Pursuant to Regulation 87 of the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010 (“Regulations”), I, Mark Stephen Wogan, Manager, Energy Safety, acting under the delegated authority of the Chief Executive, WorkSafe New Zealand, give the following notice:

1. Short Title and Commencement

1. This notice is the Electricity Regulations (Prohibition of Serene S2068) Notice (No. 2) 2024.
2. This notice replaces and consequently revokes the Electricity Regulations (Prohibition of Serene S2068) Notice 2024, published in the New Zealand Gazette, 13 February 2024, Notice No. 2024-au527, and Corrigendum No. 2—Electricity Regulations (Prohibition of Serene S2068) Notice 2024, published in the New Zealand Gazette, 1 March 2024, Notice No. 2024-au866.
3. The prohibitions contained in this notice take effect on the next calendar day following the publication of this notice in New Zealand Gazette.

2. Prohibited Equipment

1. The importation, sale (including an offer to sell) and use (including installation) of the following model of electrical appliance, as described in clause 3, is prohibited:
• Serene Classic S2068 wall mounted bathroom fan heater appliance (S2068) imported, sold, or installed on or after 16 June 2018.

3. Description

1. Known descriptions of the prohibited S2068 appliance include the following:
• Wall-mounted fan heater with step-down thermostat with pull-cord on-off switch, for fixed-wired installation in bathrooms and similar locations.
• Advertised features include:
  • wall mounting,
  • metal body shell and fan,
  • Built-in safety cut-out and fusible link,
  • Blue LED power indicator,
  • Balanced metal centrifugal fan,
  • Controls include pull-cord on-off switch and automatic step-down thermostat.
• Available finishes include mirror polished stainless steel metal shell with die cast grille, and also known to come in a range of colours including white and black.
• Dimensions: 300mm wide, 210mm high and 110mm deep, and 1.8kg weight.
2. The image attached to this notice shows an example of the prohibited S2068.

4. Reasons for prohibition

1. The prohibited S2068 appliance is, or may be, electrically unsafe, in that there is significant risk that a person may suffer serious harm, or that property may suffer significant damage, as a result of dangers arising from use of, or passage of electricity through, the appliance.
2. The reasons for believing the prohibited units are or may be unsafe are that:
1. A sample of the S2068 failed an abnormal operation test and the glow wire testing requirements at the New Zealand test temperature of 850 °C set out in AS/NZS 60335.2.30: 2015 Household and similar electrical appliances – Safety – Part 2.30: Particular requirements for room heaters; and
2. The S2068 – including units outside the range prohibited in the Electricity Regulations (Prohibition of Serene S2068) Notice 2024, published in the New Zealand Gazette, 13 February 2024, Notice No. 2024-au527 and Corrigendum No. 2—Electricity Regulations (Prohibition of Serene S2068) Notice 2024, published in the New Zealand Gazette, 1 March 2024, Notice No. 2024-au866, (as well as the units within the prohibited range) – is not constructed so as to be safe under both normal and abnormal conditions. Therefore, there is a credible means by which a fire or overheating event could occur.
3. There have been several fire and overheating events associated with the S2068; and
4. S2068 appliances manufactured in March 2021 are known to have a manufacturing defect.

5. Consequential revocation and saving

1. The Electricity Regulations (Prohibition of Serene S2068) Notice 2024, published in the New Zealand Gazette, 13 February 2024, Notice No. 2024-au527, and Corrigendum No. 2—Electricity Regulations (Prohibition of Serene S2068) Notice 2024, published in the New Zealand Gazette, 1 March 2024, Notice No. 2024-au866, are revoked.
2. For the avoidance of doubt, the Electricity Regulations (Prohibition of Serene S2068) Notice 2024, and Corrigendum No. 2—Electricity Regulations (Prohibition of Serene S2068) Notice 2024, continue to have effect until the date this notice comes into force.

Informative Note: The test results referred to in clause 4(b)(i) of this notice confirm the S2068 is not compliant with the relevant standard for New Zealand and should not have been supplied into New Zealand.

Dated at Wellington this 11th day of April 2024.

MARK STEPHEN WOGAN, Manager, Energy Safety, WorkSafe New Zealand.