Robertshaw TS11 Safety Valve

UPDATED 10/11/04 -- Recall Safety Notice

Frequently Asked Questions

Notification from Invensys

Dear Vulcan-Hart Dealer,

This letter is to update you about a situation we recently encountered with our supplier, Robertshaw, and their TS11 safety valve. The TS11 is a common component used by many manufacturers throughout this industry. There have been several reported instances where this oven pilot safety valve has failed in the open position. We became aware of this and immediately shut down our production line for our ranges with oven bases.

We are communicating with Robertshaw daily and are working with them to define the production time line for this problem. As you know, several manufacturers in this industry source safety valves from this same supplier. Robertshaw has shut down the manufacturing of their TS11 safety valve. Until they can nail down the specific time frame for their production of contaminated valves we would like for you to communicate some precautionary measures for our mutual customers to follow that would promote safe use of our range base ovens.

Please forward the attached correspondence to your/our customers as quickly as possible.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Safety is our number one requirement at Vulcan-Hart. From our President on down, we took action immediately when we learned about this safety issue. We believe we did the responsible thing in shutting down our production.

We have located another supplier for this safety valve and are now back into production on our restaurant ranges and plan to be in production next week on our heavy duty ranges.

If any of these models are currently in your inventory, please contact our customer service department to arrange for a replacement unit.

As always, if ever I can be of any assistance, please let me know.

Regards,

Jim Cullinane
V.P. Sales, Vulcan-Hart


Dear Customer,

It has been brought to our attention that there is a safety issue with a pilot safety valve that Vulcan and other manufacturers' source from Robertshaw and use in restaurant ranges. There have been several reported instances where the oven pilot safety valve has failed in the open position. This could result in gas building up in the oven cavity if the oven is turned on with the pilot light out. This gas could then ignite when the oven door is opened and the gas flows out and meets the open top burners or pilot lights.

While we don't yet know the magnitude of the problem we have taken the precautionary step of stopping shipments of all ranges that use this particular valve until Robertshaw isolates the problem and provides a solution to insure all new units have good valves.

The following model numbers may be impacted by this valve supplied by Robertshaw. 148L, 160L, 160XL, 24L, 24FL, 24FTL, 260L, 272L, 36L, 36FL, 36FTL, 36SL, 36STL, 36XL, 36XTL, 481L, 481FL, 481FTL, 481SL, 481XL, 481XTL, 48L, 48FL, 48FTL, 48STL, 60L, 60FL, 60FTL, 60STL, 60XL, 60XTL, 72L, 72FL, 72FTL, 72XL, 72XTL, EG260, EG36, EG36F, EG60, EG60F, VG160, VG24, VG260, VG36, VG60, VG60F, GH3/72, GH3/72C, GH30, GH30C, GH45, GH45/72, GH45/72C, GH45C,GH6, GH60, GH60/45, GH60/45C, GH60C, GH60T, GH60T45, GH60TC, GH6C, GH6T45C, GH72, GH72/45, GH72/45C, GH72C, GHCB40, GHCB40C.

In the meantime, here are recommended precautionary measures to follow when using one of the models listed above received since November 1, 2003

1) Insure that the oven pilot light is lit before turning on the oven by touching the oven bottom. The bottom should be warm.

2) Verify that the oven burner ignites when you first turn up the oven thermostat to preheat the oven. You should feel heat coming from the oven cavity within seconds of turning up the thermostat. If no heat is detected, turn the thermostat to the "off "position and call Hobart Service immediately at 1-888-446-2278

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Please refer to the website link www.vulcanhart.com/robertshaw/RobertShawThermalSafetyControlValve.cfm for updates on this issue or call 1-800-814-2028 extension 114 between the hours of 8am - 5pm EST, Monday thru Friday.

Vulcan Dealers: Please forward this correspondence to your customers

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