Discussion Document

October 2005

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The Problem

• International
  • Australia

14. Early in the investigation the Ministry obtained test reports from suppliers to ensure compliance with BS 1970. Test reports were received from suppliers that were approximately 3 years old. Discussions with testing facilities advised they would no longer stand by a test report that was more than 12 months from the issue date due to the variables in rubber production and the manufacture of hot water bottles.

15. The internationally recognised standard for hot water bottles is BS 1970:2001 Hot water bottles manufactured from rubber and PVC. Specification. The 2001 version is the current version which superseded the 1984 edition and BS 6728-1:1986 Thermoplastics hot water bottles. Specification for hot water bottles manufactured from PVC compounds.

16. The rubber hot water bottles sighted by the Ministry were marked with various markings:

• Unmarked;
• Marked as complying to BS1970:1984;
• Marked as complying to BS1970: 2001;
• Marked as complying to BS 1999. (BS 1999:1964 Specification for tritolyl phosphate does not apply to hot water bottles.)

17. Hot water bottles are made from either rubber or PVC. The problem with hot water bottles splitting has only occurred with those made from rubber. The PVC hot water bottles that have been sighted by the Ministry are in the top end of the market with a retail price starting at approximately $15.00.

18. Consultation with the Australasian Rubber and Plastics Association, based in Australia, established that the rubber compound most rubber bottles were made of can vary. They advised that rubber is a combination of many ingredients, selected to perform a specific function. This is known as a rubber compound. A rubber compound can be designed to withstand the effects of boiling water for very long periods of time, as is required for hot water bottles. If the right ingredients are not selected then the product will not perform as expected. The Australasian Rubber and Plastics Association also advised that boiling water can lead to deterioration in the rubber that would lead to a product splitting. They also added that a manufacturing fault could also have the same outcome.

International

19. In assessing the options available for addressing the safety issues, the Ministry is expected to take into account the wider perspective of government and the global environment in which trade takes place.

20. Interventions that act as trade barriers have to be avoided. Nevertheless, a commitment to free trade has to be balanced by the need to ensure that consumer safety is not compromised.

Australia

21. Australian authorities are also receiving complaints about rubber hot water bottles, and are awaiting the New Zealand outcome and considering a product ban. South Australia in particular has had a fatality from a burst rubber hot water bottle.

22. New South Wales has conducted tests on 18 bottles in accordance with the minimum thicknesses as stated in BS 1970:2001. Out of the 18 rubber hot water bottles, 15 failed, 5 marginally passed the minimum thickness, leaving only 2 bottles tested with a margin for error.

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