The Minister for Financial Services & Regulation, Joe Hockey, today ordered the urgent compulsory product safety recall of up to 4500 fire doors made using a pyrokor core and supplied between 1 January 1993 and 3 September 1998.
The fire doors were made and supplied by Theo Holdings Pty Ltd and Barok Industries Pty Ltd (formerly trading as Korab & Co Pty Ltd and Korab Industries Pty Ltd).
In March 1999, the Minister ordered an investigation after he received evidence the fire doors might not meet the safety requirements of the Building Code of Australia.
Fire doors must be rated in accordance with the Building Code requirements to contain fire for a specified period of time.
For example, a one-hour rated fire door must withstand the passage of fire for at least one hour. This would allow the occupants of a building time to evacuate in the event of a fire and also protect firefighters.
"The fire doors in question were installed in many public buildings and it is essential that, in the event of a fire, they fulfil their proper function of impeding fire until young, elderly or infirm occupants are evacuated," the Minister said.
"I do not take this decision lightly. However, the safety of Australians is my paramount concern. I simply will not gamble when it comes to peoples' safety."
As part of the investigation, the CSIRO conducted three separate tests on pyrokor fire doors obtained from public buildings.
"All the doors tested did not achieve their claimed fire resistance level ratings, and thus represent a threat to the safety of consumers in the event of a fire. Accordingly, I have ordered a compulsory product recall, with priority to be given to doors installed in nursing homes, hospitals and other buildings where the occupants might need help to evacuate."
The recall has been ordered under section 65F of the Trade Practices act 1974, on the grounds that the fire doors do not meet the mandatory safety requirements of the Building Code of Australia and, therefore, they will or may cause injury in the event of a fire in premises where these doors are installed.
It is understood that these fire doors were supplied primarily in southern Queensland and northern NSW. The compulsory recall does not apply to fire doors supplied after 3 September 1998 by the new owner of the Korab company name.
The notice to recall the fire doors will be gazetted tomorrow. The notice requires the fire door suppliers to take action to advertise the recall and establish a 1800 number within seven days.
The supplier must then start recall action - identifying the building premises, arranging with building owners and/or original builders to replace or repair the doors and bring them up to safety standards.
The cost of the recall is to be met by the suppliers. The recall notice specifies best endeavours to have the recall program completed within six months.