Samsung f/freezer missing rear ventilation grille

[Heehog]

Hi, can anyone confirm please? 

Does your Samsung fridge/freezer have a full top-to-bottom covering at the rear?  Ours was delivered with the lower rear ventilation grille missing, leaving a large approx 10" high gaping hole at the lower rear, exposing the compressor(?) and bits of cable/pipework.  See picture.  

The pictures  of our model on Samsung's website show this grille in place, but Samsung UK help desk staff insist that it's safe to use without and that this grille is not provided in the UK, despite their website pictures.  

I'm not convinced, so I was hoping to hear from others whether their story holds water. 

Is it truly safe to use like this?  I've noticed that small pipe on the right hand side can get VERY hot.  

Model is RB34T602ESA/EU, but we now regret buying a Samsung as we're concerned about the fire risk.  If their website shows a covering grille in place,  it must be there for a reason. 

Impossible to speak to our retailer Currys, as they've auto-diverted their phones direct to Samsung's help desk, but that's a separate issue.

Does anyone else's fridge/freezer look like this? 

Advice appreciated, thank you.  

[PaulyWauly36]

if the cover is missing,there will be screw holes along top and bottom of opening,, so No it dont have one

[Heehog]

You might think so, and yet this is the picture of the exact same model on Samsung's website.  I'm asking if any other owners have had theirs delivered minus this grille.  

[PaulyWauly36]

when i zoom in u can see 3 holes at the top,and clamp like fittings at the bottom,,the cover is if fitted only there to stop things going into the works ,ie stuff falling down the back from the top, And prying hands

[Heehog]

That's two reasons amongst many.  A grille also limits the build up of fluff and dust, which is flammable;  it prevents injury to pets;  reduces noise;  looks neater and properly finished;  probably limits spread of flame should ignition ever occur... etc, etc.   Remember they suspect a fridge/freezer caused the Grenfell Tower disaster.   When I see a grille obviously missing, I need reassurance that it's supposed to be missing for the UK market.   Samsung have not offered that reassurance in writing, despite my having asked them to.

Thank you, but as I say, I'm mostly keen to establish whether other customers also have the red circled grille in place or missing.  

[AndrewL]

@Heehog: I have passed your query to our Home Appliance Specialists for clarification, and will let you know as and when more information becomes available. Apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused you. 

[AndrewL]

@Heehog: One of our product specialists has got back to me, and they have stated that this is perfectly normal and the appliance conforms to all required safety standards to sell here in the UK and Ireland. The website shouldn't show the cover attached, so we are looking at getting this amended to avoid any further confusion. I hope this helps. 

[Heehog]

AndrewL, thank you so much for your involvement.  This is good to read and we now feel reassured that the appliance we received is at least safe to use.  It has taken nearly a month of negotiation with your customer services, all to no avail, but we've at long last finally received the reassurance we sought that there's no fire risk in operating the appliance with this panel absent. 

It is disappointing that the product doesn't match the smarter picture shown on your UK website though.  Where our appliance is sited does offer some visibility of that ugly gaping rear panel and we'd have chosen a different model had we known.  

[jaydee5]

I received my fridge freezer today without the lower grill-It appears to have the fixing points for it too.  I have been in touch with Samsung technical support & have sent them a photo & also been in touch with the supplier AO.  It may well be ok to use without however, I purchased this as a fully enclosed F/F which was my preference. I am waiting on a reply.  

[jaydee5]

Andrew, what is the regulation that prohibits the fitting of the grill/cover panel here in the UK & if there isn't one, why is it

not fitted?