Voluntary Corrective Action Plan For Paddle Fans

Washington, D.C. -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, NuTone of Cincinnati, Ohio today announced a voluntary corrective action plan for approximately 250,000 "NuTone" brand fans manufactured since May, 1983. The Company has received reports of several incidents of fans falling, including 4 incidents involving personal injury.

The paddle fans involved have a ball and socket ceiling mounting device. Under certain conditions, the ball may pull through the socket allowing the fan to fall. Only those NuTone paddle fans manufactured and sold after May 1, 1983, are involved in the corrective action plan. MuTone fans can be identified by the name "NuTone" stamped on each of the 4 blade irons which connect the fan blades to the paddle fan.

The plan calls for the addition of a retaining ring which will be installed free of charge to all installations containing ball and socket mounting device made on or after May 1, 1983. This ring will prevent the ball from pulling through the socket and will help insure that the fan will not fall.

Consumers in the continental United States with NuTone Paddle Fans installed on or after May 1, 1983, should call l-800-543-8687; consumers in Ohio should call l-800-582-2030. All others should write NuTone, Madison and Red Banks Road, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45227, Attention: Paddle Fans. Give name, address and telephone number plus a simple statement "Paddle Fan Inspection Desired". NuTone will arrange for a service representative to inspect the fan and install the retaining ring.

The paddle fans were sold nationwide between May 1983 and July 1984, through NuTone electrical distributors.

Information concerning this corrective action plan is also available to consumers by calling CPSC's toll-free Hotline at 800-638-CPSC. The teletypewriter number for the hearing-impaired is 800-638-8270.