PlainRecalls

Emergency Lights Recalled by Lithonia Lighting

Reported: April 13, 2001 Initiated: April 13, 2001 #01514

Lithonia Lighting issued this CPSC recall on April 13, 2001. Classified as Moderate severity. The recall was issued because: Fire & Fire-Related Burn. This recall notice is sourced from official CPSC enforcement records. Below you will find the complete product description, hazard information, remedy instructions, and related recalls from the same manufacturer or product category.

Recall Insight

This CPSC action (record #01514) was formally reported on April 13, 2001. It is classified under Moderate severity, with a current status of Active. Lithonia Lighting is listed as the recalling firm. The number of affected units is not disclosed in the agency filing, which is common for drug and food recalls where lot-level tracking supersedes unit counts.

The documented reason for this recall is: Fire & Fire-Related Burn Distribution information was not included in the agency filing, so consumers should assume broad potential exposure until the firm publishes point-of-sale details.

To put this record in context, PlainRecalls indexes 83,949 recalls across the FDA, CPSC, NHTSA and USDA FSIS going back to 1995. Within the same product category, the database holds 6 closely related recalls, of which 1 were also issued by CPSC. That clustering is a signal — repeated actions in a narrow category often indicate a systemic quality-control issue, a supplier-wide contamination, or a design defect that has propagated across product lines. This recall is roughly 25 years old; older recalls can remain relevant because many units enter resale, rental, and secondary-market channels where the original warning never reaches the end user. Always cross-check the recall number against the official agency page before relying on any summary.

Recall Distribution by Severity Class

Severity1Class I (Critical)Class II (Moderate)Class III (Low)
Recall Distribution by Severity Class

Severity

Moderate

Units Affected

Unknown

Related Recalls

6

1 from same agency

Product Description

Emergency Lights Recalled by Lithonia Lighting Recall Alert U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 April 13, 2001 Alert #01-514 CPSC, Lithonia Lighting Announce Recall of Emergency Lights PRODUCT: Emergency Lights - Lithonia Lighting, a division of National Service Industries Inc. of Atlanta, Ga., is voluntarily recalling about 1.2 million emergency lights. The ELM and ELM2 emergency lights can be installed in either 120-volt or 277-volt applications. Of the 1.2 million lights, only lights installed in 277-volt applications need to be repaired. These emergency lights could be installed in public buildings such as schools, offices and shopping centers to provide emergency lighting in the event of a power failure. They are typically located near exit doors to aid in building evacuation. They have a black or off-white polycarbonate housing with two incandescent lamps, and are 16-inches wide, 5-inches high, and 4-inches deep. The name "Lithonia" is molded into the housing. The product date code is located on a label inside the front housing. The recalled lights have date codes between 208S13 and 705S13, or between 9208S13 and 9705S13. Lithonia's electrical wholesalers and distributors sold the recalled ELM and ELM2 emergency lights nationwide from August 1992 to May 1997 for between $45 and $65. PROBLEM: The emergency lights have an internal electrical component that could overheat when connected to 277-volt electrical systems and melt the lighting enclosure, posing a fire hazard. INCIDENTS/INJURIES:There have been 16 reports of these lights smoking and overheating causing melted or damaged enclosures. No injuries have been reported. WHAT TO DO:Building managers with recalled ELM and ELM2 emergency lights should contact Lithonia Lighting toll-free at (800) 896-9288 between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday. Recall information and repair kits are available online at www.lithonia.com/elmrecall.

Reason for Recall

Fire & Fire-Related Burn

Recall Profile

Structured summary of the CPSC recall record
Attribute Value
Agency U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Severity class Moderate
Status Active
Recall number 01514
Date reported April 13, 2001
Date initiated April 13, 2001
Recalling firm Lithonia Lighting
Units affected Not disclosed
Distribution Not disclosed

Profile values are sourced directly from the official CPSC enforcement record. Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Frequently Asked Questions

What product was recalled?
Emergency Lights Recalled by Lithonia Lighting Recall Alert U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 April 13, 2001 Alert #01-514 CPSC, Lithonia Lighting Announce Recall of Emergency Lights PRODUCT: Emergency Lights - Lithonia Lighting, a division of National Service Industries Inc. of Atlanta, Ga., is voluntarily recalling about 1.2 million emergency lights. The ELM and ELM2 emergency lights can be installed in either 120-volt or 277-volt applications. Of the 1.2 million lights, only lights installed in 277-volt applications need to be repaired. These emergency lights could be installed in public buildings such as schools, offices and shopping centers to provide emergency lighting in the event of a power failure. They are typically located near exit doors to aid in building evacuation. They have a black or off-white polycarbonate housing with two incandescent lamps, and are 16-inches wide, 5-inches high, and 4-inches deep. The name "Lithonia" is molded into the housing. The product date code is located on a label inside the front housing. The recalled lights have date codes between 208S13 and 705S13, or between 9208S13 and 9705S13. Lithonia's electrical wholesalers and distributors sold the recalled ELM and ELM2 emergency lights nationwide from August 1992 to May 1997 for between $45 and $65. PROBLEM: The emergency lights have an internal electrical component that could overheat when connected to 277-volt electrical systems and melt the lighting enclosure, posing a fire hazard. INCIDENTS/INJURIES:There have been 16 reports of these lights smoking and overheating causing melted or damaged enclosures. No injuries have been reported. WHAT TO DO:Building managers with recalled ELM and ELM2 emergency lights should contact Lithonia Lighting toll-free at (800) 896-9288 between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday. Recall information and repair kits are available online at www.lithonia.com/elmrecall.. Recalled by Lithonia Lighting.
Why was this product recalled?
Fire & Fire-Related Burn
Which agency issued this recall?
This recall was issued by the CPSC on April 13, 2001. Severity: Moderate. Recall number: 01514.
How do I check if my product is affected by a recall?
Check the product description and recall number (01514) against your product. Visit the official CPSC website for the most current information. You can also use our Recall Checker tool to search by product name or brand.
How do I report an injury from a recalled product?
Report injuries to the issuing agency: CPSC at SaferProducts.gov, NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem, or FDA via MedWatch. Document the product (photos, model/serial numbers, purchase receipts) and seek medical attention. Injury reports help agencies track hazard patterns and may strengthen enforcement actions.

Recall Context

Product recalls are issued when a manufacturer, distributor, or federal agency determines that a product poses a safety risk to consumers. This recall is classified as moderate severity, indicating the product may cause temporary or medically reversible health consequences. Across PlainRecalls, we track 83,000+ recalls from FDA, CPSC, and NHTSA to help consumers stay informed and act quickly when safety issues arise.

Nearby Recalls in This Category

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Data Sources

Data as of 2025. Source: FDA, CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS federal recall databases.

  • Source: FDA — Food and Drug Administration, openFDA Enforcement API (food, drug, and medical device recalls)
  • Source: CPSC — Consumer Product Safety Commission Recalls API (consumer product recalls and hazards)
  • Source: NHTSA — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Recalls API (vehicle safety recalls)
  • Source: USDA FSIS — Food Safety and Inspection Service (meat, poultry, and egg product recalls)

Recall information is sourced from official federal agency databases. Always verify recall details with the issuing agency for the most current status. This information is for research and awareness purposes only.

All federal data sources used on this page

Source: Federal recall agencies (FDA, CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS) Aggregated multi-agency recall feeds · 2024 Recall data normalized across federal agency feeds; severity classifications follow each agency's own taxonomy (FDA Class I/II/III; CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS).