Severity
Moderate
CPSC, Thomas & Betts Announce Recall of Emergency Exit Signs
Reported: February 5, 2003 Initiated: February 5, 2003 #03520 About 31,000 units
Thomas & Betts Corporation of Memphis, TN issued this CPSC recall on February 5, 2003. Classified as Moderate severity. Approximately About 31,000 units are affected. The recall was issued because: The emergency exit signs have an internal electrical component that could overheat and fail, when connected to 277-volt…. 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 #03520) was formally reported on February 5, 2003. It is classified under Moderate severity, with a current status of Active. Thomas & Betts Corporation of Memphis, TN is listed as the recalling firm. Federal records indicate About 31,000 units are affected.
The documented reason for this recall is: The emergency exit signs have an internal electrical component that could overheat and fail, when connected to 277-volt electrical systems, and melt the enclosure, posing a fire hazard. Distribution information was not included in the agency filing, so consumers should assume broad potential exposure until the firm publishes point-of-sale details. The remedy documented by the agency is: Building managers with recalled emergency exit signs should contact Thomas & Betts to request a free repair kit. — consumers holding this product should act on that instruction rather than relying on general guidance.
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 6 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 23 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
Units Affected
About 31,000
Related Recalls
6
6 from same agency
Product Description
The recalled exit signs were sold under the Lightalarms, Emergi-Lite, and Dynaray brand names and can be installed in either 120-volt or 277-volt applications. Only signs with a red LED and installed in 277-volt applications need to be repaired. These emergency exit signs could be installed in public buildings such as schools, offices and shopping centers to mark an exit in the event of a power failure and loss of lighting. They have a white or black plastic housing and are 13 ½ inches long, 8-3/8 inches high and 2-7/8 inches deep. Recalled units have a raised bead around the edge of the front face and a rectangular rocker switch on the bottom. The product make, model, and date code is located on a label inside the enclosure. The recalled emergency exit signs were manufactured between January 1997 and June 1999.
Reason for Recall
The emergency exit signs have an internal electrical component that could overheat and fail, when connected to 277-volt electrical systems, and melt the enclosure, posing a fire hazard.
Remedy
Building managers with recalled emergency exit signs should contact Thomas & Betts to request a free repair kit.
Details
- Recalling Firm
- Thomas & Betts Corporation of Memphis, TN
- Units Affected
- About 31,000
Recall Profile
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Agency | U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission |
| Severity class | Moderate |
| Status | Active |
| Recall number | 03520 |
| Date reported | February 5, 2003 |
| Date initiated | February 5, 2003 |
| Recalling firm | Thomas & Betts Corporation of Memphis, TN |
| Units affected | About 31,000 |
| 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? ▼
The recalled exit signs were sold under the Lightalarms, Emergi-Lite, and Dynaray brand names and can be installed in either 120-volt or 277-volt applications. Only signs with a red LED and installed in 277-volt applications need to be repaired. These emergency exit signs could be installed in public buildings such as schools, offices and shopping centers to mark an exit in the event of a power failure and loss of lighting. They have a white or black plastic housing and are 13 ½ inches long, 8-3/8 inches high and 2-7/8 inches deep. Recalled units have a raised bead around the edge of the front face and a rectangular rocker switch on the bottom. The product make, model, and date code is located on a label inside the enclosure. The recalled emergency exit signs were manufactured between January 1997 and June 1999.. Recalled by Thomas & Betts Corporation of Memphis, TN. Units affected: About 31,000.
Why was this product recalled? ▼
The emergency exit signs have an internal electrical component that could overheat and fail, when connected to 277-volt electrical systems, and melt the enclosure, posing a fire hazard.
What should consumers do? ▼
Building managers with recalled emergency exit signs should contact Thomas & Betts to request a free repair kit.
Which agency issued this recall? ▼
This recall was issued by the CPSC on February 5, 2003. Severity: Moderate. Recall number: 03520.
How do I check if my product is affected by a recall? ▼
Check the product description and recall number (03520) 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.
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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.
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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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS — demographic + housing + income data. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage + employment by occupation. bls.gov/oes
- BEA Regional Economic Accounts — GDP + personal income by state/metro. bea.gov/data/regional
- U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns — establishment + employment by industry. census.gov/cbp
- IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) — tax-return aggregate data. irs.gov/statistics
- data.gov — U.S. federal open-data portal — discovery layer for additional federal sources. data.gov
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).