Cookers with a separate grill implicated in 6 deaths
On cookers with a separate grill, operating the grill with the grill door closed restricts the air supply to the burner. This can cause dangerously high levels of carbon monoxide to build up rapidly. The grill door must always be open when the grill burner is in use. Double oven cookers with a top oven/grill are not affected – this warning applies only to models with a separate pull-down grill door.
Specific cookers from Beko, Leisure, Flavel, and Glen Dimplex brands with a separate grill compartment can produce lethal levels of carbon monoxide if the grill is operated with the grill door closed. Six deaths have been linked to this issue. If you have one of the affected models, never use the grill with the door closed and contact the manufacturer to arrange a free inspection and modification.
The Danger: What Happens and Why
When the grill door on an affected cooker is closed while the grill burner is lit, the air supply to the burner is restricted. Incomplete combustion produces carbon monoxide – a colourless, odourless gas that is lethal in sufficient concentration. The build-up can occur rapidly in a confined kitchen space.
“FOLLOW THE PRODUCT INSTRUCTION MANUAL AND DO NOT OPERATE THE GRILL WITH THE GRILL DOOR CLOSED. When the grill burner is on, the grill door must always be in the open position.”
If you do not have a carbon monoxide detector in your home, install one. Carbon monoxide has no smell or colour – it cannot be detected without a detector.
Double oven cookers are not affected. The danger applies only to cookers designed with a separate grill compartment that has its own pull-down or hinged door.
Affected Models
The following cookers under the Beko, Leisure, and Flavel brands are confirmed as affected. Contact the manufacturer using the link below even if your model is not on this list but matches the description of a separate grill cooker from these brands.
Beko DCG8511PLW
Beko DG581LWP
Leisure CM10NRK
Leisure CM10NRC
Leisure AL6NDW
Leisure CM101NRCP
Leisure CM101NRKP
Flavel DCGAP5LS
Flavel AP5LDWP
Flavel AP5LDW
Flavel AP5LDSP
Flavel Milano ML5NDS
Glen Dimplex branded cookers with a separate grill are also covered by this warning. If you have a Glen Dimplex cooker with a separate grill door, follow the same precautions and contact Glen Dimplex directly for information on the free inspection programme.
What to Do
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Stop using the grill with the door closed immediately. The grill door must always be fully open when the grill burner is lit. This applies to all of the affected models listed above.
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Contact Beko to arrange a free inspection and modification. Beko has issued a free inspection and modification programme for all owners of affected cookers. See the Beko cooker safety notice page for details. Note that this page may have been removed since the original notice was published – if it is no longer accessible, contact Beko customer services directly.
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Install a carbon monoxide detector if you do not have one. Carbon monoxide cannot be detected by sight or smell. A detector is inexpensive and essential in any home with gas appliances.
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Pass this information on. Anyone who has or may know someone with one of these cookers should be made aware of this danger. The safety notice was not widely enough publicised at the time and remains relevant for anyone still using an affected appliance.
All Appliance Safety Notices
Related Safety Notices and Guides
Hotpoint and Indesit Gas Cooker Safety NoticeA separate gas safety notice affecting certain Hotpoint and Indesit gas cooker models.
Bosch and Neff Gas Hob Safety NoticeA gas leak risk affecting certain Bosch and Neff gas hob models.
8 Ways to Make Appliances SaferPractical steps every household can take to reduce fire, gas, and electrical risks from large appliances.
How Dangerous Are Our Appliances?An honest assessment of the real risks from domestic white goods and cooking appliances.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does using the grill with the door closed cause carbon monoxide?
The grill burner requires a continuous supply of fresh air to combust gas completely. Closing the grill door restricts this air supply. Incomplete combustion produces carbon monoxide as a byproduct instead of the safer carbon dioxide produced by complete combustion. Carbon monoxide is colourless and odourless – it cannot be detected without a dedicated detector.
Is my double oven affected?
No. Double oven cookers where the top compartment functions as both an oven and a grill are designed to operate with the door closed and are not affected by this warning. This notice applies only to cookers with a separate grill compartment that has its own dedicated door.
What should I do if I have been using the grill with the door closed?
Stop doing so immediately. If anyone in the household has experienced unexplained headaches, dizziness, nausea, or tiredness when the grill has been in use, carbon monoxide poisoning should be considered – seek medical attention and ventilate the property. Contact Beko or the relevant manufacturer to arrange the free inspection and modification.
5 Comments
Grouped into 4 comment threads.
1 reply these cookers are still killing people. My son and his friend passed away in nov last year.we were unaware of the recall on these cookers and received no letters or phone calls.I have found several other cases on the net.why were these cookers alowed to be sold.by putting 'do not operate with door closed' they must have known what happened when you did shut it.this cooker was still on sale after 5 deaths had occured.
0 replies My mums dogs were also killed by exactly the same thing. It's disgusting that a company like Beko can sell a product knowing it to be potentially dangerous. Also worth noting that my Mum did not even realise that the grill was onas the flames on the Leisures are hard to see and there is no indicator to say that the grill is lit.
My mums dogs were also killed by exactly the same thing. It’s disgusting that a company like Beko can sell a product knowing it to be potentially dangerous. Also worth noting that my Mum did not even realise that the grill was onas the flames on the Leisures are hard to see and there is no indicator to say that the grill is lit.
0 replies Thanks for your contribution Gabrielle: If there was a warning it shows the manufacturer knew of the danger and decided a warning was sufficient. I know most gas cookers with a glass lid for example are designed with valves that operate and shut off the gas if the lid is closed - presumably to prevent the glass heating up and shattering yet something that could kill is not protected? If the consequences of closing the grill door are potentially fatal, it's hard to imagine why they wouldn't be automatically designed so that as soon as the grill door is closed it shuts off the gas to the grill.
Thanks for your contribution Gabrielle: If there was a warning it shows the manufacturer knew of the danger and decided a warning was sufficient. I know most gas cookers with a glass lid for example are designed with valves that operate and shut off the gas if the lid is closed – presumably to prevent the glass heating up and shattering yet something that could kill is not protected?
If the consequences of closing the grill door are potentially fatal, it’s hard to imagine why they wouldn’t be automatically designed so that as soon as the grill door is closed it shuts off the gas to the grill.
0 replies My sister was actually one of the 6 victim's who died on Christmas day 2008. She was with her partner who also died. I cannot understand the lack of responsibility on the part of the company. The gas board are equally useless in their investigations of such deaths!!!!!!!!! I reside in the USA and hate to say it, but there would certainly have been more owness placed on the company of Beko and Dimplex for their rather feeble excuse of signage warning not to keep the door closed. It was a tragic loss of 6 lives!!
My sister was actually one of the 6 victim’s who died on Christmas day 2008. She was with her partner who also died. I cannot understand the lack of responsibility on the part of the company. The gas board are equally useless in their investigations of such deaths!!!!!!!!!
I reside in the USA and hate to say it, but there would certainly have been more owness placed on the company of Beko and Dimplex for their rather feeble excuse of signage warning not to keep the door closed. It was a tragic loss of 6 lives!!
these cookers are still killing people. My son and his friend passed away in nov last year.we were unaware of the recall on these cookers and received no letters or phone calls.I have found several other cases on the net.why were these cookers alowed to be sold.by putting ‘do not operate with door closed’ they must have known what happened when you did shut it.this cooker was still on sale after 5 deaths had occured.
Likely replying to denise
Hello Denise: Has there been any interest by health and safety or any other body supposedly looking after consumer safety?