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CPSC, Cooper Lighting Warn About 500-Watt Halogen Bulbs

Recalled January 30, 2003 · CPSC recall 03077 · Cooper Lighting

Regent 500-watt halogen bulb without Warning LabelWarning Label that will be added to bulb packaging and new bulbs
Hazard
These 500-watt light bulbs generate very high temperatures, compared to incandescent and lower wattage halogen bulbs and can start a fire, if they come in contact with curtains, clothes or other flammable material. These bulbs are intended for use in outdoor work lights and flood lamps. To meet the current Underwriters Laboratories standard, halogen torchiere floor lamps must be equipped with a protective glass or wire guard and have a halogen bulb that is 300 watts or less.
Remedy
Cooper has asked retailers to add the label to bulb packaging currently on store shelves and new 500-watt halogen bulbs will contain the label. Consumers currently using these 500-watt bulbs in a torchiere or indoor residential fixture should remove them immediately. Consumers can continue to use the 500-watt halogen bulbs in work lights, flood lamps, and similar outdoor fixtures.
Units
Nearly 600,000
Incidents / injuries
While Cooper has not received any reports of fires or injuries, the CPSC is aware of at least 290 fires and 25 deaths since 1992, involving halogen torchiere floor lamps.

Description

Current packaging for the Regent 500-Watt Halogen Bulb, with model numbers WM500Q and BP500Q, does not contain the recommended warning label of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The label should read, "Warning: Fire Hazard! Do Not Use In Torchieres Or Other Indoor Residential Fixtures." Cooper has asked retailers to add the label to bulb packaging currently on store shelves and new 500-watt halogen bulbs will contain the label.

What to do

Cooper has asked retailers to add the label to bulb packaging currently on store shelves and new 500-watt halogen bulbs will contain the label. Consumers currently using these 500-watt bulbs in a torchiere or indoor residential fixture should remove them immediately. Consumers can continue to use the 500-watt halogen bulbs in work lights, flood lamps, and similar outdoor fixtures.

Contact

For more information, consumers can contact Cooper Lighting at (800) 954-7145 anytime or log on to the company's website at www.cooperlighting.com

Product
Regent 500-watt halogen bulbs
Manufacturer(s)
Cooper Lighting Inc., of Peachtree City, Ga.
Retailers
Wal-Mart, Lowe's and smaller retail outlets nationwide sold these 500-watt halogen bulbs, between January 1999 and October 2002, for about $4.

Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Official recall notice on cpsc.gov →

CPSC, Cooper Lighting Warn About 500-Watt Halogen Bulbs | RecallWatchUSA