Product safety reportOPSS
LPG-Powered Lift Trucks safety warning over a fire risk
Product Safety Reports for LPG-Powered Industrial Lift Trucks presenting a risk of fire.
Product image from the OPSS safety notice 
Check your product
Only products that match these details are covered. Have your pack in front of you.
3 identifiers listed for this notice.
LPG-Powered Lift Trucks
- Item or listing codeOn the box, the label, or the order page where you bought it.
- 2305-0163
- 2306-0002
- 2306-0003
What to do now
The risk with LPG-Powered Lift Trucks is fire: a fault could cause it to overheat, melt or ignite.
- Unplug it and do not charge it again.
- Store it away from anything that burns until you can return or dispose of it. Batteries should go to a battery recycling point, not the household bin.
- This is a safety report rather than a manufacturer recall: the listing has been taken down, but the seller may not contact you. Get in touch with the seller through the marketplace.
- Report it to Trading Standards through the Citizens Advice consumer service if the seller does not respond.
Why it matters. Faulty chargers, batteries and appliances are a common cause of house fires. A fire can start while the product is charging or switched on and nobody is watching.
If someone has been hurt
Look out for
- make sure you have working smoke alarms
Get help urgently
- if it starts to smoke, smell of burning or catch fire, get everyone out and call 999
This is general information based on NHS public guidance, not medical advice. In an emergency call 999. For urgent advice use NHS 111 (NHS 24 on 111 in Scotland) or, in Northern Ireland, your GP or out-of-hours service.
Getting your money back
Contact the seller through your order history and say that the product is the subject of an OPSS safety report. Keep screenshots of the listing and your order.
If the seller does not respond, the marketplace’s own dispute process or your card provider is the next step.
From the official notice
Published by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (2305-0163). Quoted as issued.
Summary
Product Safety Reports for LPG-Powered Industrial Lift Trucks presenting a risk of fire.
The risk
Owners, users and other persons supplying, inspecting and maintaining these LPG powered vehicles are being alerted to the risk of fire when presented with a non-starting engine.
A build-up of deposits in fuel systems, in particular the vaporiser units, of some LPG powered vehicles has led to several fires. Deposits in vaporiser units, flow regulators and shut off valves are also causing trucks to fail to start, particularly from cold. The cause of these deposits appears to be related to variation in the composition of LPG fuel now available in some regions of Great Britain.
The models and serial numbers listed in the attached Product Safety Reports, manufactured by Linde Material Handling, STILL and Jungheinrich are known to have been fitted with the IMPCO C-Series vaporiser (Part Number: MD-54231-001) in their fuel systems, which are particularly affected.
Any other industrial lift truck or other LPG powered vehicle fitted with the IMPCO C-Series vaporisers (Part Number: MD-54231-001) manufactured by EControls Europe BV, either as originally supplied or as a replacement part, may also now be affected.
The particular design of the IMPCO C-Series vaporiser means that the build-up of fuel deposits can lead to sticking valves resulting in the fuel mixture supplied to the engine being too rich to be ignited. Repeated starting attempts can then result in the release of unburned LPG, which in extreme cases can be ignited setting fire to the vehicle and surrounding materials.
Action taken
The manufacturers have contacted owners and suppliers of affected lift trucks to warn them of the risks and provide guidance. A corrective action program was initiated to modify the LPG fuel systems of affected lift trucks to reduce the risk. The IMPCO C-Series (Part Number: MD-54231-001) is no longer fitted to new trucks produced by these manufacturers but is still available from spare parts suppliers. A modified design IMPCO C-Series vaporiser (Part Number: MD-54231-011) is now available and recommended for use as a replacement part.
Advice to consumers
The manufacturers of the listed lift truck models have contacted owners and suppliers to warn them of the risks and provide guidance on how to reduce and mitigate risks.
The manufacturers listed above initiated voluntary corrective action programmes to modify the fuel systems of affected lift trucks to reduce the risk, prioritising users worse affected by vaporiser contamination issues. For details on the corrective action undertaken by each of the manufacturers, please access the Product Safety Reports linked above.
IMPCO C-Series vaporisers with the Part Number MD-54231-001 are no longer fitted as new by these manufacturers. A modified IMPCO C-Series vaporiser (Part Number: MD-54231-011) is now available and is recommended for use as a replacement part. Where heavy fuel deposits are experienced IMPCO recommend continued use of a secondary stage pressure switch of the type installed by manufacturers as part of their fuel system modification action programme.
Owners and users of any other LPG powered lift truck or vehicle fitted with a IMPCO C-Series vaporiser (Part Number MD-54231-001) as originally supplied or as a replacement part should contact the manufacturer or supplier for advice.
Owners and users of other makes and models of LPG-powered lift trucks and vehicles incorporating other vaporiser designs may also experience problems due to LPG fuel composition and should take note of the general advice given.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has also issued a safety notice informing users and persons supplying, inspecting and maintaining LPG powered vehicles of the risk of fire in certain conditions and measures to take.
This can be accessed from:
LPG forklift truck fire risk - Safety Bulletin - HSE
Additional information
Notified by: Health and Safety Executive
Open the OPSS notice
Questions
Why has LPG-Powered Lift Trucks been reported?
The risk with LPG-Powered Lift Trucks is fire: a fault could cause it to overheat, melt or ignite. Faulty chargers, batteries and appliances are a common cause of house fires. A fire can start while the product is charging or switched on and nobody is watching.
How do I know if my product is affected?
Compare the item or listing code on your product with the details listed under “Check your product” on this page. Only items that match are covered by the notice.
What should I do now?
Unplug it and do not charge it again. Store it away from anything that burns until you can return or dispose of it. Batteries should go to a battery recycling point, not the household bin.
Can I get a refund or a repair?
Contact the seller through your order history and say that the product is the subject of an OPSS safety report. Keep screenshots of the listing and your order. If the seller does not respond, the marketplace’s own dispute process or your card provider is the next step.
