FM Approvals has been made aware of a manufacturing defect that affects the performance of the copper burst disk in the carbon dioxide (CO₂) Klem valve, a component of the Kidde Fire Protection High Pressure Carbon Dioxide Extinguishing System.

Company Identity: Kidde Products Limited

Address: 1st Floor - Stokenchurch House, Oxford Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, H14 3SX, United Kingdom

Contact Information: Product Management +44 (0) 1524 264 080 or kidde.recall@kiddeuk.co.uk

Product Identity: Part Numbers 1-E7194-001-11, 1-K24069/FM, 1-E7194-001-01, 1-E7194-002

Description: Kidde Fire Protection CO₂ Cylinder Valve Assemblies

Nameplate Data: Cylinder Batch Serial Nos. B42140-B43271 manufactured in 2011

FM Approval Status: FM Approved

Hazard Involved: The safety burst discs for the described cylinder valves are designed to rupture as a means of emergency pressure relief when the cylinder storage temperature exceeds 63°C (145°F). A customer has notified Kidde that certain assemblies in their possession have had the burst discs rupture at ambient temperatures as low as 43°C (114.8°F). A rupture at temperatures this low can potentially expose personnel to CO₂, which can result in asphyxiation at high enough concentrations, as well as contact frost burns. This type of failure would also result in the loss of system availability.