NZ homes checked after insulation fires in Australia

After house fires in Australia, homes insulated under a government scheme here are being checked for safety.

In New South Wales a spate of fires were sparked by shoddily installed ceiling insulation.

Australian Associated Press reported that in during three weeks late last year 15 fires had started in roofs across the state, a far higher than normal figure. The fire service warned that roof fires could get well under way before smoke alarms went off.

The problem was identified as being caused by ceiling insulation touching heat sources such as downlights and exhaust fans.

In New Zealand Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) is checking homes insulated under the Government's Warm Up New Zealand scheme. The scheme started last July and is open to all New Zealanders with houses built before 2000. The scheme provided up to $1300 towards a third of the cost of insulation and a $500 grant for clean heaters. Community Service Card holders can get more funding.

Audits of 570 homes so far had found 17 homes had downlights or extractor fans covered by insulation. Suppliers have to pay for remedial work done.

A Wellington man told NZPA that a supplier visited his home to check the roof because of the Australian cases and found the insulation was closer than it should be to downlights.

A spokeswoman for EECA said the product involved in fires in Australia - macerated paper - was not approved for use under the scheme.

About 23,000 homes have been insulated since last July with no reports of fires or charring.

Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee said a lot of homes had been insulated and did not think instances of the problem were high.

"Where they are not compliant people are asked to come in and fix them up and there's been a pretty big effort to make it clear installers that they do have to meet the audit requirements. They've got to install to a very high standard," he said.

"I think it's a legitimate concern and anybody that's had their house done and wants reassurance should contact EECA to find out if everything is okay. I am confident in the vast majority of cases it will be and even then the amount of heat that would be required to light either fibre glass or bats is pretty considerable."

- NZPA