Second Safety Recalls, Luxxtra 250 Watt Series 1800 And 2400 Metal Halide Lighting Fixture

WASHINGTON, DC--In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Lam Lighting Systems, Inc., Wakefield, MA today announced the further recall of 829 Luxxtra 1800 and 2400 Series 250 Watt Metal Halide Lighting Fixtures, sold and installed from 1980 to November 1990. The company reports that the extreme temperatures generated by the metal halide lamps could cause severe distortion or deformation of the light fixture's socket to stem attachment hardware. As a result, the lamp housing can separate and fall from the stem attachment. Any person struck by the falling lamp housing could sustain severe head or bodily injuries.

Fifteen light fixtures have reportedly fallen from the ceilings of buildings from August 1988 to March 1990. These incidents occurred in New Jersey, Michigan, and Arkansas. These metal halide light fixtures were installed nationwide primarily in commercial office buildings, public and university libraries, and in athletic facilities such as school gymnasiums and indoor swimming pools. The incidents occurred after fixtures were in use from one to five years. Though no injuries have been reported, the company believes that some of 829 unlocated light fixtures may be defective and could eventually fall.

A total of 5,514 halide light fixtures were initially recalled in August 1990. As a result, 4,685 fixtures have either been located and corrected or found to be no longer in use. Despite the company's repeated efforts to find and correct all installed light fixtures, 829 light fixtures remain unaccounted for.

Lam Lighting Systems, Inc. requests any unidentified contractor or distributor who may know the location of light fixtures which have not already been corrected, to contact the company. Any owner or end user who may have uncorrected light fixtures should call the company at (617) 245-5115, or write to: Safety Cable Repair Kit, Lam Lighting Systems, Inc., P.O. Box 1111, Wakefield, MA 01880.

The CPSC is issuing this warning as part of its mission to protect the public from unreasonable risks of injury and death associated with consumer products. The CPSC is the Federal agency responsible for product safety. Some 15,000 types of consumer products fall within the Commission's jurisdiction and each year these products are involved in an estimated 29 million injuries and 22,000 deaths.