The authorities have recalled greater than 400,000 solar-powered umbrellas offered at Costco due to overheating and fireplace dangers.
The U.S. Shopper Product Security Fee, which issued the recall on Thursday for the 10-foot SunVilla Photo voltaic LED Market Umbrella, stated customers reported that lithium-ion batteries within the umbrella’s photo voltaic panel can overheat, posing fireplace and burn hazards.
The umbrella, which was offered in quite a lot of colours, has LED lights alongside its arms and a black photo voltaic panel battery puck on the high with a canopy that claims “YEEZE” or “YEEZE 1.” Prospects ought to take away this puck and retailer it away from the solar or flamable materials, the fee stated. Customers shouldn’t cost it with an AC adapter.
Prospects flagged six circumstances during which the lithium-ion batteries overheated, the fee stated. Three of those circumstances included cases during which the photo voltaic panels caught fireplace; two during which the umbrella caught fireplace; and a smoke inhalation harm.
The fee suggested customers to right away cease utilizing the umbrella and stated house owners may return it at any Costco or contact the corporate for a refund.
Costco and SunVilla, the maker of the umbrellas, are contacting recognized purchasers, the fee stated. Neither firm may very well be instantly reached for touch upon Sunday.
The Canadian authorities also issued a recall of nearly 33,000 of the umbrellas. The product was offered from January 2021 by means of Might 2022, in response to the Canadian government’s consumer recall, whereas the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said the product was available online and at Costco warehouses, promoting for $130 to $160, from December 2020 by means of Might 2022.
Lithium batteries have been related to fires in different merchandise, resulting in will increase in deaths and accidents, the New York Fire Department has said on Facebook. As of late final 12 months, fires attributable to lithium-ion batteries that the division responded to elevated to 93, from 44 in 2020, and 4 deaths had been attributed to lithium-ion battery fires, up from zero in 2020, the division stated.
In April, 4 separate fires inside 24 hours had been attributable to these batteries in electrical scooters and bikes, inflicting 12 accidents, the department said.
“If utilizing a lithium battery, comply with the producer’s directions for charging and storage,” the division stated. “At all times use the producer’s twine and energy adapter made particularly for the machine. If a battery overheats, discontinue use instantly.”
In Vancouver, Canada, lithium-ion battery fires turned the highest trigger of fireside deaths in 2022, with 5 deaths reported as of June 13, the authorities said.
