceptable safety standards.

Shops found selling the unsafe products have been re-visited and the products have been taken off the shelves.

As well as unsafe products being sold, trading standards are also concerned that people are not using products that are compatible with each other, are not reading instructions on how to charge the products safely and are leaving them unattended while they are charging.

Trading standards have teamed up with Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service to issue the following safety guidelines and are urging anyone who uses e-cigarettes to follow the advice.

The guidelines are:

• Only use the connectors and chargers specifically provided
  for use with the battery
  
  
• Don't buy batteries or other items that don't have instructions -
  all batteries must be sold with instructions for use and always
  follow the manufacturer's advice
  
  
• Don't leave a charging battery unattended
  
  
• Don't exceed the recommended charging time and disconnect
  the battery when charging is complete
  
  
• Only charge in a location fitted with a smoke alarm and well
  away from flammable materials, soft furnishings, beds, sofas
  and carpets
  
  
• Don't charge batteries in an unattended vehicle
  
  
• Handle batteries with care and remove from equipment when
  not in use
  
  
• Replace batteries that have been damaged, dropped or
  overcharged - they may have a higher risk of fire or explosion.
  Use replacements made by the manufacturer that produced the device
  
  
• Be wary of low-priced, unbranded products
  
  
• Keep the original product literature for future reference

Derbyshire County Council Cabinet Member for Health and Communities Councillor, Dave Allen (left), said: "We're not saying don't use these products and I would always encourage people to make every effort to give up smoking.

"What we are saying is that this new technology isn't without potential risks if it is used incorrectly or chargers and batteries are sub-standard.

"A fire at home can have devastating, and even fatal consequences, and we are urging people to follow these simple guidelines and keep themselves safe."

Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service Fire Investigation Station Manager, Mark Bailey said: "I would encourage anyone who uses an e-cigarette to follow the safety advice issued by trading standards to ensure not only their own safety but also everyone in the house.

"It is essential that everyone has a working smoke alarm fitted on every level of their home, to provide vital early warning of a fire."

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