183,000 lighting fixtures recalled due to shock and fire risk

Consumers should check their home for any of the light fixtures listed in two recalls on Monday by government safety regulators.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced two recalls involving ceiling mounted and wall mounted light fixtures that pose a shock and fire hazard to consumers.

The first recall is for 28 different models of Thomas Lighting Ceiling Flush Mount Lighting Fixtures. The company has received eleven reports of defective fixtures that tripped the home’s Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI) and determined the events are due to degrading of insulation on the fixtures’ socket wire that caused electricity to pass to its metal canopy.

The recall affects about 83,750 Thomas Lighting Ceiling Flush Mount Lighting Fixtures.

Thomas Lighting mainly sold these fixtures through lighting showrooms and electrical distributors across the United States between July 2010 and July 2011 for $19-$50.

Consumers can identify the recalled Thomas Lighting fixtures by their dome shaped light cover and a round base, or canopy attached to the ceiling. They were sold in diameters ranging from 7.5 inches to 13 inches. The bases came in a variety of finishes, including white and gold, bronze and nickel tones. The dome cover came in clear or frosted glass.

While a printed label on the ceiling side of the base contains the manufacturers name, model number and production date, consumers should not attempt removal of the base from the ceiling to access the label.

“Thomas Lighting is offering to replace the socket(s) in any affected Thomas Lighting ceiling flush mount lighting fixture(s) you may have,” the company said. “Thomas Lighting has made arrangements through your local Thomas Lighting distributor to have the socket(s) replaced by a certified electrician at no cost to you.”

Thomas Lighting advises consumers who think their ceiling flush mount lighting fixture could be part of this recall should immediately stop using the light, do not touch it and call the manufacturer at (800) 764-0756 to arrange for a free in-home repair of the fixture by a qualified electrician.

Consumers should have the following information ready when calling:

• If you purchased the lighting fixtures yourself: the name of the Thomas Lighting distributor from whom you purchased the fixture and the date of your purchase.
• If the fixtures were already installed in your home when you moved in: (a) the date you moved into the house, (b) the year your home was built and the approximate month the light fixtures may have been installed in your home (near the end of construction), and (c) the city and state in which you live along with your zip code. (Note, your homebuilder should be able to provide you with the approximate month the light fixtures were installed.)

The second recall is for about 99,700 outdoor wall mount lanterns imported by Bel Air Lighting of Valencia, CA. The company is aware of seven incidents involving these lighting fixtures, including two reports of the lanterns catching fire, and determined an electrical short can occur in the lanterns' internal wiring, posing a risk of fire, burn and electric shock to consumers.

Consumers may have purchased these light fixtures at Lowe’s stores or Lowes.com under the Portfolio brand name with item number 253366 or at lighting showrooms with item number 44181 from June 2006 through May 2012 for about $48.

They can identify the recalled outdoor wall mount lanterns by the part number “E194303” printed on the base plate and on the label attached to one of the light sockets. The lanterns are rust-colored cast aluminum with a question mark shaped metal arm that connects the lantern with the wall mount plate, beveled glass panels and three light sockets inside. The lighting fixture measures 19.25-inches tall by 9.75-inches wide by 9.25-inches deep.

Consumers who determine they have any of these recalled Bel Air Lighting outdoor wall mount lanterns should stop using them immediately and call the company at (888) 770-7018 for a free replacement lantern.