Grenfell Tower fire: fridge manufacturer faces legal challenge over material testing

Beko Europe, formerly known as Whirlpool, the producer of the Hotpoint fridge-freezer identified as the likely origin of the devastating Grenfell Tower fire, is facing a substantial £ 358-million plus lawsuit.

Reports initially featured in the UK’ s Financial Times indicate that the legal action centres on allegations

that the company failed to adequately

test the appliance ' s materials against

pertinent fire safety regulations.

The Hotpoint FF175BP fridge-freezer

was previously pinpointed as the

probable initial source of the catastrophic

blaze that engulfed the Grenfell Tower

block in June 2017, resulting in the tragic

loss of over 70 lives.

According to a report published

recently in The Guardian, legal

representatives for the Royal Borough

of Kensington and Chelsea contend

that Beko Europe did not sufficiently

assess the materials incorporated into

the specific fridge-freezer model against relevant fire safety benchmarks.

The legal team asserts that had the materials in question – notably the plastic backing, foam and polystyrene – undergone proper testing, they would have failed to meet the standards outlined in the UK’ s Electrical Equipment( Safety) Regulations 1994.

Beko Europe has contested these allegations and stated its intention to " vigorously defend " itself against the legal proceedings.

Arçelik, the Turkish conglomerate that owns the Beko brand, finalised a transaction last year with US-based Whirlpool to consolidate their European domestic appliance operations under the banner of Beko Europe.

Notably, a 2013 report issued by the		approximately 300 fridge fires occurring
London Fire Brigade had previously identified domestic refrigerators and freezers as the " most dangerous household appliance when involved in a fire ", citing the " large amounts of plastic and highly flammable insulation " as contributing factors		annually in Great Britain.	CLA
to the	Domestic fridges are blamed for 300 fires a year in Great Britain.

Image by Stockgiu / Freepik

Cold Link Africa June 2025 | Página 6

Beko Europe, formerly known as Whirlpool, the producer of the Hotpoint fridge-freezer identified as the likely origin of the devastating Grenfell Tower fire, is facing a substantial £ 358-million plus lawsuit.

Grenfell Tower fire: fridge manufacturer faces legal challenge over material testing

Beko Europe, formerly known as Whirlpool, the producer of the Hotpoint fridge-freezer identified as the likely origin of the devastating Grenfell Tower fire, is facing a substantial £ 358-million plus lawsuit.

Reports initially featured in the UK’ s Financial Times indicate that the legal action centres on allegations

6 www. coldlinkafrica. co. za COLD LINK AFRICA • June 2025