Recall of socket outlets with increased contact protection (“child protection”)

Figure: Example of the cover plate of a Gira socket outlet with increased contact protection (“child protection”), which can be identified by the stamped child protection symbol

Our test laboratory has confirmed that socket outlet cover plates with increased contact protection (“child protection”) that were distributed by Gira through various electrical wholesalers during the period from 9 December 2014 to 26 January 2016 may be defective. Recent tests have shown that the equipment in the socket outlet cover that allows for increased contact protection (“child protection”) – the shutter – may not always automatically close as intended. With improper use of the socket outlet – e.g. when inserting conductive materials – this fault may lead to an electric shock that can potentially result in serious or even life-threatening injuries, just as with any other conventional socket outlet without increased contact protection.

Until the covers are replaced, please take particular care that persons at risk, especially children, cannot insert conductive materials into the socket outlets in your household or your facility.


At Gira, safety is our no. 1 priority. As a precaution, we are therefore recalling the potentially affected socket outlet covers with increased contact protection (“child protection”) distributed in the period from 9 December 2014 to 26 January 2016.

Appeal to customers:
Please contact your electrician or electronics retailer as soon as possible if you have purchased the affected products in the time frame described above and/or if such products have been installed in your home. The electrician will inform you if your covers are affected. He or she will assist you and can inspect and then exchange the covers affected by the recall for a new cover with fully-functional increased contact protection, at no cost to you.

Under no circumstances should you attempt to replace the socket outlet cover yourself!


We wish to state clearly: the socket outlets themselves are not affected, only the shutters in the covers. This means that the power supply from the socket outlets is not impaired. The socket outlets themselves are fully functional and, with correct use, offer the same standard contact protection as any other conventional socket outlet. They can therefore continue to be used. Only the increased contact protection (“child protection”) is potentially not provided.


Which socket outlets with increased contact protection (“child protection”) are affected?

The affected socket outlets are only those socket outlets with increased contact protection (“child protection”) that were distributed through various electrical wholesalers in the period from 9 December 2014 to 26 January 2016. To learn more about which products could be affected during this time period, download the following list.

Download article list (PDF)

Download article list (Excel)

Download figures


Finding a local electrician

Professional installation and competent advice are indispensable for electrical installation in the home. Please therefore contact your electrician as soon as possible if you have purchased the affected products in the time frame described above and/or if such products have been installed in your home. The electrician will inform you if your covers are affected.


Procedural instructions for electrical wholesalers and electrical tradespeople

Electrical wholesalers and electrical tradespeople can download the procedural instructions that they must follow when dealing with recalled socket outlets with increased contact protection (“child protection”) here.

Electrical wholesaler download

Electrical trade download


Press release and safety information

The press release and important safety information are available for download here.

Download press release

Download safety information


Replacement form and log for electrical wholesalers and electrical tradespeople

Electrical wholesalers and electrical tradespeople can download the replacement form, a replacement log for the procedure and the end customer handout here.

Replacement form*

Replacement log

End customer handout following inspection

*To download the replacement form, you will need Adobe Reader for your browser. You can download it at the following link: https://get.adobe.com/de/reader/


Contact

Gira has provided the following hotline to help you with any questions you might have (available from 8.00 to 17.00, Monday to Friday):

Tel.: +49-2195-602-6868 (connection costs depend on network operator/provider)

Email: rueckruf@gira.de
Email for electrical wholesalers: Fgh.rueckruf@gira.de
Email for electronic retailers: em.rueckruf@gira.de


We ask for your understanding of this precautionary recall measure!
Gira Giersiepen GmbH & Co. KG


Answers to frequently asked questions

How do I know which Gira socket outlets have increased contact protection (“child protection”)?

A Gira socket outlet with contact protection (“child protection”) can be identified by the child protection symbol on the socket outlet receptacle (see illustration above).

How does the recall process work?

Please contact your electrician as soon as possible if you have purchased products in the time frame described above and/or if such products have been installed in your building. The electrician will inform you if your covers are affected. He or she will assist you and, after performing a function test on the covers possibly affected by the recall, can replace the covers with a new cover offering fully functional contact protection, at no cost to you.

I have Gira socket outlets. How do I find out if my socket outlets are affected by the fault?

They are potentially affected if you have Gira socket outlets with increased contact protection (“child protection”) that were purchased in the period from 9 December 2014 to 26 January 2016 from an electrician and/or which were installed in your home or facility. Please contact your electrician as soon as possible. He or she will assist you and after inspecting the covers will be able to inform you if your socket outlets are affected by the recall. That is the best, fastest and safest way!

Is it dangerous to use the socket outlets? Are the socket outlets no longer safe to use?

The socket outlet itself is not affected, only the device in the cover (the “shutter”), which ensures increased contact protection. This device may not automatically close in all cases as intended. This means that only in cases of improper handling of the socket outlet, for instance, when conductive materials are inserted, can it lead to electric shock, as with any conventional socket outlet without increased contact protection. The socket outlets themselves are fully functional and, with correct use, offer the same standard contact protection as any other conventional socket outlet. They can therefore continue to be used. Only the increased contact protection (“child protection”) is potentially not provided.

I have children at home. How can I protect them from potential dangers?

Until the covers are inspected and, if necessary, replaced, please take particular care that persons at risk, especially children, cannot insert conductive materials into the socket outlets in your household or your facility.

Should I worry about being electrocuted or that the electrical lines in my house are damaged?

The power supply from the socket outlets is not impaired. The socket outlets themselves are fully functional and, with correct use, offer the same standard contact protection as any other conventional socket outlet. They can therefore continue to be used. Only the increased contact protection (“child protection”) is potentially not provided. You do not need to worry that the lines in your house will be damaged.

Can I replace the socket outlet myself? If yes, where do I send the socket outlet? Where do I get a replacement from?

Under no circumstances should you attempt to replace the socket outlet yourself! Please consult your electrician. He/she will perform the inspection and, where necessary, will replace your socket outlet covers and give you expert advice.

 

Do I have to organise/pay for the exchange? Who will hire the electrician? What do I do if my electrician is no longer available?

Simply call the electrician who installed your socket outlets. You will not incur any costs for the inspection or, where necessary, the replacement of the covers with increased contact protection (“child protection”) that are part of the recall. Inspection and, where necessary, replacement must be performed by a qualified electrician. Where necessary and documented costs arise, reimbursement of these costs will of course be arranged between the electrician and Gira. If your electrician is no longer available, you can visit the following link, which lists several electrical engineering firms capable of performing the inspection and any necessary replacements: www.partner.gira.de/bezugsquellen

Does the entire socket outlet have to be replaced, or only the cover? How long does it take to replace a socket outlet?

Since the error identification shows a defective component on the cover, it is only the covers which potentially need to be replaced by an electrician after an inspection. Please contact your electrician to perform the inspection and any necessary replacements. He or she will agree an appointment with you.

What are the exact problems with the product? Is the cause of the defect already known? Can the defects occur again?

Gira has determined that certain socket outlet covers with increased contact protection (“child protection”) may be defective. Recent tests have shown that the equipment that allows for increased contact protection (“child protection”) – the shutter – may not always automatically close as intended. This means that the increased contact protection is not guaranteed if certain conductive materials are inserted into the socket outlet. This may result in an electric shock, as is the case with any other socket outlet that does not have increased contact protection. To eliminate this potential hazard, Gira has decided to issue a recall as a precaution. Because at Gira, safety is our no. 1 priority.
The recalled socket outlet covers will be inspected and, where necessary, will be replaced by new, defect-free covers with fully functional contact protection. Follow-ups are therefore no longer required.

Our young children often play with other children their age at our home. Who is liable if something happens due to a defective socket outlet?

Please keep children away from socket outlets that were delivered or installed in the period from 9 December 2014 up to and including 26 January 2016. Please contact your electrician. He or she can check whether the covers are affected by the recall. After inspection and any necessary replacement of the covers, the affected socket outlets are will again have fully functioning increased contact protection.

If, despite the recall, you make the decision not to have your socket outlets inspected and replaced as necessary, claims for defect-related damages (non-functional increased contact protection) may become invalid. It is possible that you will be liable for damages that arise.